Why Tracking Apps Benefit Drivers

Truck driving as an industry has changed a lot over the years. One of the most recent changes involves customer requirements when it comes to tracking shipments. Customers have always wanted to know where their freight is and liked to be notified of any delays when occurring. About 10 years ago, to track, you had to call up a driver or dispatcher and ask them where the truck was. Although most trucking companies were pretty good at giving accurate updates, some were not. Miscommunications between drivers and dispatchers were common. In other cases drivers would be unresponsive and this led to a lot of misinformation and supply chain disruptions. Thankfully today with our Sleek Fleet App it is pretty easy for just about any shipment to get accurate tracking data. This has led to fewer appointments being missed and has also made it easier for customers to get a heads-up when a shipment is going to be late for whatever reason. While certain carriers require their drivers to allow tracking, there are still a lot of drivers that I talk to that don’t understand why they should have to download an app for tracking. I hear truck drivers say things like “I’ve been around for 30 years and have never been late…why do I have to download an app?” or “It should be illegal for you to see where I am.” One thing that I think the industry has failed to do as a whole is to explain to drivers why it benefits them to get on board and allow tracking on their shipments. First off, when a driver uses...

Thank you, Drivers!

This is just a shout-out from me, and on behalf of Sleek, to all the drivers out there. It may not be driver appreciation week but you deserve a round of applause daily.  Thank you for your efforts, your patience, your drive, literally and figuratively. It’s not easy out there. Sure, we get some flexible shippers that get you in/out and it’s a breeze, but from time to time, not everything goes according to plan.  We want our shippers to load on time as they requested but sometimes they get delayed, and believe me, we do everything we can to move things along. I just had a driver the other week do every single thing requested; bid & book his own load, dispatch on the app, arrive pre-cooled ahead of schedule and he still had to wait because the product wasn’t staged. He was stuck sitting in his cab for several hours while it was 100 degrees outside and all the while, he was calm and cool…he’s actually my inspiration for writing this so thank you to Andrew at DRU Transport LLC (MC004259). We were both incredibly frustrated and I felt terrible, but our hands were tied, as were his, and all he wanted to do was get back home to his family. It will happen, and how we handle it is on all of us because at the end of the day, there’s only so much we can control. Andrew was calm and collected, and I just assured him detention.  Drivers, you put in long hours ensuring the rest of us get what we need and want, while working...

Trucking & Cell Signal Infrastructure in the Rural U.S.

Mobile Communication is Critical for the US Supply Chain It may or may not be common knowledge, but parts of the United States’ countryside are in great need of better cell coverage & technology options.  The reasons are vast, but there’s even more at stake than the quality of life and communications for rural residents.  While that should already be enough to get on board with infrastructural updating, I’m going to offer another reason:  Trucking. It’s easy to take trucking for granted, but supply chains impact everyone.  We trust that we can find the products we seek at the retailers that sell them.  The reality is that transportation logistics is a complicated, detailed world, and there’s no doubt that technology brings new efficiencies to that world every day.  Technology aims to streamline logistical processes:  scheduling & planning, load tendering, shipment tracking, facility/dock management, and many other aspects.  Trucks move through some of the most disconnected regions of this country, and often enough, shipping and receiving facilities are found in these areas as well.   The Impact of Unreliable Communication Trucks and manufacturers count on technology to keep everything connected and running smoothly.  Information and speed are required to efficiently move products.  The greater the demand for products, the greater the need for fast & accurate data.  Data flow is compromised in “dead zones”.  This often puts the burden on drivers, using devices with low-or-no signal, to report mechanical problems, work around delays, receive appointment & dock updates, and book their next loads.  One driver, frustratingly having to fight against a spotty signal, can prevent entire shipments from reaching their destination in...