Technology is not something new in the trucking industry for some years now. The BBC tells the story of Jared, a truck driver for over 20 years. Back in time, he never thought he would be where he is at the moment. It was just by chance that he got to tour with a music star and move their equipment. In just weeks, he has covered 5000 miles. In the process, he has also had lots of breaks, more than usual. During these breaks, he uses his phone, laptop, or tablet to get even more jobs. Technology has made the job search easier.
The impact of technology
Technology has come with many things, both positive and negative. In the past, truckers relied on payphones to call contacts and also used pagers to communicate. Now, they simply turn on their devices and search for jobs online. It is a digital era. Even the payments are now instant. Trucking has now become more efficient. Truckers use the term "Uberised" since trucking now works like the ride-hailing apps. It is a major change to how the trucking industry now operates.
Jared acknowledges that technology has made trucking easy. But just like most new things, it has also come with some negatives. The pay has massively dropped over recent years. He used to earn $3 per mile before COVID. Now, he gets as low as $1.10 per mile. Fuel prices have also been on the rise, eating into the drivers' income. The worry is that with the ease of access and use of technology, pay will keep getting even worse.
For years, wages have remained the same in Canada. Right now, they are worried that it will get worse due to the introduction of tech. The unions oppose adding more apps and would rather get higher pay for their drivers. The app's main focus is also not proper pay. They have only focused on providing jobs for truck drivers. One well-known digital player in trucking is Freightera. Both truckers and clients use the platform. They get access to billions of freight routes in seconds. Unlike other platforms, this one does not set the prices. The carriers are still in control of what they earn. The system makes it easy to get jobs and also provides suitable routes. The platform has really grown over the years.
Digital platforms are now accessible worldwide. A good example is Kenya, where most goods go by road. Use of digital platforms helps minimize empty return trips. In so doing, the cost of transportation also goes down. Fewer empty trips mean less fuel is wasted and fewer emissions. Technology is the way to go. Most truckers have their worries about it, but they need to learn to use it to their advantage instead.
