Author: Krunal Vyas

Even in today’s digital age, many companies are still struggling with bureaucracy. One of them is the logistics and transport sector. When Uber Freight, which is a top logistic app development company, was launched in 2017, Uber repeatedly observed how cluttered the logistics business is: arranging a single shipment and sending it on its way requires a lot of time, effort, and phone calls / emails / faxes. Uber is a company that connects riders to those who need a trip. The simplicity of their operations made Uber a world leader in the innovative industry. And that simplicity is precisely what was introduced to the logistics industry by Uber Freight.

Using the Uber Freight app, the middle connection has been lost by what used to be a carrier – intermediary – shipper line. Carriers and shippers can directly connect. This method results in fewer errors and communication problems as well as cost reductions for both carriers and shippers. In fact, Uber for logistics shortens enormously the time it takes for those who need delivery services and those who can offer them to make a deal. On a smartphone screen, it becomes a matter of just a few taps.

For those who want to step into Trucking app development here are some points that they must consider:

• Decide what type of logistics app you want to create: The two possible scenarios that can fall under this category are – you have your own logistics business with a truck fleet, and with the help of an app, you want to expand your business and streamline operations. You may in the second scenario, wish to create a marketplace where shippers could easily contact the carriers.
• Study for your mobile app for a credible and professional development service: This is a crucial step because it impacts the business ‘ progress to a large extent. It is necessary for many reasons to locate and employ a reputable mobile app development company. The software needs to be fully designed, easy to navigate, and have a user-friendly interface. You can find yourself in the middle of a sea of choices if you’re new to app development. However, to settle for the best company, you need to conduct thorough research, check the testimonials of previous clients and much more.
• Validate your notion and idea: The next move is to test your concept once you have found a professional app development agency that suits your requirements. It includes carrying out in-depth market research to see if the product suits in the market or how better results can be obtained. This is an important step because it helps to ensure that all the efforts and resources are not going to go in vain.
• Decide what features you want to include in the app: To start with, it is always considered a wiser choice to release an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). To check the product, obtain positive and negative reviews and build a loyal customer base, you must launch an MVP. Also, you may also add a few unique features in addition to the basic and must-have ones to make your app even more alluring to the users.

What Should be the Features of the App?

A Driver’s app’s main objective is to allow carriers to fill their trucks with cargo and carry them to the next destination. To do this, they must be able to see all the shipments available in their area. A transportation app development company can include the following important characteristics as a part of the app:

1. Authenticating Users: You can go for traditional email registration, offer social media account registration, or provide each carrier with an individual login id and password after approving them to authorize delivery.
2. Shipment details: Through this, before approving the shipment, the carrier can see all relevant cargo information, such as weight, size, type, date and time of pick-up and delivery, pick-up and drop-off locations, etc.
3. Request Management: In the event of an accident or emergency, the carriers should be able to cancel the delivery.
4. Route Tracking and Optimization: The carrier will monitor the cargo pick-up position as well as the final destination point where the goods are to be shipped.
5. Push Notifications: These help to keep the carriers up-to-date on delivery, change to an alternative route, any emergencies, etc.
6. Proof of Delivery: If a carrier delivers the cargo successfully, a proof of delivery may have to be provided to the shipper. Uploading a file or an image can do this.
7. Payment gateway integration: Shippers should be able to pay directly from the app for cargo delivery without disrupting money or bank transfers. You will need to add a payment gateway to handle that. Choosing a gateway for payment is no easy task, as you need to take into account a number of things. When you can’t make your own decision, ask your project manager.
8. Vehicle tracking: It is easy for shippers to test at any given moment where their cargo is and see if it is delivered as expected. Tracking can be achieved by accessing the location of the driver via the GPS of their device.
9. Ratings and reviews: It helps you monitor the latter by allowing shippers to rate carriers. Understanding your partners in any company is crucial as partnering with the wrong people could cost you credibility, customers, and money.

So how does the app benefit the Shippers?

To begin with the trucker mobile app benefits most of all the shippers as they receive a number of benefits from such apps. No more bookings by making calls and that too at a given time of the day. Loads can be booked 24 hours a day through such mobile apps. Another major benefit is the payment they receive. There are no more hassles regarding delayed payments as the payments arrive within a maximum of 7 days of the purchase.

