Public transport has been the lifeline for people worldwide for years.

Whether it's office travel or commuting to the market, public transport mediums like metros and buses have been the go-to choice for a lot of people.

But this relationship is heading to a sad ending as COVID-19 has disrupted the public transport sector.But bike transportation services have come to the rescue.

These services allow you to book a bike taxi just like you book an Uber or Lyft.

This sudden reduction in public transport usage comes out as a result of massive restrictions imposed on public transport by countries across the globe.The rise of remote work has also impacted the demand for public transport.

In Berlin, transport lines have been reduced to 10-minute intervals, with less busy lines being temporarily closed.

Many people are preferring private transports such as taxis and cabs or public transport like buses for daily commute which results in spending excessive money and time.

Thus, ‘Vanpool’ is the new mode of transportation which is trending on the list.A vanpool is similar to carpool comprising of drivers and passengers having the same destinations and origins of commute.

Thus, participants of vanpool can opt for being drivers and can earn decently through vanpool transportation every month.

In vanpools, the vehicle is rented by the members of vanpool and consists of the monthly fee that covers liability insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance.Vanpool ProgramsVanpools are middle-of-the-road transportation mode as compared to transit, they are cost-effective and flexible.

While developing the different types of vanpool operation programs, there is a need for competent organization, productive financing and competitive marketing.

There are three main types of vanpool programs:employer-sponsored programsthird-party programowner-operated programsIn employer-sponsored program, employers have the option of renting or purchasing vehicles.

Being one of the largest industries in the world, the transportation and logistics industry is considered as a key element of the supply chain.

Thanks to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), you can reduce the errors, solve issues and improve efficiency in the whole process of transportation and logistics management.RFID in transportation, especially in the trucking industry has been proved to be a valuable asset.

From cargo tracking to systemizing fleet operations or streamlining ground support apparatus to automating yard management, the expenditure of inefficiencies caused by a lack of visibility are considerable.

Today, leading names in the transport industry, that have their own fleet transport or truck apps, started depending on RFID technology to bring accuracy in shipping and inventory management, make the order processing faster, and reduce labor costs.

With noteworthy improvements in visibility throughout the supply chain, the benefits of an RFID system in this industry is proving to be significant for many companies.If you are interested in making your logistics and supply chain management operations smooth, accurate, affordable and hassle-free, today's post will be useful for you.

If you go through the post, you will also get to know why this technology is relevant for managing assets and tracking in the transportation industry and it is a must-have feature for your next fleet transport or trucking app.So, without further ado, let’s start the discussion.RFID Solution for Transport & Logistics Industry - In A NutshellRFID is the use of radio waves to store data and retrieve it.

The American trucking industry is one of the largest in the world delivering 10.77 billion of cargo in 2017.

The industry seems promising, generating $700.3 billion in 2017, representing a growth of 3.5% compared to the previous year.

But as it turns out, all is not smooth with the trucking industry with several challenges making an impact on its growth and employability.The Challenges Faced by Truck DriversThe statistics would make anyone believe that the trucking industry is great for employment, but the truck drivers often disagree.

On top of that, most of the drivers are aging, and the young pool of drivers are still untapped by the industry.Less PayDrivers also face several other challenges which make their lives difficult.

Commissions paid to brokers and middlemen also reduce the final payment of the drivers.

Revenues are also affected as many trucks ply at less than maximum capacity which also adds to unnecessary trips and traffic congestions.Also, mandates like ELD is also making drivers lives difficult.Is there a way to solve the challenges of the trucking industry and make it favorable for the drivers?A new technology called load trucking comes with strong promise to resolve the challenges of the trucking industry.

From gold to paper to finally cashless, the way we make payments has undergone various changes.

The trucking industry, which is mostly in the cash and paper-based sector, is adopting digital payment systems.

This change comes as a result of the impact caused by COVID-19 on the global transportation and logistics market.

Today, we'll delve into the increasing use of remote payment systems in the trucking industry and its consequent effects.Contactless Payment System in the Trucking IndustryContactless payment is a secure method to complete a transaction using a digital payment system that utilizes near-field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID).

This mode of payment is also known as tap-and-go.

The customer can now bring the card close to the system, and the terminal will process the payment using the electronic transmission of information.

Transportation management system (TMS) has become the foundation of modern supply chain and logistics businesses.TMS is a specially-designed software that helps you plan, execute and optimize the shipment of freight.

TMS performs three main actions-Identify shippers and compare ratesBook shipments at the lowest costsTrack the shipmentTMS allows real-time visibility into the supply chain, improves shipping efficiency and cut back costs.

You can increase the efficiency of your entire shipping process and improve customer service significantly.Today, we will find out how TMS helps businesses ship and manage their operations efficiently.

