The majority of logistics companies ended the first quarter of 2019 with a profit. Satisfaction prevails, but the large number of vacancies remains a source of concern.
This is according to the TLN business survey for the first quarter of 2019. 61 per cent of respondents closed the first quarter with a profit. 43 per cent of TLN members recorded an increase in turnover compared to a year earlier. Costs rose, mainly due to fuel and personnel costs, but prices also rose cautiously, with 66 per cent reporting a price increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Open vacancies
Satisfaction seems to dominate, covering all aspects: competitive position, liquidity, utilisation, order book, turnover and activity. Dissatisfied are logistics companies with the number of open vacancies and the difficulty in filling them.
'Quality is disappointing'
41 per cent of respondents had vacancies, 90 per cent of which were looking for 1 to 6 new employees. 67 per cent also found the vacancies difficult (46 per cent) to very difficult (21 per cent) to fill. With this, the situation has worsened compared to Q4 2018. Back then, 37 per cent of respondents had vacancies. Companies express concerns about the quality of available staff. "Last year (2018) we had few problems with it, this year so far we don't want to get someone to interview," writes one respondent. Another says: "Applications are coming in, but for temporary, students, or junk."
Expectations
For the second quarter of 2019, the majority of respondents expect sales and profits to remain the same. They also think positively about the next five years: 57 per cent of TLN members foresee a positive future for the company, 23 per cent take a neutral view. Only 5 per cent predict a negative future.
