Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/560501
LEARN MORE. MAKE MORE. ITS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR SERIES REGISTER FOR OUR FREE WEBINARS TRUCKSTOP.COM/ WEBINARS PAT DICKARD KNOWS BY PAT DICKARD, CORPORATE TRAINER TRUCKSTOP OF THE FUTURE W e live in a world, today, where being faster is better than being fast. Before 1900, most freight transported over land was moved by rail. Trains were highly ecient at moving large amounts of freight, but could only deliver that freight to centralized urban centers for distribution by horse-drawn wagons. e few trucks that existed at the time were mostly novelties, appreciated more for their advertising space than for their utility. e use of range-limited electric engines, lack of paved rural roads, and small load capacities limited trucks to mostly short-haul urban routes. Starting in 1910, the development of a number of technologies gave rise to the modern trucking industry. With the advent of the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, improvements in transmissions, the move away from chain drives to gear drives, and the development of the tractor/semi-trailer combination, shipping by truck gained in popularity. By 1914 there were almost 100,000 trucks on America's roads. However, solid tires, poor rural roads, and a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour continued to limit the use of these trucks. e years of World War I spurred rising truck use and development. It was during these years that the industry began experimentation with the rst long-distance truck shipment, and pneumatic tires capable of supporting heavier loads were developed which enabled trucks to drive at higher speeds. By the late 1950s, there had been established a network of interstate highways that allowed larger trucks to travel at higher speeds through rural and urban areas. By 1970 there were more than 18 million trucks on America's roads. e future truck and the technology that will be available is out of this world. e truck today contains more technology than your typical small plane. Driverless trucks are inevitable because there will be money savings in it. Aer all, an idle truck with a sleeping driver is just a depreciating asset. ese new technologies will improve standards of living by making us more productive and less wasteful. Truck stops are also embracing new technologies to meet the challenges of the rapidly-changing trucking industry. Truck stop operators are evaluating and installing new technology to make life easier for their customers, including techniques to expedite the fueling process so drivers can get back on the road faster. A number of locations have already installed lanes with radio-frequency identication technology. e technology relies on a radio signal from a tag attached to the truck or trailer that sends a signal to a sensor located in the fuel island canopy. Once the sensor reads the tag and veries the information with the carrier, the pump turns on and the driver can fuel the truck. e pump turns o when the truck pulls away. ere are many more new changes coming to the truck stops. Founded in 1995 by Scott Moscrip, Truckstop.com has led the industry in the development of information and decision support tools for the North American Transportation Industry. Initially founded as a simple internet-based load board, at a time when laptops in trucks were unheard of and really very few individuals had any kind of a computer, Truckstop.com has developed into a complete tool kit that greatly assists motor carriers, freight brokers and shippers in managing all of the requirements of sourcing, matching, tracking and funding freight transactions. Truckstop. com has a commitment to quality, a passionate focus on customer needs and satisfaction, and a constant push to improve technologies used in everyday business practices. If I may use the words of one of our clients, we know that to continue being successful and meeting your changing needs, we must be bold and proceed. It is important that we meet the new challenges together.