In the fiercely competitive trucking industry, technology can mean the difference between staying competitive and being left behind.
We now have truck technologies that improve the efficiency of virtually every aspect of operations, from logistics to driver performance and compliance.
Here are five trucking technologies that are improving safety and efficiency.
1. Dynamic Routing
In the trucking industry, there are deadlines you have to meet. Customers want their goods moved from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Miss their desired deadline, and you lose a customer.
Route planning and efficiency are crucial.
With dynamic routing, you can eliminate unnecessary miles and find quicker routes. You can find a way around major traffic jams or accident delays using the latest GPS information.
In the case of delivery services, additional stop can be added to a route to increase its density and reduce the distance traveled between each stop point.
Dynamic routing software is constantly evolving and becoming smarter. It can do most of the work for you, which will save you time and money.
2. Collision Mitigation Technology
New collision mitigation systems incorporate more sensing technology to monitor for crashes and take emergency actions to avoid them. These new, advanced systems have greatly reduced the number of false positives that plagued older systems.
Some use a combination of video and radar to monitor the road ahead for obstacles. They may also incorporate electronic stability to prevent rollovers or loss-of-control accidents.
Collision mitigation systems are becoming the standard in new trucks, but they can be retrofitted to older truck models as well.
3. GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is also becoming standard in the trucking industry. Tracking allows carriers to monitor driver performance and keep track of the location of the goods being shipped.
According to https://www.gpswox.com/en/supported-gps-trackers/gosafe, GPS tracking helps fleet owners maintain control over their assets while improving customer service.
With GPS tracking, you can monitor driver behavior and enforce driving policies to improve safety. You can also take the data you collect from your trackers to improve fuel efficiency and performance of your fleet.
And many new GPS trackers have the ability to actually disable a vehicle if it’s stolen.
4. Forward-Looking Cameras
Forward-looking cameras offer many benefits to both drivers and fleet owners. For starters, it provides an additional layer of safety by giving drivers a clear view of the path in front of their truck.
It also protects drivers in case of a collision. A forward-looking video system, which is similar to a dash cam, can serve as evidence in an accident in which the driver was not at-fault.
5. Electronic Logging Devices
Electronic logging devices, or ELDs, are now a requirement. Automatic on board recording devices, or AOBRDs, are now being grandfathered out over the next few years.
The purpose of ELDs is to ensure that drivers are in line with regulations and restrictions set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This is one technology that is non-negotiable, but will ultimately improve the safety of your drivers and fleet.
