The Internet of Things or IoT is one of those disruptions that every industry is embracing to overcome the present and future challenges of growth. As per a report by Statista in 2018, the transportation and logistics industry was planning to spend about $40 billion in IoT to (potentially) transform the entire sector. Then again, McKinsey estimates that the global IoT industry is so large that it could easily generate revenue of $$ – $11 trillion by 2025. So what should trucking companies and the drivers know about the big changes that IoT could bring in the coming years? Let’s take a look.
First, IoT is, indeed, likely to disrupt trucking, but it will shape the industry for the better and it’s not such an unfamiliar world after all. For example, ELD is one of the IoT integrations, that has now been mandated in every commercial vehicle. The effective implementation of ELD’s could reduce the chances of traffic accidents and make the roads safer for both truckers and pedestrians.
Here’s how IoT could work out.
Improved data collection and analysis
The efficiency of fleet operations can make or break a business, thus making it all the more important to track and manage the trucking assets effectively. With its advanced sensors, actuators, GPS systems, electronic monitors, and RFIDs, IoT can help collect data from these vehicles and help the business owners with more detailed information for authentic tracking. As the vehicles take various routes and brace different traffic and weather conditions, such localized data obtained through the sensors can help enhance operations and regulate tracking for better planning and effective operations.
Monitor vehicle status and provide alerts
While driving long distances, vehicles are susceptible to damages and faulty operations that may even hamper the quality of freight. For example, a refrigerated unit needs to be monitored at all times for temperature changes, sealed doors, and other issues that may degrade the quality of food or other goods that are being moved. IoT can help here with simple monitoring and sensing technologies incorporated into the vehicle and tracked by the drivers and fleet managers through mobile apps. Not only the truckers, but the customers on the other end can also get such valuable information about the location of the vehicle, condition of the freight, conditions, and so on. Such real-time monitoring can help the fleet managers and truckers respond quickly to adverse situations and prevent any kind of damage to the goods, as the system can give alerts to them, whenever anything goes wrong.
Safe and secure transportation
IoT can go the extra mile to help truckers stay safe on the roads by providing them with information about adverse weather, traffic conditions, roadblocks, and other life-threatening situations, if any, way in advance. This will help them prepare well for the conditions ahead and make changes to their routes and schedules if needed. Besides, it can give alerts on the smartphones of truckers and fleet managers regarding vehicle damages or maintenance issues that they need to take care of immediately. Such alerts and notifications about impending adversities increase the safety of the truckers on the road and ensure no harm befalls them. Incidentally, they also save money as proactive maintenance is much cheaper than repair.
Improve the life of truckers
Commercial motor vehicles with advanced IoT technologies installed with help the drivers perform their duties faster and without much hassle. They will automatically increase the driver’s efficiency, thus enhancing his/her performance to a great extent. And a driver with a wonderful track record will face no difficulties in employment, thus ensuring financial security in his/her life. It will also benefit the trucking companies by improving their reputation in the market for fast and quality deliveries.
Better management of assets
IoT devices can also go the extra mile to ensure effective asset management for the overall transportation and logistics sector. With RFIDs, Smart scanning, and BLE connectivity, all the assets owned by the company can be tracked and monitored. It should also be possible to get insights about their utilization and current location. The managers will get all the necessary information about the assets through mobile SMS alerts, emails, and app notifications, which will help them, enhance asset performance and utilization to a huge extent.
Ensure compliance with legislation
The government rules and mandates keep changing from time to time. As you have seen in the case of the ELD mandate, the manual logbooks were all replaced by advanced electronic logging devices that made the job of complying with the rules much easier. Similarly, IoT can help trucking companies and individual drivers maintain compliance with the changing regulations in the future. It can also help the drivers lead a hassle-free life by automating tedious manual tasks.
IoT is a happy change that can take trucking operations to the next level. With new and improved devices being developed and distributed all the time, you can make the most of this trend with ease today. However, make sure you get the IoT devices and solutions from reliable partners to ensure optimal performance and the minimum heartburn in the adoption process.
