Most large fleets have extensive experience with telematics: GPS location and mobile communications systems that collect data and communicate it back to a server where the fleet can access the information. As the amount and kind of data has increased in recent years, fleets have adopted tools to make sense of all that information and use it across their operation.
Mobile computing is quickly becoming the platform of choice. Tablets and smartphones are far outselling laptop or desktop computers in the consumer market, and a growing number of trucking operations are deploying these devices.
Fleet managers can learn new things about their operations by analyzing everything from accidents to wait times.
In some fleets, shop operations are completely integrated with the computer systems for dispatch, accounting, mobile communications and outside service providers. In other fleets, technology in the shop may be limited to automated systems for tracking work, labor, parts and inventory.
Cargo Transporters, Claremont, N.C, wasn’t doing much re-occuring driver training other than a few defensive driving classes, but in 2010 decided to require six hours of either online or classroom training. It was so successful that in 2011 they increased it to eight hours, according to President Dennis Dellinger.
Trucking operations generally don’t invest in technology with the sole purpose of becoming “greener.” For most fleets, the decision is prompted by a desire to improve operational efficiencies, customer service and the bottom line.
You probably have a pretty good idea what a telematics system is, even if you don't know it by that name. You may know it as a fleet management system or GPS fleet management system or GPS vehicle tracking system.
Truckstop operators have always used technology to meet customer needs and remain competitive. From relatively low-tech devices such as pay phones and fax machines to high-tech services such as wireless Internet access, shore power connections and smart phone apps, truckstops remain places drivers can connect — with both the office and home.
Whether truckload, LTL, local delivery or any other type of operation, all fleets want the same thing: to get their work done as quickly and as safely possible while burning as little fuel as possible.
Technology in the shop is nothing new; in fact, it's absolutely necessary to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair today's trucks. But fleets are finding there are technologies they can use outside of the shop to monitor vehicle health and diagnose problems
Cloud computing has been getting a lot of attention in the information technology space. Before you put your head in the cloud, though, there are some things you should understand about the concept of cloud computing
When a driver pulls a truck into a service shop for a repair, scheduled or not, a service writer must bring together a lot of information before a work order can be generated.
At the bare minimum,
A decade ago, selling truck parts was mostly a face-to-face (or least voice-to-voice) business. Distributors used outside salespeople to call on fleets, independent repair shops or other service providers to build typical sales relationships
It's a rare heavy-duty service shop or parts warehouse/distributor that doesn't use some kind of computer software in its operation. It might be as simple as an accounting package such as QuickBooks, or as complex as a full-feature
Why is a website important? Because if you don't have one, you don't exist to a very large number of potential customers