In most situations, there are always winners and losers. When Trump took office, his administration introduced new tariffs that have raised uncertainty not just in the U.S. but also among other countries that trade with the U.S. Reports by Transport Topics show that the trade policies could be a blessing in disguise for 3PL providers. They could turn out to be winners amidst the challenging economic times for others. But they must take the bull by the horns. They must be proactive and take full advantage of the situation. It is not just a matter of give and take. It is a grab-and-seize kind of situation. 

How will the 3PLs come out on top? 

Clearly, this is quite an excellent opportunity for the 3PLs. But there are a few things that they must do right to come out on top of the situation. The first step is to build a strong working relationship with LTL and last-mile carriers. They must also make some other changes to their operations to achieve what they want. Shippers heavily rely on 3PLs for end-to-end logistics support. Therefore, the tariffs have made the 3PLs even more critical.  

Some shippers handle their logistics in-house. But with the uncertainty, it becomes a bit more challenging for them. And that’s where the 3PLs become quite integral. 2024 was a challenging year for shippers, even before the tariffs. There were many challenges they faced. There is still much pressure with the ever-growing uncertainties. The supply chain can never lack challenges. The 3PLs must now expand their 4PLs. In doing so, they will enhance their market visibility to manage complex supply chains. 

In the past, 3PLs have focused on a fixed route from origin to destination. Now, they will also have to provide other routes. The origin and destination would not be fixed anymore. The 3PLs will also need to deliver the goods to the customers. The last-mile delivery would now have to be an interest they would need to take up. The e-commerce world keeps growing. The one constant entity is the customer. Their needs must always remain a priority. To make this a success, 3PLs have a decision to make. They must use all the tools available to meet their customers' needs fully. The tariffs have hit different entities differently. But for the 3PLs, this is quite an opportunity, and it is theirs to take up. But they must stay on top of their game to make it a success. 

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