Owner-operators Tiffini Springer and Ed Prince are two of the founders of Redneckanize, a non-profit that provides a gathering place for truckers at the Mid-America Trucking Show. For the last eight years, Redneckanize has set up shop in the Papa John’s parking lot at MATS, providing truckers with good company, hot meals, and entertainment, no matter what the weather. In…
Whether you’re a freight broker, logistics provider, carrier or owner-operator, it’s crucial to use tools that automate your daily activities, speed up your manual processes and reduce person-to-person interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doing so keeps your business operational and profitable, reduces overhead and protects you, your colleagues and employees from potential exposure to the virus. Maintaining your productivity also…
Known on social media as The Trucking Couple, Frank and Stephanie Rebelo haul freight for FedEx’s Custom Critical division, which provides same-day and overnight delivery of expedited freight to wholesalers, hospitals and retailers. Trucker Tools recently spoke with Frank to learn more about the couple got into hauling expedited freight and what it’s like working with a big company like…
Now more than ever, automating activities is crucial to ensuring that your brokerage remains efficient and functional. Innovative tools like Trucker Tools’ Book-It-Now reduce the time that you spend on finding and booking truck capacity. Book-It-Now for brokers eliminates the back and forth telephone calls you usually make to carriers about available trucks, rates and to finalize appointments. At the…
Company waives overage fees for users of nationwide digital freight tracking service, provides unlimited use of real-time shipment visibility platform for 60 days. Adds new “COVID-19” section to mobile driver app, launches clearinghouse detailing key information, support resources, operational tips to help truckers manage during crisis. RESTON, VA – MARCH 27, 2020 – Trucker Tools, which provides real-time shipment visibility,…
It’s more important than ever for you to stay as healthy as possible when you’re out on the road. The demand for trucks and supplies will likely continue to be high as Americans stay home to try to avoid exposure to and the spread of COVID-19. To help protect your own health and that of your family, and to ensure…
We’ve compiled this blog in an effort to keep you up to date on the most relevant news and to help you find any critical support and information from brokers, shippers, truck stops, gas stations, and other relevant sources. We will update this blog with the most up to date information as it becomes available to us. Last updated…
Carriers are the key to greater supply chain visibility. Despite their obviously vital role in load visibility, 69 percent of the truckers who responded to a recent Trucker Tools survey reported that they aren’t given a choice of which load tracking method to use when hauling a load for a broker. When carriers, particularly owner operators and small carriers, aren’t…
As a driver, owner operator or trucking company, you’re no doubt aware that truckload visibility, also known as load tracking and freight visibility, is a high priority for freight brokers and logistics companies. What you may not know is why the ability to closely track freight when it’s on your truck is so important to shippers, whose freight you’re transporting.…
With new developments occurring every day, we’ve put together a brief summary of the impact that COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus) currently is having on the trucking industry, as well as the latest news. As always, Trucker Tools sends a big thank you to all of you truckers out there who are on the road, making sure our grocery…
It’s a difficult time for everyone, from health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to businesses trying to survive during a shutdown of public gatherings. The pandemic is hitting the transportation industry as we see layoffs of drivers and brokerage/logistics staff members, disruption of intermodal and import/export traffic, and truck capacity tightening in the Southern United…
Freight visibility technology is the X-factor when it comes to beating out the competition, whether you’re a freight broker, logistics provider or shipper. The real-time, automated load tracking provided by freight visibility technology like Trucker Tools digital load tracking platform reduces check calls, facilitates data sharing, automates communications, increases operational efficiency and raises service levels across the entire supply chain.…
Automating truck searches and bookings is important for your brokerage or logistics company because it is a relatively simple and cost-effective way to harness the capabilities of the latest technology to increase revenue. Recent advances in artificial intelligence, automation and machine learning are giving brokers and 3PLs of all sizes access to powerful technology that can increase operational efficiency, strengthen…
When you hear the phrase “operational efficiency,” do you think of mega carriers and Fortune 500 companies? If so, it may be time to rethink your definition of operational efficiency and consider what it can offer your trucking business. The truth is that one of the most effective methods for boosting profit margins in your business is to increase operational…
Digital Freight Matching for Brokers — Seven Ways To Find and Secure Truck Capacity More Efficiently
It’s crystal clear that using load boards, phone calls and emails to find and secure truck capacity isn’t efficient. All three of these methods shift your human resources away from serving your shippers and concentrate your staffing on manual processes. In lieu of using these outdated, manual methods for finding and booking trucks, you can leverage the power of Trucker…
RESTON, VA – MARCH 11, 2020 – Trucker Tools , which provides real-time shipment visibility, trip planning, freight-matching and automated booking tools for freight brokers and truckload carriers, announced it has been recognized in Gartner’s Market Guide for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms. According to the research, published last month and authored by Bart De Muynck, Gartner VP Analyst, “real-time transportation…
In case you missed it, our February blogs were loaded with information on how to minimize inefficiencies and maximize profits for your brokerage/3PL. Choosing load visibility and truck capacity solutions that integrate with your current TMS are crucial to streamlining your brokerage processes and upping operational efficiency. That’s why Trucker Tools is pleased to announce two new integration partners, HighJump…
Meet Frank and Stephanie Rebelo, also known as The Trucking Couple. Frank and Stephanie made a real lifestyle change when they began team driving and hauling expedited freight, selling their home and cars to truly live life on the road. Frank and Stephanie team-drive for Hyfield Trucking, a carrier that provides same-day and overnight delivery of expedited freight for FedEx’s…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Our January blogs were packed with valuable business tips for new drivers, veteran truckers and carrier dispatchers. We covered a lot of ground, from advice on how to improve your load searches to how we’ve addressed your privacy and…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Our January blogs were packed with valuable business tips on how to increase revenue in your brokerage in 2020. We covered a lot of ground — from how to reduce check calls and our automated Book-It-Now tool to how…
