Skip to main content

Freight industry shifting toward a TaaS business model, say researchers

As the freight industry leaves behind traditional brokering practices to adopt digital and automated platforms, the connected truck telematics market is going through a period of intense evolution, according to the latest research from Frost & Sullivan. It claims digital freight matching solutions will bring about visibility in a disparate landscape, give rise to a truck-as-a-service (TaaS) business model and drive numerous partnerships. It is vital to be aware of key market developments, prime movers, and
February 22, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
As the freight industry leaves behind traditional brokering practices to adopt digital and automated platforms, the connected truck telematics market is going through a period of intense evolution, according to the latest research from 2097 Frost & Sullivan. It claims digital freight matching solutions will bring about visibility in a disparate landscape, give rise to a truck-as-a-service (TaaS) business model and drive numerous partnerships. It is vital to be aware of key market developments, prime movers, and the opportunities available to connected truck vendors in the original equipment (OE) and aftermarket.

Several maintenance management, compliance and safety solution providers have successfully ventured into core telematics to create a niche. Fleet management system providers will gradually evolve into one-stop solution providers of freight matching, video safety, tolling, fuel management, weigh-station bypass, and truck-stop solutions through alliances with digital solution vendors.

“While on-demand freight matching apps will disrupt the freight industry, apps with smaller revenue potential will offer efficiency, convenience and visibility to all industry stakeholders,” said Frost & Sullivan mobility research analyst Gokulnath Raghavan. “Freight mobility apps are adding driver utility and fleet optimisation features to increase traffic to freight-matching platforms. Consolidation and partnerships are expected to become common among app providers.”

The report, Global Connected Truck Telematics Outlook, 2017, indicates that by 2025, globally 63.5 million trucks will be connected. Emerging markets such as China and India will record a high telematics growth rate in 2017, closely followed by Southern Europe and North America.

The market is inundated with innovations, and many start-ups are targeting their R&D efforts at resolving the issue of under-utilised truck capacity. Following the resolution of this challenge, telematics can efficiently connect shippers and carriers based on real-time location and load capacity status of trucks.

“Applying open platform technology, an upshot of autonomous mobility trials, easier access to smartphones and cutting-edge technology will be the key drivers for the connected truck network in 2017,” noted Raghavan. “The growing importance of telematics and digital solutions will eventually change OEMs’ focus from truck-as-a-product to TaaS.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Connected car solutions to exceed 350 million by 2017
    May 24, 2012
    OEM and aftermarket connected car systems in use are expected to grow from 66 million in 2012 to 356 million in 2017, according to a new report from ABI Research. While OEM solutions are gaining momentum rapidly across the globe in the US, Europe, Japan, and China, aftermarket solutions will continue to be used for applications such as stolen vehicle tracking, insurance telematics, infotainment, and road user charging.
  • Heavy cost of car safety systems gives buyers pause
    September 11, 2013
    New research by Frost and Sullivan finds that constant technological innovations in automotive safety warrant frequent updates to legislation. With the number of fatalities and injuries on the rise, legislative authorities in Europe are taking a keen interest in the safety of pedestrians, passengers and drivers. This enhanced focus on safety has far-reaching ramifications for the automotive industry.
  • Mobility itself is moving says cubic
    June 9, 2015
    Cubic’s Chris Bax looks at the challenges and benefits of implementing transport as a service. Imagine paying for travel in exactly the same way you buy your phone service. For example, you would pay a set amount in exchange for a monthly travel package covering up to 100km of free taxi journeys in your home city (including a guaranteed 15 minute pickup) and public transport usage within a 1,500km radius of your home. Not only would this option be cheaper than owning and maintaining your own car, you would
  • Automotive OEMs ‘prefer a hybrid approach to power C-ITS’
    May 25, 2017
    The growing demand for road safety and efficient mobility is driving the adoption of cooperative intelligent transportation solutions (C-ITS) and a key enabler of C-ITS is Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication, says Frost & Sullivan. It supports the exchange of information between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users, such as pedestrians. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is enabled using 802.11p (DSRC or ITS-G5) or cellular technology. 802.11p is a proven technology; however, it is not future proo