5 Innovative Technologies Tackling the 2021 Truck Driver Shortage in Supply Chains

Truck drivers are an essential part of the supply chain, hauling 72.5% of all freight in the U.S. These workers have become even more in-demand as e-commerce has created a surge in shipping activity. Unfortunately, as critical as drivers are, the industry faces a growing labor shortage.

E-commerce skyrocketed in 2020, raising the demand for drivers in an industry that was already struggling to hire them. As such, experts now estimate the sector needs an additional 50,000 drivers to meet demand. In the wake of this labor shortage, trucking companies have turned to technology.

Here are five technologies helping the supply chain cope with this driver shortage.

1. Dynamic Routing Systems

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become one of the logistics sector’s most valuable assets. Networks of IoT devices in trucks and their cargo give trucking companies a wealth of real-time data on traffic, weather, and other factors. Analytics engines then take this data to optimize and adjust drivers’ routes as new obstacles emerge.

These dynamic routing systems let trucking companies make the most efficient deliveries possible. As a result, they deliver more in less time, letting one driver perform the work of two.

2. Training Simulators

Many people fear technology will take jobs from people, but experts predict tech to create 133 million jobs by 2022, taking just 75 million. One example of how tech is helping people get jobs is trucking training simulators. Some trucking companies have started using simulators to train new hires faster, helping fix the labor shortage.

Simulators provide a safe place for new drivers to learn how to handle large trucks. They also let instructors control road conditions, helping recruits gain experience in more situations and in less time. With these more efficient and targeted training systems, the pipeline from new hire to active driver shortens.

3. Coaching Apps

Similarly, some trucking companies have started to use app-based coaching when drivers first take to the road. These systems use data from IoT devices in trucks to provide feedback to new drivers. This lets companies train recruits without a senior driver present and gamify the experience, attracting younger workers.

The average age for long-haul truckers is nearing 50 years, but younger generations are less interested in the industry. This more tech-centric approach to training and driving is more appealing for digital natives, attracting more new workers.

4. AI Load Matching

Just as artificial intelligence (AI) can use IoT data to optimize routes, it can do the same for load matching. This process, which pairs loads with drivers for maximum efficiency, has become increasingly reliant on AI. One company, Convoy, now says 100% of its load matching is automated.

AI can consider far more data points far faster than a human, making it ideal for load matching. These systems can ensure companies send goods with the most efficient and safest driver and route possible. This efficiency, in turn, helps them accomplish more with a diminished workforce.

5. Delivery Drones

A newer but growing tech solution in logistics is delivery drones. While autonomous trucks may not get authorization for some years, drones can automate smaller last-mile deliveries. Consequently, supply chains can deliver more packages in the same time without needing more drivers.

Drone delivery hasn’t become commonplace yet, but several companies have turned to it recently. Amazon and UPS both recently received FAA approval for delivery drones and will likely deploy them on a broader scale before long.

New Technologies Are Reshaping the Logistics Sector

In light of rising demand and the ongoing driver shortage, supply chains have had to adapt. Cutting-edge technologies like AI and the IoT have enabled them to stay efficient despite growing challenges. As more companies embrace these resources, the sector is shifting into a more efficient, tech-centric industry.