I know it’s a very busy and challenging time of year, with rising fuel prices, staffing difficulties and road & rail disruptions. So I just wanted to shoot a quick video to say thanks for the good work and give a quick update on the platform.
Although I know most customers are delighted with the service, its still great to hear it again. Here is one that really stood out to me;
On time with pick-up and delivery. They kept in contact with me, informing me where vehicle was after pick-up and when in transit.
Called me when 15 minutes away from drop off point.Excellent service.
And here is another:
Need an engine shipped from Bundaberg to Melbourne. Tried quite a few of the big name companies and obviously were not interested.
Found a great company on Truck it who completed the job inside 5 days door to door with no issues at all.
The first shows how much customers appreciate communication. It sounds like that provider made things by using the app to enable tracking. In my opinion the highlight in the second review is all about the customer recognising that our providers are often more flexible with greater service standards. Great work!
While we haven't specifically been looking for more business to business jobs, a lot more manufacturers, wholesalers and civil projects have been reaching out to us to find good quality providers. It means an greater need for pantechs, skels, flat tops, curtainsiders, low loaders and more. These businesses generally have terms and conditions that go above what most consumers would expect, but the pay off is the chance of longer-term work, easier loading & unloading and pickup and deliveries to the same locations while dealing with the same people.
To give yourself the best chance of landing a slice of this work, make use of the insurance uploader for your certificates of currency, and keep your Truckit rating high.
Lastly I just want to say thanks to all of the transport providers who have kept Australia moving through the year!
Stay safe on the road and have great Christmas,
Rob
Interview with Andrew Erikson - Senior Developer at Truckit.net
How did the idea of the app come about?
I think the idea for the App may even predate the Website actually. No, I'm exaggerating just a little. But it really wasn't long after the Website launched that talk of doing a Mobile App began. I think it was pretty much self-evident that that’s where things were headed. Smartphones changed everyone’s lives… which demanded that Truckit step up and produce, not just an App, but a top-notch App.
Had you developed apps [like this one] previously?
Well, I've been involved in the Development of other Apps, but certainly nothing even remotely close to this one. I think that is just a reflection of the level of bespoke functionality that Truckit has acquired over the years that has made it so much different from everything that came before, certainly in my experience.
How is this app different from others you have done?
The main area that in my experience has set this App apart from others I would have to say is the intricacies and permutations of the User Interfaces, which are required to support several distinct workflows and User Experiences. Truckit is very unique in that aspect, and this has made it quite different to other types of Software I've had the privilege of working with over the years. Besides this, there is also the technology aspect that was new in that we chose to work with a technology that up until that point we had little experience with. All of this has since changed of course.
Can you discuss the agile methodology of software development and talk about its advantages and disadvantages?
Using the Agile methodology has enabled us to adapt and change as the project has progressed and made it possible for us to respond faster to requirement changes and overlooked or poorly designed features that are not obvious at the outset. But this usually comes at the expense of being able to apply more time to the documentation process which can have a detrimental effect over the longer term. It can also be frustrating sometimes to iterate multiple times over the same feature until such time as the stakeholder is happy with it. So there definitely are positives and negatives. Unfortunately, if you are dealing with a project where the full scope of requirements is not yet fully understood, and this was certainly where we found ourselves at the beginning, then Agile is the only method available to you really. The most important aspect of any software project is the ability to adapt to circumstances and understand that what you are dealing with is very often a moving target. Sure, you might settle on all the features to be included in a Version 1, and then a Version 2 after that and so on, but we all know it often doesn't stop there. Versions can be open-ended depending on the success of the product, so I think it’s good in some ways to try and view a software project as a journey rather than a destination, with fixed resting points that define the boundaries between versions. When you look at it like this, and utilise it in this manner, then I think the Agile Methodology makes a lot of sense and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
What were some hurdles you faced, and which was the biggest hurdle you faced during the creation of this app?
