Truck Logistics Software: What Your Haulers Need To Know About It

So you’ve decided to add truck logistics software to your business. From your research and talking to others in the construction industry, you feel good about this move.

You look forward to streamlined operations, reduced cycle times, the ability to move more material (even in a time when finding skilled labor is a challenge) and a healthy ROI.

However, if you’re honest, you also have just a trace of dread about announcing the change. It has to do with your haulers. How will they react to the news? After all, they’re a pretty independent bunch and might not like the idea of being “watched” through GPS tracking. They tend to dislike things getting “techie” as well. (On the other hand, the next generation of workers evaluate prospective employers by how much they rely on digital construction technology.)

First, you should know that’s a common concern. Material producers and other dump truck users worry that haulers will interpret the introduction of tracking technology as a sign of distrust. But you can influence the way your haulers accept the reality of truck logistics software simply by keeping them in the loop and educating them on the ways they will benefit from the software.

For the best outcome, you should let them know about your decision early on–ideally during the period when you’re comparing different solutions. It’s a good idea to include a few haulers in your discussions and demo sessions with sales people. If it’s too late for that because you’ve already settled on a solution, let all your employees know it’s coming soon. The last thing you want to do is spring the news on them just days before your implementation.

Getting your haulers on board starts with them understanding that adding software with GPS tracking is not about catching them doing something wrong. It’s a smart business move that will make everyone’s job–from dispatcher to the back office–more efficient and give the organization a competitive edge. That means everyone’s job is more secure. Before getting into the details on how truck logistics software will benefit your haulers specifically, reassure them that they’ll have the support and training they need to use the software successfully.

6 Ways Haulers Benefit From Truck Logistics Software

1. A hauler’s need to keep up with load slips will be a thing of the past.

Those little–but critical–pieces of paper can sometimes be the bane of the hauler’s job. Having to keep up with them to turn in to the back office at the end of the day doesn’t seem like such a big deal. But every hauler has a story about losing a paper ticket. Or having their pay held up because the information scribbled on the load slip couldn’t be read which meant someone had to take time away from their usual tasks to hunt down and verify the correct data.

Digital load slips are electronic versions of paper tickets. The advantages of digital load slips are many. They capture accurate information and are uploaded throughout the day, so the data is never lost. The back office has immediate access to the information allowing them to close out jobs sooner and pay haulers faster.

There’s also the fact that digital tickets are safer than traditional paper tickets. Haulers can stay protected in their dump trucks and not worry about an incident with equipment or catching a bug from exchanging paper tickets.

Haulers need to know there’s more freedom and less risk with digital tickets.

2. Truck logistics software takes the confusion and hassle out of communications.

With the usual communication methods haulers frequently feel like someone hit the pause button. They call dispatch for updated information or clarification about a job but then have to wait while dispatch makes a call to get the answers. Then there’s also the issue of not knowing if a message has even been read or listened to. Either way, the hauler is forced into an inefficient use of their time.

Another way haulers waste time and effort using traditional communication methods is in trying to find the necessary information themselves. But it can be a problem if what they’re looking for is in a text. That means they have to scroll through personal texts about what to pick up for dinner or what the vet said about the dog to find critical details about a delivery. Or on second thought was that info in an email? And another round of searching begins….

When information about deliveries is located in different digital spaces it can lead not only to frustration and wasted minutes, it can impact whether a job is completed successfully or not. It’s just too easy to miss an important instruction when the details are scattered among different sources. Most truck logistics software solutions will include a messaging feature that simplifies the whole communication process.

Haulers will want to hear how communications within truck logistics software are streamlined to make their job easier.

3. Pull the plug on bottlenecks with truck logistics software.

No one wins when haulers have to idle while waiting in line to pick up a load or or drop one off. Time and fuel is wasted, and patience is put to the test. Once truck logistics software is in place, dispatchers will have access to historical data that identifies when and where these time sucks occur.

Historical data combined with real-time data from GPS tracking allows dispatchers to be proactive. They can stagger arrivals to reduce wait times and keep things running on schedule.

Haulers will warm up to technology that minimizes the time they spend idling in line.

4. Reduced cycle times lead to more loads delivered.

One of the major benefits of truck logistics software is that it can result in reduced cycle times. It’s one thing to cut down on the transit time of material on the road. But logistics solutions with GPS tracking in real-time take optimization even further. This valuable piece of digital technology gathers data at different points in the lifecycle of the material, allowing you to identify delays and take targeted action to correct the problem. After all, if your operations are slowing down because it’s taking too long to load material in the plant, improving travel times is good, but it isn’t the right fix.

What do faster plant and site turnaround times mean for haulers? They can look forward to full days of driving. Trux customers average a 15% gain in productivity. For haulers this can add up to an extra load per day. More loads equals more pay.

Haulers will gladly accept a change that makes it possible for them to increase their paycheck.

5. Disputes are easily settled when you have information digitally stored.

Disputes over deliveries are bound to happen. They can be unpleasant and harm work relationships. But when you have time-stamped, verifiable information about each and every load stored in your system, disputes are easily handled.

The historical data can be quickly accessed and shared so that everyone involved can see for themselves the single source of truth about the job. Having such digital documentation can enhance relationships with both customers and haulers.

Haulers will appreciate verified documentation that backs them up whenever there’s a question about a job.

6. Digital load slips also mean haulers can be paid faster.

As mentioned earlier, digital load slips capture load data and upload all that important billing information immediately. Tickets won’t go missing or be illegible because a drink spilled. Instead of a back office team member having to track down a lost load slip or verify certain numbers, the data is already in the system. Invoices are automatically generated and are ready to be sent out. Jobs can be closed out sooner and haulers can be paid faster.

Third-party haulers who are hired through the Trux Marketplace experience similar benefits from truck logistics software. They’ll appreciate not having to keep up with load slips, the improved communications, more efficient dispatching and digital verification of deliveries. But they’ll love even more how easy–and fast–they’ll get paid. Every load they deliver for you is tracked through the Trux app and consolidated into one invoice and they’ll get paid every two weeks.

Haulers will welcome a logistics solution that ensures they’re paid on time, every time.

Trux is the First Name in Truck Logistics Software

Trux has been helping dump truck users streamline their operations and move more material longer than anyone else offering truck logistics software. From the very outset, our solutions were built to meet the needs of dump truck users–the material producers, their customers and the haulers who move the material from here to there.

Schedule a short call with us if you’d like to get an idea about how a truck logistics solution can benefit your business.