Shipping produce can be a bit tricky. Produce is time-sensitive to make sure consumers at its freshest. Certain produce can be sensitive to pressure, like peaches, that bruise easily. Other produce requires certain temperatures to keep it at its freshest. It’s a juggling act to make sure your produce is at its highest quality when delivered to your customer.

When shipping produce, you need to consider temperature, shelf life, and transit times. Here are three tips to making the process as easy as possible.

Tip #1:

Give as much lead time as you can for orders.

Normally more time means better shipping capacity. Not every truck can haul fresh produce. Refrigerated trucks or reefers are ideal to transport produce because they can adjust and keep temperatures where they need to be for your product. Especially during produce season, the more lead time, the better chance of finding an available reefer at a decent shipping rate.

Tip #2:

Make sure the carrier or transportation partner you select is FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) compliant.

Passed in 2011 and implemented in 2017, this regulation focuses on maintaining food safety during transportation. Its goal is to prevent illnesses from contaminated food. If found in violation of FSMA, you can be subjected to large fines and even imprisonment.

Tip #3:

Have detention rules clearly laid out.

Communication is key in your part of shipping produce. In the case of a delay at the farm or pick-up location, drivers can be notified ahead of time, keeping everyone on the same page. This also helps build up your reputation as a shipper of choice, so more quality carriers and transportation partners want to work with you.

Shipping produce is one of Trinity’s specialties. With Burris Logistics as our parent company, we have the warehousing, handling, tracking, and shipping solutions to accommodate you. Shipping produce can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. We can help you simplify it.

Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide.

Hemp transportation is one commodity that we see growing fast nowadays. We see it in foods, lotions, clothing, and more. But it wasn’t always that way. Hemp has been in and out of the market going back to World War II.

“Hemp for Victory!”

That was the name of a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to encourage farmers to grow hemp during WWII. Rope, cloth, and other supplies were in high demand to support the war effort. The sources of industrial fiber that were often used for those goods were located in countries occupied by enemy forces. The program went as far as offering draft deferments to those who would stay home and grow hemp to help meet demands of those supplies. Additionally, in the 1600’s, property owners were required to grow hemp. There are even some historians that claim America’s first flags were made of hemp cloth.  So, why does it seem like hemp is such a new product today?

Hemp In History

Hemp and marijuana are varieties of cannabis that developed due to selective breeding. Hemp for its fiber and marijuana for its narcotic components. While the two look and smell-alike, they are chemically and structurally different.

During the Great Depression, the use of illegal marijuana skyrocketed. There was fear about the effects, and a national propaganda campaign against the “evil weed” was launched. Although they are very different, hemp and marijuana were lumped together. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was issued, regulating all cannabis, including industrial hemp.

As years went on, states began to research the benefits of hemp and started legalizing the production of industrial hemp. Such benefits include health, agricultural, and retail benefits. As this began to gain traction, there were more states that saw the opportunity hemp could bring. The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the list of controlled substances and made hemp production (and transportation of it) legal.  

Hemp In Transportation

What does that mean for the transportation industry? Opportunity. According to the Hemp Business Journal, the industry produced at least $820 million in revenues during 2017. Growth to over $1 billion happened in 2018, and is expected to increase year over year.

There are an estimated 25,000 products that can be made from hemp. Hemp can be used to make paper, building materials, industrial lubricants, and more. There is untapped potential available in shipping a commodity that has medical benefits, as well as benefits to the environment and economy. The opportunities in hemp are continuously being discovered and more advancements are being made daily. For example, an energy storage device made from leftover hemp was developed. This device stores less energy than batteries, but are great for things that need a fast burst of energy. Imagine charging your iPhone in minutes and having hours of talk time.

In the age of technology and the “Amazon” effect, how neat is it to be able to take a step back in time, see the re-emergence of a raw material that has been around for hundreds of years, and merge it with the modern world!

Just as hemp fiber has been long valued for its strength and versatility, Trinity Logistics has those same qualities in how we do business and what the future holds. I, myself, am excited about the future of hemp transportation and its endless possibilities. Are you looking for a partner to help build your business and stay on top of this ever changing and growing market? If so, we’d love to start building a relationship with you.

