When dump trucks are running late during a project, it’s more than just an annoyance. The material your dump trucks are carrying is essential for getting the job done. Their delay can bring the project to a standstill.
Most importantly, every hour you fall behind schedule because of late dump trucks leads to dollars lost. A simple delay can have a severe impact on your bottom line. According to the Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies, the cost of a truck delay can range from $26.70 to $32.15 or more per hour – and those are conservative estimates.
Thankfully, logistics technology has advanced to the point where you can get up-to-date communications from your drivers, keep track of all your dump trucks and contractors in real-time, and even harness data to plan ahead and avoid delays.
Up-To-Date Driver Communications
In the old days, contractors and truck drivers communicated by land-line telephones before the job and by CB radios on the job. Although as many as 50% of truck drivers still use CB radios, there are faster and more efficient ways for truckers, contractors, and material producers to communicate.
Using a cloud-based marketplace logistics platform, a dump truck driver can have a job added to their digital schedule the moment they sign up for it. On the day of the job, they’ll be reminded of where to go and when. They even have an easy way to contact you to keep you informed of their progress.
GPS Real-Time Tracking and Control
Not knowing where your trucks are and why they are delayed can be excruciating, especially when your money is on the line. If you’re using multiple contractors, you’d have to contact each one individually to get updates on their progress.
But with the right cloud-based logistics platform, you no longer have to wonder where your dump trucks are. Built-in GPS tracking lets you see the locations and ETAs of all your contractors in real time on an easy-to-use map right in your internet browser or a mobile app.
Leverage Data for Proactive Planning
Most companies are trying to become more data-driven. But even the largest companies are struggling with the prospect. According to one study of large companies, 53% of respondents said they aren’t treating data as a business asset.
One of the key benefits of using a cloud-based logistics system is the ability to capture data. Instead of guessing your costs, scope, and time-frame based on subjective experience, you can record concrete data in real-time that will help you strategize for the future.
With all your operations data in one place, you can estimate your production needs more effectively, optimize the pickup schedules of your dump trucks, and identify new opportunities to streamline your activities and save your hard-earned dollars.
Use Technology to Get Rid of Dump Truck Inefficiency
Ultimately, solving the issue of late dump trucks is about achieving operational efficiency. If you’re still relying on outdated systems to find, schedule, and communicate with dump truck drivers, you’ll continue to eat the costs of late deliveries and sluggish operations.
Acquiring new technology is always an adjustment, but a cloud-based dump truck logistics platform like TRUX is an ideal solution to help truckers, contractors, and material producers gain complete management over their operations.
TRUX acts as a broker, tracker, ticketing and payment system, and as a data aggregation tool. Contact TRUX today to learn more about how our solution can help you achieve operational efficiency.
