Contents of this video
00:00 In this week’s CCJ Tech Shorts, we’ll take a look at everything from trailer tracking and security to faster freight payments via blockchain.
00:19 Transportation management solutions provider McLeod Software has released its latest update, Version 26.1, and is expanding its MPact analytics suite with the addition of MPact.Benchmark and MPact.RespondAI.
MPact.Benchmark helps carriers and their brokers evaluate operational performance against current peer groups in the North American market. It provides real-time comparisons that reflect the current environment as opposed to benchmarks that rely on historical data. It integrates directly with McLeod TMS, allowing teams to quickly identify favorable and unfavorable outcomes.
MPact.RespondAI unifies mobile messages, emails and inbound inquiries into a single inbox within the TMS to enable faster and clearer communication. It includes AI-assisted order quoting and creation, intelligent message generation, centralized communications management, and response-time analytics that reduce turnaround times by more than 50%.
01:16 BeyondTrucks has rolled out a new functionality called Trailer Yard Module.
The tool aggregates real-time data from dispatch activities, trailer tracking technology and physical yard checks to streamline coordination, and feeds into the AI-enabled optimization capabilities of the BeyondTrucks platform to manage both costs and service levels.
Key capabilities include location and trailer status visibility; driver and yard workflow integration to manage activities; driver and dispatch alerts to prevent drivers from making the wrong trailer choices and to avoid dispatching errors; and load planning optimization.
01:51 A new trailer security system has come to market. TrailerSentry combines asset immobilization, real-time tamper alerts and GPS tracking to actively prevent trailer theft.
The system stops unauthorized trailer movement before loss occurs by sending instant alerts so operators can intervene immediately with a remote lock and unlock feature. It also integrates into drop-and-hook workflows to ensure fleets maintain operational efficiency.
02:18 Freight appointment automation platform Qued has partnered with carrier vetting and onboarding platform Highway.
The partnership combines Highway’s carrier compliance and identity infrastructure with Qued’s automated freight appointment technology to give brokers and 3PLs confidence that the load and carrier are real and the appointment is legitimate.
Qued will securely share verified appointment data with Highway for mutual customers. When a load has a Qued-confirmed pickup or delivery appointment, that verification will surface directly within Highway – initially for key stops, with plans to expand across all stops on an order.
02:54 Fleet maintenance management software provider DataDis has launched AI Invoice Processing. The new module uses AI to automatically read and process PDF supplier invoices.
The system extracts key invoice data such as supplier details, parts, job line items, labor times, taxes and totals. Each invoice appears in DataDis’ fleet maintenance management software as a pre-filled transaction with an AI confidence level, ready for fast validation. Once reviewed, line items are structured and linked to the appropriate external work order to ensure consistent and reliable reporting.
The solution aims to save fleets from the time-consuming task of manual entry and offer more detailed data to improve reporting accuracy, cost analysis and trend identification.
03:39 Transportation trade finance provider TCS Blockchain and PayPal USD have entered into a collaboration that will allow more carriers to settle freight invoices faster and cheaper, utilizing digital assets on blockchain rails.
Carriers often have to sell freight invoices to factoring companies to avoid 30- to 180-day pay terms – often surrendering 30% or more of their net revenues to get paid. TCS provides same-day funding in non-exclusive agreements, with no reserve fees, up to 90% cheaper than traditional invoice factoring.
04:12 EpicVue, which delivers entertainment and connectivity solutions for the trucking industry, is now offering a Starlink connectivity program designed specifically for fleets and professional drivers in partnership with DSI Systems and Pacific Dataport Inc.
The program combines high-speed satellite connectivity across the U.S. and Canada, rugged in-motion hardware engineered for demanding trucking environments, and centralized fleet management into a single solution designed for life on the road.
It provides 99.9% uptime; elimination of “Black Hole” zones on rural highways and mountain passes; continuous, high-speed roaming without service drops; and 2026-ready satellite technology for seamless cross-border transit.
