From the trucking customer’s point of view, the first and last miles usually matter the most. A high level of performance in the last mile is essential for delivery success.
The last mile may also be the toughest on mobile devices. That's where ruggedized commercial-grade options such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 really shine. The Tab Active2 addresses concerns about durability when devices are removed from the cab. Its military-grade design can withstand harsh conditions including drops, altitude, extreme temperatures, immersion, salt, fog, and blowing dust. MIL-STD-810G testing and IP68 certification attest to the durability of the device.
The Galaxy Tab Active2 also includes a full HD display and high-resolution cameras front and back. It also offers biometric authentication options such as fingerprint scanning for greater security, and facial recognition for a convenient, unlock-with-a-look experience.
Due to their familiarity with devices, drivers can easily be trained to track orders, capture signatures, reconcile returns, and perform other tasks, instead of maintaining a paper manifest. The Galaxy Tab Active2 reduces the risk of damage with a water-resistant, IP68-certified S Pen, which allows drivers to use their devices even while wearing gloves. While the S Pen looks and feels like a typical pen, it enables team members to easily jot down digital notes, sketch ideas, or capture signatures.
Matched with a scanning device and the appropriate apps, mobile devices like the Tab Active2 can provide on-the-spot signature capture and tracking information for immediate customer notification and verification.
The connected truck can also enhance vehicle communications to improve repair efficiency and vehicle uptime. Vehicle sensors monitor and deliver alerts about engine problems and other diagnostic issues while informing dispatch when the vehicle is out of service. With this data forwarded from the ELD, managers will be equipped to plan for maintenance based on actual performance by monitoring vehicle diagnostics. This enables fleet operators to plan for maintenance on a proactively managed schedule and reduce surprise equipment failures that can delay a load and cause an expensive, unscheduled repair.
Aggregating vehicle data can help inform fleet overhaul and replacement planning by tracking maintenance costs and intervals during vehicles' life cycles.
The DVIR can help manage a fleet's CSA score with an inspection record confirming compliance over the long term. With a mobile device, the DVIR can be monitored and reviewed by management to ensure compliance with regulations and company standards. Managers can use the information for coaching and training drivers remotely. Distance isn't a barrier to communications anymore.
Forward-thinking fleet managers recognize that the ELD is only an entry point into a new world of fleet telematics. By going beyond the basics of the ELD mandate, fleet managers have the opportunity to turn trucks into computers on wheels, connecting to cellular networks to send data to and from the vehicle.
With smartphones and tablets serving as the driver interface, fleets can deliver intelligent business processes to every endpoint in the fleet: the vehicle, the driver, the maintenance shop, and the point of delivery.
Strategic analytics guide companies in making investments and policy changes for mid- and long-term improvements in efficiency, risk reduction, and profitable growth, while tactical analytics gives a company insight to optimize daily decisions across the supply chain.
Rugged mobile devices can stand up to the rigors of everyday commercial use — drivers conducting daily inspections, communicating with a dispatcher, and capturing delivery signatures. They quickly become an integral tool for daily activities that drivers and managers value for conversion of manual processes to easy-to-use digital interaction.
With rugged form factor devices, drivers can use one tool for all their tasks, managing pickups and deliveries, navigation and other fleet management functions.
Wearables such as smartwatches are another fleet technology that's primed for broad adoption. Paired with an in-vehicle tablet or smartphone, a smartwatch can deliver priority work tasks through a simple interface for any employee whose primary job responsibilities require hands-free access to data.
For example, Hipaax, a Samsung Enterprise Alliance partner, offers TaskWatch, a platform for smartwatches that delivers hands-free access to data for logistics and transportation use. Receiving notifications via wearables accelerates employee response time and improves communication among employees and managers.
Delivery drivers who make frequent stops can send and receive messages while they're out of the truck. Managers can collect and deliver real-time insight into the location of loads, and drivers can also provide information on load delivery, load pick-up and any in-transit problems.
Wearables can also be leveraged for their health monitoring capabilities to improve driver safety. Built-in sensors on Samsung wearables detect physical position and activity, which can enable important health status alerts. This means that fleet managers or dispatchers can know where a driver is on their route and react accordingly if alerted that a driver is in distress or has fallen on the job.
