Trucking is one of the most exciting industries around, as news headlines demonstrate on an almost weekly basis. Americans are ordering a lot online, even as internet-based buying falls back to pre-pandemic trendline levels, according to the International Monetary Fund blog. Truckers play an essential role in getting those products to us—and face a variety of trends that are rapidly changing how they do business.
In this post, we’ll examine just a few of the factors facing the trucking industry. Taken together, these insights will improve our understanding of what the future might look like for trucking and those of us who benefit from it.
Trucking Trend 1: Access to alternative fuel improves
It’s not uncommon for truckers to travel 125,000 miles in a year. That’s a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle as well as emissions from the fuel that ensures truckers and their loads safely reach their destination. A variety of companies are working to develop low-carbon fuels for trucking, and several are reporting progress. For example, Nikola—a company that specializes in zero-emission trucks, infrastructure and materials—recently announced it will build three hydrogen stations throughout California to ensure sufficient supply and refueling support. This alternative fuel and vehicle industry is finding an audience: Construction materials company CEMEX recently purchased close to 200 trucks powered by renewable natural gas for its fleet.
Trucking Trend 2: Internet of Things technology enables tracking, monitoring, better routes
The connected present and future of trucks will enable trucking companies and truck owners to have improved visibility into the status of shipments, according to an article at MachineDesign.com. For truckers, access to the internet and cloud-based information will provide better information about efficient routes to travel. It will also make trucking a safer profession by capturing data on vehicle performance. Connectivity could additionally make it easier to maintain fleets by providing predictive information on needed vehicle repairs.
If you’re curious to learn more about what these trends in trucking might mean for the future, check out the Future of Building whitepaper from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Although it’s not about trucking specifically, the ways in which this sector is changing closely mirror changes that will undoubtedly impact trucking and heavy equipment because of its central role on construction sites.
Trucking Trend 3: Women increasingly are filling the trucking jobs gap and finding economic opportunities in the industry
Although men have made up well over 90% of truck drivers for decades, women are joining the trucking industry and finding economic opportunities. New technology is making trucking safer and more reliable, and that creates enormous possibilities for professionals who have historically been left out of the industry or who have avoided it. One CEO even told Business Insider it’s her objective to work toward women representing one in five hires at her supply chain management company over the next few years. (No offense, guys, but data show women on average are safer drivers than men.)
In future posts, we’ll examine additional trends that are rewriting the future of the trucking industry. For now, these three—alternative fuel, connectivity and women in trucking—show that trucking is an exciting sector that will remain key to our economic future. If you’re in the market for heavy equipment to keep your business going, turn to the experts at Commercial Funding Partners. We’ll help you secure the financing you need without hassle. To learn more, visit our website or call 801-545-4000.