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Keep Transportation Operations Moving in a Shifting Market

Tackle tariffs and demand swings with smart risk planning.

External forces including driver shortages, tariff-driven increases to equipment costs, and unpredictable demand patterns are throwing organizational priorities into disarray. CIOs need to have ready-to-go plans in place before expectations shift to maximize support for operational continuity.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Teams that plan for change deliver the most value when it counts.

Impact and Result

  • Comprehensive management and analysis of risks applicable to the specific situation.
  • Analysis of resources usage to align them with organizational goals.
  • Critical response plan to maintain business continuity and ensure organizational resilience.
  • Tools to execute efficiently to ensure stakeholder buy-in and success.

Keep Transportation Operations Moving in a Shifting Market 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ & Tools

1. Keep Transportation Operations Moving in a Shifting Market Storyboard – This research helps leaders take early action to build resilience and influence outcomes during hectic economic trade policy changes.

Transportation and logistics leaders are being squeezed by shifting trade policies and tariffs that are leading to increased operating costs, unpredictable demand patterns, and uncertainty around contract and labor needs. IT teams that have plans in place for rapid responses to changing business needs will be the ones that provide the greatest value to their organizations.

Drawing from case studies and research, this storyboard outlines a four-step framework for transportation and logistics CIOs to lead through disruption: assess risk, align resources, build a response plan, and execute confidently.


Keep Transportation Operations Moving in a Shifting Market

Keep Transportation Operations Moving in a Shifting Market

Tackle tariffs and demand swings with smart risk planning.

Stop the squeeze: Combat tariff pressures with planning and resilience

Teams that plan for change deliver the most value when it counts.

Unpredictable Demand Patterns

Recession Concerns

Increased Equipment Costs

Driver shortages

The logistics sector is getting squeezed from all sides by the implications of tariffs, including rising equipment costs, unpredictable business patterns, stalled contract renewals, and the threat of a recession. CIOs must be proactive about taking action to push back against these external forces.

Plan for and address each of the pressures on your organization by:

  1. Identifying and cataloging risks to your business operations and understanding the potential impacts.
  2. Reviewing your IT capacity to address escalating risk situations and optimizing where possible to increase resilience.
  3. Creating plans for maintaining business continuity and delivering value no matter what challenges emerge.
  4. Executing as required by the shifting environment, clearly communicating actions taken, and soliciting feedback to validate the intended impact of your plans.

The current uncertainty has many of us hesitant, delaying decisions and awaiting direction with no sense of control.

  • Looming tariffs have caused unpredictable/shifting business patterns.
  • Contracts have been cancelled and renewals stalled for cross-border shippers.
  • Economic uncertainty is threatening a wholesale loss of demand.
  • Equipment and repair costs have increased because of tariffs on parts and new truck/tractor construction.
  • Driver shortages have reduced the ability to scale effectively.

This has caused widespread anxiety and locked us in a defensive posture!

This reaction is understandable, but waiting is not a strategy. Inaction carries significant risks.

Waiting for tariff implementation or contract decisions leaves you exposed to the worst-case outcomes in price and demand volatility.

The time you spend waiting for clarity robs you of time required to take action and meet demand.

Get ahead of the risk and the competition by having clear roadmaps for navigating risk scenarios.

No matter your role, being the one who brings solutions can position you as an anchor for stability.

The transportation and logistics sector is getting squeezed by economic, cost, and labor challenges

1.0%-1.5%
Projected decrease in US import volume over three years if tariffs remain in place.
(ShipLilly, 2025)

$52.8 billion
Record high value of Canada to US exports in January 2025, driven by supplier stockpiling.
(Statistics Canada, 2025)

$35,000
Projected increase in cost of Class 8 vehicles caused by tariffs.
(Commercial Carrier Journal, 2025)

15%
Projected increase to overall transportation costs based on an average 10% tariff on imports.
(ShipLilly, 2025)

57%
Percentage of surveyed employers that indicated challenges hiring for trucking positions.
(Traffic Injury 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ Foundation, 2024)

102,000
Projected job openings for heavy truck drivers in the US within the next decade.
(Statista, 2024)

We have a four-step approach to achieving resilience in times of policy and budget uncertainty

Step 1: Assess the Risk Impact on Your Organization

  • 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ an up-to-date and integrated risk register.
  • Analyze the impact of each risk.
  • 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ a risk event action plan.

Step 2: Determine the Resources Needed to Succeed

  • Perform an IT staffing assessment.
  • Assess and benchmark your IT spend.
  • Review your agreements with critical vendors.

Step 3: 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ a Critical Response Plan

  • Revisit your workforce plan.
  • 91ÖÆÆ¬³§ an IT knowledge transfer plan.
  • Develop your IT cost optimization roadmap.

Step 4: Execute With Confidence

  • Draft employee communication.
  • Execute on your succession plans.
  • Execute on your business continuity plans.
  • Renegotiate your vendor agreements.

Info-Tech is a leader in developing IT best practices for risk management in the transportation sector.

Use our methodologies, tools, deliverables, and a vast offering of analyst guidance, services, and workshops to succeed.

Tackle tariffs and demand swings with smart risk planning.

About Info-Tech

91ÖÆÆ¬³§ is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

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Author

Evan Garland

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