But first, a few words on the need for a transportation management system.Why You Need Transport Management System in Logistics?The modern customer doesn't want to wait.

Parcel deliveries are expected to increase by 17% to 21% each year between 2017 and 2021.

Same-day shipments will be responsible for a 50% increase in logistics costs as a percentage of revenue.On top of this, standards have been set by programs like Amazon Prime!

Being one of the largest industries in the world, the transportation and logistics industry is considered as a key element of the supply chain.

Thanks to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), you can reduce the errors, solve issues and improve efficiency in the whole process of transportation and logistics management.RFID in transportation, especially in the trucking industry has been proved to be a valuable asset.

From cargo tracking to systemizing fleet operations or streamlining ground support apparatus to automating yard management, the expenditure of inefficiencies caused by a lack of visibility are considerable.

Today, leading names in the transport industry, that have their own fleet transport or truck apps, started depending on RFID technology to bring accuracy in shipping and inventory management, make the order processing faster, and reduce labor costs.

With noteworthy improvements in visibility throughout the supply chain, the benefits of an RFID system in this industry is proving to be significant for many companies.If you are interested in making your logistics and supply chain management operations smooth, accurate, affordable and hassle-free, today's post will be useful for you.

If you go through the post, you will also get to know why this technology is relevant for managing assets and tracking in the transportation industry and it is a must-have feature for your next fleet transport or trucking app.So, without further ado, let’s start the discussion.RFID Solution for Transport & Logistics Industry - In A NutshellRFID is the use of radio waves to store data and retrieve it.

The vision of driverless vehicles has been developing into our minds for years now.

As the idea of self-driving cars is slowly approaching our neighborhoods, we still possess some apprehensions about consenting on other autonomous commercial vehicles such as self-driving trucks.

However, the industry is quite positive about the potential of autonomous driving trucks and how it may take over within the next 10 years.Many experts suggest the introduction of driverless technology into commercial vehicle industry can gobble up as many as 1.8 million trucks driving jobs.

Trepidations over new technology are not unheard of, as this has always been the first reaction to any technological advancement.

Similarly, self-driving technology in trucks offers multiple advantages including improved productivity, cost-effectiveness, fuel efficiency, and organized traffic.

So, before you arrive on a conclusion, this blog helps you in understanding the industry inclination, issues, and the future deployment of driverless trucks.Major Companies Striding Towards Self-Driving Truckshe number of major international companies slowing shifting their gears towards implementing self-driving technology in trucks is growing in every industry quarter.

Networking has always been the first step to build a business.

When it comes to building the audience base, networking is a vital method.

The fleet industry has a niche audience, including fleet managers, suppliers, fleet operators, and customers.

So without further ado, let us understand what networking is and how we are applying it for trucking and fleet businesses.What is Networking and How it Improves Communication?In simple terms, networking in fleet and trucking businesses is a method to build relationships between employees i.e., truck drivers and back-office workers, with potential clients and employers.

Previously, networking for the trucking industry meant connecting via in-person interactions for the steady growth of the trucking business.

But, over the years, this notion has changed, as we are now equipping ourselves to utilize networking on various digital platforms for communication.Fostering strong communication skills gains the right customers and employers for trucking and fleeting businesses.

Also, according to Global Market Insights, as the growth in the e-commerce industry is expected to drive the third party logistic (3PL) market due to an increase in demand for fast delivery, efficient inventory management, freight forwarding, and individualized shipping time, this 3PL market is set to exceed USD 1,100 billion by 2024.These statistics clearly show that the trucks are in great demand.

To meet market demand, recently some logistics startup aggregators have come up with an innovative idea - blending logistics management and trucking business with the power of technology.

They are gearing up to streamline the process related to IT, warehouse management, networking and complete logistics control through logistics app development.Trucking and logistics apps have the potential to make the trucking industry more efficient than ever by meeting consumer demands for packaging services straight with the source.

It eliminates the requirement of a middleman between shippers and truckers while optimizing associated expense and time taken to deliver and receive packages.

In a nutshell, an intuitive truck dispatch software brings an advanced freight management solution to streamline logistics and improve overall efficiency for shippers, drivers, and carriers.

It caters to trucking & logistics businesses and startups to bring automation and scalability to their operations.How Are Trucking Apps Modelled?When it comes to shipping through a trucking app, building a relationship to expand the network of available carriers is the key aspect.

Since 2006, when the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) first issued commercial drone permits which brought about an era of new innovation in drone technology, the impact of drone delivery in the logistics has sky-rocketed.

While direct delivery via drones to customers is still not commercially viable, in WMS ( Warehouse Management Systems) and YMS (Yards Management Systems) usage of UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or drones has seen abundance progress.

