eTrucking: How New Technologies are Transforming the Trucking Industry

The trucking industry is undergoing an evolution of revolutionary proportions. As American businesses continue to embrace just-in-time manufacturing and distribution methods to reduce inventory levels, smaller and quicker deliveries of goods in the supply chain are essential. A booming economy has increased the demand for transportation services to an extent that finding enough qualified drivers becomes a major challenge. Because of this and many other factors private fleets, full-load and less-than full-load carriers are feeling increasing pressure to adapt to new challenges and possibilities. Supply chain management and fleet management are becoming even more important as customers demand more services from their carriers. Carriers are continuing to embrace satellite tracking and communications technologies as key elements of increasing the productivity of their fleets while also reducing waste and inefficiency at the same time. The introduction of these previous forces has begun to turn the truck driver into a knowledge worker. These drivers just don’t drive these big trucks, but they are in continuous communication via e-mail and satellite contact with their dispatcher. The web site has also become an important tool for carriers to facilitate new business relationships and enter new markets. Transportation.com and pnv.com are two important examples of how our carriers are creating web sites that are providing solutions and new potential for all of those involved in the trucking industry. 1