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AUTHOR: Allison Coons

It is undeniable that consumers are seeking healthier, protein-dense foods, which is leading them to purchase more seafood. With trending diets, including Keto’s low carb, high fat fare, seafood is a popular choice for your consumers to get their protein intake. Seafood has many nutritional benefits to offer consumers. It’s high in heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins. It is also low in saturated fat and an ideal source of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium. However, seafood is considered an easily perishable commodity, due to its ease of arriving bruised, thawed or spoiled. To keep your customers and consumers happy, you have a high concern for shipping seafood safely. How can you make sure you are doing all you can to get your seafood to where it needs to go, claim-free?

Your Part: The Packaging

Part 1 in shipping seafood safely is in the packaging. Seafood is often fresh or frozen and needs to stay at certain temperatures to keep it from spoiling. It is important to know the time to ship the products and package them to keep the required temperature. Having the correct packaging can provide enough protection and refrigeration to maintain the correct temperature environment.

Styrofoam coolers, placed inside a corrugated cardboard box are best for keeping temperatures maintained. Including insulated liners can help catch any water runoff from melting ice packs before the water can damage the outer packaging. Ice, dry ice, or gel packs are often your best options for keeping the product cool. However, keep in mind, there are certain regulations in place for shipping with dry ice. Also, if you decide to go with dry ice, do not place in an airtight container. Dry ice will release carbon dioxide, causing pressure to build up and your package to explode. While coolants help keep your product cold when shipping, be careful of the proximity as they can also damage your product if they come into contact.

Our Part: Arranging Transport

It’s important that the carrier hauling your seafood is knowledgeable in the temperature requirements and handling of your product. With our huge network of carriers and relationships, we can help you select a carrier with experience, transporting your seafood safely and timely.

Sometimes with seafood, a full truckload is not always needed. Refrigerated LTL (less-than-truckload), also known as reefer LTL, is an option available to you through Trinity Logistics. Refrigerated LTL is great for shipping smaller quantities of refrigerated products, but can often be harder to arrange, and generally more expensive alone. Thankfully, when partnering with Trinity Logistics and our carrier relationships, you can get your best rate shipping with refrigerated LTL.

Another reason to choose your carriers wisely when shipping seafood is that not all insurance covers it. Sometimes it can be excluded. It can be a lot of work to find a qualified carrier at a good rate, and then find out their insurance doesn’t cover your product. Even worse, finding out after the fact when there is a claim. Trinity can help. We make sure your seafood is covered by using our relationship carriers and contacting their insurance to ensure it is covered. And if it’s not? We cover it by purchasing additional insurance for it. You can feel relieved knowing that no matter what happens, your product is covered.

If you’re looking for an experienced partner to help you ship your seafood product, consider Trinity Logistics. We would love to help you get your fish to your customer’s dinner plates. Connect with us today.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Organic produce consumption is on the rise, which means so is organic produce shipping. According to a 2017 report done by the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales increased by 8.4 percent in 2016. Produce continues to be the largest organic food category, with a 5.3 percent growth in 2017. Fresh produce accounts for 90 percent of the organic produce sales. With more focus on healthy living, consumers want more foods that are free of toxic or synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.

Organic produce may come with less unwanted elements, but the trade-off is that it comes with more rules and time sensitivity. Since organic produce is more perishable and has a shorter shelf life, transportation needs to be fast. Nor can there be any break in the cold chain link due to the perishability. Some of the extra steps that have to happen in the transportation process include:

• trucks must be pre-cooled
• trucks must be properly refrigerated and monitored
• most organic foods cannot be stored with other products due to contamination risk
• if stored space is shared, organics must be carefully separated from non-organics
• any equipment used for non-organic products must not be used for organic produce

The goal in the transportation process is to make sure the organic certification is not sabotaged from pick up to delivery. The USDA organic certification process is thorough so consumers can trust the product is truly organic. No one wants to pay the price for an organic item for it to be falsely advertised. Nor does the producer want to lose the organic certification on a product due to a disruption in the transportation process.

