Besides being squeezed by a prolonged freight recession, motor carriers of all sizes are being sidelined by costly driver turnover, accidents, and operating errors. Combatting these acute challenges will require new and creative approaches to fleet management and the use of technology to gain advantages.
A custom driver app is an easy place to start experiencing rapid paybacks.
US Xpress is at the forefront of innovation by using its custom driver app, built on the Eleos Technologies platform, to build in-house solutions and leverage third-party integrations that improve the driver experience and generate near-immediate ROI.
This blog will showcase six innovative features that US Xpress has built into its mobile driver app to improve driver satisfaction, safety, and customer service.
The US Xpress Solution
Chattanooga, Tenn.-based US Xpress, one of the largest truckload carriers in North America, quickly creates and deploys new features using the Eleos platform’s dynamic App Editor – all without the need for expensive mobile developers. The company’s latest innovations include:
1. Multilingual Support
Approximately 21% of truck drivers in the U.S. are Hispanic. This number is expected to rise, creating a growing need to remove the language barrier. US Xpress leverages a user settings feature that allows drivers to toggle between English and Spanish for most of the text displayed in the dashboard, workflow, and user menu.
Viewing messages in their native language has led to better communication with their Spanish-speaking drivers. Mission-critical safety, compliance, load, and route information is not lost in translation, which has greatly improved driver satisfaction and the company’s ability to meet customer service expectations. It has also given them a competitive—and recruiting—advantage when they are looking for new drivers.
2. Training Assignments
US Xpress integrated a learning management system (LMS) from Cornerstone into its custom mobile app to streamline driver-specific training. The LMS notifies drivers when training is due. Through a card on the dashboard, drivers can easily access their assigned videos and learning materials. Due dates, days past due, and the training module names are also visible on the card.
Custom action buttons have been implemented to link directly to the transportation management system (TMS), ensuring drivers can quickly navigate between training and operational tasks.
A To-Do feature can be utilized once the videos are uploaded to the system. This function adds another way for fleets to ensure drivers stay up-to-date and compliant on training. It also helps them be more efficient by allowing them to do the training right from the app, inside or outside the cab.
3. Automatic Synchronization
US Xpress uses real-time APIs to synchronize its back-office systems with data collected by drivers through forms completed on its mobile app. Prior to this innovation, its forms required manual back-end updates to modify the TMS, which led to potential re-entry errors and other mistakes.
By maintaining forms in JSON, an independent coding language, US Xpress can create form-specific data objects they wish to collect within the source code. Additionally, their team developed a synchronization tool that reads the JSON files and uploads form definitions via APIs. This process eliminates the need for back-end updates. It allows the fleet to audit all modifications and adhere to strict code review policies, which enhances the reliability and traceability of any updates to their forms.
4. Over, Short, and Damaged Reporting
US Xpress developed a custom screen and action buttons at the stop/location level to address the need to streamline reporting for over, short, and damaged (OS&D) freight. These action buttons launch a detailed submission process that guides drivers through reporting OS&D issues, complete with photo uploads.
The custom screen provides comprehensive instructions and triggers a scan flow action to capture all necessary data. This solution simplifies the OS&D reporting process for drivers, ensuring timely and accurate communication with the claims department.
5. Dynamic Driver Surveys
US Xpress needs honest, real-time driver feedback. Their custom mobile app allows drivers to gather feedback using dynamic surveys that capture driver experiences with various facilities and vendors. Leveraging their mobile app, customer-specific surveys have been developed to allow drivers to enter details about the customer, drop locations, delivery details, and more. Analysis of this data helps improve the customer and driver experience, strengthens their relationships, and enhances the service provided to their customers.
6. Driver Performance Cards
To help drivers monitor and improve their performance, US Xpress introduced driver-facing performance cards highlighting vital metrics like fuel consumption, idle percentage, dispatch miles per gallon, and safe driving.
The cards are accessible via a link on the dashboard, leading to a more detailed view within the app. Each card includes specific metrics, trendlines, and details on performance, enabling drivers to visualize their progress and strive for better results. This initiative supports the fleet’s bonus program for high performance and safe driving.
Innovation ROI at Your Fingertips
US Xpress uses its custom app to provide drivers with the best experience and resources possible. Their continuous innovation in the app allows US Xpress to:
- Communicate and provide feedback more effectively, improving driver satisfaction and the customer experience.
- Help drivers maintain compliance and easily stay on top of their training
- Prevent disruptions and provide real-time updates
- Simplify reporting processes, ensuring timely and accurate information sharing
Learn more about how US Xpress and many other top fleets use the Eleos platform to transform their drivers’ experiences, contributing to greater satisfaction and company success.
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