Nowadays drones are used not only for deliveries but also for inventory management and maintenance.

Drones, when controlled in an effective manner with deep learning AI technologies, surpasses manual labor in warehouses by being vastly speedy, time-saving and cost-effective.Modes Of Transport That Benefits From Drone TechShippingOne of the largest methods of commercial transport has become faster because drones are being utilized for review & inspection of loading/unloading shipments.

The added benefit of real-time tracking of the cargo makes ocean freight more reliable than before.Rail TransportationA low-cost method for transporting large volumes like rail benefits from drone surveillance for its maintenance and tracking.

Transport drones that deliver cargo after removing it from train containers as it reaches shipping locations would make this transport much faster as well.Road TransportationAutomation has already helped truck freight a lot in speeding up their operations, but this method of transport still suffers in dense urban areas with a lot of vehicular traffic and in remote areas where the reach of the road infrastructure is limited.

Transportation management system (TMS) has become the foundation of modern supply chain and logistics businesses.TMS is a specially-designed software that helps you plan, execute and optimize the shipment of freight.

TMS performs three main actions-Identify shippers and compare ratesBook shipments at the lowest costsTrack the shipmentTMS allows real-time visibility into the supply chain, improves shipping efficiency and cut back costs.

You can increase the efficiency of your entire shipping process and improve customer service significantly.Today, we will find out how TMS helps businesses ship and manage their operations efficiently.

But first, a few words on the need for a transportation management system.Why You Need Transport Management System in Logistics?The modern customer doesn't want to wait.

You need to align your business to meet your customer preferences.The logistics and supply chain business is witnessing high demand.

Parcel deliveries are expected to increase by 17% to 21% each year between 2017 and 2021.

As a fruit distributor across the East Coast, David Arlington from Portland was a busy manager.

He was finding it challenging to keep a tab on the different trucks plying across the 2369 miles of US Route 1.

He also didn’t have a way to know when the consignment reached the market and when the trucker had started the return route back.

All these prompted him to go for a logistics management software in order to get better control on the fleet and the cargo it was delivering.

The comprehensive real-time reporting allowed him to optimize route better and set precise expectations.

This, in turn, boosted business on the back of an elevated user experience.Obstacles in Running a Logistics ChainIf you operate the supply chain for a logistics company or own it, large-scale fleet management and keeping track of workers, vehicles, and the consignments bring a few operational challenges:a sudden increase in demand from the customer’s endunorganized collaboration between drivers and the supplierslack of decent inventory managementunruly and unmanageable drivers with unprofessional instinctsThese are just a few of the many obstacles faced by stakeholders in the supply chain, time and again.It has been observed that meeting the customer’s demand still remains to be one of the topmost challenges faced by supply chain managers.

There is simply no way one can sugarcoat it - the trucking industry is currently facing an acute shortage of drivers.

Driving recruitment has slowed down and new incentives for people to take up the profession are few and far between.

According to the American Trucking Association , “The US will be short 1,75,000 truck drivers by 2026”.

With such an increasing turnover rate in the trucking industry, it is essential that managers understand the value of driver retention for long periods of time.

This can, to an extent, offset the complications that a company will face if the dearth of drivers entering the trucking industry continues in the future.A well-experienced driver is hard to find in the industry and losing such an asset is a void that is difficult to fill.

For a better driver retention strategy, companies ought to design their policies for drivers by analyzing their requirements and aligning these requirements with the vision of the company.To ensure that driver retention is not a major challenge in the transportation industry, a fleet manager needs to create a strategy that provides drivers what they are looking for.

Especially the e-commerce industry has a great impact on the growth of the trucking industry.

Undoubtedly, the upcoming trends in this industry will help transportation enter into a new era with a potential to become stronger than earlier.

Having said that, here are the top nine trucking industry trends to watch for in 2019.1 Dissatisfactory Supply of TrucksDue to low truck supply and high freight demand, you may find capacity crunch in your trucking business.

Especially the ongoing shortage of drivers causes this tightened capacity.

And lack of drivers means lack of trucks on the road to haul the increase in freight.

Due to the cost and hassle of installation process or the fact of being tracked by someone else all the time, there are many drivers who lose interest in their job.2 Skyrocketing RatesIf the capacity in the trucking industry remains constrained, the freight transportation rate will certainly rise.

Needless to say, technology is advancing in every sector across the world.

And the logistics and supply chain management sector is not an exception.

The more it advances, the need for humans in the supply chain reduces.

One of the noteworthy advancements in technology is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

Along with automation, RFID in supply chain management would bring a major transformation in performance and expenses.

With RFID, the process of supply chain management becomes efficient and the involvement of humans in this process decreases.RFID is a process of saving data and retrieving it through radio waves.