How Has Technology Helped the Trucking Industry Evolve?

Technological advancement constantly shapes and informs the way people interact with modern society, from the home to the workplace and everywhere in between. 

The trucking industry has been greatly transformed in recent years, and, in many ways, technology has played a leading role in that transformation. 

There’s no question that the recent shortage of qualified truckers has caused plenty of disruption to supply lines across the whole of the UK and beyond, but the world of tech waits for no one, and for the business-savvy types among you, the high demand for trucking services may prove to be a lucrative opportunity. 

Whether you’re a trucker, an operator, or a mix of the two, it’s worth taking a look at how tech has helped the trucking industry evolve. 

Access to Work 

One of the biggest effects the online world had on the trucking industry is the increased access it can grant those looking for work. 

The introduction of purpose-built virtual load boards is ideal for those looking for quick and dependable work on a regular basis. Whether it’s long-haul shipping work or hot shot trucking, the best online load boards can let truckers browse for work on their own terms, benefitting both the customer and the driver immensely. 

Accessibility and connectivity are perhaps the best traits the online realm has to offer, and in the trucking industry, these traits can prove to be invaluable in finding and advertising work. 

Increased Driver Safety

Driver safety should always come first, no matter what the job is. There have been some big questions asked about driver safety in recent years and what kind of steps organizations are taking to improve it. 

Technology like collision avoidance software, onboard diagnostics, and vehicle management systems are constantly improving and consistently improving the safety rating for truckers everywhere. 

Last-mile software also has a big role to play in terms of protecting both drivers and shipments (the last mile is historically the most difficult), enabling trucking companies to raise efficiency across the board. 

Driver Comfort

Driver comfort rates have also been improved by the introduction of advanced technology, an often-overlooked aspect of trucking that can cause accidents if it’s not properly addressed. 

Ergonomic, smart seats are a prime example of this, a great type of tech that can ease the muscular and skeletal pressure felt by drivers on long deliveries. 

Advanced Telematics

Telematics is essentially all of the information gathered and transmitted by trucks to their respective data management platforms. This information is then interpreted by software and human personnel in order to achieve maximum fleet efficiency. 

It’s responsible for countless other aspects of the drive too, such as engine diagnostics and route efficiency. Advancements in this type of technology mean that trucks can now transmit information back to base faster than ever before, resulting in better route accuracy, increased safety and greater communication, and that’s just the surface of it. 

Telematics has changed vehicle tracking forever, and it’ll likely only improve in the future, so be sure to watch this space. 

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