What is the Future of the Trucking Industry?
The future of the trucking industry is rapidly evolving. Autonomous trucks, driver shortage, and customer service are a few hot topics in the discussion. There are also some exciting discussions on Blockchain technology and the trucking alliance. Read on to discover how these innovations can change the way we work.
Customer service
Customer service is a vital part of any business. It helps keep customers happy and keeps your company from going under. The transportation industry needs to ensure that it provides its clients the right kind of service.
There are numerous ways that customer service plays a role in improving your supply chain. Providing excellent customer service can lead to increased sales and referrals. This is especially true in the trucking industry, which has seen an increase in demand.
The customer service department is the heart of the shipping company. They help you maintain good customer relationships, ensure timely cargo delivery, and respond to complaints.
While there are many reasons why good customer service is essential, a few things are as crucial as handling a complaint quickly and efficiently. Customers dissatisfied with your company’s services can leave negative online reviews that damage your reputation.
Autonomous trucks
With the rising popularity of self-driving technology, the trucking industry is a prime target for automation. Some estimates say autonomous trucks could eliminate up to three million trucking jobs.
Autonomous trucks are expected to appear on highways by 2027. Assuming that these trucks can safely travel at highway speeds, they would cover long-haul routes faster than a human driver. They would also save fuel. For instance, a traditional truck with a lone driver might take ten days to deliver the same freight. But autonomous vehicles might cut that time to two days.
Several companies are working on autonomous trucks. Kodiak Robotics raised millions of dollars and recently joined The Self-Driving Coalition. Others include Embark, Pilot, and TuSimple.
Machine learning
Trucking companies are embracing AI and machine learning to help improve their operations. By implementing these technology solutions, trucking businesses can consume more data in a shorter amount of time. This will help them increase their efficiency.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has already begun to deliver reliability, safety, and productivity benefits in the trucking industry. The industry is already generating massive amounts of data through connected devices and sensors. Trucking companies use these to monitor the behavior of drivers and vehicles.
One example of how AI can help trucking companies is through predictive maintenance. By monitoring the vehicle and driver’s behavior, fleet managers can predict potential issues before they happen. It also allows them to monitor the condition of their equipment and plan preventive maintenance.
Blockchain in trucking alliance (BiTA) and Sweetbridge (Sweetbridge)
The trucking industry is among the largest in the world. This is partly due to the number of trucks and the demand for transportation services. But it is also plagued by many inefficiencies. One of the most significant issues is time. Whether you’re looking to order a spare part or trying to ship a load, you need to know that you’re getting exactly what you want.
Blockchain technology can help you keep track of shipments. It can also help you with authentication. In addition, blockchain can help you maintain records of your fleet.
However, the industry still needs to embrace this technology completely. And even though it does have a promising future, it must be developed and nurtured.
Blockchain is a system that enables secure, immutable transactions via an open-to-all, trusted shared ledger. Each transaction is coded into a block, which becomes part of the chain. Changing a block requires authorization from all parties involved.
Driver shortage
The trucking industry has suffered from a shortage of drivers for years. Several reports have shown that the number of unfilled driver jobs is expected to grow. The American Trucking Associations Chief Economist, Bob Costello, said the industry is currently facing its second-largest vacancy.
Some factors cause driver shortages, but the most prominent is poor pay. Many significant rig drivers are paid only for driving time and do not get health care benefits or overtime compensation. The average truck driver needs more money to cover living costs while on the road.
It is important to note that the shortage is more comprehensive than in the U.S.; Mexico and Canada also face driver shortages.