TOMORROW’S TRENDS: WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF TRUCKING? TOP SPEAKERS WEIGH IN

No two future of trucking speakers or logistics futurist consultants offer the exact same vision of tomorrow, it’s true. At the same time, many often touch on similar themes and topics in keynote speeches or virtual speaking presentations. To help you get a sense of where today’s best future of trucking speakers  are often coming from, let’s explore several ways top experts envision the field evolving:

• Autonomous trucks – Self-driving trucks are likely to become more prevalent, removing the need for human drivers on long haul routes in particular. The phenomenon could increase efficiency and lower costs, or so word on the street seems to be among future of trucking speakers.
• Electrification – Electric trucks will gradually replace diesel-powered trucks, especially for short-haul and last-mile delivery roles. The transition aims to lower emissions.
• Platooning – Trucks will increasingly platoon, allowing clusters of vehicles to travel autonomously in close formation, which improves aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
• Alternative fuels – Besides electricity, other cleaner energy sources like hydrogen, natural gas and biofuels may displace diesel fuel for trucks.
• Supply chain automation – Trucking will integrate with automated warehousing, loading/unloading, and inventory tracking to optimize the supply chain as we hear from the field’s top future of trucking speakers.
• Enhanced safety – Advanced driver assistance systems, collision avoidance tech, and data analytics will continue improving truck safety.
• Improved driver experience – In-cab comfort, entertainment and information systems will enhance driver experience and recruitment/retention.
• Delivery innovation – New local delivery methods like drones and robots may complement trucking for last mile delivery in the future.
• Logistics integration – Trucking will sync tighter with rail, air, and sea freight as part of an integrated, multimodal logistics ecosystem.
• Industry consolidation – Increased mergers, acquisitions and partnerships will (at least the way future of trucking speakers explain it) lead to greater consolidation among trucking firms over time.