2019-20 Survey of U.S. Trucking Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services

C.J. Driscoll & Associates has released a new multi-client marketing research study covering interest of U.S. trucking fleet operators in a wide range of telematics systems and services. The 2019-20 Survey of Trucking Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services assesses trucking fleet operator use of AOBRDs and ELDs, along with plans and concerns about transitioning to ELDs. The study also quantifies trucking operator use and satisfaction with video camera-based solutions and plans to equip trucks with video cameras going forward. Other topics include GPS fleet management systems, smart trailer solutions, predictive analytics, data analytics, data security, and freight matching services.

The new 2019-20 Survey of Trucking Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services was partially funded by 17 companies, including AT&T, CalAmp, Coretex, EROAD, Fleet Complete, Geotab, KeepTruckin, Lytx, Penske Truck Leasing, Peterson Manufacturing, SkyBitz, Spireon, Stoneridge, Teletrac Navman, Trimble Mobility Solutions, WABCO, and Zonar Systems.

This comprehensive new study is based on a nationwide telephone survey of 200 for-hire and private trucking fleet operators. Survey participants were decision makers at fleets from fleets ranging from 1,000+ trucks down to owner-operators.

The study provides answers to a wide range of questions, including the following:

• What percentage of surveyed trucking fleets subject to driver hours of service regulations are currently equipped with AOBRDs versus ELDs?
• How will respondents’ AOBRDs be converted to ELDs?
• What percentage of participating fleet operators have been waiting for the “last minute” to convert from AOBRDs to ELDs, and why?
• Will respondents consider switching to a new supplier when converting from AOBRDs to ELDs?
• Who are the largest suppliers of ELDs to participating fleet operators?
• Are surveyed fleets using video cameras on their trucks? If so, are they forward-facing, driver-facing, or other?
• What are the principal reasons for trucking fleet operators installing video cameras?
• Who are the participating fleet operators’ video camera suppliers, and how satisfied are they with these suppliers?
• Have trucking fleets that are using video cameras received insurance discounts or experienced reduced accidents?
  • By what percentage have insurance premiums and accidents been reduced?
• What percentage of participating fleets are currently using a GPS tracking system to monitor trailers, chassis, or containers?
  • If so, what were their motivations for deploying these systems?
• What smart trailer features and capabilities are most important to trucking fleets?
• What percentage of surveyed fleets are using a GPS fleet management sulution for their tractors and other vehicles, and who is their sulution provider?
  • How satisfied are they with their GPS fleet management system?
• How important are predictive analytics for providing advanced notification of potential engine failures or other problems?
  • What problems are most important to identify in advance?
• How concerned are trucking fleet operators about data security and what, if any, actions have they taken to protect the security of data transmissions?
• How important are data analytics and what data is most important to analyze?
• How do small for-hire carriers and owner-operators find loads for the day?
  • What services do they use to find loads and minimize empty backhauls?

The methodology for the study was a telephone survey of 200 U.S. trucking fleet operators, including both for-hire and private fleets. Quotas were established to assure participation by a sufficient number of large and small fleets. The survey was conducted June – August 2019.

All respondents were pre-screened to assure that they have sole or partial responsibility for decisions on whether or not to use a telematics system for monitoring their fleet, which may include a GPS Fleet Management System, Electronic Logging Device (ELD), Trailer Monitoring System, or Video-based Monitoring System. Nineteen percent of the survey participants hold the title of Owner, CEO, or President. In addition, 25% are Fleet Directors, Managers or Assistant Managers, 12% are Safety or Risk Managers, and 9% are VP, Director, or Manager of Operations.

The average length of the survey was 26 minutes. Respondents were paid a $30 - $150 incentive to participate in the survey, depending on the size of the fleet.

The 86-page report of the research findings includes the following:

• Overview of the study, including objectives and methodology
• Executive summary of the key findings
• 72-page detailed analysis of the findings of the survey, including 58 summary charts and tables and numerous verbatim responses to open-ended questions

The report is provided in PDF format.

Subscribers who purchase the 2019-20 Survey of Trucking Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services report may also purchase the optional Excel spreadsheet, which lists all 200 survey participants by company name and respondent title, as well as their answers to each survey question. The spreadsheet can be used to analyze responses based on fleet category, size, use of specific MRM systems, and many other criteria.

Since 1993, C.J. Driscoll & Associates has provided strategic and marketing consulting and research services, with emphasis on commercial and consumer telematics and location-based products and services. Clients include major cellular carriers, commercial telematics hardware and service providers, consumer telematics system suppliers, automotive and truck manufacturers, technology companies, and investment firms. The company has a large number of consulting and research clients both in the U.S. and overseas.

C.J. Driscoll & Associates has extensive experience in a wide range of primary and secondary marketing research methodologies, including focus groups, telephone surveys, online surveys, and personal interviews. The company has also coordinated product and service trials, including the largest U.S. trial of location-based services, which was conducted in 2004 for a major U.S. cellular carrier.

