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.

Historically, margins in the transportation industry have almost always been slim. But in recent years, various factors have been increasing operating costs, thus decreasing margins even more. According to an analysis by PLG Consulting, trucking costs are poised to rise 8% to 10% this year. While most of these factors cannot be controlled, it is essential to be aware of them so that you can prepare for the future.

The emergence of real-time analytics has revolutionized the logistics industry. The advantages it holds cannot be argued, and the return on investment can be huge if utilized correctly. When talking about analytics, many people think of strictly numbers being crunched in a back room regarding how fast a truck got from point A to B, but real-time analytics is much more than that.

The transportation industry is rapidly evolving and adopting new technology, but many people are still not convinced that the investment in new technology is worth it when there are so many other operating expenses. This aversion to new technology will eventually lead these individuals to an ultimatum — adopt the new technology or get left behind.

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 an era of changing regulations and rapid innovation in transportation routing and technology, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve in the industry.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the quintessential cloud services platform serving the largest number of companies. Using AWS, any size company can expand computing power, store data, and help scale their business. While AWS isn’t the only cloud services platform, it is definitely the most prominent. Furthermore, 70 percent of companies in the US now use cloud technology for at least one aspect of infrastructure. Forbes reports promised growth as 56 percent of companies report they are currently transferring IT operations to cloud systems. Is your company on the fence regarding migration to the cloud? Consider these reasons why strategic companies are moving to the secure cloud in 2018.

Updated November 2nd, 2018.

SaaS, or Software as a Service, is on-demand software using cloud storage. Examples of SaaS you may already use include Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, Amazon Web Services, and Dropbox. These programs work by providing a cloud-based solution for data and software. At the same time, companies using SaaS reduces the need to install, maintain, and manage traditional software onsite.

The trucking industry is constantly changing with the growing needs of the economy and marketplace. Safety is another factor playing a role in regulating drivers, as the goal is to minimize trucker accidents while increasing load capacity. In order to ensure drivers can arrive safely and on time every time with freight loads, state and federal agencies are looking to make changes to regulations this 2018. Find out which regulations will be running in full steam this year, and which ones have been tabled until a later date. Use this information to maintain proper compliance for your carrier operations and fleets of drivers.

Utilizing the latest transportation technology in Canada offers great growth potential. The key is to identify the areas where you want to be proactive with using this type of tool. This includes identifying issues, such as Canada-specific regulations or driver behaviors, that could lead to costly penalties or a loss in productivity.