Continuity
Reading a corridor before it closes
Most route closures give warning. The signs are in fuel prices, queue lengths, border notices and the behaviour of drivers who use the road every day.
Indicators worth watching
Lengthening border queues, sudden changes to transit fees, fuel shortages at points along the route, and drivers refusing particular stretches are all early signs of trouble.
Official notices often arrive last. Transport associations, freight forwarders and local radio usually report first.
Build an alternative before you need it
For every critical corridor, identify a second route, a second port and a second supplier. Know their costs and lead times in advance, so switching is a decision rather than a crisis.
Review those alternatives on a fixed rhythm. A fallback that has not been checked for a year may no longer exist.
Decide the trigger
Agree in advance what combination of indicators will move you to the alternative route. Waiting for certainty usually means waiting until stock is already stuck.
More on continuity
Ports, chokepoints and the cost of a longer voyage
Disruption at sea reaches inland programmes through delay, cost and scarcity. Planning starts with knowing which port and which passage your supplies depend on.
Supplier checks that keep programmes running
A supplier that fails in a crisis can halt a programme as surely as a closed road. A few simple checks reveal most of the risk.