We recently had a sit-down with Wayne Campbell of The Driver’s Side to discuss his video series for and about truck drivers and his perspective on the trucking industry. We chatted with Wayne about the many diverse roles he’s held in the industry, from driving for NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal and running reefer freight to being a lease purchase operator…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed truckers about visibility tools and their preferences. In the survey, we asked truckers about their preferred methods for load tracking. Of those who responded, five percent answered that their preferred freight tracking method is using an ELD device. Only 18 percent of the truckers surveyed prefer single function mobile apps that only track freight. That means…
Your ideal technology provider helps you increase the efficiency of your business, anticipate trends, and strengthen your relationships with partners and customers. Above all, your technology partner should be exactly that: a partner, not just a vendor who disappears once you’ve purchased their solution. In a recent webinar, we spoke with Diana Bullington of Syfan Logistics, who shared her insights…
In an increasingly digital world, seamless platform integration is essential if you want to provide the best experience possible for your customers and increase the operational efficiency of your brokerage/logistics company. That’s why we’re excited to welcome HighJump as one of our newest integration partners. Named one of Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 Logistics IT Providers for 2019, HighJump’s solutions encompass…
Trucker Tools recently spent some time getting to know Jacinda Duran, also known as Jacinda Lady Truck’n. As a third-generation female truck driver who grew up around trucking, Jacinda spoke to us about her journey from driving limos to working as a FedEx courier. In our conversation with Jacinda, we learned about her current career as an enclosed car hauler…
Teknowlogi rolls out Smart Capacity’s predictive freight-matching, capacity management tools to improve visibility, timely access to accurate, real-time available truckload capacity for TMS Users Sets integration timetable for automated “Book it Now” feature, other carrier collaboration tools to streamline booking process, improve driver engagement, reduce brokers’ variable costs to cover loads Complements earlier strategic integration of Trucker Tools features and…
Minutes and hours matter when you’re a trucker. When you spend an hour or two searching for and securing a truck load, it means you have an hour or two less for driving and making money. That’s why we’re excited about Book-It-Now, our new fully automated freight booking platform for brokers and carriers. Book-It-Now eliminates the back and forth phone…
How much is your current freight visibility tool costing you? At first glance, that may seem like a straightforward question that can be easily answered, but is it? Your current load tracking tool may be costing you more than you think. If your digital load tracking solution isn’t reducing the time you spend on load tracking or doesn’t reduce phone…
As the weather starts to warm up from south to north, there is usually lots of produce that needs to be moved, but not enough trucks, which is good news for owner-operators and trucking companies. Knowing where to go at specific times this spring, summer and fall can help you get the highest produce hauling rates and maximize your earnings.…
In 2018, respondents to Gartner’s Wants and Needs Survey ranked visibility as the highest priority in the supply chain. Despite the clear need for freight visibility, the average freight tracking compliance success rate for brokers and 3PLs remains in the range of 30 to 40 percent. That means for every 100 loads, 60 to 70 aren’t visible. In an increasingly…
When considering solutions to implement in your brokerage, cost is one of the factors that figures heavily in the decisions you make. Keep in mind, however, that the true cost of a solution often is more than just the initial purchase price and any recurring monthly fees. To understand the true cost of any technology-based solution, you should consider the…
With all the pressure on brokers today to update their systems and provide real-time data to shippers, how do brokers – particularly middle marker players – make an informed, successful choice about what technology platforms to adopt. With all the third-party, cloud-based network solutions available today, it makes no sense for a broker to try to build their own. Delay…
If you’re a freight broker, you’re expected to provide top-notch service, including continuous load tracking, to your shippers to retain their business. At the same time, you also must foster good relationships with high-quality carriers in order to meet your shippers’ needs. In your role as an intermediary between carriers and shippers, you have to walk that fine line of…
If you’re like most brokers and logistics providers, you find that delivering continuous freight visibility to your shippers can be difficult. The single feature carrier visibility apps that your shippers may ask you to use are often unpopular with carriers. Some carriers may flat out refuse to use these single feature load tracking apps altogether. The alternative to digital freight…
If you’re a dispatcher for a small to mid-sized trucking company, one of the biggest challenges you face on a daily basis is finding high-quality freight with preferred brokers that matches your available truck capacity. Using load boards is time-consuming and labor intensive because the data posted on load boards may be inaccurate and/or becomes outdated quickly. You also typically…
Shippers increasingly use data analysis to reduce inefficiencies, improve processes and increase revenue. According to American Shipper, 59 percent of shippers use performance metrics to manage freight costs. As a broker or 3PL, you can expect that shippers may require you to meet specific performance standards, known as Key Performance Indicators, to retain their business. On Time in Full (OTIF)…
New year, new decade! Now is the perfect time to consider how you can make 2020 a profitable one for your trucking business. Creating a strategy for success and making some simple adjustments to how you do business can reap major dividends later in the year. Check out our tips for ensuring this year is a great one for you…
Improving your operational efficiency, i.e. the cost effectiveness of your internal processes, provides one of the quickest and affordable pathways to growing your profit margins. Making your brokerage operate more efficiently, however, requires more than just considering and/or reducing your fixed operating costs. You also need to choose comprehensive, affordable technology-based solutions that are designed to increase operational efficiency. If…
