Industry Insights from Vertrax

Almost every aspect of business operations are moving online — and for good reason. The accessibility and organization which online services offer improves operational efficiency and reduces costs — and as we’ve previously covered, operating costs in the transportation industry are on the rise.

For bulk transporters in today’s era of transportation and logistics, efficiency is key -- and there’s no better way to reach peak efficiency than with the right technology at the fingertips of your drivers and dispatchers.

When was the last time you evaluated your technology stack or explored alternative solutions on the marketplace? If bulk transporters are locked into long-term contracts, they’re often left behind. With stiff competition between transportation companies and technology solutions providers, products should be updated regularly and companies should be ensuring their technology meets their needs.

In February, Vertrax announced its move to a SaaS model and introduction of subscription-based pricing. Both its Welltrax and SmartDrops solutions will be available for no upfront cost and a competitive, flexible monthly subscription.

This change allows companies to avoid the “trap” of a long-term contract, to adjust plans as their fleet needs scale or shift, and to continually evaluate against the market. It allows us to make regular, easily deployable updates to drive innovation, meet market demands, and work to earn your business every month.

We’re transparent (and excited) about what’s ahead for both products; we recently explained some improvements in the works for SmartDrops, and here we highlight a few key updates under development for Welltrax, our solution for transporters hauling bulk commodities like crude oil, propane, sand, water, NGL, chemicals, gravel, and more.

In the trucking industry paper log books are going, going, gone by December 2017. The Electronic Logging Mandate set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that all commercial truck drivers will use electronic logging devices in place of paper logs. To comply with this ruling, and to prepare your business for the future of trucking, check out the benefits of updating your trucking fleet now to meet these tech needs.

Dispatchers are the behind-the-scenes heroes of the trucking industry. Yet these individuals get the most grief from drivers and customers alike when deliveries are not made on time. While most obstacles of deliveries, such as bad weather or road construction, are often out of the dispatcher’s control, it remains the dispatcher’s role to make the delivery happen as requested no matter what their drivers face. Enter the possibilities of real-time technology. Managing a trucking fleet with flexible, real-time technology optimizes your dispatch team’s ability to get freight delivered on time, every time. Consider the benefits of real-time technology for your dispatch team on a day-to-day basis, as well as for overall improvements to your trucking logistics.