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In April 2017 the FTA (Freight Transport Association) released a statement urging their members to remain innovative and embrace changes in technology (for operational systems and compliance issues) if they want to stay on top of their game in a competitive industry. Speaking to some of the FTA's 16,000 members at the Commercial Vehicle Show, held in Birmingham, their Deputy Chief Executive, James Hookam, said that failing to do so could prove extremely costly to both independent operators and large fleet businesses. Increase Efficiency to Increase Profits As in any other industry, maintaining the efficiency of operations is key to improving the bottom line. But for the transport industry, the need to do that while also remaining vigilant on issues of compliance increases the pressure even more. Mr Hookam went on to say that in such a competitive sector (set to become even more so with Brexit taking effect), taking advantage of technological advances in the administrative aspects of a business is a vital way of ensuring that the efficiency of its operational workflow is maximised. One way that technology is assisting in energy, time and cost efficiency is in the use of online freight exchange platforms. Because a freight exchange has the ability to connect logistics professionals in real time and match available work with service providers, it effectively acts as an online trade network. As well as maximising opportunities (including creating additional work through trading return loads), a freight exchange serves as an authentic community, where not just jobs, but information and innovation can be traded. Technology and Compliance Another way that technology is helping operators maintain compliance and also achieve industry recognition for their efforts in doing so is through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's (DVSA) Earned Recognition Scheme. The FTA has partnered with the agency to create a "one-stop shop" for the scheme, which brings together a number of platforms where drivers and fleet managers can demonstrate their compliance to industry systems, processes and legislature. Looking to the Future At the 2017 CV Show, the FTA invited members and visitors to explore their popular Vision compliance platform and talk to representatives on hand about other ways in which technology can assist in terms of cost efficiency, performance and risk. Mr Hookam said the ability of operators to be able to measure their efficiency against their peers in the industry was a vital way of ensuring they remained in step with important innovations in training, analysis and operational procedures. He went on to say that using technology to create (and implement) innovative new solutions to address old-style problems and challenges was the only way to remain relevant, profitable and competitive in such a competitive, high-pressure industry. He encouraged all operators large and small to welcome the changes with enthusiasm and to make full use of the tools and technology at their disposal. Failure to do so, he warned, could result in the business losing traction in their operational efficacy, cost-efficiency and, ultimately, profitability. The message is clear: embrace the change, it's coming with or without you. Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their online freight exchange, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching loads and with available drivers. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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