TRANSPORT and logistics operators are confident of a strong recovery post COVID-19, a new report reveals.
The Victorian Transport Association has been monitoring the sentiments among freight and logistics operators since April to assess views on trade, investment, people customers and customers as part of the COVID Insights survey.
“Our October COVID Insights report continues a trend of Victorian transport operators expressing hope and optimism that the economy and our industry will quickly recover if restrictions are lifted, with 94% of those surveyed agreeing or strongly agreeing their business will go on to be more prosperous,” said VTA chief executive Peter Anderson.
“This is a terrific validation of the industry’s efforts to adjust their businesses to be able to service customer needs in a sustainable and productive way, ensuring consumers have had uninterrupted access to essential goods throughout the pandemic.
“It also underscores the urgent need for the Victorian government to reopen the economy as soon as possible so that this optimism doesn’t wane.”
Mr Anderson said the COVID Insights report showed half of operators agree or strongly agree that COVID-19 would generate even bigger volumes of freight.
“More than half (55%) agree or strongly agree domestic and international trade will increase in the coming months, continuing the optimism reported in our first two surveys,” he said.
Sentiments towards hiring new staff and purchasing capital equipment were said to have been another factor in the positive outlook of transport operators in a post-COVID future.
“In a recession it is particularly encouraging that 69% of our respondents said they would invest in their businesses by purchasing new capital equipment by year’s end, validating the government’s extension of the Instant Asset Write-off program in the federal budget,” Mr Anderson said.
“It is equally encouraging two-thirds of those surveyed will hire new staff (31%) or leave staffing levels unchanged (31%) over the coming quarter, sharply contrasting cutbacks in other parts of the economy.”
