Challenging times continue: finished vehicle logistics survey Q4 results

Access the report

The latest survey, produced by logistics provider RPM and Automotive Logistics, points to a widening range of challenges for FVL providers. They include capacity constraints. labour shortages, market uncertainty, fuel costs, volume volatility, unpredictable lead times, and production disruption.  

Furthermore, there are macroeconomic headwinds and uncertainties created by the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the impact of severe inflationary effects on businesses and consumers. That is now likely to be compounded by a period of recession across most advanced economies. That business climate makes it especially challenging for FVL providers to survive, thrive and invest in the future. 

From the perspective of FVL users, carmakers continue to face ongoing supply chain disruption with volatility in the supply of parts and materials, combined with capacity and labour constraints, affecting the timely delivery of their vehicles when they leave the assembly plant. The shortage of parts is particularly acute in the area of semiconductors, which has persistently remained a lingering after-effect of the Covid pandemic. That has continued to impact production at the leading carmakers and forced many to revise their annual production forecasts. 

Both the automotive and logistics industries continue to struggle with staffing levels and recruitment. This continues to have a major impact on the production and transit of goods, not least in the transport of finished vehicles by road and rail. 

Looking further ahead, the survey also captures the industry sentiment around production and sales, company outlook, the impact of EV growth, investment in new technologies and the longer-term transitions to sustainability. 

Download this survey for exclusive insights including: 

• Industry challenges 

• Legislation 

• Rising costs 

• Capacity 

• Labour 

• Semiconductor shortages 

• Freight rates 

• Lead times 

• Technology, innovation and digitalisation 

• EV logistics 

• Sustainability 

• Vehicle production 

• Company outlook 

Access the report

This survey was compiled in partnership with RPM.

With over a decade in the Finished Vehicle Logistics space, RPM is one of the fastest-growing full-service logistics companies in North America and Europe, specialising in finished vehicle transport. The company addresses customers’ shipping needs by matching available capacity and meticulously but efficiently providing complete origin to destination execution to every logistics and distribution challenge.

Download your copy of the report today