Transportation rarely goes as planned. Mark it down: 80 percent of the time, orders have exceptions — a late load, a breakdown, a damaged shipment, a missing proof-of-delivery receipt, and so on.
Every exception creates ripple effects that may never smooth out, causing upset customers and drivers, and direct hits to your bottom line.
Transportation transactions have many dynamic variables that can turn into exceptions. Fortunately, a mobile driver app (MDA) gives fleets a unique ability to capture and manage exceptions in real-time at the point of discovery.
With the right technology, drivers can quickly and conveniently report exceptions inside and outside the cab. With a few fingertips, an integrated fleet management system can trigger automated workflows and communications that save office staff valuable time and accelerate the resolution.
Let's explore five ways to benefit from using a cutting-edge mobile app for exception management.
Exception management is a cohesive process for identifying, analyzing, and responding to unplanned events. As such, it requires a system to effectively bring information together, identify anomalies, and respond in kind.
Freight exceptions can arise from numerous sources, both internal and external. Some of the most common include:
A mobile driver app with real-time data capture capabilities can dramatically improve how your company manages freight exceptions. Here are five ways:
When drivers capture exceptions as they happen, the information can be instantly available for review and action. This includes capturing photos, signatures, and notes, all time-stamped and geo-stamped. This level of detail ensures a complete audit trail and allows your team to respond to issues before they escalate.
Real-time access to exception data lets your team communicate more effectively with customers. For instance, if a delivery is delayed due to a breakdown, the customer can be informed immediately, along with an updated delivery time. This transparency builds trust and helps manage customer expectations.
When a mobile driver app integrates real-time data captured by drivers into your transportation management system (TMS), you can monitor exceptions as they occur and take immediate corrective action. For example, if a shipment is damaged, your team can quickly assess the situation and work with the customer to resolve the issue before it escalates.
By automatically tagging delivery documentation with the time and location, you can create an irrefutable record of when and where each delivery was made. This level of detail is crucial to resolve any issues arising after delivery.
Shipment tracking and proof of delivery are among the top benefits of using a mobile driver app with real-time integration with your TMS. This connectivity lets fleet managers and customers quickly identify and resolve exceptions to keep shipments and invoices moving on time.
As customer expectations evolve, so must the tools supporting driver management and exception handling. Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning will enhance these capabilities further, enabling:
Selecting a software provider with a strong track record of innovation will ensure that you are first in line to receive new fleet management advancements.
In a world where 80% of transportation transactions involve exceptions, having the tools to capture and manage these issues is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. A mobile driver app that enables real-time data capture with integrated workflows that improve exception management capabilities will enhance communications, reduce costs, and elevate customer service.
Investing in technology that supports real-time exception management will help you drive success. If you haven’t seen the Magnus Platform’s fully integrated mobile driver app, now’s the time to evaluate new updates that improve drivers' daily tasks.
The latest version gives fleet managers and drivers real-time information and workflows to track freight and non-freight-related events, such as planned stops for fuel, maintenance, home time, and more. Are you ready to take exception management to a higher level?