In-vehicle cellular connections in the transport sector are expected to reach 292 million by 2030 – almost triple their 2020 number[i].
There’s a good reason for this: with 88% of logistics activities in Europe carried out via road networks (80% in the USA), connectivity and analytics are enabling transport businesses to work more smartly and efficiently, at scale. From streamlining delivery routes to more effective fleet management, real-time data collection is helping to cut costs and open new opportunities.
Join the dots
With just under four million goods vehicles registered in the EU and an estimated 15.5 million criss-crossing the USA, there’s a lot to manage. Twenty per cent of EU road freight journeys are performed by empty vehicles – every time a load is delayed or lost, hauliers need to find alternative available trailers, lease more or contact customers to see if they’re holding things up.
Managed connectivity and data analytics can transform operators’ ability to track fleets on a global basis and use data to streamline route management. They can use data to gain transparency into what’s really happening across the business, driving better planning, decision making and insights, while opening up new opportunities. More efficient fleet management can reduce the number of empty vehicles on the road, optimizing capacity to help drive a more sustainable, lower-carbon business.
On a day-to-day basis, driver assistance technologies can save fuel by avoiding traffic or accidents. Near real-time alerts help with early fault detection, accident reporting or ensuring safety standards are adhered to.
Look before you load
Connectivity and analytics technologies are also transforming the logistics end of the transportation equation. The ability to track goods across the supply chain – from warehouse to trailer, anywhere in the world – has been transformative. It’s no accident that lessons learned during the toughest days of the pandemic, when supply chains and driver availability came under significant strain, accelerated the adoption of connected technologies across the transport and logistics sectors.
From a sustainability perspective, gains can be derived from more effective cold chain monitoring: with an estimated 30% of fruit and vegetables wasted due to transport delays and inefficient storage, precise, temperature-controlled transportation can help ensure perishable goods arrive fresh. Real-time route analysis can enable real-time adjustments if weather, traffic or other conditions change.
Connectivity is king (of the road)
In-vehicle IoT sensors and connected devices – and the data generated by them – are fast becoming a critical tool in the transformation of the transport and logistics sectors. But a lack of uninterrupted, seamless connectivity is hampering growth for the connected truck market. To learn more about how the transportation sector is using digital technology to meet the challenges and transform the way they do business, check out our latest eBook, Industry 4.0 Accelerating Digital Transformation in Trucking, Logistics and Transport
[i] Source: Ericsson, Connected Truck Transport Report 2022
