Why Your Drivers Hate You and What You Can Do About It

Written by Shaniin Morales-Lewin, Event Marketing Manager at Alvys

It’s no secret. Drivers are necessary to move your load from point A to B – it’s not teleportation or rocket science. Amidst technological advancements, drivers remain a key vertebrae in the backbone of logistics.

The only thing more important than your drivers is communication with your drivers. At all times you need to know where your load is, and you need to reach your drivers quickly with ease.

An overarching problem dispatchers and brokers have is getting in touch with their drivers. We know it’s not easy for drivers to be behind the wheel for long hours and having to sift through a litany of apps complicates things more.

An Easy Way to Communicate

Drivers often show resistance to downloading another app. They have to remember logins and passwords, which can be annoying. The truth is your drivers don’t want to download another app.

What drivers need is a simple and easy way to communicate at any time of day whether they’re in a rural area or a metropolis. So, what’s the solution?

Brief, simple text messages are the most common way for people to digitally communicate today. We just released a new tech feature called Smart Text that allows drivers and staff to text as they normally would and still attach those texts to their corresponding loads. By adding this feature to our already robust platform, Alvys makes it easier to keep track of all load-related correspondence.

Use Case: Resolving a Delayed Delivery

1. Driver John encounters heavy traffic, causing a significant delay in delivering fresh produce to a grocery store.
2. John texts the dispatch team of the delay. The AI associates the message with the correct load, notifying relevant parties.
3. Upon delivery, John sends pictures of the load via Text, which the AI saves and stores as a record with the load for future reference.

Smart Text enables seamless communication between the driver and dispatch, while automatically organizing messages and providing a record of events for dispute resolution.

The Case for SMART TEXT

“When I ran an asset-based brokerage, it was like text messages existed in a vacuum. There was often friction around what was communicated and when. We built this feature so all communication about a load is automatically recorded and attached to each load via AI. No more ‘he said, she said’ friction.” – Nick Darman, CEO and Founder of Alvys

Because of AI technology, this process is as easy as texting a friend. Drivers can sync their text messages without downloading anything. All text messages pass through the app and sync to our cloud-based software, so the back office can see a record of communication concerning each load. AI is used in the background to sort which texts are relevant and attach them to the correct load. Whether accounting, dispatching, or safety all relevant parties are notified if the text pertains to them.

Here’s an example from a Carrier: six months after delivery, the shipper filed a claim blaming the driver for damaged product. This particular driver was no longer with the company, but she texted a picture of the shipment being loaded incorrectly. Without Smart Text, the carrier would have had to pay this claim. With Smart Text, the claims department saw all relevant texts sent regarding that load including the driver’s picture of the lacking load job. The carrier had the evidence needed to avoid paying for the damages.

SMART TEXT and Transportation

For the transportation sector, speed and availability are key factors in being competitive. Here are some examples of how SMART TEXT technology contributes to transportation efficiency:

• Companies can use SMART TEXT to track vehicle locations and update dispatch instructions.
• SMART TEXT can be integrated into scheduling and delivery applications.
• Automated texts reduce human error and provide easier record-keeping.
• SMART TEXT promotes driver safety by minimizing distractions. Unlike typical dispatch communication and phone calls, no immediate response is required.

Key Benefits of SMART TEXT

The new Smart Text feature is available for all existing and new customers at no extra cost. Most companies can easily integrate SMART TEXT into daily operations by adding a module to their existing CRM platform. Drivers can sync their text messages without downloading anything. All text messages pass through the app and sync to the cloud-based software, so the back office can see all communication concerning each load. Tracking down personal texts and notes is a thing of the past. This new feature offers cross-department communication at the level of texting!

Here are some additional SMART TEXT benefits:

• SMART TEXT keeps all communication regarding a load connected to that load.
• SMART TEXT is easy to use because it’s just texting—what your staff is used to doing.
• SMART TEXT improves driver satisfaction and retention. Drivers appreciate quick and clear communication.

Privacy protection with SMART TEXT.

As a part of Alvys’ commitment to safeguarding user privacy, we have implemented a new protocol to protect users. The driver must provide consent before communication can come through. This approach ensures that recipients are fully informed and in agreement to receive messages, demonstrating our dedication to respecting privacy and individual preferences.

What You Can Expect:

• Only if the recipient has given explicit consent will the message(s) be delivered to them.
• The recipient can at any time revoke (even after he has already given his consent) receiving messages initiated from the Alvys Driver Chat (Smart Text).

Here’s a peek at our Driver Companion Mobile App:

The technology is remarkable. All the driver needs to do is text any relevant information the way they normally would. The Alvys system captures relevant texts and knows exactly what shipment to connect them to. All relevant parties are automatically notified. By the time the load gets to accounting, all messages sent and received about that load are automatically organized and attached to the file. When there are payment discrepancies, accounting can pull up each load’s data in Alvys and see all correspondence sent about the load. Because all relevant text messages are automatically sorted and stored on the Alvys platform, users can retrieve these records in the future as needed.

To sum it up, when implemented correctly, there are many ways you can use SMART TEXT to benefit your transportation or logistics company:

• Enhanced Payroll Access: The ability for drivers to conveniently access paystubs directly from their mobile devices, ensuring transparency and ease of tracking earnings.
• Streamlined Document Management: Simplifying document scanning processes, allowing drivers to effortlessly upload and manage essential paperwork such as bills of lading and delivery receipts.
• Organized Load Information: Providing drivers with a centralized platform to access detailed load information, including pickup and delivery details, shipment status, and route optimization guidance.
• Reduced Check Calls: Minimizing the need for frequent check calls by empowering drivers with real-time updates and notifications regarding load status and any pertinent changes.
• Seamless Check-in/Check-out: Facilitating smooth check-in and check-out processes at pickup and delivery locations through mobile app functionalities, enhancing efficiency and reducing wait times.
• Increased Productivity and Satisfaction: Overall, mobile apps empower drivers to optimize their workflow, increase productivity, and enhance job satisfaction through streamlined processes and enhanced communication channels.

We would love to show you the entire system, and how it can help your business. For a custom demo, click here!