Driver Shortages: How Labor Crunches Are Changing Returns Management

Driver shortages are making headlines across the U.S. and Europe, creating ripple effects throughout the supply chain. According to industry reports, 69% of logistics companies say capacity is constrained due to a lack of drivers (Supply Chain Dive, Tech.co, Talking Logistics). While the focus is often on forward logistics, these shortages significantly impact reverse logistics as well—where delays in processing returns can lead to lost revenue, higher costs, and dissatisfied customers.

For businesses managing large volumes of returns, the message is clear: adapting to these disruptions isn’t optional. It’s essential.


The Driver Shortage Challenge—By the Numbers

Driver shortages are not new, but they’re worsening. With fewer drivers available, companies struggle to move goods efficiently across the supply chain. In reverse logistics, this creates unique challenges:

Learn more about industry trends impacting reverse logistics in our Mid-Year Reverse Logistics Insights Blog.


How Driver Shortages Impact Reverse Logistics

Unlike forward shipping, reverse logistics often lacks predictable volume or timing. When driver shortages hit, this unpredictability amplifies:

Explore how PTS Corp manages Returns Management Services to avoid these pitfalls.


Why Businesses Need Scalable Solutions

Rigid supply chain strategies cannot adapt quickly to capacity fluctuations. That’s why scalable reverse logistics solutions are critical. Businesses need partners who can:

See how our Value-Added Services help bridge the gap when supply chain disruptions occur.


How PTS Corp Keeps Returns Moving Despite Disruptions

At PTS Corp, we’ve built our processes around flexibility and speed. Our reverse logistics solutions include:

By handling these steps internally, we reduce dependency on strained transportation networks and help clients maintain service continuity.

Learn more about our Repair and Refurbishment Services.


Looking Ahead: Driver Shortages Are Here to Stay

Industry analysts predict labor shortages will persist well into 2025 (AJOT). Companies that fail to plan for ongoing disruptions risk falling behind their competitors. Partnering with a reverse logistics provider who can adapt quickly ensures resilience in an unpredictable market.


Don’t Let Driver Shortages Derail Your Reverse Logistics

When delays happen, you need a partner who can pivot with you. PTS Corp offers scalable, end-to-end reverse logistics solutions that keep your returns process moving—no matter what challenges arise.

👉 Contact us today to learn how we can help you streamline returns and maintain efficiency.

Bridging the Gap: How Strategic Kitting Solves Inventory Mismatches and Speeds Up Time-to-Market

Keeping inventory in balance is one of the toughest challenges in supply chain operations. Too much of the wrong component, not enough finished goods, or delays in assembling promotional kits can create ripple effects that impact everything from sales to customer satisfaction. For businesses dealing with complex product lines, seasonal promotions, or unpredictable demand, strategic kitting is more than a value-added service—it’s a competitive advantage. 


The Inventory Balancing Act

Even with the best forecast planning, mismatches between component availability and finished goods demand are common. You may have all the parts to build a product, but not the right resources to assemble it quickly. Or, you might have finished goods ready, but without the correct literature, coupons, or packaging to fulfill a promotion. In both cases, sales opportunities can be lost, fulfillment is delayed, and warehousing costs increase. For more on how we help businesses navigate complex fulfillment challenges, check out our Reverse Logistics Overview.


The Strategic Advantage of Kitting

At its core, kitting is the process of grouping individual items together into a ready-to-ship unit—but when done right, it's so much more. Just-in-Time (JIT) kitting enables businesses to delay final assembly until an order is confirmed or inventory levels justify it. That flexibility:

For companies navigating volatile supply chains or product launches, this agility can mean the difference between hitting a deadline and missing the window entirely. Looking to see how this fits into a broader returns strategy? Read our post on Reverse Logistics Insights from 2025.


Flexible Postponement Keeps You Nimble

Flexible postponement refers to delaying the final configuration or packaging of a product until closer to the point of sale. This is especially helpful when regional variations, seasonal content, or last-minute changes are involved. For example, a product being sold in three markets may need different manuals or promotional inserts. Rather than pre-packaging all versions in advance, kitting allows you to merge the right collateral just before shipment—minimizing waste and maximizing relevance.


