Innovation in the trucking sector is undeniable, with autonomous and electric cars, platooning, big data, and integrated technology all playing a role. With the use of analytics, smart solutions have fundamentally changed how goods are carried around the world, and the industry is aware of this. a staggering 64% of executives surveyed by Supply Chain Management World believe that big data and the insights it provides will have the disruptive capacity to change the industry forever.
What’s to say that big data and innovation won’t be game changers? It’s used by Amazon, Maersk, and Walmart, among others. The top organisations in the world are already implementing data-driven and tech-driven solutions to improve their operations.
When it comes to delivery, technology is changing the game, and it’s saving lives and money in the process. Here are five technology and innovation developments that are reshaping the trucking companies San Diego sector:
. Electric vehicles and the way we get about
There is a lot of hype surrounding electric and self-driving cars, but the technology behind them is more than just hype. The idea of driverless vehicles propelled solely by electricity would have made many chuckle 20 years ago. This is the new reality, and it’s about to alter the trucking industry for good.
“Breakdowns and repairs will be less frequent with more modern trucks. A tectonic upheaval in the industry will be triggered by these developments. In addition to saving time, money, and lives, self-driving and assistive technology will minimize the number of accidents.
Tesla’s self-driving trucks are well-known, but what about Nikola, Einride, or even automotive giants like Daimler and Volkswagen? They’re all worth your attention. Additionally, each of these businesses is making strides in developing the next generation of vehicles. Safety and efficiency are two of the most important factors in the design of trucks. They contain technologies that will lead to true autonomous driving, such as lane assist and assisted braking. Additionally, breakdowns and repairs are expected to decrease as more modern trucks are introduced into the market. A tectonic upheaval in the industry will be triggered by these developments. In addition to saving time, money, and lives, self-driving and assistive technology will minimize the number of accidents on the road.
Despite the fact that trucks are still far from fully automated, they can maintain a constant pace and keep a safe distance from other cars. The range and availability of charging stations for electric vehicles are two of the biggest challenges they face at the time. Last year, Tesla said that its new Tesla Semi Truck will be able to travel 800 kilometres on a full battery and an additional 600 kilometres with only 30 minutes of charging.
Volkswagen is already working on achieving superior outcomes and at the same time lowering the cost of electric vehicles with solid-state batteries, while Tesla displays these stats with their most costly truck. Further improvements over current lithium-ion batteries include: increased energy density; enhanced safety; better fast-charging capability; and a substantially smaller footprint. As a result, electric vehicles’ maximum driving range might be increased by 2.5 times.
However, just as conventional cars require gas stations to function, electric vehicles would be unable to operate without one as well. Electric car company Tesla is already working on a worldwide network of Tesla Superchargers while the likes of BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen join together to develop a high-power charging network across Europe. Considering the rapid pace of development, this technology isn’t only promising – it’s inevitable, which means the sector should better prepare itself and embrace the electric wave and upgraded trucks’ potential.
. Let’s put the trucking innovation to the test in a platoon.
And with more modern trucks comes better driving precision. It is now possible for truckers to construct formations with the help of newer and more advanced driving technologies. These convoys are closely trailed by other vehicles in their fleet, which are closely controlled by computers that communicate with one another. Telematics: the transmission, reception, and storage of information via telecommunication devices to operate remote objects, such as trucks, is the key to making this happen. As a result, a lengthy line of large vehicles is formed, all travelling in the same direction.
In terms of fuel usage and pollution, platooning is a genuine money-saver. Wind resistance and traffic congestion are alleviated by the use of a long line of trucks. As a public safety feature, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. As a result, instead of strewn across our roadways, there is a single, well-defined line of heavy vehicles. This can be seen in action in the work of Peloton. For the lead truck, the company has demonstrated fuel savings of 4.5%, and for the following truck, savings of 10%. Win-win. Platooning may become more common on European roads in the near future, thanks to the Ensemble project, despite the fact that it is not yet widely used. Platooning will be studied for three years beginning in 2018 as part of a three-year research study.
All of this stems from Internet of Things (IoT)
Better position tracking, better environmental sensing, better fleet management, better eco-friendly shipping, and better supply-demand balance are just some of the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) in trucking innovation. On the whole, it’s an improvement.
When connected to each other over the internet, IoT devices establish a virtual network that may exchange information. Everything from tyre pressure to load stability may be monitored using networks of sensors positioned throughout the truck. Data generated by semi-autonomous and platooned truck systems, like those being developed by Peloton, will be much more important for carriers and shippers. Improved supply chain management and reduced human involvement are also possible outcomes of this trade. As an example, Kuehne + Nagel, a global leader in logistics, can be considered. In order to give shippers real-time information on the position and status of important freight in transit, they’re utilising sensors and a cloud-based platform. In addition to temperature, humidity, pressure intrusion detection, shock, and tilt at the pallet or parcel level, their system introduces the Internet of Things to freight monitoring and provides customers with notifications.
Robots with built-in cameras and QR readers can do the same job in a fraction of the time it takes a human to scan each item by hand or manually hunt for missing barcodes.
. Innovation in the trucking industry relies heavily on the use of big data.
Big data and effective delivery go hand in hand, and this should not be overlooked. It’s all about logistics: precise location data and real-time data analysis are transforming the supply chain. Companies must first guarantee that the data they are using is of high quality, which is not always the case in logistics. Fortunately, the use of Artificial Intelligence algorithms can considerably increase the quality of the data.
. Don’t forget about the people.
Talking about all this technology can take attention away from the most important part of the equation: the drivers. Since the dawn of time, it has always been up to the driver to ensure that products arrive in a safe and secure manner. The importance of human drivers in trucking will not certainly continue, but this function will change as the business evolves.
Self-driving trucks are expected to be used for a long time in “dock to dock” runs, according to Uber. Their vision is for self-driving trucks to travel highway miles between “transfer hubs,” when human drivers take over for the final miles through complicated urban and industrial terrain.
As a result of the introduction of automation, many people believe that future truck drivers will have less job opportunities. A different picture is emerging from within the sector. The vision is for self-driving trucks to cover highway miles between “transfer hubs,” where humans will take control for the remaining several miles through urban and industrial terrain.