As soon as Daimler released the self-driving Freightliner Inspiration, an autonomous class 8 truck, this past May, a conversation that had been slowly growing on the margins of the industry was instantly rocketed into the spotlight.

The technology that they’re built on and how they’ll affect the role of drivers in the years and decades to come have sparked some intense debates throughout the freight world. It’s easy to balk at any change to the status quo, and newer isn’t always better, but savvy owners and drivers don’t want to get left behind by the changing landscape either.

The trucking industry, like most other business sectors, has seen exponential growth in the amount of technology available for fleets. There are a lot of options out there ready to address the unique challenges of trucking businesses big and small. Here’s a look at some of the current trends in trucking tech.

Maintaining a more fuel efficient fleet is more important than ever as the transportation industry releases 27% of America’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The large vehicles and long routes of the trucking industry provide many opportunities to adopt green technology and increase fuel efficiency.

As an added bonus, having a more eco-friendly fleet is also better for your bottom line. It’s not shock that using less fuel - likely one of your highest expenses - will cost you less money.

This year the week of September 13-19 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week to honor the more than 3 million truck drivers in the United States.

Labor Day weekend is right around the corner, and as we prepare to celebrate the American workers it’s important to remember that holiday weekends are some of the most dangerous days to be on the road. Everyone wants to kick back and enjoy one last big summer party before the Autumn winds start to blow, but too much fun can lead to some seriously unsafe situations.

The major long-term savings associated with updating your fleet can be tough to balance against the cost of new equipment.  Knowing when to make the transition to new equipment is all about taking into account a variety of factors such as your current fleet age, maintenance costs, the availability and cost of new equipment - and finding a good balance between them all. Here’s a quick look at some of the factors you should consider, and how they might affect the decision to update your fleet.