Shipping temperature-sensitive items? Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide.

Shipping organic food needs experts who use creative problem-solving skills, have great customer service, and stay up-to-date with regulations. Third-party logistics brokers are a great partner to consider when shipping organic produce. They are flexible and accustomed to solving problems quickly. They are experienced with logistic challenges for a range of customers and industries. Using a 3PL provides you access to their large carrier base, rather than having to search for one yourself. Often these carriers are thoroughly vetted and experienced in specific niches. By using a 3PL, shippers can also gain access to their cutting-edge technology, such as a Transportation Management System. This offers the visibility and monitoring required from pick up to delivery of organic produce. Working with a 3PL offers cold storage warehouse solutions to be available and arranged.

One of the best places to learn more about transparent partnerships when it comes to moving organic produce all over the world is at the Global Organic Produce Expo in Hollywood, Florida, January 28-30th, 2021.  Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics company, often exhibits at the expo.  Keep an eye out about our attendance at the expo this year, so we can talk with you in person about your possible freight solutions.

With shipping organic produce and all the regulations that come with it, you must have commitment and a passion for it. Consider choosing a partner who is just as committed to your business needs in shipping organic produce. Trinity Logistics has been in business for over 40 years and has the knowledge and passion for arranging freight of all sorts. Click below to request a quote with Trinity Logistics.

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AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Before mass production, one would have to grow their own sides and raise their own turkey for Thanksgiving. Thanks to the supply chain and the truckers willing to drive long days and many miles, all you have to do is buy the ingredients and cook the turkey. Thanksgiving and the start of holiday shopping would not be the same without the shippers and carriers working hard to prepare the goodies that we look forward to year after year.

Gobbling This Up

Let’s start with the Thanksgiving meal itself. The main course, the golden bird, the turkey. It is estimated that the U.S. consumes over 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving. That translates to roughly 16,600 truckloads of turkey transported. That’s a lot of traveling birds!

Next, you have the sides and dessert. According to Open Road Drivers Plan, more than 65,000 trucks transport the sides alone to the stores in time for Thanksgiving Day. Let’s break it down further:

• Cranberries
  • Ocean Spray says that 80 million pounds of cranberries and five million gallons of jellied cranberry sauce is consumed on Thanksgiving.
• Sweet Potatoes
  • According to Infoplease.com, 4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes were produced in 2014 for Thanksgiving.
• Green Beans
  • Spoon University stated 40 million green bean casseroles are made each year for Thanksgiving.
• Pies
  • Nationwide states 57 percent of people will eat pumpkin pie for dessert.
  • Around 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are grown each year.
  • Instead of pumpkin, 14 percent choose to eat pecan pie, 9 percent choose sweet potato pie, and 20 percent of people eat some other kinds of pie.

Supplying More Than Food

What about the Thanksgiving Parade? Think about the giant floats you see, and all the helium used to get them in the sky. According to LiveScience.com, the 2016 Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade needed 300,000 cubic feet of helium for the balloons. Or in a rough comparison, that is 2.2 million gallon jugs of milk needed in NYC for that day. You can thank supply chain logistics for getting those elements there.

It Is Only The Beginning

Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday season. As soon as the empty plates are in the sink and the leftovers in the fridge, Black Friday shopping begins. It is estimated that around 134 million people shop on Black Friday. Then comes Cyber Monday; the week after Black Friday is estimated to generate another 2 billion in online sales. All of that is possible because of trucking.

The holiday season is a time for indulging and overspending, but most importantly, a time to gather with loved ones and reflect on things for which we are thankful. We at Trinity are grateful to work every day with the shippers and truckers that provide us with the goods that we enjoy with our friends and families throughout the year.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Years ago, national brands were the top dogs of the retail world. Buying private label, or store brand products, was looked upon as cheap quality and only bought during hard times. Today, consumer spending has changed, allowing for growth in the private label business. According to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), 25 percent of products bought now are private label. This shows a growth of over four percent from 2018. In a 2019 survey ran by PLMA, two-thirds of the respondents said that store brand products bought are just as good, if not better, than the national brand of the same product. With private label products equal to national branded products, and at a cheaper price tag, they are saving the consumer money.

