446: Keep America Moving, with Werner

Lance Dixon of Werner talks about transportation challenges & opportunities; cross-border potential; & how Werner helps to give companies a strategic edge.  IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [05.26] An introduction to Lance, and to Werner. "It's an ever-changing, dynamic world. And what a change since 1992 when I started at Werner! Things are so different... There are more rules, regulations – probably good for society in general, but it's a chore to keep up!" [08.23] The ideal client for Werner. "It's someone that's open to multi modes of shipping, whatever is most efficient… Someone that's flexible and wants to partner, someone who doesn't look at Werner as just a service provider. We want to work together to solve these transportation and supply chain issues." [10.20] How both Werner and the industry have changed, and the huge business potential in Mexico. "The pandemic taught us a lot about how fragile long supply chains are, so there's been a move to source closer to the end consumer." [16.05] The key challenges facing Werner customers right now, and how Werner help tackle them. "There's a northbound-southbound imbalance, with northbound volume outpacing the southbound – there's a lot more coming into the U.S. than there is going out, and nearshoring is going to exacerbate that." [19.05] The biggest opportunities for organizations in 2025, and the future for nearshoring. "Nearshoring is in the early stages – it's going to take a decade to play itself out, but I'm excited to see where it's going to go." [22.58] The cross-border potential in Canada, the difference in logistics execution between Canada and Mexico, and the overall importance of the logistics and transportation industries. "It's complex, it's dynamic, it's challenging – but that's what keeps it interesting!" "I don't think we always fully grasp how important logistics and transportation is to so many people… It can seem like a thankless job but what we do, all of us collectively, is so important to companies, to societies." [28.36] The challenges and risks shippers might face when shipping to and from Mexico, how Werner are helping mitigate them, and Lance's advice for organizations in the early stages of nearshoring. [34.38] Werner's recent $8 million investment to improve operations and capabilities in Mexico, and the importance of providing flexibility, speed, and capacity to customers. [37.55] A case study detailing how Werner helped a client that needed to double their normal volume to keep transportation costs down and boost ROI. "Flexibility is going to be the key to success for many shippers coming out of Mexico, going forward, as nearshoring ramps up." [40.44] The future for the industry, and for Werner. "We don't practice any more, we're experts at this game." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Werner's website to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Werner and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Lance on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about cross-border transportation, check out 414: Section 321: Borderless Ecommerce At Your Fingertips,or 406: Unlock the Opportunities of Cross-Border Ecommerce, with CargoWise.