Fleet Management Software
Over time, several fleet management technologies have enabled organizations to manage and see all information about their vehicles and other assets. As technology advances, businesses are turning to new fleet management software that enhances visibility into vehicle utilization, manages the cost of ownership, and improves maintenance planning. In addition, new technology is helping businesses find value in digital processes that eliminate inefficiencies of manual tasks and streamline various activities in fleet management.
The increase of e-commerce has resulted in the demand for truck drivers, which has prompted businesses to adopt new ways to keep up with the demand and supply and improve driver retention. In addition, technology has completely changed fleet management over the past decade, helping businesses appreciate the importance of an efficient fleet. By adopting new technology, business fleet management teams can handle various tasks such as compliance management, driver management, environmental impact, and operational efficiency.
There’s no doubt that technology has impacted the trucking industry, and truck drivers are not an exception. Some of the popular technology trends that have directly impacted truck drivers include automated trucks, GPS tracking, Saas, intelligent speed adaptation, automatic freight matching, trucking apps, electric trucks, and electronic-logging devices, among many others.
GPS Fleet Tracking
GPS fleet tracking is more prevalent today primarily because of the progression of telematics and communication technology. Through GPS tracking, businesses not only can keep an eye on their vehicles, but it improves productivity and enhances security for both the driver and the vehicle. This has made GPS a popular alternative among other forms of tracking systems, as consumers and companies use the Global Positioning System to keep track of the carrier’s location for peace of mind. A GPS tracker collects location data and displays it on a map for easier tracking.
Having vehicles with GPS has several advantages, such as enhanced visibility of the fleet’s location. However, the reality is that the benefits of GPS fleet tracking extend far beyond identifying location, and include route optimization, increased security, more efficient dispatch, reduced cost, and enhanced customer experience.
Route Optimization
GPS uses complex algorithms to evaluate numerous variables to create an optimum route for the driver during delivery. By taking into account specific variables such as vehicle capacities, drivers’ schedules, driver coverage areas, and delivery window times, it can create the most efficient and safest route. Route optimization is vital to the growth of the business since it reduces delivery costs and increases productivity.
A significant challenge facing last-mile delivery is the increase in cost since small quantities are shipped to multiple locations. Since route optimization focuses on efficiency and planning, it helps offset these high costs. However, a more significant percentage is attributed to labor and fuel when it comes to delivery costs. Without the appropriate tools, your drivers end up spending an entire day on deliveries that should take a few hours, eating away at your bottom line—allowing drivers to go out of their way for a single delivery risk, spending extra on gas.
This is also an excellent strategy that allows drivers to deliver packages faster, giving your business an upper hand over the competition. As your company grows, adapting route optimization software gives you control over last-mile delivery without the need for manually putting together route plans. Delivery route optimization helps not only driver management but other vital delivery elements such as real-time driver tracking to automated customer alerts.
More Efficient Dispatch
GPS fleet tracking enhances your business operations by improving your dispatch system. Since customers are looking for the fastest delivery service, companies must increase reliability in their operations. The adoption of GPS fleet management software is a significant change that enhances the dispatch process and determines the success or failure of your business. GPS provides an advanced digital framework that eases the dispatch and delivery of goods.
GPS maximizes fleet use by providing real-time information on the actual number of drivers and trucks available. These systems also enable dispatchers to reassign or recall truck drivers depending on how close they are to the delivery destination. In addition, the ability to track the fleet improves customer service, satisfaction, and retention since customers can trace their goods and know the estimated delivery time.
When there’s a lack of sufficient monitoring, drivers are likely to compromise the fleet dispatch mechanism. GPS fleet management software prevents time theft by employees since it notes when they are off and on duty since it acts as an electronic timesheet that promotes punctuality. In addition, drivers tend to be more productive if they are monitored and adhere to set rules as they meet their schedules.
Increased Security
GPS might seem like a fleet management tool that benefits business owners only, but this is not the case. Truck drivers also benefit from GPS tracking as it helps drivers take responsibility for their actions while on the road, making them more conscious. It also helps establish a driver safety program by assessing the vehicle’s history and helping them address poor driving behavior. Once the drivers know that they are being tracked via GPS, they are likely to take more excellent care and avoid anything that increases the chances of an accident.