Save Money While Growing

Choosing private label products, on average, saves the consumer about 35 percent off their grocery bill. Additionally, private label products saves the store money as well. Private labels come with lower marketing costs since the retail store only has to promote their brand, instead of many national branded products. They keep the consumers coming back to that one retailer, since they are privately owned by them. With everything now available at the click of a button, private label products keep the consumers dedicated and in house.

As private labels become more popular, retailers are looking for more innovative and unique products to add to their brand. Currently, items on trend are:

• plant-based food items,
• dairy free food items,
• gluten-free food items,
• keto food items,
• CBD items,
• international foods, and
• pet products.

The PLMA Trade Show in Rosemont, IL is the best place for retail companies to look for new items. More than 1,500 companies from over 55 countries were there to exhibit their products November 17-19. Ultimately, the companies exhibiting, and attending were all looking for one thing: growth in their business. With that comes a lot of stressors, and shipping hassles should not be one of those.

How We Can Help You

Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics company, has the resources to take that weight off your company’s shoulders when it comes to their shipping and logistics needs. We want to simplify your day to day shipping struggles by providing on time delivery, exceptional service, and relationships, built on a first name basis. We offer many modes of transportation services including, dry and temperature-controlled truckload, less-than-truckload, warehousing, expedited, and intermodal. See what one of our customers, Baumer Foods, has to say about doing business with us:

“Baumer Foods has been working with Trinity Logistics for over 15 years. Throughout the years we have developed a very strong relationship with Trinity.  Hurricane Katrina destroyed Baumer Foods manufacturing plant and offices, Trinity Logistics was a tremendous help in our logistics as we were rebuilding.  Trinity Logistics is a very reliable and trustworthy company.  They always have their customer’s best interest with on time and damage free deliveries.  If a problem arises, they give immediate attention.  Trinity’s customer service representatives give 150%, always going above and beyond.  I would recommend Trinity Logistics to anyone that needs a reliable company to handle their freight.”

-Nikki Cook, Baumer Foods

Trinity exhibited at the PLMA Private Label Trade Show and enjoyed talking with companies in the private label sector about how we can be a resource in their company’s growth. We look forward to exhibiting again next year! Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn where you can be kept up-to-date about our presence at upcoming industry trade shows.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) latest numbers on driver turnover rate show an alarming trend, that carriers are struggling to recruit and retain quality drivers. According to ATA’s report, the turnover rate at large truckload carriers climbed to 94 percent in the first quarter, six percentage points higher than the last quarter of 2017. The stark climb supports a 2017 fleet panel’s observation that the target driver demographic is changing tides, away from primarily white males reaching retirement age, to a younger, less experienced, woman and minority-prominent market.
According to ATA data, nearly 67 percent of the current 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States are white males. Following, are 14.6 percent Hispanic men, men of other nationalities at 14.8 percent, and women at 6 percent of the driver population.
Encouraging Diversity in Trucking
Groups like the Women in Trucking Association are looking for ways to “encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry.” For the last decade, this non-profit group has worked to promote the employment of women in the transportation industry, increase the number of female drivers, and increase the number of women in leadership positions in the industry. The National Minority Trucking Association (NMTA) is another nonprofit geared toward assisting minorities “with establishing and growing careers and businesses in the trucking and logistics industry.”
It’s a Driver’s Market
According to ATA’s Chief Economist Bob Costello, the driver shortage should continue, meaning wages will continue to increase and turnover rate should continue to rise. Since there’s such a demand for drivers and not nearly enough of them to take available jobs, there’s not much holding drivers back from choosing a “better” opportunity. Since it’s really a market for drivers, carriers are finding a need to tailor their recruiting and retention processes to a different crowd.
Truck Driver Recruiting
The old school word of mouth, flyers, job boards, and printed advertisements aren’t the best way to reach this “Millennial” truck driver population. According to trucks.com, carriers are turning to more digital recruiting tactics, such as social networking, over more traditional methods like print publications, job fairs, recruiting at truck schools, using outside recruiters, etc.
According to data from marketing firm Randall-Reilly, 79.9 percent of company drivers and 69.7 percent of owner-operators are using social media, with Facebook and YouTube serving as the primary platforms of choice. Creating compelling posts and videos can reach a new driver demographic in the space that they frequent, with the average person checking social media 17 times a day (Digital Trends).
Driver Retention
As prominently displayed in the current driver turnover rate, recruiting drivers isn’t the whole problem, it’s recruiting drivers that will stay for the long haul. Since truck drivers can take their pick so to speak in the current market, perks of the job are more than or just as much of an appeal as the paycheck itself.
According to Inc.com, employees are looking to break the cycle of a “job” and find an employer that will help them have purpose, responsibility, attention, open-mindedness, transparency, to be appreciated, and of course, to be compensated. Drivers, like the rest of today’s workforce, are tired of feeling like they are overworked and underpaid.
It boils down to one overarching theme: employees want to feel appreciated and respected in the workplace. There are hundreds of articles about best driver retention techniques, and it may take some research and surveying your drivers to find out exactly what they’re looking for when developing your retention strategy. FleetOwner stresses the importance of keeping drivers engaged, implementing an orientation survey, an attitude survey that is either yearly or ongoing, and if a driver leaves, an exit interview to determine what caused them to make that choice.
Future of Trucking
The driver shortage and driver turnover rates show the great need to adjust recruitment and retention strategies to fit the changing truck driver demographic. Demand for trucking services is greater than the available drivers, directly increasing freight cost. Analysts at Morgan Stanley say rising costs in the freight industry won’t resolve any time soon, potentially bringing shippers to explore other options like self-driving trucks. Automated trucks of course have been a hotly-debated topic in the industry for years, as you can read in our Shaping the Industry blog post.

