Since the dawn of automobiles, commercial truckers have evoked a romantic “lone wolf” image—nothing out there but you and the road. It’s a notion as romantic as the old west cowboy—and, now, just as antiquated.
Today, technology has become the ever-present “third person” in the truck, with computers remotely monitoring hours of service, idle time, location, fuel consumption, and many other useful metrics.
Here are four interactive innovations, part of the “The Internet of Cars”, that are revolutionizing the truck rental industry.
1) Accident Avoidance Technologies
Nobody likes accidents—a constant threat to the health of drivers and business continuity. Here’s one place technology has become a game-changer.
Features like lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and electronic stability control have all made major differences in the lives of drivers and fleet. As a result, record numbers of new vehicles are being fitted with rear-sensing devices, back-up alarms, cameras, and the like.
And it gets even more futuristic: the USDOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it will soon mandate wireless Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications in cars and trucks.
After a year-long field test of V2V technology, the NHTSA found that, “…V2V communications can provide the vehicle and driver with 360-degree situational awareness” to address common crash scenarios, including lane changes, passing in the blind, and detection of unseen vehicles nearby.
2) Vehicle Telematics
Telematics, the telecom capabilities that began with GPS, are getting faster and richer. As fleets phase out older 2G networks in favor of 3G and 4G options, greater speed and bandwidth will enable more data-laden possibilities.
According to the recent BusinessFleet.com article, 12 Telematics Trends and Technologies, the current telematics revolution includes:
- Greater smartphone and tablet integration – Fleet data being available on handheld devices is raising efficiency and lowering costs.
- Application Program Interface (API) – Enhanced integration of vehicle data into software applications like dispatching and asset management allows managers to streamline data collection and gain deeper insights.
- Social Media – Everything from truck locations to receiving dock scheduling can now be shared via social media sites like Twitter, increasing productivity, customer satisfaction, and engagement.
- Improved Prognostics for Vehicle Maintenance – The emerging trend here, says BusinessFleet.com, is seeing statistical patterns that can predict breakdowns before they happen.
- Compliance – Advanced telematics systems can track driver habits such as speed, braking, rapid acceleration, Hours of Service, and more. It’s a ton of data that, according to BusinessFleet.com, “offers fleets the ability to better manage and improve Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores.”
3) Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
While they continue to be controversial, Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are a reality. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has said its ELD mandate will go into effect in 2017, and there’s widespread agreement they will be good for business and the individual driver.
ELDs automate and digitize most of the cumbersome paper-based DOT log requirements that truckers contend with, including logging Hours of Service. This ensures safety by keeping tired (and risky) drivers off the road. Likewise, diagnostic alerts, fleet notifications, and CSA scorecards generated by ELDs form the new bedrock of a more efficient industry.
Real-time driver data has other uses as well. According to TruckingAlliance.org, “Integrating automated hours-of-service applications with dispatch, for example, allows back office personnel to know not only which trucks are closest to a load, but how many hours each specific driver has remaining for the day or week.”
These benefits complement the most basic reporting capabilities of ELDs. These include keeping an electronic eye on tire pressure, engine conditions, fuel consumption, and idle times. Knowing the status of critical systems is key to reducing costly repairs and downtime.
4) Smartphone apps
Downloadable smartphone and tablet computer apps have completely altered the technology landscape for commercial trucking. They have also helped level the playing field for small businesses by turning smartphones into affordable productivity tools. These advanced, user-friendly algorithms for Android and iOS devices have offer diverse menu of a useful functionality, including:
- Voice-guided GPS that can instantly map optimal routes based on vehicle size, weight and load type, along with customized landmarks and geo-fencing
- Calculating and tracking fuel surcharges and taxes
- Instantly sharing documents and records with carriers and brokers
- Avoiding traffic delays, and monitoring weather conditions as they develop
- Posting availability on load boards, to bid on and book loads
In the coming years, as these technological advancements continue to evolve—and new technologies break through—the world of rental vehicles promises to be an even more powerful and flexible way to meet growing business demands.
