Why Logistics Still Runs on People

A lot has been said recently about the emergence of technology across the logistics industry, and for good reason. One of the world’s oldest and largest industries is finding new ways to incorporate modern technology, unlocking countless new opportunities and streamlining processes that once took days or weeks.

But at the end of the day, none of these advances would matter without the people behind them. As our founder Jeannie Scarbrough loves to say, “At the end of the day, you still need a butt on a forklift to get the job done.”

All it really takes is one look around to remind yourself that people really are the backbone of logistics. For every new piece of equipment or great software advancement, you still need someone at the controls to ensure all the pieces are running smoothly and efficiently. And when something inevitably goes wrong, it’s the humans behind the scenes who problem solve, troubleshoot, and keep freight moving.

The best operations set themselves apart by having the best people in place to handle any challenges, no matter how complex. Technology can flag potential delays, but humans still need to interpret that data and make the critical decisions that keep supply chains running.

We’ve made some serious advances recently, but at the end of the day trucks still need drivers and forklifts still need operators.