New Tech Transforming Arkansas Trucking Industry

Modern freight trucks are equipped with in-cab technology like lane assistance, collision mitigation, roll stability and adaptive cruise control. (Provided)

Arkansas trucking companies are shifting into high gear with technology innovations that are transforming how freight moves.

New technologies are providing solutions that impact not only the driver experience inside freight trucks, but also supply chain management and logistics.

When it comes to trucking technology, advancements usually fall into one of two “buckets,” according to Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton.

Those buckets are safety and efficiency. And Newton said advancements in both are happening all the time.

“It’s one of those things that never sits still,” Newton said. “You don’t get to implement a particular technology and check off the technology factor. That project is never complete. You’re always evaluating and evolving.”

In-Cab Technology

The traditional truck cab looks a lot different than it used to.

“I think the average person would be overwhelmed at just the quantity of safety equipment that’s in the trucks,” Newton said.

One of the largest and perhaps the most controversial change is in-cab cameras. Trucks typically have two types of these, one facing forward at the road, and the other facing inward to monitor drivers.

Inward-facing cameras (IFCs) have become standard equipment for many fleets, though driver acceptance of the cameras is not universal.

Arkansas carriers have taken different approaches to the technology. J.B. Hunt Transport Services of Lowell announced in its 2024 third-quarter earnings call that it had installed IFCs in 100% of its trucks, completing a rollout that began with pilot testing in 2018.

And in an April 2024 blog post, the company said that since piloting the IFCs, it had seen a 20% reduction in costs associated with claims involving trucks equipped with this technology.

But ArcBest Corp. of Fort Smith has taken a different approach with its ABF Freight trucks. The company’s 2023 labor agreement, which lasts until 2028, explicitly prohibits using IFCs for monitoring in-cab activity. The agreement also prohibits in-cab audio recorders, body sensors and biometric technology.

Nevertheless, forward-facing cameras have been widely adopted. ABF uses the systems to provide visibility for real-time driver coaching and recognition of performance, according to Matt Godfrey, ABF president.

“Whether the camera is facing out or in or both, that’s been a pretty big game changer from a risk management standpoint,” Newton said, noting that the cameras are advantageous in the event of an accident, because they provide an accurate picture of what happened.

Another camera technology is being implemented with “mirrorless” trucks. Newton said there are carriers in the state piloting technology to provide a 360-degree view of all of the surroundings of a truck, though federal regulations still require physical mirrors on trucks.

J.B. Hunt has also equipped its trucks with right-side-assist technologies, according to the blog post. Since implementation began in September 2020, the company has seen about a 15% reduction in costs associated with right-turn and right-lane-change collisions.

Godfrey said ABF trucks are equipped with a multitude of other safety features, or telematics. Some of the newest equipment includes collision mitigation systems, roll stability systems, adaptive cruise control, predictive cruise control and lane departure warnings.

New trailers also use air disc brakes and automatic tire inflation, Godfrey said.

Logistics Tech

When most people think of trucking technology, they think of the tools that are actually implemented inside of a truck, Newton said. But she believes logistics technology has become essential for maintaining competitive advantages in what she called a high-capital, low-margin industry.

Companies using logistics technology have lowered costs associated with route optimization and load planning, which has “really been a game changer,” Newton said.

ArcBest agrees. Godfrey said ABF has invested heavily in logistics optimization technology, particularly in its city route planning systems.

“We put a significant number of employees out making pickups and deliveries every day,” Godfrey said. “We leveraged all our data and infused that with updated technology, including AI, to enhance that process.”

The company’s city route optimization has already yielded results. Godfrey said phase one of the project, which was implemented in 2024, has seen an increase in efficiency of about 1.5%, leading to more than $25 million in cost savings for the company.

Phase two of that project will be rolled out in the third quarter, Godfrey said. And phase three, which is fully focused on optimizing pickups, will be rolled out by the end of the year.

Logistics decisions have historically been made by humans and can be difficult to make in real time.

“What we’re trying to do is give our leaders better tools to make decisions in real time,” Godfrey said. “Our field leaders have difficult jobs and they make a lot of decisions, so we’re trying to augment that process to give them the best information at their fingertips so they can make those decisions as quickly as possible.”

Optimization extends beyond routing to load planning and customer service, as well. Using technology to position trucks can minimize driver downtime and increase visibility for customers.

“From a customer perspective, one of the things they’re asking us for is more visibility into where their shipment is at all points of the process,” Godfrey said, noting it reduces stress on customers to know where their products are. “We’ve enhanced our visibility pools, and we have more coming in the future.”

Driving Forward

Two massive changes coming in the future are autonomous trucks and electric vehicles, Newton said.

Autonomous trucks are already operating in Arkansas. Both Walmart and Tyson Foods have fully autonomous operations in northwest Arkansas servicing dedicated routes.

Walmart uses the trucks for routes from its distribution center to neighborhood markets, “and that’s been fully implemented for at least four years,” Newton said. Tyson Foods is using fully autonomous trucks to transport feed back and forth to farms.

These operations use remote monitoring rather than having drivers in the cab. Newton said that even though people remain apprehensive about autonomous technology, data shows it’s safer than humans.

“The technology does not have to be perfect to be safer than we are,” Newton said. “The reality is, the data shows that human drivers make mistakes, and the computer makes fewer mistakes.”

Environmental sustainability is also driving technology adoption. ABF’s route optimization technology has already yielded environmental benefits through reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The company is also exploring electric vehicle technology with its yard tractors.

Newton said that while electric trucks have applications in certain settings, widespread adoption of heavy-duty electric vehicles faces significant challenges. “I think we’re a long ways away from battery-powered 80,000-pound 18-wheelers,” she said.

And the integration of these technologies comes as the industry continues to face driver shortages and increased demand. Newton said “qualified, well-trained, good drivers” are a hard commodity to come by.

“The technologies that I think are the most meaningful are those that will make the job more desirable,” Newton said. “Making it easier, more enjoyable, less stressful, with safer equipment, all of those things will be the focus of technology evolutions as we move forward.”