There were several hurdles that revolved around deciding what Architecture to go with, but I would probably say the biggest hurdle of all was actually deciding what Technology to use, because I mean, there are so many options out there really. The classical approach to this question may entail reviewing the development skills available to you as a manager, and then making a decision based on this. That is not the approach we took. In fact, we completely put available skills to one side and focused on the pros and cons of each technology independent of other factors, and we continued doing this even after we had started the project. In fact, we made what I would refer to as a 'course correction' a few months into the project after we evaluated another technology that had up until that point been off our radar. The fact that we were prepared to make a huge U-turn like this as far into the project as we were I think emphasises just how important technology choice was for us in the end, thus making it our biggest hurdle, definitely.
After overcoming these roadblocks, how do you think overcoming these issues changed the final product?
I would certainly hope that after each roadblock, the end product would be better. If not, I guess it would make those very roadblocks pretty pointless really. So, roadblocks are a really good thing, and it’s important to try and frame a roadblock as positively as possible. One could take a 'glass half empty' approach and say, "oh well, you know... there is just no solution to this, so let's rather just drop the feature entirely". That is obviously not the approach we here at Truckit, take. Quite the opposite. We welcome roadblocks. We thrive off roadblocks. The challenge of solving a Roadblock is what gets us up in the morning. So, coming back to your question, I wouldn't necessarily say overcoming roadblocks changed the product, but what I would say is that it changed those involved in the product rather, by giving them a sense of confidence and pride in their own abilities, and this I think will stand them in good stead for the future of their careers, as well as the future of this product hopefully.
Can you discuss how you balance addressing client demands with developing complex application software?
That really is the Holy Grail that you have touched on right there... finding that balance. It all comes down to the search for simplicity, and simplicity for a client or user vs a developer can often mean polar opposite things. The more demanding the user requirements, usually the less elegant a software application becomes. Client demands definitely take precedence though. From a software perspective you need to exchange customer for user in the cliche 'the customer is always right'. So, the user is always right and us Developers need to always keep in mind that we are there to support the user rather than the other way around. Ultimately achieving this balance requires a robust architecture that on the one hand is flexible enough so, as to give a Developer enough freedom and control to build more advanced and challenging features, but on the other hand constraining enough so that it forces a Developer to conform and stick within certain defined boundaries defined by the rules of the architecture. So, it’s a delicate balance that comes down to architecture selection I would say.
What steps do you take to prevent an app from crashing?
Software crashes are one of those things as a Developer that, hard as you might try, you simply cannot prevent 100% of the time. So, it’s something you cannot get around unfortunately, kind of like death and taxes. All you can really do is ensure you have a robust framework in place to identify errors when they do occur, and deal with them appropriately so that they cause as little disruption as possible. This requires the following of best-practices to ensure you have error catching code in place. Also, you need to try and ensure that you inform the user in layman’s terms what just happened and what they need to do to be able to continue working. Obviously as a Developer you want to try as hard as possible to recover from the error as seamlessly as possible while invoking the least amount of anger from the User as possible. It can be a real challenge to get all those things right. It's also very important to try and capture as much detail about an error as possible, and then try and ensure that all this detail makes its way into the hands of the Dev team so that they can then try and identify the source of the problem, and hopefully fix it in the next release. Google luckily have a product called Crashlytics which can be very, very helpful in this case.
What are the different testing stages and how does each stage assist in the development of the app?
Testing is all about quality control. Developers that worked on a project will have a natural bias towards much of the functionality in an App, so they should not feature in the Testing phase at all, although a Developer will always need to perform Unit Testing and some other Basic Functionality Testing to make sure their code works as expected before they send it for code review and more advanced internal testing, followed by external testing. In computer jargon we would refer to this as Alpha, followed by Beta Testing. Testing stages are usually dictated by the type and importance of the software being built. For example, testing flight automation software where you are potentially dealing with life and death will have way more stringent testing requirements than say an ecommerce web application that is selling merchandise. During Alpha testing it is important to create a test plan that defines your inputs and expected outputs, so that the success of a test can be easily measured, and then also to ensure that this information flows seamlessly between the Testers and the Developers so that bug and other fixes can be performed within the time sensitivities of the Project and Test Plan. So, it would be an iterative process that repeats indefinitely until such time as all the Tests within the Alpha Test plan succeed, and then it can be moved into Beta Testing. So, each testing stage should result in improvements to the software overall and give confidence to both the Developers of the product, and the users of the product, that everything works as it should.
