The trucking industry has long faced challenges like truck driver shortages and retention. Both of these problems result in the need for increased truck driver compensation. Even more, the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified these issues. It has created more jobs to fill while some drivers left the industry over health concerns. In the face of rising costs, transportation companies must find ways to offset expenses and balance their spending. That is why we wanted to spend some time today discussing strategies trucking companies can use to achieve cost-effective operations.
Why Do Trucking Companies Need to Streamline Costs?
It is more important than ever for trucking companies to streamline their costs because the transportation industry is facing significant challenges that are driving up costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a surge in e-commerce. This has increased the demand for transportation services. At the same time, the industry is facing a shortage of truck drivers, which is driving up compensation costs. The combination of these factors puts pressure on trucking companies to find ways to offset costs and balance their spending.
Moreover, the transportation industry is a highly competitive market, with thin profit margins. In order to remain competitive, trucking companies must find ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Failure to do so can result in reduced profitability and even bankruptcy. Streamlining costs can help trucking companies remain competitive and profitable. This is true even in the face of challenges like driver shortages and fluctuating fuel prices.
Finally, there is growing pressure on companies across all industries to operate sustainably and reduce their environmental impact. Streamlining costs often goes hand in hand with improving sustainability, as many cost-cutting measures, such as reducing fuel consumption and optimizing routes, also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the public becomes increasingly conscious of environmental issues, companies that prioritize sustainability may enjoy a competitive advantage.
Aim for Greater Fuel Efficiency
Spending on fuel is the highest annual expense for transportation companies. While fuel prices cannot be controlled directly, companies can increase fuel efficiency to make fuel dollars go further. This can include training truck drivers to conserve fuel, such as avoiding idling for more than 10 seconds and having fleet managers perform regular inspections and timely maintenance. Route planning can also be optimized to minimize stops and idling in traffic. Preventive measures, such as proper tire alignment, inflation, and periodic retreading, can significantly increase fuel efficiency. Opting for cheaper fuel may produce short-term gains, but it can lead to reduced performance, a premature parts failure, and increased repair costs.
Consider In-House Solutions
Transportation companies often outsource tasks like accounting or human resources. However, some of these tasks may be easily taken on by current staff with online training opportunities. Delegating employees to keep close tabs on budgeting can also help cut costs. Hiring an external accountant to create profit and loss statements on an annual basis makes sense, but it’s important to remember that delivery-related decisions will impact expenses more frequently. Cutting extraneous items from the company’s monthly expense list can also boost annual profit margins.
External Partnerships Can be Key
While insourcing can be effective for some tasks, there are limits to how many non-driver employees can multitask. Partnering with third-party services for certain tasks can strengthen infrastructure from the outside in. Toll management is an often-overlooked method of administrative cost-cutting. Managing toll programs and bills can be time-consuming, but external organizations have the expertise and human resources to take them on. Implementing a toll management solution can result in cost savings both in toll fees and administrative hours managing toll, as well as greater cost predictability.
Toll Management Solutions to the Front
Streamlining toll operations can be a key strategy for cost offsetting. A recent case study by Hobson & Company found that using the nation’s leading toll management program resulted in multiple benefits for fleets of all sizes, including:
- 40% reduction in time spent managing transponders
- 30% reduction in time spent managing payments to multiple tolling authorities
- 50% reduction in time spent managing violations
- 80% reduction in number of violations
- 5% decrease in overall toll spend
- 95% reduction in payment errors
In a tough job market, transportation companies must compete with other industries offering similar pay models. To ensure employee satisfaction and retention, it’s important to improve internal operations while also seeking help from outside partners. Incorporating a toll management program can be a key part of this approach, allowing administrative staff to stay focused on primary business objectives while also saving expenses. By implementing these strategies, transportation companies can build robust defenses for the long haul, preparing for whatever challenges the future may bring.
It’s worth noting that these strategies are not mutually exclusive. Transportation companies can and should employ a combination of these approaches to achieve maximum cost-effectiveness. For example, using a toll management program in conjunction with optimizing route planning and maintaining fuel efficiency can result in even greater cost savings.
Toll Management is Beneficial on Multiple Levels
Moreover, these strategies are not only beneficial for cost savings but also for environmental sustainability. Increased fuel efficiency not only saves costs but also reduces emissions and supports sustainability initiatives. Similarly, reducing unnecessary idling and optimizing route planning can have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The transportation industry is no stranger to challenges like driver shortages and retention, but the pandemic has only amplified these issues. To offset increased driver compensation and balance spending, transportation companies must employ strategies like fuel efficiency, in-house solutions, external partnerships, and toll management. By taking a comprehensive and sustainable approach to cost-effective operations, transportation companies can not only weather the challenges of today but also prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
More Ways to Save Money
Here are three more ways trucking companies can offset compensation costs:
Invest in technology: Investing in technology can help trucking companies streamline operations and reduce costs. For example, implementing GPS tracking can help optimize routes and reduce fuel consumption, while electronic logging devices (ELDs) can help automate hours-of-service compliance and reduce administrative burdens. Automated scheduling and dispatching systems can also help reduce labor costs and improve efficiency.
Offer employee incentives: Offering incentives to employees can help improve retention rates and reduce the need for increased compensation. For example, offering bonuses for safe driving or meeting performance metrics can motivate drivers to perform at their best. Additionally, offering benefits like health insurance or retirement plans can help attract and retain top talent.
Partner with shippers and carriers: Partnering with shippers and carriers can help trucking companies reduce costs and increase efficiency. Collaborating with carriers to share loads and reduce empty miles can help reduce fuel costs and improve profitability. Similarly, partnering with shippers to optimize delivery schedules and reduce wait times can help reduce labor costs and improve customer satisfaction. By working together, all parties involved can benefit from increased efficiency and reduced costs.
The trucking industry is facing significant challenges, including truck driver shortages and retention issues, which are driving up costs. To remain competitive and profitable, trucking companies must find ways to offset these costs and streamline their operations. Strategies like fuel efficiency, in-house solutions, external partnerships, toll management, technology investment, employee incentives, and outsourcing operations can help trucking companies reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance sustainability.
By taking a comprehensive and sustainable approach to cost-effective operations, trucking companies can build robust defenses for the long haul, preparing for the challenges of today and tomorrow. As the transportation industry evolves, trucking companies that prioritize cost-effectiveness and sustainability will be better positioned to succeed in a competitive and rapidly changing market.