Sink or Streamline

The American Trucking Association estimates that the 2021 driver shortage capped at 80,000 drivers. According to other experts in the industry, if this current trend continues, the trucking industry could need more than 160,000 drivers by 2030. Combined with the pandemic and the supply chain crisis, the truck driver shortage is causing major bottleneck issues in delivery. Myself and plenty of others understand it's important for consumers and entrepreneurs alike to know what to expect in the coming years.

Issues impacting the trucking industry include supply shortages, skyrocketing prices and labor shortages. Most of these problems can be traced back to Covid-19.

Industry insiders say safety concerns are huge, as companies work to create safer and cleaner work environments without sacrificing efficiency and truckers debate vaccinations.

Freight issues heading into 2022 and the future can be solved mostly with tech solutions. There are a few specific steps that truck companies should take in order to begin the journey toward implementing emerging freight technology. First, companies might want to consider serious investments in new technologies for their fleets to make them more efficient.

At Sims Global Solutions we use Transportation Management Systems, it provides many services from forecasting to reports, real-time tracking to instant quoting and much more. TMS systems aren’t just for logistics companies but can be utilized by customers themselves. You can stop running quotes on multiple carriers’ websites and consolidate your quoting, booking and tracking into one platform.

I digress, but if trucking companies want to retain drivers, industry leaders say organizations must prioritize improving driver experiences. Adequate pay remains a top issue in the trucking industry and providing a better overall experience for truckers is vital to keeping the industry afloat. Transportation leaders also say companies must focus on their retention and recruitment efforts to optimize driver workflow. Trucking companies that incorporate fleet management, workflow and route optimization software could achieve increased operational efficiency as well as seamless, lower-stress driver experiences.

Studies have proven that companies that prioritize driver comfort see fewer drivers fewer drivers suffering from highway fatigue.

According to Avi Geller, CEO of Maven Machines, trucking companies must utilize training and education. Some of Geller's examples include events, reward-based initiatives and even social media posts to increase and improve proper technology adoption and use.

Fear of long-term investments can also be cited as one of the main challenges keeping companies from realizing their full potential with freight technologies. However, with a successful implementation of technology comes a return on investment.

The success of the implementation of new technology should be measured in efficiency, reduced costs and labor and staff morale. Especially when it comes to the trucking industry, driver safety and comfort are so important to the overall success of the supply chain.

In the upcoming year, companies are expected to continue optimizing their fleets and prioritize fully automated software within real-time route optimization and supply chain planning. Trucking companies and third party logistics (3PL), like Sims Global Solutions, that capitalize on data-driven route optimization software will see tremendous gains in knowledge and efficiency.

Disruptions in the supply chain crisis are not expected to be resolved in 2022 so, it's up to everyone involved in the industry to implement best practices along every route of the supply chain.?