What’s next - maybe a customer app?
Oh yes, most definitely. We need to strike while the iron is hot.
All I can say is 'WATCH THIS SPACE'
While many online businesses are legitimate, it can be easier to fall for an online scam due to the anonymous nature of the internet. Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites, email receipts, and text messages that look like genuine online stores and responses.
Online scams are sophisticated messages which often use professional-looking brands and logos to look like they come from a business you know. At first glance, the level of sophistication can make it difficult to determine if it is real, or fake.
It is common that scams involve asking you for upfront payments in times of an ‘emergency’, or to pay for products or services. Scammers might even go as far as impersonating a friend, family member, or business that you frequently communicate with online, to try and convince you of their ‘story’.
While many online businesses are legitimate, it can be easier to fall for an online scam due to the anonymous nature of the internet. Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites, email receipts, and text messages that look like genuine online stores and responses.
Online marketplaces are one of the most popular platforms for scammers to conduct their activities. Below are some of the tactics they use to cover their tracks (according to besedo.com):
Scammers look for accounts that have a good reputation and buy them to publish fraudulent ads.
2. Ad modification
Scammers submit mundane ads with real photos, prices, and reliable data. But once the ads are accepted, they change them - lowering prices and deleting/adding photos.
3. Trojan ads
Scammers create accounts and begin publishing conventional ads. Once a reliable precedent is set, they begin posting fraudulent ads instead.
4. Change IP addresses
This is when scammers continually change IP addresses to avoid being tracked.
5. Multiple ad publication
Scammers submit multiple ads in big quantities; to disguise their fraudulent ones.
If you think you have encountered a scam, talk through your situation with a friend, family member, or trusted colleague as a quick sanity check because some scams are so sophisticated that they can effectively play with your emotions. Asking for an outsider’s view can help you reframe your thoughts and put you on the right track to remedying the situation. Then, contact the retailer that the scammer is claiming to be through the official website to make them aware of the situation. If you are not satisfied with the response from the retailer or more action is required, you may be able to contact your bank to arrange a charge-back through them, or your credit union if you have paid by card.
For further assistance, you can file a complaint through your state government website, and it is highly recommended to make a complaint to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Queensland Government Consumer Complaints: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/your-rights/consumer-rights-complaints-and-scams/make-a-consumer-complaint/use-the-contact-list
ACCC: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
Once you have completed these reporting processes, spread the word to friends and family to make sure they are aware and protected.
To arm yourself in the future, you can use online resources like Scam Adviser. Scam Adviser asks for details about the potential business scam and produces a trust score based on what they find by scanning the details across the internet.
Scam Adviser: https://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/truckit.net
Have you ever wondered why your freight and shipping costs cost you so much? Now you don’t have to. We researched some of the most common reasons as to why your freight shipping is costing you an arm and a leg. Keep in mind that these costs also fluctuate depending on dynamic costs associated with freight delivery.
Fuel
Regardless of the type of delivery service a retailer chooses for their operation, all modes of transportation rely on fuel. As the price of fuel fluctuates, it is common for shipping costs to fluctuate alongside this. Therefore, if fuel prices fall, trucks become cheaper to operate and the price of transport goes down. These savings or losses are passed on to consumers either indirectly or through a fuel cost component that is built into a carrier’s pricing model or invoice.
Fuel costs will be based on the distance that must be covered from the sender of the consignment or the package to the person receiving it at the end. Unfortunately, just like the rest of the markets around the world, retailers can’t do much to keep fuel prices down.
Demand of Freight
Some freight shipping will depend on the demand for products. This depends on the volume of products being shipped by operators and if capacity is limited, operators may be induced to sell limited space at a premium.
Giant retailers like Amazon, for example, offer 2-day shipping. As Amazon is an eCommerce giant, they can easily handle these delivery costs and timeframes, however, this isn’t the case for all retailers. Same-day or overnight shipping options are possible, but come at a higher cost to the consumer.
