Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/123324
By Tom Kelley COVER STORY Top 5 Ways Technology is Changing the Trucking Industry T he trucking industry is utilizing technology to adjust to the increasing demands of fleet owners, drivers and maintenance professionals. "Technology is creating an eco-system that will forever change the industry", says David Seewack, CEO, FinditParts.com. As technology is further implemented, the trucking industry is poised to see a surge in productivity, safety and profitability. 1.E-Commerce for Truck Parts: The digital arena is becoming increasingly important in the truck parts aftermarket. The online marketplace creates an eco-system that simplifies the fulfillment and distribution of truck & auto parts, effectively by streamlining and automating the search process for both common and obscure components. The online marketplace will continue to change the way truck parts are bought and sold. Featured Company: FinditParts (www.FinditParts.com) FinditParts.com is the largest online marketplace for heavy-duty truck parts with over 2.5 million parts from over 1,200 manufacturers. Its visitors engage with an online eco-system that simplifies the fulfillment and distribution of truck & auto parts, effectively streamlining and automating the search process for both common and obscure components. 2. AVL Units: Automatic vehicle location (AVL) units are in-cab devices that communicate location and other information via GPS satellite systems or cellular towers. A PC-based software or Internet application is used by the dispatcher or main office to send and receive information to the in-cab device. AVL units are growing in popularity in the trucking industry as a way to monitor shipments and update drivers with current geographical and traffic information. Featured Company: Fleetilla (http://www.fleetilla.com/index.asp) Fleetilla's vehicle tracking solution consists of the FL1850 vehicle-tracking unit that is installed in each vehicle to be tracked, as well as the FleetOrb online web-based fleet tracking and management application. A good GPS fleet management application does more than tell a manager where their vehicles or equipment are currently located. It provides data and tools that allow managers to make better decisions. 3. Mobile Apps: Mobile technology is changing the way fleets do business and the way drivers work and live on the road. Now fleets can monitor fuel prices, receive signed documents from drivers in an instant and send drivers training videos while they're on the road. Drivers can see their safety scores; search for and bid on loads, even get in line for truck stop showers without getting out of their cabs. / OWNER OPERATOR/MAY 2013 / / 22 OO 0513 edit.indd 22 4/5/13 2:10 PM