The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has been occurring since January 2020. Lock down policies, social distancing, and the emergence of e-commerce have created the 'new normal' of freight transport and logistics sectors. As such, there is a need to re-examine freight transport and logistics in light of the new business context. The theme of this Research Topic focuses on exploring potential trends of freight transport and logistics and developing policies and strategies in the post COVID-19 world. As expected, submitted research papers will contribute to strengthening our knowledge on:- What preparedness alternatives are required and what lessons have been discovered?- What adaptation strategies and resilience management are needed to be developed and implemented? National closures and quarantines have been closing down producers and factories in global supply chains because of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Most global logistics firms have undergone collapses of global supply chain operations and management. To a certain extent, the pandemic has uncovered vulnerabilities rooted in the rise of globalization over recent decades. Despite the numerous academic research studies conducted into and during the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainable and innovative freight transport and logistics research remain under-researched. The consumer's relationship with retailers is no longer that of a person in need seeking something from a giant provider. Shifting trends have given consumers more power in the relationship, causing consumer activity to change and forcing retailers to adjust accordingly.

Question 2 ( 25 Marks )

Evaluate the links between the physical world and the virtual world and how they are shortening, which also renders some links in the supply chain to be less relevant than they once were.