COVID-19 and the Moving Industry: A Comprehensive Discussion

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the world in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. From our daily routines to the global economy, nearly every facet of life has been affected. One such industry that is seeing much disruption of late is the moving industry. Challenges, delays, and logistic problems found their way into trouble in the case of relocation locally or internationally. Herein, we shall discuss the different ways through which COVID-19 affected the moving industry and how one can adapt to the new challenge.

1. Skyrocketing Shipping Costs

Among the very first and most easily spotted effects of COVID-19 to impact the moving industry has been the great leap in shipping prices. Prices to send a container of household goods to Europe or the USA have increased sixfold in many cases. Although influenced by many factors, such price hikes are caused mainly by a supply shortage in labor within the shipping and logistics sectors.

• Labor Shortages: The pandemic has brought about labor shortages all around the globe. This is particularly true for industries that rely on manual labor. Affected are marine crews, port handlers, and truck drivers. This has sometimes led to an inability to work because of reported illnesses, quarantines, and travel restrictions. In addition, the global supply chain hasn’t recuperated from the different shocks it experienced during its inception and has continued to backlog and cause delays. This has increased the cost of moving goods across borders tenfold.
• Increased Demand for Shipping: At the same time, shipping demand has increased. With more people opting to move, whether to be closer to family, escape heavily populated areas, or seek new employment, the need for shipping containers and transportation has outpaced the available supply. This has driven prices significantly higher, increasing the cost of moving household goods internationally substantially.

2. Packing Specialist Shortage

Another serious issue that the movers have been experiencing is a lack of packing specialists. The peak moving seasons occur during the summer seasons, where there are more suns out and would be an ideal period to move. Packing specialists are crucial in ensuring that households are perfectly protected while in transit. The pandemic has reduced the availability of such skilled workers.

• Health Concerns and Safety Protocols: Many packing professionals have been unable or unwilling to work, considering the health risks from COVID-19. Some were restricted from working due to lockdowns, social distancing, quarantine, and other means. Even a small reduction in the number of available packing specialists can wreak chaos on moving schedules, leading to delays and increased consumer costs.
• Impact on Moving Companies: For moving companies, this shortage has created significant operational challenges. With fewer specialists available, companies have to reschedule or delay moves at the shortest possible notice. As a result of this shortage, not only were customers inconvenienced, but moving companies were strained in their resources as well, since they had to balance meeting demand with the safety and well-being of workers.

3. Container and Ship Space Shortages

The pandemic has also hit hard on the global shipping industry, with major shortages in shipping containers and space on ships. These shortages added to the delays and costs in a mover’s industry.

• Container Availability: Shipping containers, which become necessary for the transportation of household goods, are becoming scarcer by the day. The supply shortage in the global market due to this pandemic has caused huge disruptions to their production and distribution. This means movers will have to wait longer for container availability, ultimately delaying the whole moving process.
• Space on Ships: Ironically, even when the containers are available, space on the ships has become a challenge. The pandemic brought down the number of ships in operation, and coupled with this, the increase in demand for shipping services had resulted in a bottleneck in the world supply chain. Resultantly, some shipments delayed for weeks or even months started popping up, and customers were compellingly charged premium prices to get space on whichever available ships existed.
• Storage Costs: This deficit, very often, prompts the relocation of household goods to, and storage in, warehouses at either origin or destination, pending the availability of a container or ship space. This prolongs the relocation timeline further and adds to the cost, as customers now start incurring storage costs on top of the already inflated shipping charges.

4. Reduction in Air Cargo Routes

While most household goods move under the ocean, only a small portion of shipments—particularly time-critical or high-value items—move by air. The pandemic has cut the number of available air cargo routes by more than half, heaping further pressure on the moving industry.

• Air Freight Disruptions: With the reduction in passenger flights, most of which carry freight in the hold, there are a lot fewer capacity options for air freight. This means longer waiting times and higher prices for air shipments. For those moving internationally, this complicates the situation of sending time-critical items like crucial documents or personal effects that need to arrive quickly.
• Impact on Pet Relocation: Perhaps one of the most unfortunate side effects of reduced air cargo routes has been relocation for pets. Since they are part of the air freight, the reduction in available routes makes it hard to find suitable flights. Also, the extra time on routing, normally longer because of limited flights, adds stress and discomfort to pets, hence complicating the process for their owners.

How to Tackle the Challenges: What You Can Do

While all of us wish that COVID-19 would simply go away, or at the very least not have such an adverse effect on the shipping industry worldwide, this is not an option. It does not, however, mean there’s nothing to be done at the level of the single citizen and business to soften the shock.

• Plan Ahead: The biggest thing you can do to help yourself out is to plan your move months in advance. Clearly, this isn’t the year you want to wait until the last minute to book your move. Getting out in front of these issues means you will be able to secure needed services and minimize potential disruption.
• Be Informed: Stay ahead on the current market trends and changes in shipment and moving industries. Knowing what is going on will help you realize the challenges and the possible delays to come in your relocation process, hence setting appropriate expectations and making informed decisions.
• Work with a Reputable Moving Company: This is where working with an experienced and trustworthy moving company becomes the key. For instance, Asian Tigers Group is one of these moving companies that has the professional capacity to deal with international moving during a pandemic. They can offer valuable advice, secure needed services for you, and ensure as seamless a move as possible.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard on the moving industry, forging new challenges and complicating some that already existed. From skyrocketing shipping costs to shortages in labor and container space, much has changed in the moving industry. Such challenges, though huge, are definitely not impossible to surmount. Early preparation, taking updates on the situation, and a little cooperation with a well-reputed moving company can help any individual or business to sail through all the complexities involved in moving during pandemics.

If you’re thinking about moving overseas at this time, don’t hesitate—contact your local Asian Tigers office today. The steps you take now can help minimize disruptions and ensure a smoother relocation process.