JANUARY 2026 19logisticstechoutlook.comWhat can Global Shippers Do to Combat Tight Capacity? The key is to remain flexible and remember it's never too late to start planning.Althoughsome items, such as technology,tend tomove by air, global shippers can consider shifting other commodities to expedited LCL or expedited fullcontainer load (FCL) service to mitigate disruption and stay agile in a tight global freight market. However, for those shippers that truly depend on air capacity, shifting modes isn't always an option. So, while ghost flights were a reactive solution for many this past spring, C.H. Robinson took our own planning advice and proactively chartered weekly 747 cargo flights from China to the U.S. from October to November, as well as Europe to the U.S. until the end of the year. Capacity on a 747 cargo aircraft can hold up to five times more freight than an average ghost flight. And our global network of experts knew proactively purchasing that space was necessary as global shippers face peak season, PPE from Asia, and a recovering economy out of Europe. We're already seeing this approach drive solutions for our customers.Looking Forwardto COVID-19 VaccinesCOVID-19 vaccinesare on the horizon.Once one or more isavailable for global circulation, it will likely create a significant ripple effect throughout supply chains. Even if your company is not directly connected to distributing or manufacturing a vaccine, the time to start planning alternative modes or routes is now. Like technology, vaccines primarily ship via air to monitor the temperature and deliver them to market quickly. According to IATA, 8,000 747 flights would be needed to distribute a single dose of the vaccine to 7.8 billion people around the world. Although a vaccine with this large of a global magnitude is new, we can get a sense of the supply chain reaction by looking back at the height of global demand for PPE. Throughout the spring we saw airlines, 3PLs, carriers, companies, and government agencies go above and beyond, working extra hours and expediting products in order to create and deliver PPE around the globe quickly. It's likely we'll see the same comradery with the vaccine--pulling manpower and capacity away from other shipping needs. Although we know air freight will play a vital role in distributing vaccines, last mile is also an important area companies and logistic professionals are planning for. Last mile planning will be especiallyimportant in countries where road or manufacturing infrastructure may be underdeveloped.However, keep in mind whether your companyis involved in vaccinedistribution or not, it's still likely your supply chain will be impacted by higher transportation rates or additional capacity constraints across modes. Final Thoughts As the pandemic spread across the globe, we saw air cargo rates rise to unprecedented levels.Airlines and cargo operators continue toadapt quickly to this dynamic market. Now it's time for companies to evolve, too. Never before has a balance between proactive planning and flexibility been so important.Planning ahead and using forecast data can be the difference needed to turn an efficient or dysfunctional supply chain into a strong, agile one that is ready to face this volatile market. We know logistics can't exist in a world of absolutes. This makes itdifficult to prepare for today's (and tomorrow's) disruptions--or even to know where to begin. That's where C.H. Robinson comes in. Utilizing our information advantage, you can rely on our people to bring you smarter solutions across your global supply chain. Reach out to one of our experts today to start the conversation.
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