Dear Customers, Carriers and Friends:
At Syfan Logistics, we are taking on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak directly with a prudent and common sense approach to keep our team members and customers safe from the virus.
Back in early March, as the coronavirus threat was increasing, we implemented a safety protocol for our team members and took additional steps as a company to reduce the risk for our customers and visitors to our headquarters. We originally were screening visitors to our headquarters but now have closed our entry gate and offices to anyone but staff.
Our professionals work in close quarters, so we have shifted those at highest risk of contracting the virus to their homes to work remotely. As an “Essential Business,” we continue to operate from our main office; however, with fewer on site, it allows us to spread out and observe social distancing along with healthy hygiene practices. In a addition, a professional cleaning crew disinfects all our high-touch areas three times a day.
We are encouraging self-temperature screening and not allowing anyone to work at the office with a fever. We require the same for our truck drivers. If they have a fever or any other flu symptoms, we don’t dispatch them. In addition, we are requiring our drivers to stay inside their trucks for all pick-ups and deliveries to protect them as well as our shippers and receivers.
The precautions extend to our outside sales team as well. A lot of our business is meeting customers face-to-face and taking part in conferences. However, we have now suspended all travel until this pandemic alert is over.
Impact on business
Some people have asked how this virus alert has affected our business. Initially, we saw a slight downturn as some shipments coming into U.S. ports were restricted. However, we’re most recently experiencing a slight uptick in activity, particularly with small package shipments as people are sending care packages of sanitizer, cleaning products and food products to friends and families. Our carriers also have partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta to help deliver COVID-19 test kits to hospitals across the United States.
Moving forward, we are openly sharing information about our coronavirus protocol efforts with our customers and the public in hope of starting a dialogue that helps other companies enact procedures to avoid the virus and its spread. We would love for you to share with us what you are doing to help us improve our plan. Please feel free to email or call me with your ideas.
These are unsettling times, but I remind everyone that this too shall pass. We know that God is in control, so I encourage you to stay optimistic and choose faith over fear. We are all blessed to be a blessing!
As always, feel free to contact me with any concerns and questions at greg.syfan@syfancorp.com or 770-287-8485.