Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - A supply chain expert at Virginia Commonwealth University is recommending people, if they can, buy their holiday gifts now. Jeff Smith is Chair of the Supply Chain Management Department at VCU.
Smith says supply chains are long, and can be impacted by demand ripples. For example, with word of a turkey shortage, Smith says it could be a result of a driver shortage, or it might be a result of the packaging material being needed elsewhere. Smith says the truck driver shortage long predates Covid, and goes back over a decade.
Smith says the backups in the chain are mostly clearly being seen at the ports in California, but East Coast ports are facing this as well. He says there are even backups in Richmond, as goods make their way from ports like Norfolk to Richmond, but then don't have the drivers to take them to final destinations.
Smith says time and patience are going to be needed to resolve the situation.
