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The Role of AI in Streamlining Fleet Management

Well, so it is that the Indian trucking industry, which has been hailed over the years as the backbone of the economy, is now turning to artificial intelligence (AI) that seeks to optimise inefficiencies and operations. More than 12 million trucks crisscross the length and breadth of the country, transporting goods across a vastly varied geography—an industry's breadth that really testifies to its complexity in an already fragmented logistics network. AI fleet management solutions are sifting through game boundaries.

Another area in which AI is changing dramatically is maintenance prediction. Breakdowns usually occur at the most unplanned times, causing over-delivery and incurring additional costs in developing countries like India. The AI-enabled sensors and analytics tools, however, monitor the health of vehicles in real time and predict engine failure or wear and tear on tires. That way, it makes timely maintenance possible, reduces downtime, and extends the lives of trucks.

It employs artificial intelligence to tackle another major expenditure for India, ramping up diesel prices. Fuel-efficient route planning takes into consideration traffic, road conditions, and weather impacts on efficiency. For example, the fuel savings and short time for delivery, both important for an expanding e-commerce industry, would result from avoiding congested urban areas or bad roads.

The safety of drivers is another priority concern. With AI-based telematics, a system would monitor driver behaviour in terms of fatigue, overspeeding, or harsh braking. Alerts and feedback in real time help make the driving habits of a person better, thus not to mention a significant reduction in accidents on the congested and chaotic roads of India.

AI is also transforming freight matching in a fragmented market. AI creates a platform that brings truckers and shippers together to ensure minimum empty running—a common problem in India's trucking business—to maximise fleet utilisation.