shortage of space, lack of labour: overcoming ongoing challenges in 2025

A shortage of workers to fill logistics roles has been a concern for several years, with an ageing workforce and fewer young people considering it a career path. The declining number of truck drivers globally is particularly alarming: without action, unfilled vacancies are projected to double by 2028.  As a result, wages have climbed by up to 40% in recent years as companies compete for talent. This means businesses must recruit wisely and consider alternative ways to improve their logistics processes.

At the same time, it’s necessary to consider the operation end to end, taking into account areas of a factory, warehouse and distribution centre that may have previously been overlooked, such as the loading bay. More efficiently loading and unloading goods from trailers can lead to much faster, safer, and more reliable transportation between sites, which requires fewer people and less space. However, the right solution will not be one size and it won’t fit all.

Businesses need to work with partners who offer a full range of equipment and who will carefully assess their unique setups and challenges to ensure the right solution that integrates into their broader operation. This means businesses should expect to be able to calculate ROI and quantify full-scale benefits. Whether fully automated systems, or more simple but strategic solutions that can be added to over time, a clear roadmap will help ensure investments deliver lasting value.

In the case of the loading process, this means considering the following:

• The current loading process: how do you load? What do you load? Where is it going? And in which quantities?
• Design and manufacture of the resulting solution, ensuring longevity, reliability and performance. Is it built in-house and therefore customisable to your needs? Can the equipment be re-installed elsewhere?
• Complete management of installation, including testing, commissioning and training.
• Ongoing 24/7 maintenance and support.

By integrating automated systems, businesses can alleviate the strain of labour and space shortages, reduce operational costs in the long run, and improve overall productivity. The key is identifying the right solution and level of automation to match specific needs, entrenched within a solid business case and roadmap for sustainable growth.

Around the world, we’re known as the number one; the global leader in loading and unloading solutions. This is not only because we are the largest but also the first too; we've been pioneering loading solutions since 1962.

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