In January 2019, the company released the 2019-20 U.S. Mobile Resource Management Systems Market Study. This report provides in-depth information on each major commercial telematics market segment, including the markets for vehicle-installed GPS fleet management solutions for local service and delivery fleets and long haul trucking fleets. The markets for driver behavior management and field service management systems are also examined. In addition, the study covers the markets for monitoring mobile assets, such as fleet trailers and heavy equipment. The study assesses the current market penetration of MRM systems and services and projects annual subscriber and revenue growth through 2022. This 345-page report includes detailed profiles on over 140 suppliers of MRM systems and services, including target markets, key features, installed base, and pricing.

In September 2017, C.J. Driscoll & Associates released the 2017-18 Survey of Fleet Operator Interest in MRM Systems and Services, a multi-client study covering U.S. fleet operator interest, use, and satisfaction with GPS fleet management systems, driver behavior management systems, and solutions for managing mobile workers with GPS-equipped handsets or other portable devices. This study was based on a telephone survey of over 500 fleet operators in a wide range of categories. It was sponsored by 19 companies, including AT&T, CalAmp, Coretex, DMC Insurance, EROAD, Fleet Complete, Geotab, GPS Insight, MiX Telematics, Omnitracs, PeopleNet, Satrack USA, Seeing Machines, SkyBitz, Spireon, Teletrac Navman, Vehicle Tracking Solutions, Verizon Telematics, and Zonar Systems.

In September 2016, the company released its 2016-17 Mexican Telematics Market Study. This comprehensive 148-page report analyzes the addressable market for commercial and consumer telematics solutions, as well as market penetration. Factors impacting market growth are examined in detail. The report includes detailed profiles of 44 major suppliers of commercial and consumer telematics solutions, including leading Mexican-based solution providers as well as overseas-based suppliers that have entered the Mexican market.

In December 2015, C.J. Driscoll & Associates released the U.S. Mobile Resource Management Systems Market Study, which is the predecessor to the 2019 edition. Each edition of the C.J. Driscoll Mobile Resource Management Systems Market Study requires hundreds of hours of research and analysis and the report is often referred to as the “bible of the MRM industry”.

In August 2014, the company released the China Commercial Telematics Market Study. This comprehensive report assesses the factors that are contributing to the rapid growth of commercial telematics in China. It also assesses the role of the Chinese government in pressing for increased use of commercial telematics to help reduce unauthorized use of government vehicles, enhance safety in public transportation and the transport of hazardous goods, and reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in densely populated urban environments. The 110-page report includes extensive statistics on the addressable fleet market size and rate of growth, along with GPS fleet management market penetration estimates for major fleet segments. It also analyzes the significant differences between Chinese fleet tracking solutions and those of western markets.

In November 2010, C.J. Driscoll & Associates released the 2010-11 Latin American Vehicle Tracking Systems Market Study. This comprehensive study provides in-depth information on the market for GPS fleet management and consumer stolen vehicle recovery and telematics solutions in each Latin American country. The research is based on interviews conducted over a 15-month period with executives of over 100 Latin American suppliers of vehicle tracking products and services. Profiles of over 120 GPS tracking companies are provided, which include target markets, key features, installed base, and available pricing information. Since the release of this report, we have continued to participate in industry conferences in Latin America and to closely monitor developments in the market.

C.J. Driscoll & Associates and, previously, Driscoll-Wolfe Marketing & Research Consulting have conducted extensive research on consumer interest in telematics and location-based products and services. C.J. Driscoll primary research studies on consumer LBS and telematics have been sponsored by companies such as American Honda, AT&T, GM OnStar, Garmin International, Motorola, HERE (Navteq), Sprint-Nextel, TeleNav, Toyota, Verizon Wireless, and others.

Clement Driscoll is the founder and president of C.J. Driscoll & Associates. Mr. Driscoll has over 25 years of experience in the fields of wireless location, navigation, and mobile communications. He formerly directed the marketing of Teletrac’s fleet vehicle location service and Magnavox’s GPS and satellite communication products. In 1994, Mr. Driscoll authored the Survey of Location Systems to Support Wireless 911, which served as a basis for the FCC’s wireless E911 rulemaking requiring accurate location of wireless 911 callers. Clem Driscoll is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has an MBA from St. John’s University. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of GPS World magazine and has served on Advisory Boards of a number of leading industry suppliers. He has written numerous articles on telematics and LBS for leading industry publications including GPS World, RCR, Telematics Update, Automotive Fleet, Fleet Financial, Inside GNSS, and Mission Critical Magazine. He is a noted authority on GPS-based products and services and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Driscoll has given the opening keynote presentation for 16 years in a row at the TU-Auto Connected Fleets USA Conference, which is the principal conference covering the U.S. commercial telematics market. He has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, the L.A. Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, as well as in many leading industry trade publications.

Clem Driscoll
C.J. Driscoll & Associates
2636 Via Carrillo
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Telephone: (310) 544-5046
Mobile: (310) 717-7961
Email: clemdriscoll@cjdriscoll.com
Website: www.cjdriscoll.com