Is High Tech Good For The Lorry Trade?

Technology has penetrated the lorry trade not that long ago. It has been very active for several years, so it was impossible for people not to notice. More recently, there has been a splurge of gadgets and applications, all meant to help businesses with better managing their fleet of heavy vehicle goods. What is certain is that the high tech is not going away anytime soon. The impact of technology on the lorry trade has been largely analysed but there is still no conclusion. Truckers have no option but to adapt to the new technology. The question now is if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Many are of the opinion that technology is good for individuals in the trucking industry. They view Tesla’s articulated lorry and other inventions as being innovative and beneficial. Others beg to differ. So, who is right? To find out the answer, you will have to continue reading.    

Taking a Look at Some of the High Tech Impacting the Lorry Trade 

Transformation is what characterises commercial transportation. Until now, the lorry industry has experienced many changes. In the past, drivers used to be aggressive and regulations tended to be more tolerating. This situation marked the United States, as well as the UK. Most importantly, back in the day, there was no technology and people were perfectly fine with that. What about the time being? Owing to a combination of technologies, HGVs move down the road with a great deal of information. The main difference between now and then is the fact that lorries are much more efficient and safe. In what follows, we will take a closer look at some of the high tech affecting the lorry trade.  

1. Telematics 

Telematics is a branch of IT that handles the long-distance transmission of computerized information. It is a combination of telecommunications and informatics. If you have a transportation company, then you need to know that telematics is a technology that increases at a rapid pace in the trucking sector. Heavy trucks with hardware embedded are not yet the default standard but they will soon be. Driver behaviour monitoring technology can help with fleet management. Telematics solutions like in-cab smartphones and tablets enable platooning, reduce roadside accidents, and track hours of service. You do not have to be a genius to understand that in-cab hardware can helps out in important aspects. Investing in telematics does not sound like a bad idea, does it?  

2. Safety Technology 

Large trucks, as well as articulated lorries, have been involved in numerous accidents. Common causes of collision include driving in the “no-zones” and the impossibility of maneuvering big vehicles. As you can see, speeding or careless driving was not even mentioned. Can accidents be prevented? Reducing the chances of injury and death is totally possible. Drivers, for their part, can be more cautious. But what about fleet managers? Generally, companies relying on transportation in business should acquire HGV safety cameras. There is nothing more important than keeping truck drivers safe on the road. A great many companies offer HGV technology, striving to provide a much-needed service. State of the art safety cameras provide drivers with optimum vision and warning in blind spot areas. 

Thanks to safety cameras, chauffeurs are able to monitor the rear view, near side, of the side, and, of course, forward view.     It must be noted that HGV safety cameras are not the only safety technology available. Examples of high tech that is being used in the lorry industry are antilock braking systems, lane departure warning, collision avoidance systems, stability control, and so on and so forth. When it comes to improving safety, there is such a thing as articulated lorries safety technology. As the name suggests, the machinery and devices are developed specifically for articulated lorries. Why should you consider safety technology? Because it keeps legal costs down, not to mention that it improves employee retention.  

3. The Internet of Things 

The evolution of the Internet of Things is a remarkable one. At present, IoT connects things to the World Wide Web and ensures remote monitoring. However, almost a decade ago, the concept did not even exist. The Internet of Things is slowly but surely changing the trucking industry. Since the machines are connected to the Internet, it is easy to keep track of the equipment, control things from a long distance, and receive alerts if the vehicles necessitate servicing or repairing. With the IoT, everything becomes faster, more precise, and secure. Millions of heavy goods vehicles are expected to be connected with digital solutions in the future.  

So, Is High Tech Good or Bad For the Lorry Trade? 

Modern technology has a lot of good, but it is important to not forget about the shadow of bad. There are plenty of technical problems that have not yet been resolved. Take, for example, the vehicle that drives itself. Self-driving trucks will not be hauling through the world anytime soon, at least not until the issues are fixed. Companies, such as Uber, have suspended testing on smart cars after an accident. There is no way of knowing if they will still be making deliveries. There is also the problem of too much information. Let us say that your driver has an accident. The telematics system may have recorded the behaviour, yet your organisation may be asked why this was not brought to their attention sooner.   What is essential to understand is that high tech has a positive impact on the lorry trade, for the most part. If it were not for safety cameras of telematics systems, it would not possible to avoid so many accidents and ensure that drivers remain safe. The advances in technology will have a profound effect on the trucking industry, that is for sure. What can we do about it? Learn to embrace the change. There are no major risks related to automation. Make sure to understand the technologies available, paying close attention to the strong points and the limitations; if there are any, of course.