Texting and driving – 9 out of 10 people would agree this isn’t a controversial topic. The 1 person who has a different opinion works in logistics – “as long as the driver isn’t driving”, there are valid reasons why messaging with drivers can be a great route.

The Broker’s Take

Whether it’s a broker or dispatcher that is communicating directly with the driver, it’s safe to say that they are making a lot of phone calls throughout the day. So sparing a phone call by sending a quick message is typically a win.

However, that is not the only feat in support of messaging drivers. With messages, you have a paper trail. If a driver says they won’t drop off at a location over the phone, you can’t prove this. If it is sent over text, you can. It also is beneficial to have read receipts to be able to prove that a driver did in fact receive a piece of information.

Many brokers would also prefer that the driver does not have their personal cell phone number. Utilizing messaging platforms such as Load Secure allows for simple and secure messaging, that can be accessed by anyone within the company. This lessens the burden on a single broker – communicating with the driver can be a team effort when needed.

What Drivers Think

While most drivers answer phone calls while driving, perhaps through a bluetooth headset or utilizing their cab’s speakers, virtually no drivers are comfortable texting while driving (we hope not). So for drivers, receiving communications through text can sometimes be a bit of a hassle, especially if they don’t have technology in their vehicle enabling a hands-free approach.

Having to completely stop driving to be able to answer a text message can be frustrating, and if they have to wait for a response, even more so. However, there are some benefits for drivers using messaging features.

Language barriers are something that many within the industry are all-too-familiar with. Utilizing a messaging feature allows for translations to be made so that the driver and broker can better understand one another. When English isn’t your first language, having one less challenge a day can be a great relief. 

Load Secure currently has localization for multiple languages such English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and more. This means that navigating through the app is simple for all drivers, regardless of their language. Currently drivers are able to copy and paste messages they receive into a translator, but Load Secure hopes to introduce in-app translations in the near future.

Messages can also open up the driver’s time to allow them to respond when it is convenient for them, within reason. While brokers and dispatchers would prefer for drivers to always answer immediately, it is not always convenient. Drivers may be in challenging traffic, taking a bathroom break, or at a really good part of a podcast.

How Load Secure Works for Both

Load Secure provides brokers with an excellent messaging tool. Users can message drivers directly from the portal, see read receipts, and pass messages to their co-workers. There is also the ability for support to join a chat if there is ever a technical issue.

Brokers can custom set their notifications to determine if they want to be alerted of new messages, and for which orders. Enabling this for teams can ensure that someone is always aware of the status of an order.

The messaging tool supports drivers in a few ways as well. For one, there are no motion restrictions. While restricting messages to be accessed only while the driver is not in motion helps combat texting and driving, there is technology that allows drivers to access their messages without diverting their attention from the road.

Some drivers have text-to-voice and voice-to-text features enabled either within their cab or via a headset, which can allow them to communicate via messaging safely.