Truck Drivers Embrace Technology

Over the years, truck drivers have had to adapt to several technologies. That might explain why drivers are more comfortable using AI-powered tools.

A recent survey, from truckstop.com, found that carriers agree by a wide margin that technological changes are not only making decision-making faster, simpler, and more reliable, but are having a bigger impact than regulatory changes, compliance rules, fluctuations in supply and demand, or even equipment improvements

“What we found is that carriers are adopting technology faster than ever, and they’re seeing the results,” said Todd Waldron, vice president of Carrier Experience, in a statement. “From stronger fraud prevention to smarter routing, tools like the ones we’re building are giving carriers more confidence and control over their operations.”

Nearly 70% of drivers, including 79% of those under 35, say they feel comfortable using emerging tools and technologies. 

Survey results show that carriers are experiencing widespread improvements throughout the industry. Over half say fraud prevention efforts have improved significantly, and nearly 60% say using a paid load board is much easier today than when they first started. 

"Whether we’re talking about electronic logging devices and transportation management systems or AI-powered telematics and predictive maintenance, we’re seeing rapid acceleration in an era where we expect to see big advances that truly benefit the carriers we serve,” said Waldron.

Looking to the future, respondents pointed to load availability, fuel costs, and emerging technologies when asked about the biggest influences on the industry in the next five years. Route optimization ranked as the most promising use of AI, followed by AI-assisted dispatch and predictive maintenance.