13 Reasons Why Trucking Software Is a Necessity

Updated on April 06, 2021 by Tanya Derevyanko

Truck routing is no easy business. Any fleet or logistics manager understands the type of headache that routing trucks can bring. There are so many different variables to consider, such as the weight and volume of the vehicle, the type of truck, the cargo being carried, amongst other things.

All of these considerations mean that incredibly specific and careful planning needs to go into every truck delivery route. This is why trucking software is essential.

Software takes all of the challenges that are presented to logistics managers and finds a solution for each one. This is the only way to achieve a truly streamlined truck delivery network.

Understanding trucking software

Vehicle Route Planning (VRP) is a major concern for any trucking business. Whether this is a courier service, a food delivery business, a manufacturer, or any other business that relies on truck routing, getting the VRP right is essential.

GPS technology helps with planning routes and deliveries more efficient, but there is so much more to effective VRP planning than this. For example, you will also need to plan routes that offer the highest level of fuel efficiency for the vehicle.

Truck routing is necessary for a few reasons. First of all, managers need to stay up to date with delivery progress and drop-off times. Knowing where each vehicle is located is important for a smooth operation.

Of course, truck route optimization software is also used to make sure that vehicles are on the most efficient path possible. We have listed some of the key considerations for truck routing below.

Rules on the road

There are various compliance considerations when planning a truck route. This includes things like the dimensions of the vehicle, speed limits on the roads,  potentially restricted roads for trucks, tolls along the way, and the type of cargo being transported. Different routes and areas will have unique compliance issues.

It is essential to completely understand the route ahead and to make sure that the truck is compliant with it. Otherwise, there could be delivery delays, unwanted rerouting, or possible fines and legal issues. Trucking software can provide an easy solution for this.

Tracking

Fleet managers need to track the whereabouts of their vehicles at all times. Especially when dealing with large fleets covering complex networks, it is so important to know where every vehicle is, if it is on the route, and on time.

This is necessary for managing deliveries and time schedules. Being able to efficiently track vehicles can also help to possibly avoid running into any of the other issues on this list.

Safety considerations

Not all trucks can cover all roads. Certain routes could have height and size restrictions on the vehicle. This could be due to factors like dangerous hills, tunnels, or narrow roads. If a route is planned without considering these factors, truck driver safety could be compromised.

The type of cargo also needs to be brought into consideration. This will affect the weight of the truck and how it reacts to certain circumstances on the road.

The best travel times

Logistics managers should always consider exactly when the truck should depart for its journey. The time of leaving can massively influence the rest of the journey ahead.

This can include traffic considerations and any other potential delays due to compromised speed. Choosing the most efficient departure times will make a major difference to the delivery route as a whole.

Fuel

A major consideration for any trucking business is fuel consumption. Fuel is both expensive, and harmful to the environment. Logistics managers should always take fuel consumption into consideration when planning a route.

Various factors can influence this, such as idling unnecessarily or climbing hills. The best trucking software should include fuel considerations when planning and organizing routes.

13 Advantages of trucking software

Trucking software is designed to enhance GPS routing while optimizing various other aspects of delivery. In today’s complex world of logistics planning, having the right software on your side is essential. Here are some of the main benefits of using this software.

Efficient tracking

One of the most important tools that any logistics manager can have is a good real-time tracking system. Sometimes, consignments need to be followed up on, or routes may have to change mid-delivery. Whether there is an issue in the delivery schedule, or if fleet managers just want to monitor delivery progress to send out updates, real-time tracking is necessary.

Software allows you to keep tabs on all vehicles at all times. This is completely accurate and allows you to manage delivery routes far better. Without real-time route tracking, logistics managers would have to use a system of manual updates which is not as accurate.

Greater efficiency

The best trucking software will handle routing for you to ensure that the path drivers take is of the highest efficiency. Software like Track-POD offers route optimization software to make sure that your drivers take the best road possible.

This helps to increase delivery speeds, and cut out wasted time on the roads. Having software effectively plan the most efficient route possible will also save a significant amount of time.

A benefit of using software like Track-POD is that it will arrange unlimited stop routes in the smartest way possible. The system calculates the best way to plan your routes so that no time or resources are wasted.

Track-POD will also fit as many stops into a single route as possible, to make sure that each delivery route offers maximum value.