You’ve finished trucking school, passed the knowledge and road skills tests, and gotten your commercial driver’s license. Congratulations! Now comes the fun part: learning how to make your career as a trucker a successful one. Here at Trucker Tools we’re always looking for way to help carriers make their lives easier. Check out our five tips for new drivers that…
While true there’s a mobile app for nearly everything these days, not all mobile apps are created equally — including those designed for use in the transportation industry. In this blog we highlight the differences between the Trucker Tools free driver app and other trucking, visibility and freight matching apps in use today by brokers, 3PLs and carriers. At the…
As an owner-operator or owner of a trucking company, your profit margins are directly impacted by how much money you spend to run your business, i.e. your operating costs. Understanding how much it takes to run your trucking business each month helps you identify any redundancies and reduce expenses, which ultimately can up your take home pay. In this blog,…
Sharae Moore is a trucker based in Chattanooga, Tenn., who is the founder of She Trucking, an online community for women in the trucking industry with more than 5,000 members. In addition to managing She Trucking, Sharae is an instructor at Chattanooga State Community College where she teaches CDL classes. Trucker Tools recently spoke with Sharae about her recommendations for new…
If you’re a carrier dispatcher using load boards, you’re probably spending a lot of time finding loads. You may have to pay for multiple monthly load board subscriptions just to see the information posted. The load information that is posted on the load boards to which you subscribe may be out of date and/or incorrect by the time you see…
Company Snapshot: LTI Delivers is an Iowa based transportation solutions provider that offers logistics, trucking, and intermodal services. LTI Delivers is a full-service transportation company that offers transportation management, freight brokerage and truckload services encompassing freight management, temperature-controlled, refrigerated, dry van, bulk, hopper, and dedicated solutions. LTI Delivers places a high value on customer satisfaction and long-term retention of its…
Last month, we surveyed a group of truckers to get their thoughts on load tracking technologies. Needless to say, privacy, transparency and poor performance are still major concerns for truckers when it comes to load tracking mobile apps. In this blog, we discuss the results of this short survey, including some of the comments from individual truckers, and how the…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Happy New Year from the Trucker Tools team! December is always a busy month, which is why we’ve rounded up our best blogs of the month for you right here! We closed out 2019 and the…
For small and mid-sized brokerages, choosing technology with a high return on investment is crucial, especially when competing with larger brokers. The results that LTI Delivers has achieved with Trucker Tools proves that you don’t need limitless resources, expensive infrastructure or a long timeline to increase the service that you provide to shippers as a brokerage. With smart decision making,…
Schneider is one of the largest and most successful trucking companies in the country. The company employs approximately 20,000 people across the United States with annual revenue of approximately $5 billion. Schneider’s services encompass truckload, intermodal, brokerage, and logistics. In a recent webinar with Trucker Tools and Talking Logistics, Ben Schuchart, VP of Operations for Schneider Transportation Management, discussed how…
Load tracking (also known as freight visibility) is something that your broker and 3PL partners likely talk to you about a lot. It may also be a source of frustration for you, especially if you’re an owner-operator or small to mid-sized trucking company that works with many different brokers and 3PLs. In this blog, we break down why visibility is…
Providing accurate, continuous visibility to your shipper customers is more important than ever in your freight brokerage or logistics business. If you want to retain your current shipper customers and potentially grow your business, you have to be able to deliver freight visibility that goes beyond the industry average 30 to 40 percent tracking compliance success rate. Many shippers require…
Efficiency equals cost-savings for your shipper partners, which is why shippers lean heavily on key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the efficiency of their operations. Shippers define what their KPIs are, so there may be some variance between shippers. However, most shippers are concerned with four major transportation KPIs: on-time delivery, on-time pick-up, dwell time and on-time delivery to the…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Happy New Year from the Trucker Tools team! December is always a busy month, which is why we’ve rounded up our best blogs of the month for you right here! We closed out 2019 and the…
The trucking industry currently is at a critical juncture. Trucking is being reshaped, as we speak, influenced by emerging digital freight start-ups and the entrance of corporations like Uber Freight and Amazon into the market. New technology, a global economy and an increase in the number of small trucking companies also are changing how all of us in the trucking…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Trucker Tools! In the spirit of giving, we’ve put together a summary of our best blogs from the last month. In this roundup, learn more about Trucker Tools’…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Trucker Tools! In the spirit of giving, we’ve put together a summary of our best blogs from the last month. In this roundup, learn more about Trucker Tools’…
Implements fully operational, advanced digital carrier engagement platform, completely automates load booking and confirmation process. Reduces time, cost to “cover” a load from as much as 2 hours to less than 15 minutes. Expands Kingsgate’s access to a capacity network of over 725,000 truckers on the industry-leading Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App. Addresses driver demands for increased automation, quality loads…
Begins network-wide commercial operation of a fully automated, third-party digital freight booking platform for brokers and carriers. Significantly enhances ease of doing business for independent truckers and small fleets; improves driver experience, productivity, satisfaction. RESTON, VA – NOVEMBER 12, 2019 – Trucker Tools LLC, which provides shipment visibility, carrier capacity management and predictive freight-matching solutions for the transportation industry, announced…
In a recent survey, shippers named visibility as the top problem that technology is capable of solving. Despite visibility’s importance to shippers, average tracking compliance success rates in the trucking industry hover between 30 and 40 percent. As you likely know, one of the biggest inhibitors of greater visibility is low carrier adoption of freight tracking technology. In this blog,…
