In transportation, disruption isn’t the exception—it’s the baseline. Labor strikes, port congestion, geopolitical conflict—you name it. If you’re in this industry, you already know: chaos comes standard. The difference between supply chains that fail and those that thrive isn’t about avoiding disruption. It’s about choosing partners who can withstand it.

At Mark-it Express, we’re not here to complain about the latest challenge. We’re here to ask a harder question: How well do you really know your partners?

The Hidden Risk No One Wants to Talk About

In industries like healthcare or utilities, vetting vendors isn’t optional—it’s essential. Financial health checks, contingency planning, redundancy—these are standard protocol. But in the supply chain? Crickets.

Until recently.

Last year, for the first time in my career, a prospect asked for key metrics regarding not only our financial strength but also if we were tied to any Private Equity Investment. That shouldn’t be a radical request—it should be normal.

Here’s why:

  • When a drayage provider collapses, containers get stranded, chassis fees skyrocket, and shippers are left holding the bag. 
  • From November 2024 through October 2025, the intermodal industry shrank from 12,887 carriers to 12,447 carriers, comprising 440 motor carriers that have either gone out of business or stopped providing drayage services. 
  • Consolidation in our space is accelerating—NVOCCs and investment groups are snapping up regional players. When that happens, who owns your shipment data? What happens to your rates, your service, and your privacy?

 

Knowing Your Partners = Protecting Your Supply Chain

Here’s what you should be asking before you hand over your freight:

  • Is your drayage partner financially stable? 
  • Are they independently owned or on the verge of being acquired? 
  • How do they protect your shipment data and strategic information? 
  • Do they have operational staying power through economic downturns? 

Because the truth is, a good rate isn’t worth anything if the truck doesn’t show up.

Why Mark-it Express Stands Apart

We’re proudly independent. We don’t answer to a steamship line, NVOCC, or investment group/PE funding. That neutrality gives us:

  • Data privacy integrity—your shipment info stays secure 
  • Financial strength—no sudden closures, no surprise exits 
  • Operational control—we own our decisions, our assets, and our responsibilities 

In an industry where disruption is a constant, our clients don’t just survive—they thrive. Because they’re asking the right questions, and we’ve got the right answers.

Will You Be Ready for the Next Disruption?

The next few months will test everyone—carriers, 3PLs, BCOs. Some companies will emerge stronger. Others will vanish overnight.

If you’re only focused on the bottom-line number, you’re missing the real risk. A cheap rate today could cost you dearly tomorrow.

Let’s have the hard conversation now—before you’re forced into it later.