Fleet Management

What the Last Decade of Trucking Data Tells Us About the Future

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If you work in the trucking industry, we don’t need to tell you that there have been industry changes over the past couple of years. The trucking industry is integral to the United States economy, and the average person may not even realize to what degree this is true. So much of what we consume and enjoy in our daily lives is transported by truck. Without the trucking industry, our very way of living would collapse. So we must keep a pulse on how the trucking industry is doing, and in doing so, we can predict its future. This article will look at trucking industry data from 2010 to 2020. 

The ELD Mandate Has Made Drivers Safer

The ELD mandate was passed in 2016 to create a safer work environment for drivers. It did this by requiring businesses to track, manage and share records of duty status data. In the past, this data was kept through paper logbooks and could easily be lost or destroyed. With the ELD mandate, these logbooks were replaced by automatic onboard recording devices that made the process automatic. The rule was put into effect for

  • Commercial drivers who were already required to keep a record of duty status data
  • Vehicles that weigh more than 10,001 pounds
  • Vehicles that have placarded hazmat loads
  • Vehicles that carry more than 8 or 15 passengers

The ELD mandate required a lot of work to put into effect, but the American Trucking Association found that it reduced the truck crash rate by 11.7%. It also reduced hours-of-service violations by 50% compared to paper logging. 

The Truck Driver Shortage Has Continued

The truck driver shortage has been around for a long time in the trucking industry, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away. The American Trucking Association predicted that the industry needed 60,800 more drivers by 2018 to meet the United States’ demand for trucking. This problem was left unchecked, and now the American Trucking Association estimates that the issue could balloon to over 160,000 drivers by 2028. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the problem, as there is a great strain on the supply chain, and it is far more challenging to train new drivers. Meanwhile, this issue causes great 

New Trucks Are Safer

With new technology comes more safety, and that’s the goal behind much of the advancements in new trucks. Modern commercial vehicles have all kinds of bells and whistles that encourage safe vehicle operation. These trucks can better withstand more substantial impacts and include improved onboard safety systems. Features like backup cameras and lane assist help drivers to feel safer behind the wheel. As older vehicles are rotated out of fleets, we will begin to see these safer vehicles impact the industry’s safety metrics. 

Fleet Managers Can Better Monitor Their Drivers

Federal compliance isn’t the only way that electronic tracking has impacted drivers. Businesses all over the country are taking advantage of onboard monitoring systems for their own use. Fleet management software has offered many benefits to fleets over the last decade. 

  1. Fleets can track fuel efficiency and optimize fuel usage. 
  2. Fleets can track deliveries in real-time and communicate with clients about potential delays.
  3. Route optimization can help fleets save time throughout the day and even save fuel.
  4. Drivers can save fuel and even receive emergency assistance faster.
  5. Fleets can more easily maintain compliance with safety regulations. 

Catch Up With the Future of the Trucking Industry Today!

If you’re looking towards the trucking industry’s future, you’ll want to be up to date on all of your fleet’s technology. That’s where Azuga comes in. We offer a comprehensive fleet solution that has everything you need to optimize your fleet’s productivity and keep your drivers as safe as possible. Propel your fleet into the new decade with the best of the best in fleet technology. Check out what we can do with a fleet demo.