Technology is changing the way we do business. Just two decades ago, people weren’t using GPS maps to set their routes, and few people (aside from large companies) accepted credit cards. In the early 2000s, your phone wasn’t “smart” and could not send a text—it didn’t get emails, let you browse the weather forecast, or make bank transfers. New technology is changing daily business by giving us access to convenient and valuable tools.
vHub is reengineering how truckers use and share their assets by offering smart trailer rental. The rental was once a sluggish, tedious, and inconvenient process. With the right platform and active technology, asset sharing can help increase efficiency, reduce waste, and help small business owners scale quickly.
Benefits of Smart Trailer Rental
It used to be that if you wanted to rent a trailer, you’d need to visit a rental yard during the times they were open, fill out a lot of paperwork, and meet their requirements for drop-off. If you had extra assets, the process for private rental was difficult, and you’d spend a lot of time getting arrangements set up (not to mention enforcing those arrangements!).
The logistics industry is highly competitive, leaving no room for inefficiency. Your margins are tight, and every wasted mile and idle asset impacts your bottom line. Smart trailer rental allows shippers, brokers, 3PLs, and owner-operators to manage their own trailer pools however they see fit. The benefits of smart trailer rental are huge.
Increased Agility
Trailer rental makes it possible to take on additional trailers and increase capacity without the investment of an upfront purchase. Not all logistics companies feel comfortable taking on the expense of additional assets when they have the opportunity to scale. Smart trailer rental makes it possible to take on more when they have the drivers and tractors to do so.
On the other hand, asset-heavy players can also list their unused trailers and earn cash for idle assets. Trailers left sitting in the lot are hemorrhaging cash. Smart trailer rental makes it possible for asset owners to list the trailers they aren’t using or need to relocate with clear timelines for when the arrangement ends, and they can expect their assets back.
Faster Turnaround
Some companies use trailer pools to avoid detention and speed up loading/unloading. Improving efficiency with a drop-and-hook setup can reduce bottlenecks at the destination dock.
With a larger trailer pool, logistics companies can have fully loaded trailers available for drivers to take to the next destination. The arriving trailers can then get unloaded when it’s most convenient for the shipper, manufacturer, or retailer. This setup can keep things flowing and allow drivers to maximize their time on the road.
Reduced Deadheading
Drivers don’t want to pick up one-way routes with no return option. Smart trailer rental makes it possible to increase load-out opportunities when you need to relocate an empty trailer. You can get more out of your drivers and assets by listing empty assets instead of making a deadhead trip.
If a new trailer needs to be moved from the manufacturer to the asset owner, it can be listed as a load-out option. This approach is more efficient and economical than a tow-away scenario where the asset owner pays for deadhead miles to relocate the trailer.
Flexible Schedules
Smart trailer rental connects asset owners of all sizes to renters—whether you are an owner-operator with an extra dry van on hand or a rental company with several assets available.
When delivery deadlines are at stake, the last thing you need is to be stuck by the rigid schedule of a typical 9-5. Smart trailer rental is available at all times—allowing the asset owner and the renter to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for them.
Technology never takes a break, so it’s possible to pick out your trailer and reserve it in the middle of the night if that’s what you want to do!
How to Share Trailers with vHub
vHub helps renters consider the best options that fit within their route, budget, and timeline. Our technology works continually to find the best deals and help optimize the process—taking a lot of the hassle out of the process.
Plus, vHub keeps all your important paperwork in one convenient place. When it’s time to close the deal, vHub automatically handles billing, and the payment is processed electronically. We help streamline and enforce the process so you can stay focused on the other aspects of your business.
Are you ready to get started? Sign up for your free account now!