PTS Corp’s Role in Strategic Kitting and Assembly

At PTS Corp, our value-added services are designed to solve these exact challenges. Our experienced team manages:

Whether you need high-volume fulfillment, flexible packaging configurations, or last-minute product adjustments, our kitting solutions are tailored to move with your business. Explore how our Value-Added Services support every stage of the reverse logistics cycle.


Turning Inventory Into Efficiency

When kitting is strategic, inventory becomes a tool for agility—not a bottleneck. Delayed assembly gives your business breathing room to adjust to market changes while minimizing overhead. And by aligning fulfillment with real-time demand, you’re able to reduce waste, lower storage costs, and deliver faster.


Want to See What Smart Kitting Can Do for You?

If inventory mismatches or fulfillment delays are holding you back, it may be time to rethink your approach. PTS Corp can help you streamline operations and optimize your inventory from the inside out. Already working with returns or repairs? Learn how our repair and refurbishment services align with your kitting strategy. 👉 Contact us today to learn how our kitting and assembly services can drive efficiency and speed up your time-to-market.

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As businesses grow, so does the challenge of managing increased demand. Sometimes, operations struggle to keep pace with rapid growth, especially when businesses outgrow their facilities or systems. Without the proper infrastructure, trying to manage these changes internally can lead to missed opportunities, overworked teams, and increased operational costs. Failure to scale quickly and efficiently could result in significant setbacks.

This is where partnering with a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider, like PTS Corp, becomes essential. A 3PL can quickly adapt to your business needs, handling logistics challenges such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and storage. With a 3PL, your business gains the flexibility to scale without the hassle of investing in new systems, staff, or warehouse space every time your business experiences growth. By outsourcing these logistical operations, your team can focus on core business tasks like marketing, product development, and customer acquisition.

The Power of Kitting & Fulfillment for Seamless Growth

One of the most valuable services a 3PL offers is kitting and fulfillment. Kitting involves grouping items together to prepare them for shipment, and fulfillment ensures orders are processed and shipped out efficiently. Instead of managing inventory, packaging, and shipping in-house, a 3PL can take on these time-consuming tasks. This allows your business to maintain flexibility, reduce overhead costs, and ensure that products are ready to be shipped quickly, without the need for additional warehouse space or workforce.

At PTS Corp, we have the resources and expertise to handle all of your kitting and fulfillment needs. We not only store your products during down seasons but also anticipate market changes and prep for them ahead of time. By utilizing our services, you can save time, minimize costs, and avoid the complexities of in-house fulfillment. Let PTS Corp handle the logistics while you focus on what truly drives your business growth—strategic expansion and customer satisfaction.

Partner with PTS Corp today to ensure your logistics processes are as scalable and efficient as your business is growing. Let us handle the details so you can focus on reaching your business goals.

Ready to see how your business can improve with PTS Corp? Sign up for a preliminary consultation with one of our experts today!

At PTS Corp, we pride ourselves on tailoring our processes to meet the unique needs of each client. For our kitting solutions, we prioritize collaboration to find the best solutions to increase throughput and add value. One of our kitting clients approached us due to a projected volume increase for 2022. Recognizing our scalability and expertise, they chose us to take over their in-house kitting processes for shipping to multiple retailers and direct customers.


Challenges and Strategic Solutions

As we worked with this client, several challenges arose, including supply chain disruptions, high demand with short timelines, and shifting priorities. To address these issues, we implemented a range of strategic solutions:

These kitting solutions allowed us to adapt quickly, exceed expectations, and ensure alignment with the client’s goals.

{READ - SCALING YOUR BUSINESS EFFICIENTLY: THE POWER OF KITTING & FULFILLMENT}


Results That Speak for Themselves

The results achieved for this client highlight the success of our collaboration:

May – October 2022

November 2022

Overall Impact (May – November)

By exceeding demand during the peak season, PTS enabled the client to scale quickly. Moving forward, PTS will take over shipping logistics for direct-to-retailer and direct-to-customer operations. This allows the client to focus on core business functions like product development, marketing, and distributor network growth.


Why Choose PTS Corp as Your Kitting Partner?

At PTS Corp, we are dedicated to helping clients navigate challenges and develop solutions that drive success. With the resources, expertise, and scalability to handle complex logistics and increasing demand, we are an ideal 3PL kitting partner. Our commitment to improvement ensures that our clients can focus on what they do best while we handle the rest.

Learn More About Kitting Services
Explore our kitting services here or contact us today to start a conversation about how PTS can help elevate your kitting operations.

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