As a trucker, you need tools that simplify life on the road — plain and simple. You don’t want to use seven or eight different mobile apps during the course of your day that drains your battery or use up all your data. You definitely don’t want to use apps that don’t respect your privacy. And if you’re like most…
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received more than 400 gender-discrimination complaints between 2005 and 2015, which is a substantial number, considering that only six percent of truck drivers are female. Of those, one in six reported a racial component of the misconduct and two-thirds said they were retaliated against for reporting the harassment or assault. Though no large-scale studies…
Real-time visibility is what you need to deliver high-quality results and service. But if you’re like most brokers, you track a large portion of your loads by making phone calls to dispatchers or truckers. Even though you realize that calling each dispatcher/trucker multiple times isn’t a cost-effective process for your business, you may struggle to find an effective visibility solution…
Hauling temperature-controlled loads come with its own challenges, no matter what the season. In the winter, cold weather and rapid fluctuations in outdoor temperatures can cause freight to freeze or completely ruin temp-controlled loads that include produce or pharmaceutical products. Even a temperature deviation of two degrees can potentially decrease the shelf life of freight by up to 50 percent,…
Teknowlogi, Trucker Tools’ newest integration partner, is a California-based transportation automation company known for its innovative solutions that leverage the power of automation and artificial intelligence. The company’s focus on delivering a high return on investment, ease of use, and high-quality service and support to its customers matches Trucker Tools’ values, which center on providing ongoing value and support to multiple…
Brian Phillips is a flatbed owner-operator who works for RiverDog Express in its Open Deck trucking division. When he’s not on the road pulling his 53’ Reitnouer Low Pro Step Deck, he’s creating content for his YouTube channel, Driven Trucking, which has more than one million views and 16,000 subscribers. On his YouTube channel, Brian offers tips, perspective, and advice…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. We covered a lot of ground in our blogs in October! In this roundup, you can find out what most visibility vendors don’t want you to know (don’t worry, it’s good news) and how to reduce your…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. We covered a lot of ground in our blogs in October! In this roundup, you can learn more about how Trucker Tools’ load tracking provides transparency for truckers and how using Trucker Tools’ driver app can improve…
Featured Speakers: Ben Schuchart, Vice President of Operations, Schneider Transportation Management Prasad Gollapalli, Founder and CEO, Trucker Tools Today’s truckload transportation industry relies on tens of thousands of “micro” fleets and independent owner-operators. They’re challenged every day to keep the wheels turning and move as many loads as quickly, safely and on-time as possible. That’s how they make money and…
For the last 66 years, J.J. Keller & Associates has been providing safety and regulatory compliance expertise to employers in the transportation industry. The company’s offerings have evolved over the years to include DOT, OSHA workplace safety, construction industry, and human resources products and services, as well as online courses and video training. J.J. Keller also develops and offers technology-based…
In October, Trucker Tools’ carrier network surpassed the 800,000 mark. Translation: more than three-quarters of a million truckers have downloaded and are using Trucker Tools’ free driver app! Last April, our carrier network was 600,000-strong, which means it has increased by 25 percent over a short six month period. The good news is that your brokerage can tap into Trucker Tools’ large carrier…
Here at Trucker Tools, we stand by what we say. When we say that our Book-It-Now load booking software fully automates your booking process with carriers, we mean it! Trucker Tools Book-It-Now solution makes the load booking experience seamless for both you and your carrier partners. When you use Book-It-Now in your brokerage, you gain a tremendous efficiency advantage that ultimately can…
Freight visibility — knowing precisely where shipments are and when they will arrive — is one of the most significant challenges for the supply chain. When visibility is accurate and continuous, every segment of the supply chain benefits, from truckers and dispatchers to brokers, shippers, and consumers. If real-time load tracking data isn’t available, the negative effects also are felt across…
If you’re a broker running 100 loads or less each month, you may think that a high-quality, accurate load tracking platform is out of your financial reach. Think again! At Trucker Tools, we create solutions that specifically serve the needs of small and mid-sized brokerages like yours. That’s why our load tracking platform is made to integrate with all of the…
The entire team here at Trucker Tools is excited to introduce the newest version of our free driver app, which can be your go-to app while you’re on the road and during home time. The biggest change in our newest, soon to be released version of Trucker Tools’ driver app is the way that it looks. Based on feedback from you…
Featured Speakers: Mike Riccio, Chief Marketing Officer, Leonard’s Express Prasad Gollapalli, Founder and CEO, Trucker Tools As 2019 comes to a close one development stands out – it has been a year of remarkable, disruptive and transformative change for technology in transportation. At the heart has been the rise of digital platforms, and their promise for remaking – some would…
This series of blogs, Driver App Tips, provides practical guidance for truckers on using Trucker Tools’ free mobile driver application. Read time: two minutes. Time to apply new skill: one minute. Benefits: • Find nearby truck stops, cheapest fuel in seconds. • Plan stops on your route. • Reduce time spent using multiple apps. • Increase efficiency. One of the…
With previous experience working for shipper, carrier and broker companies, industry influencer Craig Bliss has a unique perspective on the ins and outs of today’s freight market. Trucker Tools recently interviewed Craig about the current state of the industry and asked him how owner-operators and small trucking companies can meet the challenges of today’s competitive market. Here, we’ve gathered Craig’s advice on…
Watch the recording of our recent webinar with Choptank Transport. The challenge of visibility – the technology options, ensuring timeliness and quality and accomplishing it reliably and accurately – has been the bane of carriers and brokers ever since the first truck picked up the first shipment, and the customer asked, “where’s my load.” Yet defining the ideal visibility solution,…
