August 1, 2019

By: OMNITRACS

From automation to analytics, the trucking industry is feeling widespread effects of disruption. Smart technologies are increasing freight productivity and efficiency, leading drivers and fleet managers alike to wonder about their business future. And with nearly 71 percent of all freight tonnage moving through the U.S. via trucks, understanding how these significant shifts are impacting the next generation of smart drivers is imperative.

Here are a few things you need to know about what’s happening in trucking today and how technology is driving us forward:

  • Trucking is feeling the allure of the Gig Economy. In the never-ending pursuit of workforce optimization and efficient resource allocation, the Gig Economy has transformed industries like consumer travel. Trucking, it seems, is not immune either. The rise of companies like Convoy and Freightlancer is causing a new wave of disruption among the traditional players. Leveraging smartphone applications, these start-ups are offering freight services on-demand just like you’d order a ride to the airport. It’s a business model that’s all too familiar for several industries — one that reduces inefficiencies by only paying for what you need.

  • Welcome to smart tracking. Trucking, and by extension, logistics, is really a numbers game where the goal is to get a product from point A to point B by using an exact amount of resources. GPS and analytics have improved this system and modern technology can now enable near-exact delivery times, eliminating the guesswork. This information allows customers to have the most streamlined supply chain, and ultimately, higher profits.

  • Driverless delivery. One of the questions on everyone’s mind is how automation is going to impact the workforce. Refraction AI recently announced its new last-mile delivery robot, REV-1. Using bike lanes and road shoulders, Refraction AI’s goal is to create an automated delivery system fast enough for same-day delivery, but slow enough to avoid the technical challenges faced by autonomous cars.

These are just a few examples of the massive transformation trucking organizations are undergoing. Learn how Omnitracs is powering smart fleets with Omnitracs One and discover how to keep your business ahead through technology.