Labour Market
As the demand for freight recently reached a new high, increasing wages and competition among carriers for truck drivers has had an upward impact on transportation costs. As the trucking industry is typically an older demographic with older drivers retiring, carriers may struggle to find operators for their vehicles. Recruiting new drivers is not easy; it is a tough gig and typically requires a different class of driver license. Additionally, some of the courses to certify new drivers can take anywhere between weeks or months to complete!
Vehicle Capacity
Some trucking companies operate an older, smaller fleet. While these trucks are entirely adequate, newer trucks are designed to maximise storage space, allowing a truck to split space even further. To determine the weight class of your delivery, the service provider will ask for the weight of your shipment, the size of the package and then come to a conclusion on the difficulty of shipping your item. With this comes considerations to see whether or not loading equipment or additional loaders are needed to load or unload the cargo, and also if the products that are being shipped are labelled as fragile. If your package falls under any of these considerations, the freight cost may increase.
All of this is significant as the weight and size are fundamental to knowing how much space is required in the vehicle that is transporting your goods. In the case that your shipment is larger in scale and requires a fleet of trucks, the charges will obviously increase for more drivers and the more space you need.
To combat the high pricing, retailers can be smart with their packaging and branding, which can cut significant costs. Perfectly fitted packaging materials are not only cost-effective, but can also keep your product more safe!
Government Regulation
Some governments may regulate the amount of emissions that their drivers emit every day by reducing their driving hours. For example, New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme has been estimated to increase freight costs by several dollars for every thousand kilometers travelled.
Weather
Contrary to popular belief, the weather does affect shipping costs and logistics. Either at the pick-up or drop-off location, incoming weather can cause significant delays and other unforeseen issues with orders. This is because ports and transportation hubs will still charge the retailer regardless of the delay due to unforeseen weather circumstances. This is the same for airlines, container ships, and trucking services.
Distance
Distance is one of the most important factors affecting a retailer’s shipping costs. The farther away the product’s origin is from the destination, the more expensive it is to ship a package.
Delivery Surcharges
The most challenging costs to account for are miscellaneous delivery surcharges. These surcharges come in many forms with the most common being:
- Area specific charges for rural, hard-to-access, or remote locations not included in your carrier’s range
- Handling fees for shipments above a set weight, size, or dimensions
- Residential surcharges for any businesses using a home address
- Fuel surcharges
- Weekend or Saturday surcharges for overtime shipping
Consumer Product Insurance
Merchants are not required to purchase shipping insurance, however, offering insurance is a great way to entice consumers to purchase their products. Insurance costs are typically used for items that are of high-value and one-of-a-kind. This is so it provides a level of security to the customers.
Have you ever thought of these reasons behind why your shipping costs are so high? Let us know your thoughts below!
Living on the road can be tough for truck drivers. Luckily, there are many trucker apps that are designed to support truck drivers. There are so many different apps out there, so we took it upon ourselves to find you the best and most reputable apps that navigate, manage your fuel, find you rest stops, manage fatigue & find a good feed!
Apps to make your trips easier
Toilet Finder
Toilet Finder is an international community group who together have found over 150,000 toilets around Australia and the rest of the world. The app is completely free to use, and you can add to the list of undiscovered toilets, including being able to rate them. Now you can find a clean toilet stop with ease with the help of fellow truckers!
Sygic Truck & Caravan
Sygic Truck and Caravan is a high quality GPS navigation app that is designed for professional drivers and their larger vehicles. It is trusted by 2 million drivers of trucks, lorries, LGV’s, HGV’s, RVs, Caravans, Campers, Vans, Buses, Cars & many more of the world’s leading delivery fleets. What makes it stand out from the others is it has 3D offline maps meaning you can access the app and its features without the use of internet or mobile data. The maps they use are also updated throughout the year so they can make sure they are providing you with the most up-to-date road conditions.