Time is money in the trucking business, especially for owner-operators and trucking companies. It’s pretty simple: when you reduce the time you spend on manual tasks in your trucking business, you gain more time for moving freight, finding the next load and making more money. Earlier this year, we added a powerful new digital load booking feature to the Trucker Tools free driver app…
At Trucker Tools, we specialize in delivering solutions that make brokers, 3PLs, and carriers more efficient in their daily operations. This dedication to creating practical, easy to use solutions that automate daily tasks using leading-edge technology has led to widespread adoption of both our free driver app and Smart Capacity real-time carrier capacity and relationship management platform. Here are five statistics…
Efficiency is everything in the transportation business, especially for carriers and owner-operators. Time saved on daily tasks can be the difference between a decent year and a fantastic year when it comes to revenue. Check out these five facts about the Trucker Tools driver app that illustrate why so many owner-operators and carriers have incorporated Trucker Tools’ solutions into their…
We’re happy to report that Trucker Tools has received a FreightWaves 2020 FreightTech 100 Award for the second consecutive year! The FreightTech 100 Awards recognize the most innovative, impactful and disruptive leaders in the freight industry. Trucker Tools is proud to be recognized again on this year’s list. FreightWaves received more than 1,200 nominations for this year’s FreightTech 100 Awards, encompassing a…
Over the summer, the development team at Trucker Tools has been hard at work on making our free mobile driver app better than ever. We are excited to announce that a new version of the Trucker Tools driver app is scheduled to be available in Apple’s App Store this fall, followed by the Google Play Store shortly thereafter. With the…
We’re excited to name Freight Management Systems, Inc. as a new integration partner because of the company’s long-standing commitment to continuous improvement and helping its customers flourish. For the last 30 years, FMS has been providing logistics software solutions to trucking companies and freight brokers, forwarders and agents of all sizes. With an emphasis on helping transportation companies automate manual…
In our recent FreightWaves webinar on how visibility is non-negotiable for brokers, several of the webinar’s attendees posed some thoughtful questions to Trucker Tools’ CEO Prasad Gollapalli about Trucker Tools’ visibility solution and the freight market. We loved the insightful questions from the audience, so we’re sharing those here with Prasad’s responses. Read on to learn more about how Trucker…
If you’re like most truckers, you no doubt have some strong opinions about freight tracking apps. Maybe you refuse to use tracking apps altogether because you feel like you never know when tracking starts and stops. Or you may use some freight tracking apps, but do so uneasily, always wondering if the location data pulled from the app will somehow…
Time is everything in the transportation business. If you can reduce the time that you spend finding and securing capacity, you can reduce your brokerage’s cost per load, increase overall load volume and ultimately increase profitability for your business. Read on to learn how Trucker Tools’ Book-It-Now can help you reduce the variable cost of covering a load to practically…
The level of competition in the freight brokerage market is off the charts right now. To remain competitive as a freight broker, you have to meet your shipper’s needs, foster good relationships with carriers and keep your operation running efficiently. One of the greatest challenges you face when trying to meet these goals is the fragmented nature of the current…
If you’re a broker, freight visibility is something that you spend a lot of time working on and thinking about, and with good reason. Major shippers require 80 to 90 percent visibility compliance for their loads. If you don’t deliver that level of visibility, you risk losing the shipper’s business. (No pressure!) You probably feel stuck using single-function freight tracking…
Craig Bliss is the creator and moderator of the Facebook networking group Freight Brokers & Truck Drivers. Craig also hosts the podcast Talk Freight w/Craig Bliss and is co-owner of Freightbrand, a carrier-focused consulting agency based in Phoenix, Ariz. Drawing on his previous experience working as a shipper, broker, and carrier, Craig helps businesses identify areas for potential operational improvement…
Every once in a while, a technology comes along that is truly transformative. That’s how we at Trucker Tools view Book-It-Now, a powerful tool included in our Smart Capacity carrier relationship and capacity management platform. Over the past few years, we’ve been talking with brokers and carriers about Book-It-Now at public forums, trade shows and our customer advisory board meetings.…
This series of blogs, Driver App Tips, provides practical guidance for truckers on using Trucker Tools’ free mobile driver application. Read time: two minutes. Time to apply new skill: one minute. Benefits: Find freight loads in seconds. Book loads in advance. Reduce phone calls with brokers. Increase efficiency. Trucker Tools recently launched a new tool called Book-It-Now, available now in…
As an owner-operator or small to mid-sized trucking company, you may think to yourself, “Why is freight visibility my problem?” It’s a good and natural question, which is why we’ve dedicated a whole blog to it. Read on to learn how you can use an all-in-one alternative app that can increase the efficiency of your business instead of the single…
If you’re a broker looking at available load tracking solutions, there are some key questions that you should be asking to ensure that your interests are protected and that the visibility vendor is the right match for your business. Here we take a look at some red flags that could indicate potential conflicts of interest with the vendor. 1. Is…
Trucker Tools’ integration partner, Rand McNally, was founded in 1856 in Chicago as a print shop that specialized in printing railroad guides. The company evolved over the years to become one of the most recognizable transportation and map publishing names in the United States. Today, Rand McNally specializes in maps, navigation, road travel and trip planning for the trucking industry…
As the owner of a large or mid-sized brokerage or logistics company, you may have invested in developing a custom mobile app for your carriers to use. Freight visibility and easier freight matching probably motivated you to develop an app for your brokerage. Even with your own app, it’s likely that load tracking continues to be a challenge. If you’re…
Even though Trucker Tools’ driver app has been downloaded by over 725,000 truckers and more than 130,000 carriers, we aren’t done yet! We’re excited to announce that we’ll soon be launching a new version of our free mobile driver app in both the Apple App and Google Play stores. All of your favorite tools and features will still be included…
