Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive technologies to emerge in decades. Intelligent systems have improved multiple industries, and perhaps unexpectedly, they have particularly high potential in trucking. AI in trucking is a recent development but has already led to considerable improvements.
Freight is not the first sector that would come to mind when thinking of cutting-edge technologies like AI. Regardless, the industry is rapidly increasing its investments. Experts predict that the transportation AI market will be worth $10.3 billion by 2030, almost tenfold what it was in 2017.
Here’s what this area of trucking technology is doing for the industry today.
Dynamic Routing
The most straightforward benefit of AI in trucking is that it improves route planning and adjustment. AI algorithms can analyze data from across the nation’s roads to determine the most efficient routes for each delivery. Traditional GPS technology does something similar, but AI takes it further, considering more factors and responding to real-time developments.
AI can account for weather, accidents and reported road closures to predict how traffic patterns may change. They can then adjust drivers’ routes as these obstacles arise, helping navigate developing challenges. This dynamic, real-time, data-based routing approach minimizes delays and saves money from reduced fuel consumption.
UPS has led the way in AI-based routing with its ORION technology. The company claims ORION saves two to four miles per driver, totaling considerable time savings. The success of this program has prompted other trucking companies to institute similar systems.
Automated Load Matching
Similarly, AI trucking technology can improve load matching, where companies determine who the best driver is for each cargo load. Poor load matching can result in overworked drivers, inefficient routes, and declining satisfaction from employees and customers. AI can automate the process, making it quicker and more accurate.
AI models are ideal for load matching because they can process more factors in less time than humans. Consequently, they can recognize patterns and predict outcomes regarding various drivers and loads that humans may miss. With this technology, trucking companies can ensure they distribute the right freight to the ideal drivers for maximum efficiency.
Better load matching brings improvements beyond faster, safer deliveries, too. Since it prevents overworking or frustrating routes, it can lead to higher driver satisfaction. This is crucial as it becomes increasingly challenging to find or retain new drivers.
Driver Habit Tracking
Another crucial benefit of AI in trucking is how it can improve road safety. Today’s fleet tracking technology can monitor driver performance and safety data, which AI algorithms then analyze. These algorithms produce insights into how a company’s drivers act on the road and highlight unsafe behavior.
The basic concept at work here is the same that enables usage-based vehicle insurance. Telematics devices collect and transmit data about how drivers accelerate, brake, stay within speed limits and more. Analytics engines then translate this raw data into insights insurers use to adjust rates and companies can use to promote safe driving.
Trucking companies can use this information to reward safe drivers and penalize unsafe ones. This creates a system of accountability that will encourage employees to drive safer, preventing potentially dangerous accidents. Trucking companies can even use this data to promote how safe they are to potential clients.
Demand Forecasting
One of the most popular uses of AI across industries is demand forecasting. Trucking companies can capitalize on this trend, too, using AI to predict how order types and frequencies may change in the future. They can then adjust their rates, routes and load matching considerations to adapt to seasonal changes with minimal disruption.
Shipping trends change with consumers’ and companies‘ order preferences, which rarely stay the same. Commercial and consumer markets will order different items in various volumes throughout the year. Adapting to these changes quickly is crucial for trucking companies that hope to stay competitive.
These businesses can capitalize on predictive analytics further by using it to influence other trucking technologies. For example, they could feed predictions about incoming seasonal demand into their load matching algorithm, applying AI’s benefits to each step of the planning process.
Office Automation
One less glamorous but equally beneficial application of AI in trucking is office automation. The actual shipment of goods via truck is not the only part of trucking, nor is it the only aspect AI can improve. Trucking also involves a considerable amount of office work, which AI is uniquely adept at.
Some trucking companies have employed AI to identify customers who face import tariffs and develop appropriate responses to mitigate them. Other businesses use AI programs to contact drivers, automate reporting, or invoice clients. In all these cases, companies free their employees to focus on other tasks as AI handles more tedious, time-consuming work.
Trucking companies can improve their overall efficiency by automating these administrative and data-heavy tasks. Due to a reduced workload, their response times will shorten and office employees will likely be less stressed.
Autonomous Vehicles
AI in trucking also opens the door to autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars rely on AI processes like machine vision and intelligent analytics to navigate safely. While passenger vehicle automation is still years away, freight trucks are easier to automate because of their pre-established routes and highways’ more predictable traffic.
Self-driving trucks may sound like science fiction, but they may be nearer than people realize. One startup, TuSimple, has already completed 2 million miles of road tests of 70 autonomous vehicles. The company hopes to have fully autonomous trucks in service by 2024.
Even before fully autonomous trucks make their debut, AI can still help drive freight trucks. Automated features like adaptive cruise control and automatic braking can make up for human drivers’ lapses in judgment. As AI makes these features more accurate and expands their capability, trucking will become far safer.
AI in Trucking Will Revolutionize the Industry
Trucking technology has made substantial strides over the past few years. The implementation of AI is one of the most significant of these developments, reshaping virtually every aspect of the industry.
As AI adoption in trucking rises and these technologies advance, these benefits will likewise grow. Before long, AI will revolutionize the trucking sector. The shift has already begun to take place.
