Thanks to modern technology, the landscape of the transportation industry has changed significantly over the past decade. The range of technology at your disposal can be hugely beneficial to your day-to-day operations, and depending on your budget, the sky is the limit in terms of how ‘connected’ you want to be.
GPS truck tracking
Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, are now standard on many vehicles, but the transportation industry has gone a step further with GPS fleet tracking technology. These sophisticated navigation and tracking systems allow companies that operate multiple vehicles to be in full control of their fleet.
The system can do everything from alerting operators to unproductive idling or speeding of vehicles to saving time, money and resources with more efficient routes to pick up available loads. GPS fleet tracking technology can help reduce fuel costs, increase safety and even improve driver behavior.
Intelligent Transportation Systems
While still in the testing stage, the Australian transport industry is developing a smart integrated network system designed to give truck drivers the ability to read the road ahead and literally see around corners. . The Cooperative Intelligent Transportation System, or C-ITS, works to connect a network of vehicles by exchanging data to create a virtual roadmap in real time. Tracking variables including speed, location, distance, road conditions, weather and direction can alert connected users to road hazards before they encounter them.
On Board Diagnostic Systems (OBD)
While OBDs have been around for a while, today’s sophisticated versions offer truck drivers a host of early warning vehicle malfunction indicators. The systems monitor everything from emissions control to major mechanical components, and serve to ensure that the vehicle is operating cost-effectively and with as little environmental impact as possible.
smartphone apps
Today’s apps offer everything from truck wash stops to innovative business tools that allow you to search for cargo on the move. There is an incredible variety of cheap and free transportation-related apps that you can download to your smartphone. In fact, for many truckers, a smartphone can be used as a virtual mobile office. For the self-employed owner driver, a smartphone and select apps for accounting, route navigation, and tracking of available loads may be all the technology needed to run a highly successful business.
Technology is developing at a breakneck pace, and for the transportation industry it is no different. Every day brings new innovation designed to make life easier, and expert industry professionals understand why and how to integrate this new technology into your daily practice to stay ahead of the curve.
