The image of a rudimentary activity still sometimes sticks to the tarpaulins of the Savoyard women. However, the modern lorry is very much in tune with the times of the ubiquitous data and carriers know how to exploit them on a massive scale. Proof of this can be found in the exclusive results of this new survey conducted by the CNR.

At the heart of the question is whether the computer data that circulates everywhere is being exploited by road hauliers, and if so, by what means. The CNR surveyed its representative panel of French hauliers operating 44-tonne articulated lorries. The results show that 93% of them say they use the computer data available to them. Among these «connected» hauliers, the most widely used data are vehicle geolocation, in 83% of cases, and service times, in 80% of cases. However, certain «functions» still need to be developed further, such as goods traceability (20%) and empty journey tracking (16%).

This use of «business» computer data, i.e. data other than accounting or payroll software found in any company, generally involves an integrated management solution (ERP, TMS, etc.). This is the case for 73% of companies that use computer data. Another aspect is that in 66% of cases, these functions are active in real time.

Which software programmes are used? This question, asked for each of the 11 «business» functions, reveals a fragmented market for solution providers. However, a few names stand out. TRANSICS often comes out on top, for example for vehicle geolocation, mileage tracking and empty run tracking. Other notable names include TRIMBLE, the leader in vehicle consumption and service time tracking; ITEM, the leader in CO2 emissions calculation and driver schedule management; and XYRIC, the leader in goods traceability. Route calculation is most often done using free solutions available on the internet, with PTV coming in second among paid solutions. Similarly, cost price calculation is done using office software or in-house developments in half of all cases. The publisher ACALC stands out with a market share of 23%, the highest rate among all the functions analysed.

Behind this lies a profusion of players, even when grouping together brands and products sold under different but synonymous trade names. The CNR ranks publishers who received at least four responses and cites those mentioned two or three times. This generally results in around twenty names. On this aspect of the market, the CNR offers a unique synoptic study, which is intended to be optimised and enriched each year.

Another topic at the heart of the digitisation, automated electronic data interchange with business partners. This concept of EDI, taken in a broad sense, is practised by 33% of the transport companies surveyed. Company size clearly influences the results: 6% of companies with fewer than 20 employees use EDI, compared with 61% of companies with 100 or more employees.

Seven types of data were measured: purchase orders, shipping notices, batch references, delivery notes, waybills, reservations and invoices. Purchase orders are most often sent via EDI, with 84% of carriers using this method, while the transmission of reservations is the least often «automated», with 36%.

Finally, the picture would not be complete without mentioning freight exchanges and marketplaces internet. The former have been commonplace for decades: 94% of road hauliers use them to find loads, accounting for an average of 13% of their turnover. The leader in 2018 is B2PWEB, followed by TELEROUTE and TIMOCOM (in terms of number of companies equipped). As for marketplaces internet, only 4 out of 10 carriers surveyed use it, still in what appears to be a trial phase.

Find all the results and publishers cited in the full study, available exclusively in paper format from the CNR at a price of €290.83 excluding VAT (€349 including VAT). (Ref: 2019CNR1V1, 23 pages, published on 15 March 2019)

For further information, please contact the CNR by telephone: 01 53 59 12 72 or by email: cnr@cnr.fr

 

Contents of the study:

1 – Use of business-related computer data«

    Presentation by company size:

• 0 to 19 employees
• 20 to 49 employees
• 50 to 99 employees
• 100 employees and above
• Together

    11 functions subject to possible computerised monitoring:

• Vehicle geolocation
• Route calculation
• Vehicle mileage tracking
• Tracking empty journeys
• Vehicle speed monitoring
• Monitoring vehicle consumption
• Calculation of CO2 emissions
• Driver schedule
• Monitoring of service times
• Cost price calculation
• Traceability of goods

    Cross-referenced by:

• Logistics diversification
• Membership of a group
• Group membership
• Company administrative region

 

2 – Ranking of software solution publishers

    Out of 11 transport IT functions:

• Vehicle geolocation
• Route calculation
• Tracking empty journeys
• Vehicle mileage tracking
• Vehicle speed monitoring
• Monitoring vehicle consumption
• Calculation of CO2 emissions
• Driver schedule
• Monitoring of service times
• Cost price calculation
• Traceability of goods

    Market share of solutions that received at least 4 responses and mention of solutions cited 2 or 3 times.

 

3 – Exchange of computer data

    Presentation by company size:

• 0 to 19 employees
• 20 to 49 employees
• 50 to 99 employees
• 100 employees and above
• Together

 

    7 types of computer data that may be exchanged:

 

• Order form
• Shipping notice
• Batch reference
• Delivery note
• Waybill
• Reserves
• Invoices

    Cross-referenced by:

• Use of a TMS
• Real-time data exploitation
• Logistics diversification
• Membership of a group

 

4- Freight exchanges and online marketplaces  

    Freight exchanges

    Presentation by company size and for the whole of:

• Rate of use of freight exchanges to find loads
• Revenue related to freight exchanges

    Ranking (by equipment rate among respondents) of freight exchanges used

    Online marketplaces

    Presentation by company size and for the whole of:

• Rate of recourse to online marketplaces to find lots

    Appointment of online marketplaces mentioned 2 to 4 times.

List of publishers ranked or cited in the study:

ACALC; AIDA; AKANEA; ALERTE GAZOLE; APLUS; AS24; ASTRATA; AXXES

B2PWEB

CHRONOTRUCKS; COFISOFT

DYNAFLEET / VOLVO

EVEROAD

FLEETBOARD / MERCEDES; FRETLINK

GPI; GROENEVELD

INFOVISA; ITEM

LOCSTER

MASTERNAUT

OMP / ELIOT; OPTIFLEET / RENAULT TRUCKS

PTV

QUARTIX

SCANIA; SHIPPEO; SOGESTMATIC; SOLOPLAN; STRADA

TELEROUTE; TELIAE; TIMOCOM; TOMTOM Telematics; TRANSICS; TRIMBLE; TRUCKONLINE

VEHCO

WINTRANS

XYRIC