Not long ago, real-time, end-to-end visibility was thought to be a luxury. This type of tracking could only be expected on a small number of loads, depending on the size and technical skill of their broker and carrier partners. However, in recent years, on-demand visibility has become a standard expectation.
Because of the widespread technological advancement that has resulted from the ELD mandate, brokers and carriers of all shapes and sizes can now provide superior visibility to shippers.
“Visibility is critical to brokers providing the high quality of service that their shipper clients expect,” said Tyler Ford, Chief Revenue Officer at Trucker Tools. “Their service and access to any given shipment’s visibility are only as good as the compliance the broker can provide through the carrier.”
The significance of ELD tracking has grown as more carriers have fully implemented ELDs across their fleets. High compliance via ELD and app tracking is critical to providing the visibility shippers want and now expect.
“ELD tracking has changed the tracking game significantly,” Ford said. “Before the ELD mandate, brokers had to rely heavily on check calls and mobile app tracking with carriers who would hopefully accept and use it.”
The availability of technology to provide end-to-end visibility does not imply that every broker and carrier uses it. Many businesses still need to catch up, while others, such as Trucker Tools, are paving the way for the next generation of visibility expectations.
“Shippers should prioritize working with brokers who have a visibility strategy that covers as much of the landscape as possible,” Ford says. “Shippers require brokers with strong carrier relationships on whom they can rely on tracking their shipments via ELD integration. If that is not possible with their carriers, they have a backup plan with mobile app tracking that carriers prefer and has the best compliance.”
While visibility benefits are obvious for shippers, providing exceptional visibility has several advantages for brokers and carriers. Offering real-time tracking assists businesses in winning business, allowing them to increase revenue and build strong relationships.
“The benefit for carriers, in particular, is that their guaranteed compliance via one-click ELD integration will make them more appealing to brokers looking to lock in high compliance for their shipper clients,” Ford explained.
According to the company’s website, Trucker Tools consistently reports quarterly compliance rates ranging from 90% to 100%, placing it among the top 10 service providers on shipper scorecards.
