The commercial trucking industry is bracing for changes ahead of 2023, as cosmic shifts have altered the transport landscape in recent years. However, the new year brings a lot of great possibilities that will help with everything from shipping time to securing advanced rigs.
7 Things to Expect from the Trucking Industry in 2023
1. New Trucks Hitting the Market
New, smarter and safer rigs will hit the road in 2023. Trucking accidents rose 13% in 2021, and enhanced safety features are something every trucker and fleet manager should be excited about.
A few trends that we expect this coming year are:
- Electric truck conversions will rise
- EVs are going to become more popular
Tesla’s semi-truck is expected to begin production in late 2023, but many other manufacturers are already releasing new vehicles.
Kenworth’s T680 Next Generation model is expected to have 7% greater fuel efficiency, digital mirrors, drive-optimization technology, mirror cameras, vision enhancements, collision mitigation features and much more.
Buying new rigs in 2023 will come with added safety, something that fleet owners will be happy about.
2. Logistics Will Become Increasingly Important
Logistics will remain a central focus going into 2023, as fuel costs still remain high close to the new year. We expect fleet managers and dispatchers to put a heavy focus on logistics to:
- Reduce fuel costs
- Mitigate maintenance costs
- Maximize trucker mileage
However, AI is also going to enter the logistics side of the industry, which has the potential to completely transform the trucking industry.
3. Artificial Intelligence Enters Logistics
Artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of many industries, and its next target is logistics. The supply chain crisis of the last two years has driven demand for AI to help augment the logistics industry to:
- Improve efficiency
- Reduce waste
- Save costs
An agile supply chain is possible, and AI will help trucking fleets reach this goal in 2023. One trend that industry insiders are sure will take place is AI taking over supply chain planning. Autonomous planning will help reduce reliance on certain suppliers and ensure that goods continue to flow to consumers.
However, additional AI changes will include:
- AI in warehouses, which will help reduce fleet labor costs
- Planning optimization tools that use machine learning to best plan routes
- Automated route planning that adjusts based on traffic and road conditions
- Load optimization that uses big data to learn from past shipping issues
Route optimization AI is going to allow the trucking industry to provide faster shipping with more accurate delivery times.
As the flow of information increases and fleets have a way to manage the data, logistics will continue to improve in 2023 and beyond.
4. Changes in Production Locations
In 2023, we may see a shift in the production locations for some of the most well-known trucking companies.
For example:
- Texas, Ohio and Illinois are shaping up to be attractive locations for dry vans. Companies may pack up and relocate to one of these states.
- Illinois is becoming a preferred location for reefers.
- Pennsylvania and Texas will likely continue to be the best locations for flatbed vehicles.
Many companies across the transportation and freight industry are moving locations, so this is not a trend that’s necessarily exclusive to the trucking industry.
5. Used Truck Prices Will Fall
At the close of 2022, we’re already seeing prices of used trucks fall across the board. New truck manufacturers are once again getting the upper hand as supply chain issues ease.
Experts expect truck prices to continue falling in 2023, thanks to continued downward pressure.
Data shows that the average retail price is down a few percentage points, and that trend may continue into at least the first half of 2023.
The trend is great news for fleet owners who want to expand in the coming years.
6. Fuel and Maintenance Cost Concerns Will Remain
Heading into 2023, fuel and maintenance cost concerns will likely remain. According to the National Private Trucking Council’s Benchmark Report, many fleet owners are having to extend their trade cycles to combat the supply chain issues that are delaying new vehicles and parts.
These supply chain issues may begin to ease in 2023, but many fleets are tightening their budgets to prepare for a possible recession.
Having to extend trade cycles means that more fleet owners may be spending more on maintenance. In addition, supply chain delays can also increase the cost of maintenance until things start moving smoothly again.
7. Internet of Things Will Become More Popular
The Internet of Things (IoT) will create a greater flow of information for fleets to use in day-to-day operations. For example, fleet maintenance and scheduling are likely to become better overall as the IoT handles the scheduling and reporting of vehicle issues.
Weather and traffic data will also become even more accurate, allowing truckers to know what to expect on the road ahead of time to make better route adjustments.
2023 is Looking Up
Overall, the trucking industry has a lot to look forward to in 2023. Advancements in logistics will help make everyone’s jobs easier and the easing of supply chain delays can help start the slow process of getting back to normal. Used truck prices are also expected to continue their downward trend, and new, exciting smart truck rigs are expected to hit the market.
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