In addition to tracking core trends in the 3PL industry, the study explores contemporary supply chain issues that impact both shippers and logistics providers. One of the most pressing challenges today is the disruption tariffs and evolving trade policies cause. It is prompting many shippers to reassess their sourcing, production and distribution strategies.
In the near term, shippers will pursue several strategies to mitigate tariff impacts. These will include shifting to alternative approaches to sourcing (45%), identifying new foreign suppliers (40%) and modeling tariff risks (40%). In contrast, 41% of 3PLs report no plans to implement short-term tariff strategies. However, 41% plan to source domestically, while 35% intend to purchase from premium domestic suppliers.
Looking ahead, long-term strategies include reevaluating product portfolios, which 30% of shippers and 47% of 3PLs cite, and reestablishing manufacturing bases, which 25% of shippers and 24% of 3PLs report. Roughly one-third of shippers (30%) and 3PLs (29%) indicate no plans to adopt long-term tariff strategies, which could leave them vulnerable as trade tensions persist.
Despite the disruption tariffs are causing, shippers and 3PLs express confidence in their ability to adapt to the changes that tariffs will bring.
Both groups learned valuable lessons during COVID-19, which exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains as well as the risks of overreliance on a single sourcing region. Ongoing uncertainty will likely reinforce the importance of agility and adaptability in supply chain strategy and highlight the strategic role 3PLs play.