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Many technologies exist to help fleets monitor cargo in their trailers, but carriers must be mindful of how the cargo itself — including what it’s made of — might impact the effectiveness of their tracking systems, especially if they look to make a change. Better trailer management can also improve drivers’ job satisfaction by mitigating issues they sometimes face in detention time and finding empty trailers.

Truck parking is a major pain point for the industry, and needs more investment from the government. It’s time to get creative about urging that investment, and potentially look to an unconventional source to find it: states’ climate budgets.

Multiple factors coming together can be a perfect storm, and the imminent 3G cellular network shutdown in 2022 certainly qualifies.

Automated truck companies make for popular industry conversation, but with great automated truck power comes great trailer responsibility. When exploring automated solutions, fleets must ensure their trailers get technological attention as well.

The valuable assets that trucking, freight and logistics companies must protect from theft and damage require more than a one-size-fits-all solution, but creative opportunities exist for companies that integrate physical security with new technologies.

Congress and President Joe Biden are currently focused on improving America’s infrastructure, with a key sticking point being how to pay for the improvements. This debate presents an opportunity for Congress to finally resolve funding for the insolvent Highway Trust Fund by replacing antiquated funding mechanisms — such as the federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks and trailers — with solutions that are more reflective of today’s transportation landscape.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world. In the United States it altered the way our country operates and wreaked havoc on American businesses, but leaders in Washington responded with actions that helped mitigate the damage. I applaud these efforts and am confident that our economy will bounce back. But the work is not done.

Industry members are arriving in Atlanta this week for American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s annual meeting with a special focus on advancing maintenance careers.

The emerging technology of augmented reality is becoming more viable for fleets that want to recruit and retain technicians.

As more and more vehicles with autonomous components enter the transportation landscape, the issue of repair and maintenance for those systems becomes more important for trucking fleets.