As technology continues to impact most sectors of our lives, it has similarly affected the trucking industry. Trucking is an important activity in the economy as it helps deliver goods and services to every corner of the country. Technological advancements have made factors like speed, costs, time, and competition from other transport forms easier to tackle. 

Since trucking is an active industry that cannot be sidelined, fleet owners are looking for ways to simplify transportation. The need of the hour is incorporating technology that can improve productivity but also ensure the safety of drivers, consumers, and clients. From driver retention to supply chain issues, most bottlenecks in the trucking industry can be resolved.

7 ways in which technology is transforming the trucking industry

1. Providing 360-degree insurance for your fleet

Many things in life can hit us “like a truck,” but there are many other times when the truck itself gets hit. Since these trucks cover huge distances, there are ample chances of accidents, damaging the vehicle and the stuff it carries.  That's why US federal law requires some heavy-duty trucks like dump trucks or tow trucks to get insurance.

These days, trucks deliver cars to different locations, sometimes to remote places. There is always a risk of the truck damaging the car, theft, and other formalities which might get stuck on the way. Technology has simplified all of these technicalities by introducing business car hauler insurance. The insurance policy provided by companies like Coverwallet covers the following:

• Injuries to the body
• Medical payments
• Damage to the truck or/and cars
• Insurance in case of a collision on the route
• Comprehensive coverage of everything else at risk during the journey. 

 

2. Tracking location via live data streaming

When you send out a fleet, the total cost of all your assets is tough to put a number on. Telematics has relieved fleet owners by integrating communication technology that allows them to monitor the status of their drivers, vehicles, equipment, and other vital components. By enabling live monitoring, you can check the road conditions, weather conditions, and other potential speed breakers on the journey and alert your staff. 

You can also predict your fleet's ETA and arrival time and prepare your client to receive them. The entry and exit of your fleet can be monitored, too, so you have updated data on your fleet while on the road and in the warehouse. Automating most processes saves the time you have to put in when operating them manually. 

3. Checking on recruits and current staff

Your drivers are your most valuable assets. Without them, the trucking industry will collapse. When there is a shortage of drivers, the supply chain will be affected, and all other industries will face the brunt. With technically-advanced job boards, you can look for instant and qualified hires to fill up the vacant positions immediately. 

Today's generation is also more technically inclined, so when you hire someone new, you can expect them to be familiar with the software and automation systems used. This will save you time training drivers on how to use the resources during the journey. As a result, technology has simplified recruiting and staffing processes in the trucking industry. 

4. Tracking temperature in the carrier in real-time

The food industry is booming, and behind the scenes are truck drivers ensuring that ingredients are delivered safely to food warehouses throughout the country. Food regulations now need trucks to maintain specific temperatures and sanitary conditions within the container. These safety rules apply to both human and animal food. 

On the other hand, authorities require fleet companies to keep a record as proof that these standard safety practices are being followed. A proper contract is to be made that shows that your trucks comply with the needed rules, especially when maintaining certain temperatures for certain foods throughout the journey. Temperature-tracking technology has made these processes manageable by enabling real-time updates of container temperatures and alerts to drivers wherever there is a mishap, like a door not being closed completely. 

5. Enabling better camera systems

Camera systems are a must in businesses now. For the trucking industry, cameras help in understanding road situations much better. Almost a decade back, cameras provided blurry footage, but now, even the most basic cams come with a high-quality view. Technology has enabled camera systems to become more advanced with improvements in size, image processing, and storage capacity. 

The most crucial reason why trucks need cameras is to get live footage of what is going on around the truck. In case of accidents, these footages act as proof in court and especially when claiming insurance. They can also end any false claim to anyone stating that the truck driver was at fault just because blaming the bigger vehicle is more convincing. Therefore, by setting up the best camera technology in your trucks, such as CameraMatics' advanced vehicle camera system, you are adding an extra layer of security and comprehensive monitoring to ensure the safety of your fleet and drivers.

6. Identifying valuable insights for fleet management

Making decisions based on big data analytics has improved the trucking industry's overall management of finances and records. It also helps in a smoother and safer transportation experience by identifying roadblocks on the way. As a result, companies can plan journeys well ahead of time and identify faulty infrastructure. 

The two areas that are benefiting from such technology are:

• Route Optimization: The data you need to ensure a stress-free journey is trailer capacity, warehouse information, traffic situations, and more. AI-backed technology will provide you with route options with an estimated arrival time. 
• Advanced demand planning: AI tech keeps evaluating data for months. With data from the past, it can help you with demand planning. You can see which products and services will be needed and then check for the inventory of different warehouses and estimate days to reach timely. The tech can help you prevent shortages in the supply and demand chain. 

 

7. Paving the way for autonomous trucking

All those years of watching sci-fi movies and dreaming about futuristic vehicles might pay off, as a little birdie has let us know that self-driving trucks will soon be introduced to the world. Since driverless cars are already here, similar trucks might also take over. Most of these automated systems are equipped with the best safety systems, which is the fundamental requirement for such vehicles to be created. 

Platooning is another possibility being tested, where a human driver leads one truck in the front, and other trucks following behind are driverless. The challenges are many, to begin with. However, with technology changing how things work rapidly, we may see a revolution in the trucking industry, where human drivers and autonomous trucks co-exist. 

5 fundamental reasons why you need to insure your trucking business

1. Adherence to the law: The law requires you to insure your business to protect it against unfavorable circumstances. You can’t claim certain benefits to their fullest potential if you don’t abide by the rules. 
2. Protection in case of accidents: Accidents are bound to happen in unimaginable ways. The damage could be minute or major, but you can be carefree knowing that you have insurance that takes care of the damage.
3. Protection of cargo: You could be carrying valuable cargo. There could be an accident, a fire in the container, or a theft. In all of these situations, insurance protects you from the blame game unless you are genuinely at fault.
4. Retaining customers’ trust: Getting clients for your trucking business is tough. But once you do, you need every backup possible to validate your business in the industry. Companies interested in your services will go for the deal when they observe that their cargo is protected and in trustworthy hands. 
5. Sustain your business: If you don’t have insurance, you will face quite a few legal issues in case of accidents. It could eventually lead to your business shutting down. By getting your trucking business insured, you are protecting your business from closedown. 

Trucking technology at its finest

The road ahead for the trucking industry is mapped with advanced tech systems. Maximum efforts are being made to acknowledge the industry and the entire economy’s dependence on it. There hasn’t been a better and more exciting time than now to see technology changing the landscape of the trucking industry. 

By B Naomi Grace