Technology Trends to Watch for in 2022
The transportation technology trends for 2022 (say that five times fast) are here! Some good, some unfamiliar, but all are worth watching. Find out what the trending topics of 2022 could have in store for you and your business this year.
Predicted Trend #1: Carrier Bankruptcy and M&A
Carrier bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions are something have become more common over the last few years. While many trends can take years to realize, a carrier bankruptcy, merger or acquisition is something that can have a quick and immediate impact.
“As some smaller carriers continue to struggle with driver shortages and fuel costs, you will see larger companies continue to drive more acquisitions, and you’ll start to see the consolidation of the industry.” Professional Services Provider for Werner Enterprises, Jay Patel.
Recently, Werner made a successful acquisition of ECM, which has been an excellent pairing for the business and has allowed the company to take advantage of market spaces that have been underserved by Werner in the past. This acquisition also presented Werner with compelling driver retention strategies that are unique and attractive, helping the company address another trend – the driver shortage. ECM reinforces Werner’s efforts to provide drivers with competitive pay, opportunities to be home daily and the latest equipment models.
Predicted Trend #2: Predictive Technologies Aim to Support Driver Retention
Werner is continuing to leverage technology to improve driver retention.
“The driver shortage is an area that our technology definitely can have an impact. Utilizing our technology to make the life of the driver less complicated is the ultimate goal. We can use our technology to minimize downtime, so they aren’t spending a lot of their time on paperwork or in other areas; they’re on the road moving product.” – Patel
Werner utilizes predictive maintenance technologies to help keep drivers on the road by avoiding and preventing unexpected breakdowns. Predictive technology is a body of tools that can discover and analyze data patterns from past behavior that can be used to forecast likely future behavior. It will be used to help ensure drivers are not faced with unexpected breakdowns and repairs. Instead, it will enable drivers to seek maintenance for repairs to be made while on home time, instead of while they are over the road.
Predicted Trend #3: The Growth of eCommerce and Urbanization
The growth of eCommerce will continue to influence the transportation industry, as large companies, like Amazon, Walmart and others continue to move products without the need for a third-party logistics provider. Werner can maintain an advantage as a third-party logistics provider thanks to a strong Dedicated arm of the business. Companies like dollar stores and home improvement stores are considered “eCommerce proof” because they can maintain a large in-store retail presence. As eCommerce continues to grow, Werner is well-positioned to thrive in this environment as they have a diversified portfolio of customers and are prepared to continue servicing markets for the online and the in-person consumer.
Additionally, as the United States moves towards a more urban structure, with 83% of the country being considered urban areas, new transportation tactics and techniques will need to be adopted to serve those areas (O’Neill, 2022). With the potential of more, large, over-the-road deliveries that need to be made to inner-city areas as those populations continue to grow, Werner has been given the chance to create other solutions for providing services to more metropolitan spaces. Thanks to the growth of eCommerce and urbanization, Werner was able to re