Journal of Business & Economic Policy

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Global Supply Chain: A Case Study from the U.S. Less-than-Truckload Motor Carrier Industry
Angela Yan Du

Abstract
This paper examines, with quarterly firm-level data 2015Q1 to 2020Q4, the Covid-19 pandemic effects on shipping demand in the US less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier industry. The econometric model shows total U.S. business activity, prices paid by shippers, and the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak has had statistically significant effects on LTL shipping demand. Business environment lifts shipping demand while shipper price reduces it. Covid-19 brought a short-run boost to demand while rendering it more sensitive to overall economic activity and shipping prices.

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