Access to software that enables better driver-dispatch collaboration can help drivers manage the exceptions that threaten their company’s bottom line.

Zello offers drivers instant communication that is fully FMCSA-compliant and safe to use while on the road. This enables drivers to quickly connect to dispatch to solve any unexpected problems that arise.

Here are three key ways that drivers are using Zello to manage exceptions:

1. Drivers can instantly connect to dispatch to resolve delivery obstacles

It’s not uncommon for a driver to arrive at the destination only to run into trouble unloading freight due to a locked gate or a supervisor who isn’t available to acknowledge receipt. As delays cut into total deliveries made within a given timeframe, overall revenue decreases.

And what happens when the freight the driver needs to deliver can only last unrefrigerated or unused for a short amount of time?

Take ready-mix-concrete, for example, which is a highly perishable product. Drivers only have 1-2 hours to move the concrete from the plant to the destination before it can no longer be used. Any delays in delivering this product are extremely costly.

To spare such unnecessary losses, drivers and dispatchers are increasingly turning to Zello.

A driver with a load of ready-mix-concrete who arrives to find a locked gate at the delivery address does not have time to submit a ticket before the product expires. 

Instead, she can immediately connect to dispatch with one push. The driver and dispatcher can then use Zello’s instant and clear voice communication platform to discuss how to solve the problem so the driver can get back on the road.

2. Drivers can quickly get assistance for roadside failures.

According to FleetNet America’s data tracking program, roadside truck breakdowns occur about every 10,000 miles. 

And roadside repairs are costly in more ways than one: not only are parts and labor more expensive than ever given supply chain issues, but delays getting freight to the end consumer can also cost a company its clients.

Typically, a trucker that breaks down roadside might attempt to contact dispatch using a radio walkie-talkie system. But if the breakdown occurs in a place outside of the coverage area, the driver may fail to make contact or may get a connection full of static, making communication with dispatch frustrating.

With digital push-to-talk, a driver experiencing anything from a flat to a vibration from the steering column can contact dispatch with a tap on their phone. If the company uses Zello’s Dispatch Hub, calls are automatically distributed among all dispatchers so that driver inquiries can be answered faster. And because Zello can be used on either Wi-Fi or cell signal, it’s more reliable than radio, meaning a driver delayed on the roadside can connect to dispatch from virtually anywhere. 

In the case of the vibrating steering column, dispatch will likely ask the driver to send a photo of the tire rims. In less than a minute, the driver can then use Zello to send the photos along with the GPS location of the vehicle. 

Dispatch can then quickly determine that the front left wheel has a bent rim, which is causing vibration in the steering column. Then the driver and dispatcher will discuss the best way to get it fixed fastest.

3. Drivers can feel safer

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently rates driving as one of the most dangerous jobs, so it’s not surprising that truckers worry about safety quite a bit. 

Even so, drivers usually can complete their routes without incident. However, when exceptions happen, it’s critical that the driver has every tool possible to respond to a potentially violent crisis.

Maybe the driver is sleeping at a truck stop, when someone on the outside pounds on the driver’s side window and yells angrily. The driver wakes up only to see light reflect off the aggressor’s gun.

With Zello’s emergency alerts feature, the driver can press a panic button that will automatically record and send 10 seconds of sound along with the driver’s location to dispatch. As dispatch sends help, the driver will see a message on the device indicating their alert has been received, giving them peace of mind as they know that assistance is already on the way.

How Zello Helps Drivers Manage Exceptions 

Zello can help freight companies manage exceptions to protect drivers and their bottom line. From keeping deliveries on time to preventing perishable freight from expiring due to delay and everything in between, Zello lets drivers know that the company has their backs.

Learn more about how Zello helps truckers and dispatchers get the job done right.