High reliability, real-time, accurate visibility compliance, and precision on-time pickups and deliveries are critical. It becomes table stakes in today’s high-velocity, e-commerce driven supply chains. What’s the solution? It starts and ends with the truck driver. The challenge of visibility – and how to accomplish it consistently, reliably and accurately — has been around since the first truck picked up…
As an owner-operator or owner of a small to mid-sized trucking company, you may think to yourself, “Why is freight visibility my problem?” It’s a good and natural question. While getting the freight to its destination on time is the ultimate goal for truckers, brokers say that freight visibility is equally important to shippers. That’s why they ask you or…
Visibility has never been more important in today’s e-commerce driven market. Reliable, real-time, precise location intelligence – constantly updated — is often the difference between customer success or failure. Trucker Tools had recently attended the McLeod user conference where we shared our insights on visibility tools and talked about the comprehensive visibility solution for truckload freight as an integrated McLeod…
Most of today’s shippers are demanding a minimum of 80 to 90 percent visibility compliance from brokers. A recent survey conducted by popular transportation publication confirms just how vital freight visibility is to shippers. In the survey, shippers were asked to name the biggest/greatest pain point that technology can solve. More than half of those shippers surveyed said poor freight…
Freight brokers have two customers: the beneficial owner of the freight, and the owner of the truck moving the load. Both have the same desires: give me real-time visibility into an available load or shipment in transit, be process efficient and technology-friendly, and support my carriers and customers. Technology is the key. But, not all technologies functions are built the…
This blog is inspired by our recent conversation with owner-operator Tamara Brock. Tamara talked to us about how she uses Trucker Tools’ driver app to simplify her life on the road and increase her drive time. She had so many great ideas about using Trucker Tools’ driver app to work more efficiently that we wanted to unpack a few of…
If you’re an owner-operator or trucking company owner, you’re already familiar with one-trick pony tracking apps. One-trick pony apps are the apps that your shipper and broker customers ask you to use for tracking freight. They often don’t work and instead of making things more efficient, they leave you or your staff members with more work to do, not less.…
AscendTMS has the highest number of active users of any TMS in the world, making it the world’s most popular TMS software. With good reason. AscendTMS is a cloud-based TMS that requires no IT staff, installations, hardware or contracts. It’s suitable for businesses of any scale, from start-ups to established brokers, 3PLs and shippers. AscendTMS offers dispatch control, document management,…
When a shipper tells you that you need to use a specific load tracking mobile app with their freight, you probably think your only option is to push the app onto your carriers, knowing they don’t want to use it. We have good news! The truth is that you do have other options. What your shipper cares about most is…
Life as a trucker means constantly balancing competing demands for your attention and time. As broker, 3PL and shipper partners have become more insistent on tracking freight loads more closely, the pressure you feel as an owner-operator or carrier to use freight tracking technologies in everyday operations has continually ratcheted up. Most broker, shipper and 3PL partners want you to…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out these summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. In the round-up for September, discover how brokers and logistics providers are more than doubling their tracking compliance success rates and raising their efficiency with Trucker Tools’ visibility solution. You’ll also find out how to raise…
As an owner-operator or small trucking company, it’s likely that your broker/shipper partners ask you to use specific freight tracking software when you haul their loads. You may be asked to share your location information with brokers and others through your smartphone with a freight-tracking app or by sharing the location data collected by your ELD. Most truckers and carriers…
As the need for visibility has become more intense, the methods for tracking freight have expanded. Brokers and 3PLs may request access to location data captured by a truck’s ELD for the purpose of tracking freight. Freight brokers also may be asked to use a shipper’s proprietary freight tracking software or single-function tracking-only app. A third option is the Trucker…
If you want to increase freight visibility for your brokerage or logistics company, this blog post is for you. In this post, we discuss how choosing a visibility technology that carriers trust and that integrates with your shipper’s preferred load tracking technology can strengthen relationships with both. Instead of passively accepting the low tracking compliance success rate of your shipper’s…
It’s a question worth asking, especially given the competitive nature of the freight brokerage and third-party logistics markets. If you want to outpace your competition, an average visibility rate just won’t do. Let’s face it: shippers are more likely to do repeat business with partners who can provide accurate, continuous freight visibility. When shippers have visibility for their shipments, they…
Owner-operator Tamara Brock has been a trucker for five years. She works for LTI Trucking Service, based in St. Louis, Mo., hauling primarily reefer and frozen freight in a region stretching from Texas to Pennsylvania. Trucker Tools recently spoke with Tamara about why she uses Trucker Tools’ free driver app, how it simplifies her life on the road and her…
This series of blogs, Smart Capacity Carrier Tips, provides practical guidance for dispatchers on using Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity real-time carrier capacity and relationship management platform. Smart Capacity’s Data Aggregation Drives Efficiency For carrier dispatchers, having access to real-time information on available freight loads and available trucks in a single platform can be a major time-saver. Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity…
This series of blogs, Smart Capacity Broker Tips, provides practical guidance for freight brokers and logistics companies on using Trucker Tools’ Smart Capacity real-time carrier capacity and relationship management platform. Time to read: five minutes. When choosing the technology to use in your brokerage’s day-to-day operations, a solution’s ability to streamline manual tasks should be at the top of the…
Tailwind Transportation Software provides small and mid-sized trucking companies, freight brokerages and third-party logistics providers with an all-in-one cloud-based transportation management system that centralizes data entry and storage. Tailwind’s TMS is built on a monthly-subscription model and includes robust support, including online training, instructional videos and in-app support. Customers can choose from Tailwind’s standard, pro and enterprise TMS versions according…
