There have been significant advances in the development of new technologies in commercial transportation:

Vehicles – GPS, Electronic Logging Devices (ELD), design (autonomous, electric, hydrogen), environmental and analytics

Infrastructure – goods movement routes, warehousing and terminal technology and design; warehouse, route and load analytics and data management

Digital Connectivity – with customers, suppliers, employees and operations in multiple locations. These technologies, though limited in adoption, helped during the current crisis

In Alberta, these barriers apply to a significant share of the 123,000 trucks and their operators, which are mostly not prepared for technology disruption. Across Canada, there are over 400,000 trucks similarly impacted. The greatest barrier is the critical shortage of drivers to operate these vehicles. Understanding how technology can sustain and grow the trucking industry as a key partner in supply chain is critical.

The slow adoption, particularly smaller carriers, are challenged by perceived costs – unquantified ROI and a natural resistance to change. Barriers include lack of reliable Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and management systems and processes, capital availability, and technological knowledge and education, amongst others.