Sygic also offers special routing for Trucks/Lorries/LGV’s/HGV’s and delivery vans that are specifically calculated for the vehicle and it’s load. With this, when you search for your destination, it will present you with 3 alternative routes that display the total driving time, distance, and elevation of the route. Along these routes it also includes petrol stations, weight stations and rest areas that are best suited for your journey.
If you weren’t already sold on this basically ‘all inclusive’ app, their advanced route planning includes avoiding tolls, U-turns, hazards such as low bridges, narrow roads, or restricted areas such as emission zones and school zones. Also included in the advanced route planning is the curated planning and optimisation for multi-stop routes. You can add up to 150 waypoints and they will be rearranged for you, to achieve the best efficiency.
To make sure it is safe for truckers to use whilst driving, the maps have spoken voice instructions with road indication, speed limits and speed camera warnings. Their live map services include real-time traffic information, mobile speed camera databases, fuel pricing and parking places.
The best part is that the app is extremely affordable. Whilst some aspects of the app are free, the premium features are an affordable $28.99 for an entire year, which is less than $2.50 per month!
Apps to save you fuel
MotorMouth
MotorMouth identifies your location and finds the cheapest fuel closest to you. It tracks trends and creates forecasts to notify you when fuel will be cheapest and whether it is at your local petrol stations, or at another nearby location. This app is great as it utilises a rewards system. If you record the price of petrol when you fill up on the app, you can earn 5 fuel credit points, and an extra 5 if you confirm the price with a photo!
Fuelly
Fuelly is a great app if you are a driver who avidly check’s the vehicle's performance and maintenance. This app tracks your petrol use and compares results over time to show you whether or not your vehicle is performing at its best, and if your fuel consumption has changed. This data also then becomes a part of a community database where other drivers can compare their fuel consumption. Additionally, you can set up the app to send you reminders to keep on tip of maintenance tasks such as oil changes and tyre rotations.
Fuelly also provides a premium service which removes ads, adds photos and PDFs to personal app records and provides priority support within app messaging.
The app starts at 0.99 cents per month and $6.99 annually. All in all, a very affordable app.
Apps to help with fatigue management
Logbook Checker
Logbook Checker app, is in fact, a log book checker. It makes note of your logbook and warns you about your rest breaks and how much driving time you have remaining in your work day. It simultaneously handles different types of fatigue management systems (basic fatigue management, advanced fatigue management, standard hours and WA rulesets).
Best part of the app - it’s free!
Test Your Tired Self
Fatigue management is an important part of long haul drives. This app has games dedicated to truckers fatigue management which include reaction times, sleeping patterns, focus & memory testing. Inclusive of this, during the games, fatigue facts pop up to make sure you are informed of all things fatigue management.
Need a feed?
TheFork
TheFork is a renowned restaurant bookings app. They are partnered with over 4,500 restaurants across Australia and commonly have discounts of up to 50% off. It is a great app for someone who eats out a lot and loves a free meal. Using TheFork, you can accumulate ‘Yums’ points: 1 app booking is equal to 150 Yums and 1 desktop or mobile website booking is equal to 50 Yums. 1000 Yums gets you a $20 discount on your next meal, and 2000 Yums will get you a $50 discount!
Now is the time when Australia needs you. If you have thought about a career in truck driving, there has never been a better time to take the leap. If you’re still not convinced - here are top benefits of being a truck driver!
Many Australians hold onto the dream of travelling Australia by road. One of the job profiles that have this privilege, is the job of a truck driver. Not only will you be able to adventure in the beautiful land we call home and meet new people along the way, but you can do all of this while earning a good income.
2. Income
Truck drivers in Australia can earn a decent living. Don’t go thinking it is easy money, however. Truck driving is challenging and involves long-distance journeys, long night shifts, days or weeks away from home, but if you are somebody who is up for a new challenge, you will earn every cent paid your way. According to statistics, the average salary for a heavy vehicle driver in Australia is $61,000, which is higher than average. The highest paying truck driving jobs would be the heavy combination (HC) & multi-combination (MC) truck drivers, whose average annual salary sits approximately between $80,000 to $120,000.
