The trucking industry, long considered a bastion of tradition and continuity, is on the cusp of a technological revolution as new companies jump on the technology-driven bandwagon. Advances in delivery management software have the potential to fundamentally alter the way trucking operates, introducing new efficiencies, reducing equipment downtime, and enabling more informed decision-making.
In this post, we will examine some critical areas of innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on over-the-road transportation. While some of these technologies are still in the developmental phase, delivery management solutions like NetworkON are already automating and optimizing several aspects of the trucking business. As a result, they could bring about a significant shift in trucking within the next decade.
Completely Autonomous Trucks
Fully autonomous or self-driving vehicles have traditionally been seen as a futuristic concept. Still, recent advancements are bringing the industry closer to a future where trucks can navigate themselves to their destinations.
These vehicles can be tracked and managed easily using NetworkON, and the business administrators can count every mile traveled, identify wasted miles, and work towards optimal capacity management.
Moreover, automatic safety systems are also paving the way for fuel-efficient vehicles, and the recent advancements in consumer vehicles have laid the foundation for autonomous truck technology.
While automatic safety systems, such as lane-assist technology and forward collision warning, ensure the safety of the delivery partners, NetworkON supports them with AI-powered route optimization and geofencing capabilities to offer the shortest routes making delivery management solutions invaluable in the trucking business.
Coordinated Platoons of Vehicles
Platooning is a strategy that involves using a “follow the leader” approach to automate vehicles in a convoy formation. The lead truck is controlled by a human driver, while the subsequent trucks are not staffed by humans at all. Instead, they follow the lead truck, using sensors and cloud-based communication to maintain the proper distance.
Combining the capabilities of delivery management software with Platooning becomes an attractive strategy for several reasons. First, it yields better efficiency and leads to higher fuel savings. Several companies are currently piloting the future of self-driving trucks, and as the number of autonomous vehicles increases on the road, trucking companies will have to organize their business processes with a reliable delivery management platform like NetworkON.
Internet of Things (IoT) and SaaS in Trucking
The Internet of Things( IoT) and delivery management software combined are revolutionizing the trucking industry with a powerful array of connected devices and software capabilities that can transmit all kinds of analytical data for managing and optimizing supply chains, particularly in the realm of over-the-road freight.
Think of NetworkON as a digital GPS for your cargo, a capacity management system, an automated job assignment tool, and a robust data collector across different metrics that constantly update you on its precise location and estimated arrival time. This allows for real-time rerouting and reduces the likelihood of late deliveries.
IoT technology and SaaS technologies also offer peace of mind for customers, with sensors monitoring factors such as temperature and humidity for perishable goods and cargo sensors detecting available trailer space in real time. This allows trucking companies to optimize cargo movement and reduce driving miles.
In addition to these benefits, delivery management software can also aid in preventative maintenance, detecting the need for repairs before breakdowns occur. Companies such as Volvo have been pioneers in this field, using sensors on their trucks to transmit metrics such as engine and transmission performance to their Uptime network. This program successfully reduced the average repair time by 24% and the average diagnostic time by 71%.
Of course, with all this data generated by IoT technology, there is a need for additional technology to help shippers, carriers, and supply chain managers make sense of it.
The ability to make data-driven decisions is a crucial area of focus in transportation and logistics. With the sheer volume of data generated by NetworkON’s analytics, the trucking industry is turning to big data and AI technology to make sense of it.
Moving Forward
However, collecting and parsing data is only one of many challenges. Instead, displaying and analyzing it in a meaningful way is what drives critical decisions. That’s where NetworkON’s dashboards come in and enable trucking companies to leverage technology to analyze, input, and make predictions based on past metrics.
Currently, a small part of the trucking industry is utilizing delivery management technology, but this is expected to change rapidly. Predictions estimate that adoption will jump to 60% by 2025.
NetworkON can generate dashboards that can produce a series of routing options by taking into account factors such as current trailer capacity, traffic data, warehouse lead time, and more. As a result, it can assist with demand planning by predicting what products or supplies will be needed and where, analyzing current stock levels, and routing deliveries accordingly. Additionally, AI technology can recommend re-routes in response to fluctuations in demand or traffic patterns.
Wrapping Up
The trucking industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution, with innovations that promise to shake up the status quo. From fully autonomous vehicles to cutting-edge platooning strategies, technological advancements are poised to transform how we transport goods over the road.
Though many trucking companies are currently testing delivery management platforms, it’s clear that technology-oriented operations are the future. Some of the most crucial NetworkON features that can help the trucking industry include the following.
- Automatic job creation and assignment
- Unified task creation for pickup, delivery, and post-delivery installation
- Real-time tracking of the trucking fleet
- AI-powered route optimization for an improved bottom line
- A clear line of communication between the stakeholders involved in a delivery
- Accurate data about order ETAs
- Digital proof of delivery using barcodes, pictures, and more
- Freight and capacity management for large containers
- Easy execution of white glove delivery
You can learn more about NetworkON features in detail here. As technology continues to evolve and build upon previous advancements, the trucking industry, shippers, and consumers will reap the benefits of increased transparency and efficiency. The possibilities are endless, and the future is looking bright for the trucking industry.
Schedule a demo with our experts today to know how your business will function with a NetworkON integration. To learn more about NetworkON, feel free to visit our website.
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