In terms of security, GPS tracking plays a vital role in maintaining and improving the safety and security of your fleet. For example, if one of your vehicles is stolen, GPS can help you recover it and other inventory or equipment quickly. It also alerts the business owner if a truck uses an unauthorized route or is used during off-hours. This is important, especially during a theft, since trucks are protected from movement and unauthorized alerts.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELD)
When operating commercial motor vehicles, it is vital to record the Hours of Service (HOS) and driving time. An Electronic Logging Device automatically records this data once it is connected to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostics port, enabling it to capture data on the location, engine, miles driven, speed, and many other vital aspects. There are numerous benefits of using ELD, from the reduced cost of operation, streamline operations, increased profit, and maximizing productivity. Aside from recording crucial data about the truck and the driver, an Electronic Logging Device offers drivers the following benefits.
Reduce Fatigue and Paperwork
The reality is that before ELDs, drivers were faced with various distractions while driving. For starters, truck drivers had to constantly fill out paper logs and receive calls from dispatchers for regular updates on the estimated arrival time and location. This made the delivery process rigorous and distracted the driver from performing their tasks effectively due to fatigue.
ELD devices relieve truck drivers of rigorous manual tasks such as filling out paper logs since ELDs automatically track driving time. Dispatchers can also see a driver’s location in real-time through their dashboard, which prevents them from constantly having to call drivers for updates and location information.
Identify Bad Driving Behavior
It is essential to identify bad driving habits such as excess acceleration, cornering, and hard braking are some of the things an ELD detects. This information is vital for businesses since they can identify drivers with these habits, reducing potential liabilities and accidents. In addition, these devices tick the legislation box as regulated by the ELD mandate and identify areas that can be optimized to become more efficient and safer.
ELDs help businesses streamline their operations, maximize their profits, increase productivity, and explore new business opportunities through increased efficiency. All the information gathered by an Electronic Logging Device is geared towards the faster growth of enterprises since the data help explore growth opportunities.
Trucking Apps
The use of handheld devices in the trucking industry has grown in the past decade, which has led to an increase in the number of trucking applications. This has enabled truckers to gain access to various relevant information such as lie traffic reports, weather, fuel prices, and their business in the palm of their hands.
Trucking apps ease access to information and an overall increase in quality of life and business operations. If you are interested in increasing your efficiency on the road, below are some popular applications perfect for truckers.
Trucker Path
Trucker Path is a trucking application that provides truck drivers with pertinent navigation information such as locations of truck spots, parking availability, the status of a weigh station, truck wash facilities, and the ability to view and compare fuel prices. This app is considered among the popular tracking apps, with over 600,000 truckers relying on it for a range of trucking activities.
GasBuddy
This app helps truck drivers find the most affordable gas within a specific location which is a vast advantage mainly when operating within a budget. Currently, GasBuddy operates in the United States, Australia, and Canada. It uses real-time data since the information is reported by other users who have registered fuel prices in their area. In addition, every entry is timestamped so you can assess credibility. For more accuracy, the data found on the app is provided by stations, spotters, and credit card companies.
Drivewyze
Truck drivers usually undergo a lot of hassle at the weigh station and waste a lot of time. Drivewyze is an efficient solution for truck drivers that saves them money and fuel every time they bypass, enabling them to stay on the mainline and deliver loads faster. This app bypass scales with a 98% accuracy depending on the carrier safety score. You do not have to worry about the legality of the app, and it provides hands-free efficiency without compromising your data bill.
In the commercial trucking industry, you cannot leave anything to chance. It is essential to guarantee the safety of your drivers to attain peak efficiency throughout the business operations. Adapting and integrating new technology to collect information provides you with insight into ways to enhance efficiency, safety, and vehicle health. You no longer have to call drivers back to the shop through the various digital tools to understand what’s happening on the ground. Instead, truck drivers need to be educated on the importance of this new technology to interpret the vehicle’s current performance and make informed predictions on potential issues before they happen.