What do logistics companies and dentists have in common this time of year? They’re both seeing increased business thanks to the booming candy craze that picks up around Halloween. Fun-sized candies galore make it easy to “trick or treat yo’self” in October and beyond (50% off sales starting November 1st? Count me in)! Getting Halloween candy from the factory and smaller-batch stores to trick-or-treat bags is a fun process – and the amount of candy Americans consume and spend money on each year is much larger than fun-sized.

In 2016, it was reported that candy sales reached as high as $2.5 billion dollars. Of that, Americans spent $3.9 million on 3.5 billion chocolate bars, bags, and boxes that were under 3.5 ounces, according to the market research firm Information Resources. One of the most iconic, although widely debated, Halloween candies is the candy corn. The National Confectioners Association says 35 million pounds of candy corn and pumpkins are produced each year. Between sour, sweet, sugary, chocolatey, or gummy confections, the average household in America spends about $50 on Halloween candy each year. Overall, each person ends up eating about 24.5 pounds of candy a year, much of it during Halloween. In perspective, that’s 234 standard 1.5-ounce Kit Kat Bars, according to Mic.com. We may be overdoing it a bit.

All of that candy makes for a busy season for dentists, too. According to data from Sikka Software, app-systems installed in more than 13,000 dentist offices across the country, there was an 80 percent spike in emergency visits to the dentist in, around, and after October 2014.

If you’ve come to terms with the fact that holiday goodies are appearing on shelves earlier and earlier each year, it’s probably no surprise that shipping candy for Halloween and other holidays begins about three months before the date. That means Halloween candy is really heading to store shelves beginning in August, and a few weeks ahead of Halloween, logistics companies are right in the middle of the “Christmas Rush.” As consumers rush to buy their bags of spooky sweets to hand out, logistics companies are working with shippers, suppliers, and retailers to make sure Christmas candies are ready for stocking stuffers, and other holiday necessities.

Of course, by the time Christmas rolls around, we’re still talking candy, only this time the heart-shaped and pastel variety. The National Retail Federation says Americans spend $1.7 billion on Valentine’s candy alone. We’re talking anything from candy hearts to chocolates in large heart-shaped boxes.

