Is there an industry out there that doesn’t get an assist from AI at this point? (If you find yourself wanting to know by way of an AI search, there’s our answer.) Tech’s shiniest new toy, AI, has quickly become the time-strapped worker bee’s favorite shortcut. It offers advancements in productivity in categories from agriculture to zoology.
Let’s talk trucking, shall we?
With Freightliner, Western Star, Daimler and newly added Bolt Transportation Services on the Adcom roster, we have a front-row seat for how efficiency and safety are right up there when it comes to reasons to high-five 2023 — the year AI started gaining traction.
- Imagine the fleet manager. Maximizing vehicle performance and maintenance with an eye toward cost efficiency is high on your list. Wouldn’t it be nice if onboard sensors and engine diagnostics gave a heads-up on when a system will fail? You could proactively schedule maintenance and reduce on-the-road downtime. This is AI-powered predictive maintenance, and it’s becoming increasingly accessible for companies of all sizes in the trucking industry.
- Think of the long-haul trucker who is confidently moving towards a 34-hour break. Thanks to automated safety systems such as Active Brake Assist, Side Guard Assist and Front Guard Alert, drivers can count on delivering next-level safety performance.
- Next up is a supplier who got a shipment of bum parts, but you’re not about to let it ruin your relationship with your manufacturer client. How to stay on the production schedule? Go with a carrier that leverages intelligent route planning and optimization, that’s how. Traffic, road construction and weather conditions are tracked in real-time to provide alternate routes to meet delivery deadlines.
Efficiency? Check.
Safety? Check.
Covering your caboose? Check.
AI, as we all know by now, is one of the hardest-working tools in our collective toolbox.
Let’s not lose sight of the other half of the business equation: Humans.
- Freightliner, the most successful on-highway trucking brand in North America, has a legacy for what they call “trucking down to a science.” So, is AI part of their equation? You bet. For example, their Detroit Assurance® suite of advanced safety systems prioritizes road safety with the next generation of Active Lane Assist to keep trucks centered and correct swerving.
Still, human-to-human connections remain a big part of the brand. The Freightliner website’s Team Run Smart page connects visitors to fellow truckers for advice and shared experiences.
“In addition to the vast amount of helpful content, I have been welcomed and included like family and greatly appreciate the interaction between all the members,” said Craig McCue, owner-operator.
- Western Star is such a titan in heavy-duty truck manufacturing that it has its own team of hard-core groupies called Star Nation. Of course, Western Star leveraged tech and AI for the 2024 Star Nation Experience in Bend, Oregon. Partnering with American Truck Simulator, the company provided an opportunity to connect potential drivers and spark interest in the trucking industry.
“The best part was the competition and camaraderie. We all had a blast—talking trucks, driving trucks, comparing how we did and just laughing together,” said Brendan Schellenburg, operator and American Truck Simulator driver.
- Bolt Transportation Solutions recently launched tech-forward innovation that gives them a competitive advantage in the logistics industry. Their Customer Connect™ App (and the AI behind it) provide door-to-door visibility and control of shipments, but it doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It’s the 24/7 support through the full spectrum of every shipment that makes them the top trusted partner throughout North America.
As CEO Guy Sanderson puts it, “Technology is nothing if you don’t have the team behind it.”
At Adcom, we call that a mic drop.
Of course we used AI to craft of this blog. How do you think we ferreted out some of the above data points? However, relaying information and keeping our readers’ eyes from glazing over are entirely different. Does AI use ‘ferret’ as a verb? Nope. That was all flesh, bones and a beating heart — no battery required.