Artificial intelligence or AI presents actionable information to the trucking industry in a world that is drowning in data.

Debunking myths and rumors about the technology is important for its success, said Zeina Gharzouzi, Solera’s senior enterprise manager, during the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association’s annual general meeting and conference in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

“If you don’t explain what it is and why you’ve implemented it, an employee will fill that space to your detriment,” she told attendees.

Some say that driver-facing cameras are like Big Brother, keeping an eye on truckers all the time. Gharzouzi said it is not true as sensors pick up behaviors that will trigger a recording, for example cellphone use or nodding of the head due to sleepiness.

AI requires a lot of data for machine learning to be successful and produce a predictable outcome, Sam O’Neill, business development manager at Isaac Instruments, said during a panel discussion.

Predictive maintenance

He said AI is being used to improve safety, and provide predictive maintenance, fuel savings, and route optimization. It is not complicated for users and provides real time actionable items.

Predictive AI depends on plenty of and good data, he added. Gharzouzi agreed, saying clean data is key. “Dirty data doesn’t get you anywhere. Conclusions may be driven by approximation and could be wrong,” she said.

Jason Gould, Trimble’s director of strategic sales noted that data comes from many sources. Back office and fleet management solutions along with telematics from the truck that include cameras and sensors work together.

“It’s how you view the data and how AI can be utilized to automate processes,” he said.

Dispatch and route optimization

For dispatching, AI utilizes information from a driver’s Hours of Service, location and empty miles needed to get to the next location and loading times at a shipper to match them with a load. It can also use real-time data with historical information, while adding weather, traffic and construction information to generate the most efficient route.

Fuel optimization is another benefit, saving carriers money. AI computes routes, loads, fuel prices and preferred fuel vendors to provide fuel stop information in real time to drivers.

Gharzouzi said presently many telematics providers offer applications that can be downloaded onto drivers’ phones. If there is a safety-related incident, the driver can look at the video and provide context, feedback or appeal. It makes it easier on them because it is immediate and less stressful that awaiting a future meeting with a safety manager.

The three panelists agreed that the sky is the limit on what AI can do in the future. They told conference attendees that their competitors are probably already using AI or will be doing so very soon.