The U.S. truck driver shortage has risen to a staggering 80,000 — an all-time high for the shipping and logistics industry. Even more troubling, that figure could rise to 160,000 by 2030, indicating that this challenge will persist for the coming years. In addition to ramping up recruitment efforts, shipping company leaders should arm their existing workforce with the best available tools to efficiently do their jobs. 

While industry trends and obstacles will undoubtedly fluctuate and rarely be predictable, one thing is certain — the improved visibility and asset management enabled by satellite IoT connectivity will always be beneficial. 

Reliable, global connectivity and visibility

To truly grasp the dependability of satellite connectivity, it’s important to understand that this technology is relied upon to save thousands of lives each year. For personnel working in remote locations, satellite messengers can be used to share information on location and status in the case of an emergency. Satellite communication is trusted by firefighters fighting wildfires, power line installers, mining surveyors and countless other brave remote, lone workers across the world. If thousands of users have confidence in satellite communications when their lives are at stake, business owners should have peace of mind when using the same technology to monitor and manage their equipment, fleets, or assets. 

IoT devices utilize sensors and GPS tracking tools to generate a consistent flow of actionable data. For the shipping industry, which often operates in remote locations, satellite IoT is necessary. Terrestrial telecommunication services often struggle to provide reliable coverage in desolate areas, whereas satellite IoT can ensure near global connectivity. Continuous, dependable connectivity enables shipping managers to monitor and address disruptions as they arise in real time, effectively mitigating potential consequences.

Satellite IoT improves visibility throughout the shipping process. Accurate, comprehensive, and timely data is an invaluable tool for shipping managers because it allows them to swiftly make informed decisions. 

Furthermore, the data generated from satellite IoT devices better equips the existing workforce to do their job, minimizing the need for additional drivers by reducing the reliance on manual processes and the number of delays and disruptions. For instance, rather than manually tracking the progress of shipments, satellite IoT devices can remotely indicate the exact location of any given shipping container.

Valuable data such as travel speed, fuel consumption and engine run times can also be collected automatically during transportation. These data transmissions can immediately notify users of unforeseen disturbances. In an industry where every minute matters, such information is critical. For example, consider a refrigerated truck carrying tons of produce driving through a remote area that loses power. The driver may not get out to check the trailer for hours, during which time the food would likely spoil. However, with a satellite IoT device, the driver would be alerted to the power outage in minutes.

Personalization: Make satellite IoT work for You

While some users may choose to be notified of the status of their assets every few minutes, others may not need updates more than once or twice a day. Certain satellite IoT devices allow for an extensive degree of customization, empowering business leaders to address their specific needs and use cases.  

Flexibility is another powerful feature of satellite IoT solutions. In a circumstance where an organization is looking to expand their IoT capabilities, additional sensors can rapidly deliver new capabilities by using Bluetooth connectivity. Furthermore, the right IoT partner will have the storage and processing power necessary to offer “edge computing,” which gathers and processes data closer to the actual data sources, rather than in a centralized location – something particularly well-suited to the widely dispersed nature of international supply chains. The right partner will also have a cloud-based platform capable of simplifying configuration, application development and device management.

Embedded satellite IoT chips can integrate with a wide range of hardware based on the necessary application. However, the true potential of customization is realized on the software end of IoT. 

Instead of custom coding for specific device hardware, certain IoT platforms provide a low-code platform, hardware abstraction and unified APIs that developers can utilize. AI-driven applications can identify and send exclusively actionable data from the “edge,” effectively reducing transmission fees and improving operational performance.

Consistent, reliable, smart data can significantly reduce the transportation industry’s reliance on manual processes, which can reduce the number of disturbances and delays. This is one way satellite IoT can mitigate the driver shortage by improving driver efficiency across the board. 

Most importantly, when workers are armed with cutting-edge technology that enables them to do their jobs efficiently, burnout is reduced, and retention rates improve. An investment in satellite IoT is truly an investment in the future of the shipping and logistics industry and its committed workforce.

Dave Haight is VP of IoT at Globalstar