For fleets, one of the advantages of Android and Apple devices is that most drivers — and especially the younger generation — are already familiar with the technology and appreciate the many conveniences they provide.
Telogis offers a telematics platform that is compatible with any device to run its suite of cloud-based applications which include truck navigation, compliance, telematics, route optimization, work order management and mobile integration services.
One of its mobile apps is a driver scorecard, Telogis Coach. The app helps drivers understand what is being asked of them and how they are rewarded for success, says Mark Wallin, vice president of product management.
Drivers can download Coach to their personal devices or use it on company-supplied devices. The app tracks a driver’s performance in safety, productivity, customer service, fuel efficiency, route compliance and more.
Drivers see an overall score on a scale of 100 with individual metrics stacked up in tabs. By touching a metric, drivers can quickly drill down to the details, such as where the incident happened on a map. Drivers also can access training videos within the app, he says.
Bennett International Group has been working on a new mobile platform since early 2014. The McDonough, Ga.-based fleet has 2,600 drivers, all of which are owner operators. It provides truckload, flatbed, oversized and specialty freight services.
“The main thing is we wanted to get a mobile computer in drivers’ hands. That is very important for us,” says Tim Hadden, chief information officer. “We put as much technology in drivers’ hands as possible.”
Staying connected with vehicles independent of the tablet is necessary for electronic logs and other fleet management applications. Bennett is using the HD-100 system from Rand McNally, a small, wallet-sized device that plugs into the vehicle’s diagnostics port. The device synchronizes with the electronic logbook and other apps on the Android tablets through a Wi-Fi network.
uDrove offers a low-cost device that is geared towards owner operators and small fleets. The device uses its own cellular data plan and syncs with the uDrove app on Apple or Android devices. Drivers use the app for electronic logs, document imaging, proof of delivery receipts, and for tracking expenses.
Efforts to improve fuel economy have traditionally been met with fierce headwinds. Drivers quickly lose interest if they feel penalized by factors they do not control like load weight, weather and topography. New apps give drivers immediate feedback and score them fairly to increase engagement.
Businesses often use loyalty programs to influence their customers’ buying behaviors. Some in the transportation industry use similar programs to increase driver engagement.
Carriers are using the amount of data they have available on driver performance to create sophisticated performance-based pay packages. These efforts are a way to increase engagement by putting drivers’ income in their own hands.
Perhaps one of the most tangible benefits that fleets can offer their drivers is same-day pay. Mobile apps that capture images and integrate with payroll and billing systems in the back office have become essential to make this a reality.
