Technology blurs the lines between transport and warehousing

Moving freight
has become a
techie's dream
– or nightmare,
depending on what side of
the technological
divide you sit.
Hauliers,
companies with
in-house fleets,
shipping lines
and warehouse
operators are
investing in more than metal
and infrastructure in the race
to constantly reduce costs and
improve service levels.
Not so long ago mechanics
carefully tuned trucks on the
Durban-Johannesburg run to
compromise between the thin
Highveld air and the humid
sea-level pressures in Durban.
Today the truck’s
CPU makes hundreds of
adjustments a minute to
ensure the mix is just right.
At the same time cellular
and satellite technology
allow clients to track the
progress of their cargo in real
time. Offering this service
is no longer a differentiator.
Customers will take their
business elsewhere if
they can’t log in to
see where their
cargo is.
This,
in turn,
has meant
investment in
warehouse management
technology, barcode and RFID
systems.
Early adopters may have
been able to pass some costs on
to their clients, but providers
of freight and warehousing
services tell FTW that the
systems have become a cost
of doing business rather than
revenue generators.
Independent hauliers also
have to invest in systems that
interface with those of the
cargo owner, forwarder or
warehouse operator.
Technology has blurred the
lines between transport and
warehousing – modern systems
see a truck, vessel or container
on a train as nothing more than
a moving warehouse.
For technophobes the ride is
only going to get rougher.
In the automotive industry
the new buzz is around
connected vehicles, with
most new heavy trucks from
American and European
producers designed to be
connected to the Cloud.
A connected truck can be
rerouted while on the road to
avoid traffic jams, roadworks or
other obstacles.
On board telematics also
allow the workshop to monitor
the mechanical health of the
vehicle. Spares can be ordered
before the vehicle arrives, which
minimises downtime.
Engine and other systems
are remapped and software
upgraded using “over-the-air”
services rather than plugging in
the workshop laptop.
From connected vehicles the
next logical step is autonomous
vehicles.
Technically driverless
trucking is feasible today. In
April Daimler Trucks ran three
Wi-Fi-connected, autonomous
trucks between Stuttgart and
Rotterdam in a platoon just six
metres apart.
Fuel consumption due to
reduced drag is claimed to be
10% better, the trucks used up
nearly half as much road space,
and Daimler claims it was
safer than having three human
drivers on the road.