Truckstop, a load board, conducted an online survey of more than 2,000 of its carrier customers and found they had to work harder in 2023 to stay profitable.
Last year, carriers experienced a significant increase in their workload, driving an additional 3,000 miles on average, handling two more loads each month, and absorbing the costs for 17% of their miles as unpaid 'deadhead' travel.
Despite the decrease in fuel expenses leading to lower costs per mile, over 60% of carriers identified insurance costs as a significant challenge. Furthermore, the vast majority of carriers underscored the importance of continuously exploring strategies to protect themselves from fraud and theft within the freight industry.
"Carriers face a multitude of business challenges every day including volatile market conditions, fraudulent activities and fluctuating profit margins," said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer of Truckstop. "Our unwavering commitment to our customers drives us to tackle these obstacles head-on. Through our innovative products and services, we empower freight professionals to grow their business with speed, trust, and confidence."
To help enhance carrier operations, Truckstop said it recently introduced two new features -- Expanded Search Results and Route Map -- to help simplify the load sourcing and evaluation process. Expanded Search Results provides additional load options just outside the carrier's search criteria and Route Map provides a quick visual of a recommended route between origin and destination that's compatible with their equipment type.
To enhance fraud protection further, load board, factoring, and RMIS carrier users are now required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) when logging into their accounts. MFA is a security protocol that mandates users to present two or more distinct authentication factors to confirm their identity before gaining access to a system, application, or account.
100 truck stops join effort to support women drivers
Today, American Trucking Associations' Women In Motion and Trucker Path announced over 100 truck stops have joined their effort to address the concerns of women on the road. The organizations are using this milestone to encourage more truck stops to get involved and support women drivers.
Last October, WIM and Trucker Path announced a strategic partnership to help women identify and locate safe and convenient truck stops. Through this collaboration, several features were added to Trucker Path’s existing mobile app to identify and locate facilities with specific safety amenities that are ranked highly by women.
“We are thrilled that, so far, 100 truck stops have updated their information on Trucker Path to inform women drivers of the availability of safe, accessible facilities,” said Trucker Path CMO Chris Oliver. “Through our platform, women can quickly and easily identify stops along their routes offering amenities catering to their needs, all while accessing real-time information about parking availability, fuel pricing and discounts and so much more.
"Additionally, they can contribute their comments and reviews that serve as a valuable resource for fellow drivers – both women and men. We look forward to our continued growth alongside Women In Motion, as we collectively endeavor to make our industry more inclusive and welcoming for all.”
The Trucker Path app enables participating truck stops to mark whether they have the following amenities:
- Lighted parking
- Lighted bathroom access
- Lighted lounge areas
- Lighted shower facilities with 24/7 access
- Lighted laundry facilities with 24/7 access
- Round-the-clock maintenance
- Onsite security
Drivers can provide updates on the condition of these amenities through the Trucker Path mobile app. Facilities with all seven will be marked with the Women In Motion logo.
To date, nine truck stops have received this distinction:
- Circle C Travel Plaza – PTP Stop, Walterboro, South Carolina
- Ports to Plains Truck Plaza, Lamar, Colorado
- Garden Inn Truck Plaza, Cabool, Missouri
- Garden Inn Truck Plaza, Mound City, Missouri
- King Travel Plaza, Kingland, Georgia
- Big Apple Travel Center, Joplin, Missouri
- Compass Travel Center, Demotte, Indiana
- American Truck Plaza, Milton, Pennsylvania
- Drayup Inc., Savannah, Georgia