3. Freedom & Flexibility
One of the greatest benefits of being a truck driver is having more control over your working schedule, compared to previous employment. As long as you don’t compromise your work, and within means, most companies allow you to create a flexible schedule that fits your routine.
With Truckit, you have a choice in the types of loads you want to run, where you want to go, how long you want to be on the road, and so on. That being said, that also means you have more responsibility. You are responsible for maintenance costs as well as potential breakdowns that could occur.
4. Job Security
With Australia’s increased demand for truck transportation, and as long as people need items transported, truck driving jobs aren’t going anywhere! There is also plenty of room for progression, if you are starting in the beginner ranks, there are five different truck licences that you can attain over the course of your career; LR: Light Rigid, MR: Medium Rigid, HR: Heavy Rigid, HC: Heavy-Combination & MC: Multi-Combination.
5. Learning Potential
The average truck driver is in their 50’s, with many who will be retiring over the next 10 to 15 years. This leaves a lot of potential for younger drivers to learn the ranks. The legal age to drive trucks within the industry is 25, but the Australian Government has just implemented an apprenticeship scheme for young drivers who are willing to wait out until they are of age. In December of 2021, the government cleared the road for a new truck driving apprenticeship following calls from the Australian transport sector for a nationally agreed qualification to meet future workforce challenges, not unlike the current covid-19 supply shortages. This is a new approach to ensure the transport industry has the workforce of the future, and provides young Australians with the opportunity to have a career, not just a job in a rewarding industry.
To read more on the apprenticeship, click here. http://pm.gov.au/media/new-trucking-apprenticeship-keep-driving-australias-economy
5. Purpose
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that being a truck driver is more essential than ever before. Without our drivers - the industry, the country, and every individual would be impacted. Truckit is incredibly appreciative of the dedicated truck drivers who are continuously driving Australia forward.
The trucking sector drives the Australian economy, and there has never been a better time to join the ride!
Without trucks, Australia stops.
Digital marketplaces, including online auctions, are sprouting in almost every category of goods and services that you can think of these days.
This is no different when it comes to procuring transport for the online auction space as online freight marketplaces provide an easy facility for online bidders and customers to conveniently list their items for transport and choose their providers, all within one platform.
Gone are the days where the auctioneer would provide a piece of paper with suggested locally based transport companies to the customer and expect them to do the very inconvenient ring around.
These days, in our new normal, the way of organising transport by auction customers has taken a decidedly digital twist, not surprisingly so, in line with so many other recently acquired shopping behaviours, accelerated, of course, by the ongoing pandemic.
As Loren Padelford, Vice President at Shopify Inc says:”Covid has acted like a time machine: it brought 2030 to 2020,”
For the auction customer, being provided with a simple online facility to organise their transport is required, now more than ever.
Auction customers tend to be located further afield too, particularly for those high consideration larger items, so having access to a wider choice of transport providers who can deliver the items anywhere nationwide is preferable.
The actual process of carrying out a transport booking via an online freight marketplace is also so much easier, and more streamlined too. Secure and contact-less transactions, transit insurance and more add to their reliability too.
1. The customer lists their item details that needs delivering for FREE
2. They receive competitive Quotes through the Truckit platform
3. The customer then compares and chooses a Provider
They can also compare ratings and feedback of providers to choose the best fit for your job
They then simply need to click 'accept' to confirm their preferred quote and that's it, job booked!
4. Manage, Receive and Rate
The customer can then keep in touch with their chosen provider through the booking and delivery process using the different status changes and private messaging.
Once the item is delivered the customer is required to rate the provider's performance based on their level of service. This is another big reason for the emergence of online freight marketplaces, as per many other digital marketplaces such as eBay, Airbnb hosts etc., ratings and reviews.
Remember those locally based transport providers mentioned earlier? Well, these Local transport Providers can also still deliver goods within the local community for locally based auction customers, via an online freight marketplace. In this way, today's online freight marketplaces can assist local customers, and satisfy the needs of those distant online auction customers too, making them a natural fit for online auctioneers’ needs.
