COVID: The Relentless Challenge For Truck Drivers In 2022
While COVID continues to be a constant struggle, generating uncertainty for the past two years, it’s no longer just about disease and infections, but about what the new reality brings in terms of new measures for cross-border operation. Changes in global logistics continue, and adaptation is inevitable. At Nuvocargo, we want to keep our partners informed, so they can stay ahead of these situations and make smarter decisions.
What were the effects of Omicron?
The impact of this pandemic hasn't ceased. In the face of Omicron, there has been a considerable shortage of personnel in the transportation industry and stricter implementation of vaccination requirements. As a result, there was further unplanned supply chain disruption caused by the high level of infection. However, because of the nature of this variant, its impact on the economy's productive capacity declined as rapidly as it soared. Even though COVID infections persist, it is no longer as disruptive as it was during its peak between December and January.
In Mexico
Several truck drivers who were infected stated that they noticed several companies relaxing sanitary measures during the transfers, which led to easier contagion.
In the United States
The main challenge was the shortage of warehouse workers, which had a higher impact on capacity, causing delays in loading and unloading and other indirect interruptions.
It is also worth noting that COVID is mutating. Omicron is one of the thousands of mutations that have already been discovered. Therefore, it is likely that we will see even more variants emerge in the future. Again, their impact will depend on the countries' policies and consumers' behavioral responses.
You might be interested in: US-Mexico trade: What to expect in the post-pandemic world?
What are the new regulations?
Proof of vaccination
As part of the new reality, as of January 22nd and January 15th respectively, the US and Canadian governments put into effect a policy that will require the certificate of vaccination, with approved vaccines, from all operators intending to enter the US. In case of failure to prove their vaccination status, the right of admission will be reserved, which means that the operators will be sent back to Nuevo Laredo. However, the cargo will not be returned, and another approved operator will have the opportunity to continue with the cross-border process.
COVID testing
As mentioned before, according to information provided by several carriers, cross-border processes have been affected or delayed, as operators are required to submit COVID test results to be allowed to circulate. Therefore, it is important to consider the extra expense that these new measures represent for carriers, which adds to the ongoing challenges for operators in 2022.
How are operators' responding to the new restrictions?
After exempting drivers from testing in 2021 to avoid aggravating existing supply chain disruptions, the enforcement of mandatory vaccine measures in the US and Canada caused widespread discontent among operators, in some cases even leading to protests.
In Mexico
In Mexico, vaccination campaigns were initially focused on operators working transfer activities and under the B1 scheme. As a result, there have been no major problems implementing the new measures. According to Rodrigo Brito, General Director of Central de Servicios de Carga de Nuevo Laredo (CenSeCar), after Nuevo Laredo’s International Trade Bridge was closed, they began working with carriers to comply with the vaccination process in the United States. This means that the estimated number of those who do not have authorized doses is minimal.
Likewise, the anti-vaccine trend does not represent a problem like in other countries. Instead, issues around the new measures are caused by the very few operators that don't have a complete vaccination certificate, which in turn affects the flow of the bridge, and consequently, the border crossings.
In the United States
Faced with the new measures, groups of carriers are organizing and following Canada’s example around protests, arguing that the government is out of line and that its orders for mandatory use of masks and a complete vaccination certificate are unconstitutional. This adds to the COVID-derived carrier shortage, which acts as a ripple effect, resulting in contagions, unemployment, carriers seeking opportunities in other industries, retirement, under-qualified workers, over-demand, etc. As a result, high transportation costs have been passed on to wholesalers and retailers, and it has become necessary to invest in rising wages and hiring costs.
In Canada
It has become the center of the opposition to the new measures, with an organized group called “Freedom Convoy,” which was born as a response to the mandatory vaccination for truckers crossing the U.S border. This group, in turn, has argued that there are significant problems in the trucking industry, such as unpaid wages and exploitation of foreign workers, which deserve more attention.
To help mitigate these challenges
- Strengthen all sanitary protocols and best practices by both suppliers and customers.
- These can be enhanced by implementing the automation and digitization of supply chain processes, which can help keep infections to a minimum. In addition, it will help increase workplace safety and driver efficiency, which stand to become long-term solutions.
- Promote communication with carriers about vaccinations to ensure that all operators have a complete vaccination schedule with the accepted vaccines to avoid operational mishaps.
If you would like to know more about how to prepare for these changes, contact us at carriers@nuvocargo.com
