How is AI helping route optimisation for truck drivers?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the news a lot lately, due to the many tasks it is now capable of performing. Whilst it might seem as though the robots are ready to take over the world, we are not quite there yet, and there are many practical uses for AI technology.
One of the industries that is currently benefiting from AI is the world of truck driving. It is not driving the vehicles for us, but it is now a big part of the planning process that can make a lot of journeys more successful. In this article, Andrea Easton of FleetEx shares the latest AI route optimisation tools and examine what difference they can make to drivers.
What is AI route planning?
Most of us use artificial intelligence in one way or another, whether it is through our smart phones, smart speakers or even your online banking. It is becoming more and more familiar, and so it is gradually being integrated into other areas of our lives. It is now responsible for revolutionising the transportation industry as it begins to optimise the routes that drivers are taking.
Whilst in days gone by, a driver might have planned their route on a paper map, we have now become used to putting a postcode into a sat nav and going wherever it tells us, but neither of these options tend to be the most efficient.
AI tries to balance all of the challenges that might be faced on a journey, so it does not just look at the quickest route from one point to the next, it also considers traffic patterns, weather forecasts and speed limits to find a route that does not just get you there on time but does it in the best way possible.
Time saving
When AI route planners are told where you want to go, they do not just look at the shortest route. They will also consider the time of day that you are travelling and might adjust the route to avoid the traffic caused by the rush hour or the school run. It does this by continually monitoring traffic patterns and it begins to learn what to expect on the roads.
It can also take planned roadworks into consideration and can calculate the best ways to avoid these as well. In addition to this, it can also think about other potential disruptions, such as the weather, and will avoid roads that tend to be closed because of snow or floods.
This can all help to plan routes that will save time and ensure that drivers reach their destination without needing to worry about deadlines. They can also react in real time to new situations and divert drivers around accidents and other delays to help keep everything on track.
Fuel efficiencies
The shortest route is not always the most efficient route, and in a time where fuel costs are astronomically high, it is important to find ways to be more efficient. That means that AI will not just look at the least number of miles, but what type of miles they are. It will consider the average speeds, inclines and the amount of stopping and starting to try and find a route that burns as little fuel as possible whilst still getting you there quickly.
Cost reductions
Fuel efficiencies are very important for the environment, but they are also essential for the bottom line of a business. Fuel costs are one of the biggest expenses that any logistics company will face, so finding ways in which drivers can be more economical in the fuel that they use can make a massive difference to the profit margins of a business,
Customer satisfaction
When a customer gets their delivery on time, they will be happy, but AI can help to improve the levels of customer satisfaction. By ensuring that drivers arrive comfortably within the correct delivery window means that customers are not left waiting and wondering when it is likely to reach its destination.
They can also enjoy the peace of mind that the company they have chosen to work with is being as green as possible by choosing to track their fuel efficiencies, and this can all become part of their own green credentials.
When a haulage company is able to save money through AI, they might choose to pass these savings onto their customers as well. At the very least, they can ensure that customers are not seeing their prices going up, and hauliers can remain competitive.
Safety
Safety should be of paramount importance for any truck driver when out on the road, and AI can also lend a hand with this. It can show when heavy rain or snow is predicted, giving the driver the chance to avoid the area or even pull over and take a break until it has passed.
When the temperatures drop below freezing, AI can also help drivers to stick to main routes that are likely to have salt on them in order to keep them from slipping and sliding.
If there are delays on the roads, AI can offer a warning, and prevent a driver from slamming on the brakes when they come across an unexpected queue of traffic.
Scalability
AI route optimisation can be very good at handling one route, or many different ones, which means it is a tool that can support your business as it grows. It can take a number of different scenarios into account and factor in what other drivers are doing to make it completely scalable and ensure operational efficiency for your business no matter what size it is.
Artificial intelligence can sometimes get a bit of a bad press, but the reality is that there are many ways in which it can help to make lives better. These route optimisation tools can improve customer satisfaction, increase profit margins and create a better experience for hard working drivers, all whilst keeping our roads safe at the same time.