A guide to crew transportation solutions

The rail industry provides crucial infrastructure that supply chains in the US depend on for industries ranging from agriculture to construction. As many industries embrace an increasing concern for sustainability, rail demand is expected to grow. That growth in itself is one of the challenges facing the industry, as the infrastructure it depends on can only handle so much.

Staffing shortages put serious limitations on how often trains can run safely as well as how quickly they can be loaded and emptied. Maintenance requirements (for tracks, as well as the trains themselves) can slow down service. And climate disruptions can cause damage that affects routes for weeks or months at a time.

On top of all that, train scheduling is a complex process even if everything else goes right. Each train’s route has to take into account all the other trains using the tracks that day and how busy each station and hub where they arrive will be. Complicating things further, seasonal trends keep scheduling from being consistent throughout the year. Rail companies have to factor in peak travel season for commuter rails and the holiday season boom for freight trains. Since the industry depends on shared tracks, one train’s problem can have a far-reaching domino effect.

Airlines have faced their own share of troubles in recent years. At many airports, travelers contend with long wait times and crowded terminals. That leaves many stressed out before they even get to the gate.

Making matters worse, a combination of factors has led to a recent increase in flight delays and cancellations. A staffing shortage—particularly for pilots—means that not only can fewer flights be scheduled overall, but also anytime staff gets sick, there’s no easy replacement. On top of that, a shortage of air traffic controllers can keep flights from getting out on time, even when all the airline staff are present. Climate change is taking its toll on air travel as well, bumping up the number of cancellations and delays even further.

In other words, the air travel experience has gotten harder on many travelers, which takes a toll on the airline staff tasked with taking care of them. Employees work long hours in tough conditions. Even with recent regulations mandating more rest time for airline staff, fatigue and burnout are big issues.

The maritime industry remains an important component in the global supply chain. Nature Climate Change reports that ports handle around 80% of global trade. That same article details one of the biggest challenges affecting the maritime industry right now: weather-related disruptions. Climate events can shut down ports for days or months at a time, causing far-reaching consequences for the global supply chain.

Weather closures are just one factor that can contribute to port congestion and delays. Current events from labor strikes to wars can disrupt business-as-usual at key ports. Container shortages can slow routes, even as worker shortages leave containers sitting in port for long periods of time. All this came to a head in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing huge delays. And while things have somewhat normalized since then, maritime businesses must still closely watch the conditions that affect individual ports.

Amidst all this, maritime companies have to keep the safety of their crews top of mind. Maritime travel has always been dangerous, but extreme weather, the introduction of new technologies, and labor shortages all exacerbate the risk. DNV research found a 9% increase in safety incidents involving large vessels in 2022, on top of a 7% increase in 2021. Crews need ample training to handle the challenges of today’s maritime landscape, along with enough time off to avoid exhaustion.