Faster planning

The software doesn’t just plan better routes, but it organizes them in just a few clicks. Manual route planning can take hours to get right, but with software, the entire process is automated.

All of the different variables and data for a route are already in the system which saves logistics coordinators from researching each individual element. This saves fleet managers plenty of valuable time and effort.

Rerouting

You never know what could happen during the course of a delivery route. If there are any setbacks, such as a vehicle repair or closed road, then the entire delivery schedule will need to be replanned.

Organizing this manually can be a seriously difficult and complex job. Trucking software takes the headache out of this task and does all of the work for you.

Dynamic rerouting is a great feature of this type of software. If the delivery is compromised or changed in any way, the software will automatically update and reroute the delivery schedule to keep it as efficient as possible.

Fuel savings

The importance of being economical with fuel can’t be stressed enough with trucking fleets. Logistics managers are always trying to find ways to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Using truck software is a simple way to automate this process.

This software creates a new and better route option to ensure that no unnecessary distance is traveled and that no fuel is wasted. Not only does this make deliveries faster, but it reduces overhead costs of fuel and maintenance.

Better driver communication

Truck software isn’t just for fleet managers, but it is also for the drivers. This is because the drivers also get constantly updated and optimized GPS routes presented to them. The Track-POD mobile app for drivers instantly provides them with any new routes.

As a result, there is no need for logistics managers and drivers to discuss routes with each other. The routes are automatically updated on both ends to keep each party on the same page. This saves time and communication effort.

The software also gives drivers the power to provide updates and notify fleet managers of any complications. For example, Track-POD allows drivers to send photos of any possible maintenance or repair issues that may be required. This makes communication a far easier task.

Potential for scaling

Trucking software can be used for one truck, or for 100 trucks. The potential to scale your operations with this software is a huge bonus.

If a fleet manager had to do everything manually, it would be a nightmare to optimize routes and keep track of 100 trucks at a time. However, the software will take care of this for you.

This gives logistics managers better tools and more confidence to scale their business. No matter how many trucks you have on the road, or how many stops you will be doing, the software will make sure that all deliveries are managed for the highest level of efficiency.

Better safety compliance

Truck routing software doesn’t just optimize routes for maximum efficiency, but it also helps drivers to stay compliant with best practices. For example, the software can keep track of aspects like speed limits or height restrictions on the road.

If logistics managers organize routes manually, it can be difficult to access this kind of data. Route optimization software will have all of this information available for each road to make sure that compliance is followed properly.

Improved hours

Streamlining delivery operations maximizes productivity, but it also helps to shed away wasted hours. Drivers will soon feel the pressure lifted from them when delivery routes are faster and more efficient. This could help to keep drivers energized and motivated.

Customer communication

While it is important for drivers to communicate with managers, it also makes a huge difference when drivers and customers can communicate with each other. Software like Track-POD gives drivers an app that allows them to get in touch with the customer over any possible issues. This improves customer service as deliveries will be much more pleasant.

New opportunities

Using trucking software opens up a whole new network of available routes that logistics managers may not have known about before. Not only are these routes going to be the shortest for a better delivery time, but they are also going to be the most convenient for the truck.

Each truck’s history is stored in the software. As such, all data and delivery information about previous routes taken is held on to. By comparing all other routes, the software can find the roads that have offered the best performance in the past.

This can come down to various factors, such as the terrain, the incline, traffic, and so on. Basically, trucking companies can make sure that every time a vehicle is on the road, it is taking the most optimal route possible.

Data and analytics

Each time a delivery takes place, all of the data on that delivery route is collected. This helps to provide logistics managers with a great deal of useful data and analytics to improve future performance. A platform like Track-POD allows you to filter through all of the data that has been collected to access useful insights into past performance. This can be put together into various formats for easy reporting.

Cloud-based software

The best truck software should be cloud-based for greater convenience. Having the fleet mapping software integrate through a cloud-based platform makes operations so much easier.

There is no need to invest in expensive IT infrastructure, and the software is readily accessible from anywhere. This allows managers to quickly gain total insights into delivery operations no matter where they are. Having this kind of access also helps to make communication more instant.

Final thoughts

Trucking software is not only helpful, but it is essential for effective fleet management. No matter the scale your business is operating at, using this software will help to improve efficiency on delivery routes, and enhance route management and performance. Be sure to consider leading software like Track-POD to make sure that you achieve the most with route optimizations.