Americans have a sweet tooth, and chocolate is the top seller according to Symphony IRI Group market research company. At the top of the chocolate list is good ol’ M&M’s, with 417.7 million units sold at the tune of $406.7 million dollars in 2015. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, and Kit Kats also made the list, proving that not all candies sold throughout the year are miniature versions for trick-or-treat bags, stockings, or Easter baskets.

Shipping candy can get a little tricky, especially when the temperatures climb above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the point when delicate chocolate can begin to soften, and it can completely melt at 93 degrees. In October, average high temperatures in the U.S. are anywhere from the 50’s to the 80’s, according to the Weather Channel, so some treats still need to be temperature-controlled at points in their journey.

Most companies that ship chocolate try to limit the amount of transit time because of this delicate nature. Chocolates are best shipped during the week, avoiding weekends and holidays. Most chocolate orders that are placed after the first three or four days of the week are processed the following week to avoid warehouse time, according to “The Chocolate Journalist.” Some chocolate companies even charge more for shipping during the summer months to cover the costs of additional insulation and cooling. Larger shipments of chocolate can be made on a temperature-controlled truck, to help prolong the shelf-life of candies.

This time of year in the United States, the weather gets a little warmer, people start daydreaming about trips to the beach or vacations to the mountains, and farmers are gearing up for their busiest work season. Not only does produce need to be harvested at peak freshness, it also needs to be shipped; thus the world of fresh produce logistics. When it comes to fresh produce, the most impactful time for any area in the United States is March through June.

With new food safety in transportation regulations, like the Food Safety Modernization Act, and decreased capacity due to supply and demand, finding a reliable carrier who can pick-up and deliver your fresh produce at peak freshness can be time-consuming, and quite frustrating.

The fresh produce logistics team at Trinity Logistics has the resources and industry expertise to arrange your shipment, regardless of how specialized your requirements may be. So if you’re shipping cucumbers, berries, broccoli, apples, or bananas, know that we love coordinating it all.

Produce by Region

The U.S. has different produce harvest times based on region and climate, so we’ll go over some of the top crops and time frames to get an idea of what’s being transported and when.

Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico
The most impactful time for produce harvest in Texas is March to June, but produce can be found here year-round as it is brought over from Mexico. In surrounding states, New Mexico and Arizona, there’s another push for produce that occurs October through November. Some of the top crops you’ll see out of this area include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, pumpkins, and peppers (especially the spicy variety).

California
In California, produce season kicks in around the southern part of the state in March to June, and slowly creeps its way up north of the state, ending in September. Some of the top fresh produde from California during these times include carrots, clementines, nectarines, artichokes, lemons, green leafy vegetables, avocados, and kiwi.

The East Coast
Produce season along the East Coast, like California, starts in the south and slowly creeps its way North. Florida begins its big harvest around May, while the harvest in Maine ends in the fall. From south to north, some of the most popular crops from the East Coast include oranges, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, corn, cucumbers, apples, cherries, and blueberries.

Shipping Produce

There are a lot of factors that go into making sure fresh produce arrives in the same fresh condition for grocery stores, markets, and restaurants relying on it for their business. Total transit time, proper refrigeration, and shipper’s documents in line with the Food Safety Modernization Act all have to be taken into consideration.

We have 35 plus years of experience arranging refrigerated truckload shipments, so we know that no detail can be left out when it comes to these time-sensitive products. We help arrange produce shipments with dedicated full truckload services, port services, and even supply chain consulting and Transportation Management System solutions. Basically – no matter what scale operation you need, we have a solution that can help.

Our dedicated teams handle the careful transportation of your produce and are available to answer your questions 24/7.

A little less than a year ago, we were talking about why the human touch isn’t dead, especially when it comes to customer service and freight shipping quotes. Technology exists to make our lives easier, safer, and more productive, but many people have ideas of what shouldn’t. Sure, I would trust a robot or artificial intelligence to turn on the lights in my house, make snacks in a factory, start my car, or even build my car…but when I first started hearing about autonomous trucks, I tried to imagine what could be the future of transportation as we know it.

