Anyone who attends a trucking convention knows that there is an almost unlimited list of add-ons that fleets could install if they desire. Many inventive firms are developing reliable technologies and related devices.
Often combining both hardware and software—they can link into those trucks from all angles, claiming to provide benefits in fleet and trucking operations.
Technology is constantly finding new methods to make things easier, faster, more precise, less expensive, safer, or more secure. And it is often accompanied by major industrial shifts.
It’s important to remember that choosing between different technologies isn’t an easy task. Trucks are an extremely expensive asset for fleets, and they often have a large number of them.
It might take years to equip a fleet of trucks with new technology, and it typically necessitates installation and upkeep. As a result, that entails time, which entails money.
Technologies
We focused on certain crucial add-ons beyond your basic fleet management package for our “must-have” list. We looked at how having them on your vehicles can make your fleet more competitive.
Or, conversely, how not having them on your trucks can offer your competitors an advantage. Let’s look into some of them:
- Dynamic routing
- Forward-looking camera system
- Collision mitigation technology
- Electronic logging devices
- Trailer tracking
Dynamic routing
You’re frequently transporting items or personnel from point to point, delivery to delivery, in trucking and fleet operations. It’s all about how you go about doing it.
Dynamic routing can offer flexibility and data to inform the paths taken. Particularly with traffic and weather data that can now come close to the often “real-time” promise.
Alternatively, depending on the nature of the business, dispatchers may be able to incorporate more stops into the route. Perhaps, to enhance route density and reduce the distance traveled between each delivery or pickup point.
Benefits
With recently updated GPS information, you may cut out superfluous miles and locate a faster route, or plan around a traffic jam or significant collision.
Dynamic routing software is becoming more intelligent. It can now accomplish a lot of this for you, resulting in automatic optimization and cost savings.
Forward-looking camera system
In-cab video systems have been around for a while and have become synonymous with the term “dashcam.” During that period, they’ve gotten better and better in terms of quality.
Vehicle video systems have evolved in lockstep with the growth of digital cameras in general.
It has significant advancements in image processing, low-light/nighttime usability, and high-definition image capture as memory has grown in capacity while shrinking in size.
Benefits
Using video fleets in their trucks protects the fleet and the driver in the event of a collision or bogus insurance claims. People wanting for a quick buck can file a bogus claim or even try to ram a vehicle, knowing that fleets are a lucrative target.
Collision mitigation technology
Heavy vehicles are more prevalent in incidents and fatalities, according to research. Registered vehicles account for only 4% of and 9% of total kilometers traveled.
However, large trucks and buses were involved in 13% of all accidents and 13% of all traffic fatalities. Today’s methods also reduce the number of false positives that the initial generation of such items tended to produce.
More sensing technology is being included in advanced collision mitigation systems to monitor for various types of crashes and take emergency action to avert them.
Benefits
As a result, collision prevention technology is developing new ways to monitor more of what’s going on around a vehicle. In addition, the truck’s speed and control in various conditions, and to take autonomous emergency action if needed.
Meanwhile, other technologies may provide new approaches to reducing collisions through driving behavior.
Electronic logging devices
Since December 2018, practically all interstate commercial trucking operations in the United States must incorporate electronic logging devices to operate lawfully.
Electronic logging monitors and records commercial truck drivers’ hours of service. It ensures that they are adhering to the federal regulatory body’s standards and prohibitions.
Electronic logs improve the competitiveness of fleets and trucking companies. It’s worth noting that this is a business where 100% driver turnover is common, every year a fleet’s entire driver personnel may replace. Perhaps, it is costly.
Benefits
Electronic logs aren’t the be-all and end-all solution, but they’ll get you a long way. It’s the most powerful weapon we’ve ever had for enforcing everything we need to enforce.
It is hoped that this will force us to do things correctly. The modification would eventually increase the fleet size and greatly enhance the lives of the drivers.
Trailer tracking
The use of trailer tracking technology can make it much easier to find and manage these assets. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of asset tracking as it relates to truck trailers is loss prevention.
Integrating GPS tracking to monitor the trailer can be essential. For instance, what’s going on with your trailers may alert a fleet if the trailers are in high-theft regions or trace a stolen trailer.
Trailer tracking entails more than just a GPS transponder attached to the trailer. It also adds another wireless sensor, allowing a trailer-tracking device to give data to a fleet management system.
Benefits
When it comes to maintenance, trailer tracking can help eliminate guesswork. Today’s technology may tie maintenance data and records to a trailer. Perhaps, allowing the fleet to see more consistent maintenance and inspection schedules.
When fleets have good visibility and utilization of their trailers, they can make smart equipment purchasing decisions.
Conclusion
To conclude, fleets can invest in technology that has a short life cycle. Such as smartphones, where they’ll install something. They can teach drivers to use it only to have to turn around, replace everything, and start all over again.
As a result, technologies like dynamic routing software, forward-looking camera systems, collision mitigation technology, electronic logging devices, and trailer tracking have been in development for years.
Commercial vehicles such as box truck suppliers, hydraulic lift trucks, and van trucks may be able to benefit from these technologies.
Of course, truck add-ons take an initial investment, and fleet managers, operators, and owners want to see that it’s worthwhile.
