Trucking technology has come a long way since the industry has become more open to adapting to modern tech. Gone are the days when fleets and independent contractors alike relied on guesswork for maintenance needs, finances, compliance management, and other aspects of running a trucking business. Today, the trucking industry has accepted technology as an integral part of daily operations, making them all the more efficient and productive.
To illustrate just how much technology has improved the trucking industry, here are some of the most essential tech solutions that every independent trucker or contractor should have.
1. Accounting systems
Accounting is one of the trickiest parts of running a business. And for many independent truckers, hiring a full-time accountant to manage finances is out of the question. This is where accounting systems ad services for independent contractors come in. This tech solution allows businesses to manage their finances on an easy-to-use online platform that can be updated in real-time. Crucial accounting tasks like bookkeeping, managing receipts, and updating financial statements thus become more manageable, which can independent contractors focus on other important aspects of operations.
2. Vehicle video systems
Or more familiarly known as “dash cams” are a must-have for every trucking company. Having a forward-facing camera helps protect truckers from being liable for road accidents that are not their fault, and helps provide infallible evidence against fraudulent drivers that purposely run into trucks to make false claims.
Dashcams have been around for quite some time now, but their capabilities are continuously growing. Today, modern dash cams have features like high-definition video capture, nighttime vision, higher storage capacity, and a rear-facing camera to capture what the driver is doing behind the wheel.
3. Trailer tracking
This type of trucking tech can help businesses keep track of their assets and mitigate potential losses. Trailer tracking systems involve the installation of GPS transponders in vehicles to track their location in real time. Thanks to wireless technology, this tech also feeds vehicles’ locations and other pertinent data directly into the fleet management system, making asset management much more efficient and effective.
4. Collision mitigation technology
Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, the sheer size and mass of trucks can lead to disastrous outcomes in vehicle and property damage, and in worst cases–severe injuries and fatalities.
For this reason alone, collision mitigation technology is an essential tool for any trucking business, no matter the size. Vehicles with this type of tech can detect potential crashes and alert the driver to take action before they happen, and some systems even apply the brakes automatically if the driver fails to react in time. Due to their effectiveness in minimizing the frequency and severity of road crashes, collision mitigation technology is becoming a standard feature for new trucks and can also be retrofitted to older vehicles.
5. Anti-drowsy driving technology
One of the most common causes of road accidents is drowsy driving. And due to the physical and mental demands of driving a huge vehicle, truck drivers are more susceptible to driving while sleepy or completely falling asleep at the steering wheel. This is especially true for drivers on late-night or overnight shifts, as well as those on long-distance routes.
There are several types of anti-drowsy driving technology available today. Anti-drowsy driving applications keep a driver awake in a variety of ways. Some apps sound an alert at certain intervals to fight off driver drowsiness. Other apps detect a driver’s face and sound an alarm they sense signs of drowsiness. Newer cars have built-in systems that monitor a driver’s movement, heart rate, posture, and temperature to detect sleepiness and sound an alarm or even take control of the vehicle and take it off the road to safety.
6. Electronic logging devices (ELDs)
ELDs are no longer optional for all commercial trucking operations. By law, trucks are required to have ELDs installed in order to do business legally.
This device aims to create a safer work environment for truck drivers by keeping track of hours of service (HOS) and duty status (RODS) data to ensure that trucking businesses are operating within the requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Primarily, this type of tech helps uphold truck driver rights as well as minimize the risk of accidents due to overfatigue.
Managing fleets, mitigating accidents, and ensuring truck driver rights are all made easier with modern truck technology solutions–most especially the ones we have highlighted above. With the rate that vehicle technology is developing, we can expect only more improvements to come in the future–which will hopefully push the trucking industry to new heights.