In 2017, we’ll dive a little deeper into some of the emerging technologies, touching on anything from self-driving trucks to drone delivery. The reality we are facing now is that robots could very soon play an integral part in delivering goods to stores and front porches around the world.

What Exactly is an Autonomous Truck?

If you hear “autonomous truck” and your first thought is “Optimus Prime,” don’t worry, you’re not alone. While the technology behind an autonomous truck is highly sophisticated, you won’t see these big rigs turning into out-of-this-world robot leaders. What you can expect is to see a handful of these trucks on major highways, with a driver on board to monitor the trip and to be on standby for potential emergencies. The one main difference you’ll visually notice is the driver of an autonomous truck isn’t touching the steering wheel.

The autonomous truck “Otto” made headlines in October 2016 when the truck made its first beer delivery for Budweiser. The truck drove itself 120 miles from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, while its driver monitored conditions (and read magazines) away from the cab.

Google was the driving force behind Otto until Uber bought it in August 2016. Right now there are more than 30 big auto manufacturers and ride-sharing companies capitalizing on the development of autonomous vehicles. Tesla has been doing something similar with its Autopilot, equipping all vehicles with full self-driving hardware, which includes eight surround cameras and 12 sensors and radar to see its full surroundings.

How Does it Work?

Depending on the brains behind the operations, driverless trucks may have different types of functionality, but the main premise behind the technology is this: motion sensors, cameras, lidar (laser light), and software all work together to tell the truck to drive, navigate bends and bumps in the road, stay in their lane, and how to react to environmental changes.

It seems very simple. A driver gets the truck started on its journey, and then can essentially switch to “auto-pilot,” and be free to roam the truck while the truck continues to drive itself.  The computer system driving the truck can steer the wheel, adjust its speed, and brake, all while keeping a safe distance between the truck and other vehicles on the road.

Some systems can operate alone, while others are designed to operate together; two or three trucks connected wirelessly in a convoy. In April 2016, small convoys consisting of semi-automated trucks from six of Europe’s largest vehicle manufacturers made a groundbreaking voyage through the Netherlands using wireless “speech.”

Legislation Behind Driverless Trucks

In September 2016, the Obama administration issued its policy for automated driving, giving vehicle manufacturers guidelines to create technology to start the transition of “replacing” human drivers with computerized systems.  The Department of Transportation and the National Highway Safety Administration say these guidelines would reduce the number of roadway deaths as more than 94 percent of crashes in 2015’s data “can be tied to a human choice or error.”

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, since 2012, at least 34 states and Washington D.C. have considered legislation for autonomous vehicles, while nine: California, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia, and Washington D.C., have actually passed legislation related to driverless vehicles. In August 2015, Arizona’s Governor Doug Ducey signed an executive order directing state agencies to “undertake any necessary steps to support the testing and operation of self-driving vehicles on public roads” within the state. A similar executive order was signed by Massachusetts’ Governor Charlie Baker in October 2016 to “promote the testing and deployment of highly automated driving technologies.”

While there have been no major announcements yet from President Donald Trump’s administration about this policy, the driverless car industry seems to be pleased with Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao.

When Will Driverless Trucks be the “Norm?”

While many companies are still in the developmental stages for their driverless cars and trucks, others are ramping up testing.

According to Otto’s developers, the truck is being tested on highways primarily, with the driver taking over in heavy traffic and for more difficult to navigate side roads. Uber says its goal is to develop a kit that would transform existing trucks into these self-driving versions, so existing carriers would be able to keep their original fleet.

Will robots replace the nearly 3.5 million professional truck drivers in America? Probably not in the near future. Developers say not even in the next decade, as drivers can monitor for potential issues, and can take over when it comes time to navigate narrow side streets or parking. A driver is still needed for the more personal things a truck just can’t do: filling out paperwork or unloading the vehicle.

So, it seems the human touch is still alive and well in the trucking industry, although the way that looks may shift over the next 20 years.

We work with a network of more than 30,000 authorized carriers on a daily basis. If you have a shipment you would like moved and need a quote, give us a call (866) 603-5679 or fill out our form here to get a quote!