At market or below market prices
Online freight marketplaces also tend to generate competitive transport prices, by virtue of the fact that transport providers can compete to secure the customer’s listing. This can result in transport rates at market or below market rates, often comparable or even better than those ongoing contractual freight arrangements negotiated by businesses.
For the online auctioneer, by making it so much easier for auction bidders to organise their transport needs via an online freight marketplace, this improved overall experience will logically lead to fewer abandoned carts and more repeat business.
There are operational benefits too, such as faster clearing of items offsite, in line with a more efficient transport procurement process as provided via the online platform.
Bottom line, just as auctions are trending online to answer customers’ needs and buying behaviours, the procurement of transport via online freight marketplaces is taking a very similar route, and they are a natural fit for the online auction environment.
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Truckit currently enjoys a Trustpilot score of 4.9 out of 5 and making an easy listing on the platform is FREE.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a huge increase in requests for freight on Truckit over the last 12 months. A record number of individuals and businesses are turning to online freight marketplaces such as Truckit.net to find reliable transport operators.
The increased demand for freight means customers and transport operators need to be connected with each other faster than ever before. The Truckit team has identified these trends and released a new feature called 'Job Alerts' in response.
For transport providers registered with Truckit, Job Alerts will appear as a new interface on the marketplace, found in the menu in the top right hand corner of the platform. However, the real magic of Job Alerts is going on behind the scenes, using our smart freight matching algorithm.
Our freight matching algorithm analyses details of every freight request on the marketplace as well as the characteristics of each transport provider. Instant recommendations are then made as to which providers are best suited to carry out each job.
The Job Alerts interface will display a real time list of recommended jobs to every provider. The interface is designed in a way that is personalised, concise and digestible. No two providers will ever have the same list of Job Alerts. Truckit providers can also see when users are online, encouraging responsive communication and prompt acceptance of quotes.
The power of Job Alerts and the freight matching system relies on transport providers keeping their Truckit profile up to date. Critical information that providers should update in their profile includes their 'Categories Serviced', Address, Vehicle Types as well as creating Saved Searches for preferred routes. By keeping these as accurate as possible, transport providers can ensure they get more relevant Job Alerts. The freight matching algorithm then factors in providers' engagement and performance on the marketplace to come up with an overall ranking to decide who to target with what jobs.
Existing Providers:
OR
Become a transport provider on Truckit. It's completely FREE!
With more vehicles back on the roads as COVID-19 restrictions ease, shocking new figures have been released today showing for the first time in 20 years, there’s been an increase in the number of truck driver deaths on Australian roads.
NTI’s National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) has today published its latest national report into the cause of major crashes involving trucks.
The NTARC report discovered there were almost 100 more serious incidents in 2019 compared with two years prior, and the number of truck drivers who died last year was 2.5 times higher than in 2017.
Importantly, the report found in 80 per cent of all serious crashes involving cars and trucks, the car driver was at fault – a startling figure as many Australians begin to use their vehicles again following weeks of driving restrictions.
NTI’s CEO, Tony Clark said it was an important reminder for us all to do the right thing on our roads.
“We had been on a downward trend of heavy vehicle-related deaths and had hoped to hit zero within the next decade, but tragically, last year we saw more loss of life, not just for truckies but all road users.”
While the exact reason for the increase in deaths was unknown, the 2020 NTARC report found two of every three crashes were the result of fatigue and distraction.
“The report found the number of truck driver deaths caused by distraction more than doubled in the past two years,” Mr Clark said.
“Another worrying trend we saw was that 82% of the crashes involving truck drivers aged 25 years and under were caused by distraction.”
As of 11:59pm Sunday 5th April 2020 Western Australia has now closed its borders to everybody except exempted travellers.
Exempt traveller means a person who falls into one or more of the following categories and complies with any specified terms or conditions:
(g)Transport, freight and logistics: any person (other than an airline or maritime crew member) who in the course of the person's duties is responsible for the provision of transport or freight and logistics services into or out of Western Australia for only as long as is reasonable required to perform those duties.
IMPORTANT: All exempted travellers (including transport, freight and logistics workers) must submit a 'Request for Approval as an Exempt Traveller' and carry the associated paperwork.
