Autumn is here and for the transportation industry, that means that peak shipping season is in full swing! During the months of August, September, and October, most companies’ sales are on the rise as consumers prepare for the start of the school year and the upcoming winter holidays. As a result, rates and overall freight volume are usually at their highest at this time of year, which usually translates into an uptick in business for freight brokerages and third-party logistics providers.
During this busy time of year, shippers may be more interested in continuous load tracking, especially when they’re moving time-sensitive or fragile freight. The industry’s average 30 percent tracking compliance success rate often won’t meet a shipper’s expectations when it comes to tracking time-sensitive loads during the peak shipping season. Many shippers expect continuous, start-to-finish visibility for their freight.
The increase in freight volume means brokers and 3PLs are searching for additional qualified carrier capacity during peak shipping season, as well. Using load boards to search for additional carrier capacity is often an efficiency killer and can result in “one load wonders,” in which the carrier is onboarded for just a single load.
When a brokerage or logistics company can provide continuous freight visibility and capacity-on-demand to shippers during this busy season, they are more likely to form lasting relationships (and ongoing business) with shippers. Here, we discuss how Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity real-time carrier capacity and relationship management platform can be used to achieve both goals.
Double Tracking Compliance Success with Trucker Tools’ Real-time Load Tracking
Brokers and 3PLs who use Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity platform can achieve much higher tracking compliance success rates. Trucker Tools’ load tracking solution utilizes the GPS capabilities of the trucker’s smartphone via the Trucker Tools mobile driver app to provide freight location data to brokers and 3PLs. The location data from the driver app is shared with and updated in Smart Capacity every five minutes, ensuring that brokers can track freight from the time it leaves the loading dock until it reaches its final destination.
With continuous, highly accurate visibility data, brokers and 3PLs can provide timely updates to shippers on the status of their shipments. On average, brokers and 3PLs using Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity are achieving tracking compliance success rates between 70 and 90 percent — more than double the industry average. The ability to provide visibility on more loads, particularly during peak shipping season, can be a service differentiator for brokers and 3PLs, with the potential to grow their revenue as a result.
One of the primary reasons that Trucker Tools’ tracking compliance success rates are much higher than the industry’s average is that truckers and carriers trust and rely upon the Trucker Tools’ driver app. The driver app is a multi-functional tool that is designed to simplify daily life for truckers. The app aggregates data on weather, traffic, rest stops, repair shops, weigh scales, truck washes, parking, fuel prices, route optimization and more. The GPS-enabled visibility tool is just one of many valuable features included in Trucker Tools’ driver app.
Automate Freight Tracking, Access Trucker Tools’ 700,000-Strong Trucker Network
Truckers and carriers don’t have to turn the driver app’s tracking feature on or off because freight tracking is automated with Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity. When a trucker approaches the shipper’s loading dock, tracking automatically begins. Once the trucker delivers the freight to its final destination, tracking automatically stops — with no additional actions required by the trucker or dispatcher. This automation reduces the potential for human error and simplifies freight tracking for truckers and dispatchers.
More than 700,000 truckers have downloaded Trucker Tools’ driver app. Because the driver app provides them with great value in their daily operations, truckers are more likely to keep the app on their phones. The same cannot be said for most single-feature tracking-only apps, which are usually deleted by truckers after a single-use if they are used at all. Carrier adoption of Trucker Tools’ driver app routinely outpaces that of other freight tracking technologies.
Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity also includes a powerful, predictive load matching tool that connects brokers and 3PLs looking for trucks with truckers looking for loads to haul. In the Smart Capacity interface, brokers and 3PLs can search for capacity easily and create preferred networks in which to search. Many of our Smart Capacity users report that Trucker Tools’ load matching tool has been especially impactful because it allows them to expand their carrier networks as needed.
For brokers and 3PLs looking for additional capacity during peak shipping season, Smart Capacity allows you to tap into Trucker Tools’ 700,000-strong trucker network that is largely comprised of owner-operators and micro-carriers of 10 trucks or less. This is especially relevant during peak shipping season since owner-operators and micro-carriers are more likely to accept freight loads that are time-sensitive or require special handling.
To learn more about how Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity can help you provide top-tier service to your shippers during peak shipping season, email [email protected] or call 703-955-3560.