For the last 30 years, freight brokerage and logistics service provider Genpro has been providing integrated shipper and carrier solutions to food producers, retailers, distributors, wholesalers and other manufacturers in the U.S. domestic market. Genpro’s flexible model lets shippers and carriers partner with Genpro in a meaningful way and drive true value to its operations and supply chain. In a…
On September 15-18, the Trucker Tools team will be in attendance at the 2019 in.sight User Conference + Expo in Houston, Texas, hosted by TMW Systems and its parent company, Trimble. The expo brings together transportation industry professionals and users of TMW Systems’ software from across the country. Expo attendees are invited to attend more than 350 educational sessions and…
Autumn is here and for the transportation industry, that means that peak shipping season is in full swing! During the months of August, September, and October, most companies’ sales are on the rise as consumers prepare for the start of the school year and the upcoming winter holidays. As a result, rates and overall freight volume are usually at their…
Read time: 15 min Double your tracking compliance, guaranteed! Otherwise, the month is on us. Watch this recording of our webinar on our recent case study with Choptank Transport. Choptank Transport is leveraging Trucker Tools’ real-time data to increase its carrier adoption of tracking technology, freight location accuracy, continuous freight tracking, and operational efficiency. Learn how Choptank: Gained full load…
Today, even small and mid-sized freight brokerage and logistics firms have access to powerful data streams that can provide valuable insight into how your business operates and performs. Analyzing metrics such as shipping accuracy, average dwell time and manual check-call/load rates provides insight into what your business is doing well and where it can improve. Understanding efficiency metrics can help…
This year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is here! This week, Sept. 8-14, Trucker Tools and many others in the transportation industry and beyond are honoring professional truck drivers across this country. We’re saying a big thank you for all that you do, day in and day out. Thank you for making sure we have food on our tables every…
The 2019 produce season saw reduced freight markets due to severe weather and an increase in capacity, which kept freight rates lower than they were in 2018. Though rates have not been as high as last year, overall freight volume increased for the 2019 produce season. With multiple forces at work shaping the ebb and flow of the freight market,…
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is hosting its EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition September 15-18 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Trucker Tools will be in attendance at this premier industry event that includes more than 30 hours of educational content, 150+ exhibitors and more than 25 hours of networking with more than 3,000…
Company Snapshot: Syfan Logistics is a comprehensive third-party logistics (3PL) company that provides freight capacity, expedited delivery, freight management, and brokerage services to several industries Expertise in Foodstuffs Delivery – well-versed in hauling deadline-sensitive, perishable food products. Syfan owns its own fleet of over-the-road Syfan Transport trucks and trailers Client Challenges: How to provide accurate, start-to-finish freight visibility to shippers…
In our monthly link round-up, combat fear of missing out by checking out summaries of Trucker Tools’ top blogs from the last month. In this round-up, learn how achieving continuous, accurate freight visibility can be a win for all segments of the transportation industry, from brokers and 3PLs to shippers, carriers, and consumers. In our partner highlight feature, you can…
Freight visibility is a must-have for brokers and 3PLs due to the more stringent expectations of shippers. Shippers expect to know where their load is at all times. Providing timely and accurate information to shippers is very important for brokers in order to stay ahead of the competition. Syfan Logistics faced significant challenges in providing accurate, start to finish freight…
The countdown is on! The 2019 Great American Trucking Show is fast approaching and we couldn’t be happier. On Aug. 22-24, we’ll be joining trucking professionals and vendors from all over the world for GATS’ 20th-anniversary meeting in Dallas, Texas. The Trucker Tools team looks forward to GATS every year because it’s an event that is made for and celebrates…
For the last 34 years, McLeod Software has led the way in creating intelligent software solutions for the transportation industry. With an emphasis on leveraging the power of sophisticated technology, McLeod Software’s solutions have helped transform the business operations of trucking, freight brokerage, third-party logistics and shippers across the country. The company has received numerous awards and accolades for its…
Providing accurate and continuous visibility data to shippers is vital to third-party logistics providers and freight brokerages who want to stay ahead of their competitors. Trustworthy visibility data helps both segments of the transportation market provide precise ETAs to shippers. Reliable tracking information also allows 3PLs and brokers to be proactive in resolving shipping exceptions, unforeseen delays and other barriers…
Freight visibility/tracking can benefit shippers, carriers, and brokers by optimizing operations for efficiency and building positive business relationships. Though freight visibility can benefit all segments of the supply chain, it’s still a target that is often missed. Most visibility solutions are plagued by low carrier adoption rates, lack of transparency, limited functionality and incorrect location data. Unlike many freight tracking…
Truckers are the backbone of the American trucking, an industry that generated $800 billion in revenue in the U.S. economy in 2018. They haul approximately 10.5 billion tons of freight each year and move 70 percent of all goods that are transported within the United States. Each year, a trucker drives about 125,000 miles and spends an average of more…
Efficiency is everything when you’re an owner-operator or small freight carrier. But carriers and owner-operators have a lot to contend with in their day-to-day operations, including weather, traffic, detention, fuel stops, multiple drops, load booking, DOT hours-of-service rules, maintenance, multiple brokers/shippers and lots more. Multi-feature tools such as Trucker Tools’ driver app can help owner-operators and carriers streamline their daily…
Load Tracking is one of the 16 trucker-centric tools included in the Trucker Tools driver app. It is also a feature in Smart Capacity, Trucker Tools’ real-time carrier capacity and relationship management platform for brokers, fleet dispatchers, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. In simple terms, Trucker Tools’ load tracking allows brokers and 3PLs to track the location of their loads…
