Trucking and technology are a great match

Article Excerpt

The transport of goods generally takes place through four identifiable channels: Air and express services take care of time-sensitive, high-value items; Rail carries mainly high volume goods such as commodities, agricultural products, and manufactured goods; Maritime transport plays a major role in the export and import of goods; and, meanwhile, the road trucking industry forms the largest component of North America’s goods transport industry. In fact, trucking carries roughly 70% of all freight transported in North America. That industry is, therefore, of critical economic importance. Capacity crunch A variety of factors are creating driver shortages, which in turn continue to push up transport rate charges. That’s because the trucking industry is experiencing a market with low truck supply yet high freight demand. An ongoing trucker shortage—fuelled by retiring drivers and too few young people stepping in to replace them—also contributes to tightening capacity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of a commercial truck driver is 45 years. The truck…