Trucker Tools takes Werner Enterprises live for added visibility, predictive freight-matching

There is a new trend increasingly seen in third-party logistics (3PL). Major 3PLs and brokers are evolving from pursuing “one and done” implementations of third-party transportation technologies. Instead, they are bringing these firms in as highly strategic technology partners. Toward that end, they are engaging them in a more long-term view and strategic technology road map.

Werner Enterprises, the nation’s sixth-largest truckload carrier with revenue of more than $1.8 billion last year, is an excellent example of this trend.

The Omaha, Neb.-based carrier recently launched Werner EDGE to drive and deploy enabling technology for their own company drivers and asset operations. At the same time, in parallel, they are partnering with key third party software firms such as Trucker Tools to execute a similar platform strategy on the brokerage side of the business.

The objective is to provide driver-centric, productivity-enhancing tools that benefit both brokers and independent truckers. Most importantly, it supports what backers call a collaborative working ecosystem with for-hire carriers and independent truckers that stresses ease of doing business.

This helps increase revenue and profit. As a result, Werner earns a position as the broker of choice, keeping the trucker continually moving with quality loads.

Trucker Tools is a suite of cloud-based truckload freight management and carrier engagement tools for freight brokers and small-fleet operators. It announced that Werner has gone live on the Trucker Tools platform.

Werner has deployed into its freight brokerage operations Trucker Tools’ apps and services for real-time shipment visibility, predictive freight-matching, automated booking and electronic document capture.

Andy Damkroger, Werner’s associate vice president of logistics strategy, says this latest move is part of Werner’s pledge to deploy technology-rich solutions for the entire logistics ecosystem.

“Supply chain visibility is critically important, particularly in these unprecedented times, and that visibility is enabled by being highly connected with alliance carriers,” Damkroger said in a statement. “Trucker Tools is very focused on driver and carrier convenience, bringing to independent truckers a set of app-based features and functions not typically available from a single 3PL.”

Damkroger said the combination of Werner’s in-house capabilities with Trucker Tools provides a “unique, advantageous benefit” to its carrier partners and shippers.

Damkroger added that independent owner-operators and small fleets of 10 trucks or less represent some 90 percent of capacity in the TL market.  Carrier enablement and reducing transactional friction with this critical capacity resource is a key plank in their strategy, he said.

“It’s about meeting the carriers where they are, on their terms,” Damkroger said. “We are a driver-centric company and intimately understand a driver’s needs – and burdens – so this is consistent with our philosophy, values and business goals.”

Effective, intuitive third-party platforms and apps, focused squarely on drivers and providing a multitude of easy-use functions, are in high demand among independent truckers, Damkroger explained.  But he added ease of use was a principal attraction as well.

“We are very conscious of app-fatigue, it’s a common complaint from truckers,” he said. “So, while people are tired of constantly getting asked to download another app, they’re not tired of great apps. We are taking advantage of Trucker Tools leadership in the market in that regard.”

Trucker Tools says its app has been downloaded by nearly 900,000 truckers and is actively used by some 140,000 small fleets – connecting Werner with an expanded pool of available capacity. “We have a carrier advisory board of independent operators that provides very frank and direct feedback to us, which helps inform a lot of our decision making,” Damkroger said.  “Trucker Tools is one of the platforms they advocated for.”

Damkroger noted the new tool is 100-percent GPS based and provides precise shipment location information on-demand to a smartphone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer. It’s integrated with the Trucker Tools mobile driver app and provides automated, continual updates of truck location and a visual display of the route from origin to destination. Truck locations are updated every five minutes.

“We are pleased and excited to welcome one of the industry’s leading transportation firms to the Trucker Tools family,” Prasad Gollapalli, founder and chief executive of Trucker Tools, said in a statement. “We look forward to helping them reduce the costs of covering loads, improve carrier engagement and deliver more accurate and timely services and information to their customers.”