While COVID-19 took us all by surprise, some companies in the trucking industry were better prepared to deal with it. I think there were three key elements that helped some firms navigate the pandemic with more ease than others.

The first was predicated on whether the business had a disaster plan in place. I know when we think of disasters we usually think of things like fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, etc. Disaster is defined as a sudden event that cause great damage. It’s hard to argue that the COVID-19 pandemic was not a disaster.

A disaster plan allows a company to operate as close to normal as possible even though there has been a serious disruption. Disaster plans usually include contingencies for ways to continue to communicate with customers, how essential goods will be purchased and how bills will be paid. A strong emphasis on communication is one essential element of a disaster plan. Being able to connect with employees, customers and suppliers as quickly as possible following the onset of the disaster and staying connected for the duration of the event instills confidence that your business is stable and that they can rely on you.

The second tenet was the ability to innovate. Businesses that fostered a culture of innovation were able to pivot quickly to react to changes caused by the pandemic. They were used to taking risks and trying different ways of doing things because they do so on a regular basis. Because of this built in culture of innovation, they were not afraid to react quickly and try different options to keep customers and employees safe while still delivering high quality service.

The third element was strong relationships with partners. Partnerships are based on trust and on making decisions that are mutually beneficial.  Businesses that had developed strong partnerships were able to work together to make sure customer needs were met even if that meant extending payment terms, beefing up inventory or changing the way technical advice was delivered.

The economy is slowly starting to come back from the COIVD-19 slowdown, and businesses are returning to a semblance of normal. This is a good time to look at how you performed during the pandemic and to begin to make changes that will put you in a better position to weather the next disaster, no matter what it is. Determine the things you did well and give yourself a high five for having the people and processes in place that led to success. Then look at where you struggled and determine what you need to do to bolster up those weak areas.

No one knows what the future brings, but if the past is any indicator, we are likely to face major bumps in the road again. Plan to be prepared.