At Trucker Tools, we understand just how powerful data can be when it is shared across software systems and platforms. Real-time data exchange can increase the efficiency of daily operations, provide customers with highly accurate freight tracking information and help connect brokers and 3PLs with available capacity. That is why Trucker Tools forms partnership relationships with other service and software…
In this age of two-day home delivery and automated delivery notifications, customers expect visibility throughout the supply chain. Whether it’s the shipper, distributor or consumer, everyone expects to be able to track the progress of their freight, purchase or package. As a result, freight visibility (freight tracking) has become an absolute must-have service offering for third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Many 3PLs,…
In this age of two-day home delivery and automated delivery notifications, customers expect visibility throughout the supply chain. Whether it’s the shipper, distributor or consumer, everyone expects to be able to track the progress of their freight, purchase or package. As a result, freight visibility (freight tracking) has become an absolute must-have service offering for third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Many 3PLs,…
Living and working in the age of Big Data comes with its own specific challenges. For brokers, one of the greatest challenges is getting available capacity and tracking/visibility information in a matter of seconds instead of hours. The ability to exchange real-time, accurate information with truckers can be the difference between seeing an increase or decrease in revenue for a…
Living and working in the age of Big Data comes with its own specific challenges. For brokers, one of the greatest challenges is getting available capacity and tracking/visibility information in a matter of seconds instead of hours. The ability to exchange real-time, accurate information with truckers can be the difference between seeing an increase or decrease in revenue for a…
Even if you are relatively new to the transportation industry, you have probably heard a lot about detention. Detention is when a trucker spends more time than expected at a shipper or receiver’s location waiting to load or unload freight. Why does detention occur? It can happen for a number of reasons on the shipper/receiver’s end, including inadequate staffing, overscheduling…
Even if you are relatively new to the transportation industry, you have probably heard a lot about detention. Detention is when a trucker spends more time than expected at a shipper or receiver’s location waiting to load or unload freight. Why does detention occur? It can happen for a number of reasons on the shipper/receiver’s end, including inadequate staffing, overscheduling…
Truckload freight capacity is the most highly fragmented, difficult to manage market segment in the transportation industry. Some 80 percent of available, over-the-road truckload capacity is provided by hundreds of thousands of single-truck owner-operators and “micro-carriers” with 9 trucks or less. It’s a market ripe for new digital collaboration technologies – particularly mobile smart-phone based tools and platforms — that can…
Truckload freight capacity is the most highly fragmented, difficult to manage market segment in the transportation industry. Some 80 percent of available, over-the-road truckload capacity is provided by hundreds of thousands of single-truck owner-operators and “micro-carriers” with 9 trucks or less. In this webinar Choptank’s Geoff Turner and Trucker Tools’ Prasad Gollapalli speak about challenges, strategies and best practices for successful brokers and carriers.
Finding convenient and available parking is a significant problem for truckers. In a recent study, parking was ranked as the second-highest concern that truckers have today and as their number one cause of stress on the job. When truckers are unable to find parking, it increases the likelihood that they will violate hours of service limits, which becomes a safety…
Finding convenient and available parking is a significant problem for truckers. In a recent study, parking was ranked as the second highest concern that truckers have today and as their number one cause of stress on the job. When truckers are unable to find parking, it increases the likelihood that they will violate hours of service limits, which becomes a…
Tax season is upon us! If that statement makes you feel a creeping dread, you’re not alone. Preparing for tax filing and the filing itself can be stressful for both owner-operators and small trucking companies. Tax filing is a sort of reckoning of finances for the year and it’s something that every business owner must deal with. Establishing Good Habits…
For most of us in the United States, spring has either just arrived or it’s looming on the horizon. As the days grow longer, temperatures rise and roads become easier to navigate, business for owner-operators and small carriers tends to increase significantly. Here are some tips on how you can prepare for a busy and profitable spring and summer. Maintenance…
For most of us in the United States, spring has either just arrived or it’s looming on the horizon. As the days grow longer, temperatures rise and roads become easier to navigate, business for owner-operators and small carriers tends to increase significantly. Here are some tips on how you can prepare for a busy and profitable spring and summer. Maintenance…
If you’re in the trucking business, you’ve probably heard of The Mid-America Trucking Show or MATS for short, which began in the 1970s. Since then, it’s become one of the most important events of the year for truckers. It is a three-day conference for owner-operators and carriers that brings together brokers, shippers, 3PLs, truckers, owner-operators and vendors from all over…
If you’re in the trucking business, you’ve probably heard of The Mid-America Trucking Show or MATS for short, which began in the 1970s. Since then, it’s become one of the most important events of the year for truckers. It is a three-day conference for owner-operators and carriers that brings together brokers, shippers, 3PLs, truckers, owner-operators and vendors from all over…
The capacity crunch of 2018 shined an unforgiving light on the issue of detention – making drivers wait excessively for their trucks to be loaded or unloaded at shipping docks. The ugly truth – poor planning practices by shippers increased anxiety with an already stressed-out driver community, created unnecessary inefficiencies and extra costs, and left badly-needed capacity sitting idle for…
The capacity crunch of 2018 shined an unforgiving light on the issue of detention – making drivers wait excessively for their trucks to be loaded or unloaded at shipping docks. The ugly truth – poor planning practices by shippers increased anxiety with an already stressed-out driver community, created unnecessary inefficiencies and extra costs, and left badly-needed capacity sitting idle for…