The work of a carrier and delivery driver is vital for the proper functioning of logistics processes in transportation. However, in their work they often encounter certain inconveniences that cause delays and distractions in their regular tasks, such as attending to many calls and e-mails.

The work of a carrier and delivery driver is vital for the proper functioning of logistics processes in transportation. However, in their work they often encounter certain inconveniences that cause delays and distractions in their regular tasks, such as attending to many calls and e-mails.

If you want to know the advantages of applying a virtual assistant for carriers and delivery drivers, read on.

Voice-only assistant

One of the most common drawbacks of virtual assistant applications is that hand manipulation is required to execute the desired functionalities. This is not possible when driving a vehicle requires both hands to be on the steering wheel to have an adequate response time to the road and, in case you free one hand to manage the application, you lose grip on the steering wheel. In addition to the fact that you can be fined if the authorities detect the use of the cell phone while driving.

Therefore, a voice-controlled virtual assistant for carriers makes it possible to dispense with hand manipulation and keep your hands on the wheel. With this innovation, the virtual assistant can be asked to perform certain commands without pausing driving or other important tasks. This is certainly a good way to help carriers with a virtual assistant.

Minimizes administrative problems

In the course of a carrier's day, there is a good chance that he will encounter administrative and communication problems that would require him to stop the truck and make calls to resolve. Such incidents can be problematic if the time spent resolving them causes delays in deliveries or if he has used up the maximum number of working hours and cannot take any action until the next day.

It is precisely these types of incidents that the virtual assistant for truckers handles. For example, it can make calls or send notifications to the traffic manager to report a problem while the driver parks the truck and performs other tasks while waiting for a response. This increases productivity and speeds up communication and the completion of tasks.

Automates tasks

Not only is it the carrier's job to drive the goods to their destination, but he must also perform other tasks, usually administrative, to ensure that all documented processes are in order. However, what often happens is that drivers use their rest time to keep the paperwork in order, since the rest of the time they have to be driving for long days and do not usually get their well-deserved rest.

In this case, the voice-enabled virtual assistant has the ability to receive the command to fill out and complete the paperwork automatically without the driver having to intervene and can focus on driving, among other functions. In the same way that other professionals can spend their time on their main tasks, drivers will improve the quality of their performance and their working conditions.

Keeps the carrier focused

The time of road or city transport is usually very long, especially if it is long distance or international transport. The law in Spain states that a driver cannot drive for more than 4 hours at a time and must take a break of 45 minutes. However, hauliers have long working days that generate fatigue and make it difficult to concentrate on the road.

The virtual voice assistant can send time-lapse messages that help keep you productive, just like a co-driver. It can also provide you with tips for more efficient and sustainable driving.

Conclusion

It is already known that there are several logistics solutions that also improve the work for carriers and delivery drivers, such as route optimizer or TMS. In addition, if a virtual assistant with these features is implemented, they would have an ally in their hands that covers most of their needs and helps them to perform their work in the best possible conditions. 

At Hedyla we develop our logistics solutions with the criterion that they have a good user experience for the professionals who use them, so our apps for carriers are designed for easy and effective handling.

Meritxell Vázquez

SEO & Inbound Marketing
Video Game Design and Production graduate currently training in Digital Marketing with a focus on SEO and Inbound Marketing.

Creating articles of value and supporting communication to the technology sector.

hedyla.com

The most common problems drivers encounter are often beyond their control and their main causes are overwork and lack of proper management. If you want to know the keys to help carriers in their delivery and driving management, take note!

Optimize routes

Carriers often work against the clock to get deliveries to loading and unloading centers on time, especially those over long distances. It usually takes a lot of work to organize all the destination points to save time. In addition, both freight managers and carriers have strict work schedules and limits on their vehicles, making organization even more difficult.

Therefore, a route optimizer plays an important role in finding the most efficient route possible taking into account the various constraints and characteristics of the load, the vehicle and the driver himself. That is why it is one of the most useful solutions for carriers.

Communicate in real time

On the road and in cities, many types of mishaps can occur despite a well-defined route and optimized loading. All this work would be in vain if good real-time communication is not maintained.

Thanks to the digitization of the industry, more carrier solutions have been developed that keep staff in touch and can instantly send messages about the status of the delivery. From supply chain delays to traffic restrictions and outages, everyone involved in the process must be informed of any unforeseen events and create strategies to avoid them as much as possible.

Upgrade vehicles

Given the increasing restrictions in cities and on highways regarding the circulation of a certain number and type of vehicles, it is time to consider such solutions for carriers as alternatives that meet the requirements of the environmental label.

Among the vehicles that will not pose a problem in the face of the bans are trucks that use clean fuels such as electricity, gas and hydrogen. In addition, if the fleet is of a certain age, a new model such as trucks without mirrors will be easier to operate than a significantly older one.

Connecting to a wide carrier network

With increasing technological advances being added in the industry, including artificial intelligence, it is much easier to find solutions for carriers such as requesting the services of a driver in the right place at the right time through a good optimized transport network.

That is, when a freight company requests a driver, the closest options to the same carrier and coinciding with their route will appear, greatly facilitating their work. In addition, it is a sustainable action to reduce empty kilometers.

Reduce waiting times

Another of the problems most carriers encounter are the infamous waiting times in which dozens of drivers are held up waiting to load and/or unload their merchandise. The reasons for such a common problem are usually due to the following:

• Lack of workers in the area of loading and unloading management
• Lack of organization of the timing of its logistics structure

One of the solutions for carriers that can be applied within companies is the use of slot and schedule management technology to help their organization minimize waiting times. In addition, it is essential to review what is going wrong in the whole system and change these parts so that the effort pays off.

Although they are generally overlooked, carriers play a very significant role in the processes of a company and in society: they ensure that the goods reach their destination, whether it is the last mile or the raw materials.

At Hedyla we look for ways to save time and costs in logistics operations. For this, we take into account one of the most convenient solutions for carriers as the route optimizer to help them solve these daily problems in their working day.

Meritxell Vázquez

SEO & Inbound Marketing
Video Game Design and Production graduate currently training in Digital Marketing with a focus on SEO and Inbound Marketing.

Creating articles of value and supporting communication to the technology sector.

hedyla.com