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Much of the technology that municipalities and haulers use to help meet solid waste and recycling challenges centers on the collection vehicle itself. As technology continues to evolve, the waste management vehicle will become ever more important as it collects and transmits more data from a centralized command center.
Enter Smart Trucks
A smart truck is equipped with sensors, cameras, and other technology that allows it to receive and gather information as it travels through the city, equipped with聽on-board computers聽for automated data collection and transmission. This continuous line of communication with back-office teams and reporting systems helps fleet managers stay informed.
Smart trucks help drivers complete routes more efficiently and effectively with onboard computers that provide turn-by-turn directions and enable operators to mark service exceptions and make notes with the touch of a button.
In turn, communication between the smart truck and the office is enhanced. Office staff can monitor truck locations in real time, see images and videos captured along routes to help answer questions when customers call, and dispatch helper smart trucks on the fly, saving time and money while increasing safety.
Additionally, waste management fleet leaders use telematics data collected from smart trucks to better manage truck maintenance, coach drivers who need help, and reward high-performing drivers.
Smart Trucks as Part of a Broader Smart-City Strategy
While smart city initiatives are most commonly aligned with transportation, power, and utilities, waste management fits within the framework. Most smart cities employ interactive technology via the Internet of Things (IoT)鈥攊ncluding sensors, meters, and other autonomous electronics鈥攖o gather data and transmit it to city centers where it gets analyzed to help optimize operations. Clearly, smart trucks have a role to play here in providing valuable street-level information with a range of city departments.
Smart Haulers Tap Technology To Solve Problems, Improve the Bottom Line
Smart truck technology helps haulers identify and overcome some of the most expensive challenges they are likely experiencing.
#1: Track Go-Backs: Avoid or Recoup the Cost of Returning To A Location to Make a Collection
Without seeing what is happening at the curb, haulers cannot reduce go-backs or charge for extras. Fleet operators are now using truck cameras and聽video services聽that gather footage at every stop. This smart truck technology empowers drivers to skip non-compliant collections and gives customer service representatives the irrefutable evidence they need to push back on expensive go-backs (or charge for them).
#2: Understand Where You are Losing on Extra 91仓库 Collections鈥攁nd Start Charging for Them
Haulers that leverage聽in-cab technology聽make it easy for drivers to log extras by tapping a button and selecting the type of 鈥渆xtra鈥� from a customized list. Direct integration with their billing systems allows these charges to be automatically added to a customer鈥檚 invoice.
#3: Use Reliable Data to Optimize Fleet Size
Trucks are not cheap to buy, rent, or replace. And each minute they are on the road costs money. Haulers that use an integrated system that includes smart truck features, onboard devices, and back-office software can track data that reveals how routes can be made more efficient, minimizing wear and tear on trucks and potentially taking one or two off the road.
Smart Trucks Deliver Clear ROI
For municipalities, smart truck technology means making the most of tight budgets and providing the best value to residents and public works teams. For haulers, technology creates opportunities to improve driver and customer satisfaction and scale business while staying ahead of the competition. | WA
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