Technology has come a long way, and the trucking industry has not been left behind. There are now many ways technology can help optimize your long-distance hauling business. From GPS tracking to route planning software, here are six ways that technology can help you run your business more efficiently and make more money!
It makes sense in the current day and age that technology would significantly impact the trucking industry. After all, the trucking industry moves about 10.23 billion tons of freight annually and is responsible for $732.3 billion in revenue in the United States alone. Technology can help trucking businesses in many ways, including:
Route Planning Software
Gone are the days of planning routes with a paper map. Route planning software considers things like traffic, weather, and construction to help you plan the most efficient route for your driver. This can save you time and money by ensuring your driver doesn’t get stuck in traffic or take a route that’s under construction.
There are different types of route planning software available, from simple apps to more complex enterprise-level solutions. This type of software can help you plan the most efficient routes for your vehicles and can even help you find new business opportunities.
Freight Matching Services
There are also online freight matching services to help you find loads to haul. These services can save you a lot of time and effort by connecting you with shippers who need your services instead of searching for them yourself. This means you can fill your trucks more efficiently and avoid deadhead miles.
These services can also help you find loads that are a good match for your truck, so you don’t have to waste time hauling loads that are too small or too large for your vehicle. And because you’ll be dealing with pre-vetted shippers, you can be confident that you’ll get paid on time and won’t have to deal with any surprises.
GPS Tracking
A GPS tracking system can help you keep tabs on your fleet, no matter where. You’ll be able to see their location, speed, and other data in real-time, which can help you make better decisions about dispatching and routing. You can integrate this with your accident management software to create a complete picture of what’s going on with your fleet.
Aside from the safety benefits, GPS tracking can also help you save money on fuel and maintenance costs. You’ll see which drivers are idling for long periods or unnecessarily speeding and burning through fuel. With this information, you can take steps to improve your drivers’ habits and cut down on wasted resources.
Electronic Logging Devices
An electronic logging device (ELD) can help you keep track of your service hours and ensure that you are compliant with regulations. This can save you from costly fines and penalties while helping you run your business more smoothly because you’ll never have to worry about exceeding your service hours.
ELDs can also help you track your driver’s performance and improve their efficiency. You’ll see how much time they spend driving and how much time they spend idling or taking breaks. With this information, you can make changes to improve your drivers’ productivity and fuel efficiency.
Telematics
Telematics is a technology that combines GPS tracking with other data to give you insights into how your vehicles are being used. This information can help you make decisions about maintenance, fuel usage, and driver performance. That’s why more and more trucking companies are using telematics to improve their operations.
Another benefit of telematics is that you can also use the data to create custom reports that help you track your KPIs and see how your business is performing. This information can help you find areas where you can improve your operations and make more money.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming more common in trucks and can help improve safety on the roads. These systems can include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking features.
ADAS can help you avoid accidents, saving you money on repairs and insurance costs. These systems can also help you improve your drivers’ safety scores, saving you money on insurance premiums. Of course, the most crucial benefit of ADAS is that it can help save lives.
Technology can help you optimize your long-distance hauling business in many ways. These are great tools that can help you run your business more efficiently and make more money. So take advantage of these technologies and put them to work for you!
