Top New Innovations in the Trucking Industry has led to a significant shift of power from the seller to the consumer. To appeal to a wide audience, trucking firms have to be ready to take their business online and embrace newer technologies, which we see happening.
The trucking industry finds it hard to hold on to drivers, which is why there is a rising demand for fresh talent in the sector. If you are thinking of dipping your toe in the trucking business, then you should be ready to go online.
New-age technologies have widened the scope of transportation. There are features that will allow you to access to driving and travel analytics. As a result, you will be able to adjust your business according to the recent trends in the market. Today, we live in a world that is digitally connected. The trucking industry is also working hard to create that perfect network. The seamless integration of the services with the available resources is the key to achieving the perfect balance in your company.
Fleet management technologies have also undergone massive change in the past few years. If you are in the business of truck fleet management, it is time for an upgrade. While semi-truck is responsible for keeping the economy running, it cannot accomplish its objectives without adequate help. The reason why the trucking industry is so important is that a large number of other industries are dependent on it.
Challenges of the Trucking Industry
Right now, the trucking industry is facing a massive shortage of drivers, and no solution seems to be good enough. Most drivers are quitting their service because of their clash with the employers about prevalent labor laws. While it is true that manual laborers are often deprived of their rightful earning, that causes huge problems when it comes to keeping the economy up and running.
- Automation still remains a challenge
Since the trucking industry has begun to form friendly relations with technology, it is expected the driver shortage can be combatted with automation in the near future. But till then, truck fleet management owners need to come up with better strategies for driver retention so that the logistics of the company do not go completely haywire.
- Fuel Costs Diminish Operational Efficiency
Fuel also poses certain problems in trucking fleet maintenance today because it hikes up the operational expenses unnecessarily. The uncertain oil prices have made the business costlier than it was before. Moreover, fuel has a very bad environmental impact which is an ethical issue for most companies. The only solution would be to switch to a fuel-free trucking system. The development of trucks running on electricity might be the solution that we need.
- Urgent Need to Better Fleet Management
Private fleets are currently under a lot of pressure as they try to keep up with new fleet management technologies. They are trying to think of strategies which will render them more competitive and efficiencies. This will help to widen the customer base and increase the cash flow, and that is an absolute must at this point.
- More Focus on Security
With technology also comes with disadvantages. Companies are having to focus on internal security and quality control more than over. Technological lag can stunt the growth of a company completely. Customers are looking for advanced communications systems which are a huge investment for any company.
The Impact of Technology
The current trucking industry trends have shown that the following fleet management technologies are extremely popular.
- Automated Trucks:
No longer do we live in an era where self-driven cars a myth. Fully autonomous vehicles are ready to make an impact in the business world. This is ideal for truck fleet management because there is an ongoing shortage of drivers. The conflict between drivers and employers has left the industry in need of support.
Autonomous vehicles do not follow the rules of an uncertain labor market. In fact, they follow you every step of the way. More businesses are looking to increase automation to be more productive.
Automated trucks equipped with short and long-distance radars, cameras, sensors, 3D mapping, and laser detection will surely revolutionize the industry. However, it will take some time for the public to get accustomed to the idea.
- Tracking:
If you are running a truck fleet management company, then you can heave a sigh of relief because you will now be able to keep an eye on your drivers. By keeping tabs on your truck drivers, you can ensure that they are driving safely. If your drivers are safe on the road, then your commercial trucking operation will attract more employees. You can have GPS devices installed in your trucks to keep a strict check.
- SaaS:
You'd be surprised at how important administrative work is when you are trying to run a truck fleet management company. You cannot use outdated software to conduct all your back office processes, or else you might run into problems later on. The development of SaaS or Software-as-a-Service will help you move forward. You can take advantage of the rising competition between software vendors. There are lots of affordable software options on the market which can help you with tracking trucking industry trends, route planning, trucking fleet maintenance etc.
- Automated freight matching:
You will notice that one of the biggest trucking industry trends is to use apps which can help shippers connect with carriers who will be able to take additional loads. Not only does this remove the middlemen freight brokers from the picture, but also reduces the empty miles driven.
A large number of trucks drive empty on the road because they cannot find cargo directly. Truck companies are known to be extremely fragmented which leads to wastage of fuel. These apps will be able to provide cloud-based solutions to inform the driver about available freight-sharing opportunities. This will also help your business become more environment-friendly.
- Electric trucks:
Today, we are much more aware of the difficulties caused due to our unkindness towards the environment. More and more people are embracing companies which practice an environment-friendly work ethic. If you want to keep your existing customers from leaving and attract a wider customer base, then you need to make your services greener.
The concept of electric trucks has been around for a while, but the actual thing is even more interesting. Electrifying your trucks would save the environmental a lot of pollution that is caused by the fuel.
Companies are coming up with heavy-duty electric trucks which you will be able to include in your fleet. A full-scale conversion at once might not be plausible for overall trucking fleet maintenance, but you must start somewhere.
- Trucking apps:
Now, while you might still love your Google Map, truckers shouldn’t only depend on it. However, truckers need to update their app game because the market is flooded with apps that are specially targeted towards them. These apps show comprehensive routes no matter where you go. Moreover, it provides the truckers up-to-date gas prices and locations of nearby truck stops. They will also be able to track real-time road conditions which will help them divert accordingly.
- Better safety features:
Now, while you might still love your Google Map, truckers shouldn’t only depend on it. However, truckers need to update their app game because the market is flooded with apps that are specially targeted towards them. These apps show comprehensive routes no matter where you go. Moreover, it provides the truckers up-to-date gas prices and locations of nearby truck stops. They will also be able to track real-time road conditions which will help them divert accordingly.
Conclusion:
There is no doubt that truck fleet management has indeed undergone a fair amount of change, but it is all for the better. Following the trucking industry trends will get you far in the business because you will be pleasing the customers. Technology has made it much easier for us to assess what consumers want, and so we can provide them with a steady supply. Moreover, trucking fleet maintenance has also become much easier and less time-consuming with the introduction of more advanced trucks.
Educating your team about the current fleet management technologies can be the first step to a revolutionary path. Before you know it, your business will be booming because you are doing all the right things at the right time.
Manage all your trucks seamlessly and always keep them coordinated. With the lesser workloads, your drivers will also be pleased and be able to perform more efficiently. With our trucking software solutions, you can begin your journey to greatness today. With our tailored business solutions, fleet management is sure to become easier. Talk to us about how we can build long-lasting trucking solutions that meet your business needs.
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