And what about the drivers?

The drivers too benefit from such mobile apps as they can save on oil changes etc. if a load has been booked through the mobile app. Companies like Goodyear provide a discount of around 30% on tire changes and there are discount plans from AT& T and Sprint too.

The Admin Panel

The admin panel is not a separate program. It is a web page where the owner of the business can monitor and manage its business. If you are developing a Trucking Freight application for logistics for your own fleet, an admin panel is of utmost importance. The following features are needed:

1. Dashboard: Here you will find pending and completed orders as well as shipper, carrier, and vehicle information.
2. Billing management: Review and accept invoices that go through the app quickly.
3. Driver monitoring: Check the location of each driver, track where and how long they travel, and see any pending orders. The Admin panel can show offline drivers, online drivers, and idle drivers. This is quite useful as idle drivers can be assigned tasks if the status of the drivers is known.
4. Vehicle monitoring: Check the state, position, speed, stops and fuel consumption of a vehicle.
5. Bookings: The Admin Panel can contain options to add new bookings. Also, the total count of bookings for a specific period can be viewed from here.
6. Trips: The number of trips made during a particular period or day can also be viewed from the Admin Panel. Also, any cancelled trips and other details about them can be viewed from here.
7. Other Options: On the Admin Panel, besides the above mentioned options one can find options to Manage Trucks, Manage Drivers, Manage Requests, Manage Shippers, Manage Carriers, and Manage Refunds (if any). There could also be a Settings option to manage various settings for the entire app such as location, language, users, security etc.

How to Make Money from Such Apps?

The best way to get money out of your business is to set a price. But the rates that you charge should be affordable to shippers and truckers. You can set it free for drivers and charge the shippers depending on the load. You can also demand a percentage from the cargo’s estimated cost. You can also offer premium services such as regular bundles, and safe transport.

Extra Features to Attract Clients

These features are not strictly necessary for a logistics and mobile app to function properly. These are optional features that can help you stand out from other apps. Whether you’re planning to take on a giant like Uber or you’ve got your own niche where Uber isn’t a risk too high, it won’t hurt getting a few handy apps.

• Chat: For both sides, allowing carriers to contact shippers for further details can make a big difference. Drivers can also use chat to notify shippers of any delays and their reasons.
• Near Field Communication and QR Code: Typically present in inventory management applications, a QR code reader is a convenience, but it can also be useful for deliveries. For example, QR codes can eliminate the possibility of mixing cargo. For proof of production, Near-field Communication (NFC) can be used.
• Multi-lingual Support: Even if you work in a single country, shippers may not all speak the same language. This is not a function you need to have, but it’s cool.

The Cost of Development

While developing such an app, whether for iOS or Android, a team works together. This team should be made up of a Project Manager, Designers, Developers (iOS, Android, Back-End, Front-End), and a QA specialist. So, the cost of development can be estimated to start from around $50,000 plus.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT

Whether in a warehouse, on a truck, or at a port, shipments are always vulnerable to theft. Until the thieves’ strike, most companies will not be aware of potential vulnerabilities to their cargo. Mobile Trucking apps act as ‘undercover operators’ helping to reduce instances of unexpected theft of lower productivity in warehouses and a mysterious increase in work-related accidents. Furthermore, when a truck goes beyond a road, GPS systems connected with mobile apps support alarm control centers. Besides this, maintaining a good relationship with business partners is the key to the cookie-cutter approach rather than implementation.

Looking for Trucking Applications, Try These?

BooksyBiz– Appointment Booking

Hawk–Eye Trucking Log Book – Trucking Application

EazyStock – Inventory Optimization Software

Daily Route Tracker– Driver Time Management

CoPilot Truck – Map & Direction Routing

And of course there is your favourite app (not being partial) Uber Freight.

Concluding

When you decide to create a Uber cargo shipping app, there are a number of things to consider. But none of them is impossible to manage. You could build a trucking Uber with the support of the right team, which will be effective and help to lighten the logistics burden.