Digital Transformation of Freight Transport: How TSS Technology is Changing the Game

American trucks. This image is recognizable, inextricably associated with continuous roads, the land of opportunity, and an unyielding spirit of entrepreneurship. It seemed that even this romanticized industry of freedom and roaring engines would remain intact through the rapid development of digital technologies, but reality always turned out more pragmatic.

Globalization, growing competition, fuel market instability, and outdated business practices have made American freight carriers look for change. That is when the TSS Technology project emerged with innovative solutions to give modernity to one of the most conservative industries in America. Jahongir Usmonov, head project manager and executive at TSS Technology and fuel cards explained how the integration of digital technologies through their fuel cards and mobile app can help save millions of dollars, fight fraud, and take businesses to a new level.

Jahongir, tell us where the idea of creating TSS Technology came from and why you chose the freight transport sector? 

To begin with, it is worth noting that TSS is two companies. We have TSS Fuel (Working under TSS Technology), and next is TruckStaff Solutions Inc. Initially, I was working at TruckStaff Solutions, where I managed the consulting and business development department.

We enabled a whole bunch of trucking companies to optimize processes, and I couldn’t help but notice how far behind this industry was in implementing modern technologies. Paperwork, outdated monitoring systems, and inefficient means of expense control render the business ineffective, non-transparent, and susceptible.

It was at that moment that the idea to develop TSS Technology came about: it’s a project that will give freight carriers the ability to get to a fundamentally new qualitative level. We didn’t strive to digitize old processes but tried to make a convenient and safe tool to solve pressing problems. TSS Technology provides a fuel card and a technology-based solution to manage fleets and fuel for truckers.

What makes your strategy unique? After all, fuel cards with mobile applications are not new to the market 

Most fuel card companies and their applications are just computerized versions of paper logbooks that simply put the price of fuel on a map. They don’t solve the critical problems which the industry is afflicted with and sometimes even add to them.

It’s not just an application; it’s the whole system. The TSS Technology includes many things: an advanced GPS monitoring system, secure fuel cards, user-friendly interfaces for document management, and so on. We launch technology in iterations, with yet even more robust solutions potentially down the line.

But the most important thing is that we were the first to offer a solution that really takes into account the specifics of American truckers’ work and solves their problems. We did not invent a product and throw it onto the market. We interviewed drivers and owners of companies; we studied their needs and concerns, and only after that did we start developing.

Please tell us more about the problems you had to face. 

One of the most pressing issues was and remains security. Fraud using fuel cards is like a natural disaster for American freight carriers. It is believed that every year, thousands of companies lose millions of dollars due to this type of fraud.

We are looking to solve this problem with TSS Technology. Our fuel cards will securely link to the mobile application with 2 factor authentication and a dynamic PIN. Moreover, we will be adding a GPS based tracking function, through the truck’s own telematics, which will allow administrators like company owners to setup a radius. The card will only be allowed a transaction within this radius. The combination of these features in a seamless way makes it almost impossible to use special devices to steal data and defraud the carrier.

Impressive! But security is just one side of the coin. What else can TSS Technology offer its users? 

We help companies to optimize their expenses significantly. Our algorithm analyzes traffic, meteorological conditions, and fuel prices at different stations and draws the most profitable route. Thanks to that, our clients save up to 70 cents from each gallon of fuel, which is, you agree, a very persuasive argument in favour of using TSS technology.

But we understand that this is not the only point of the issue. We know for sure how hard a trucker’s job is. That is why we tried to make TSS Technology as convenient and driver friendly as possible. Being in the application, one could trace the route, compare fuel prices at different gas stations, chat with dispatchers, and even get real-time information on weather conditions and driving conditions.

Freight is a known conservative industry. How hard was it for you, as innovators, to go through this market? 

We had to overcome some resistance from old-school owners, previously used to work in “the old way,” and therefore, they are wary of new things. But, of course, we see that things are changing. More and more freight carriers understand that digital technologies are not another idle attempt to waste time and money but have become a survival need and a prerequisite for development in modern conditions. That’s why we are sure of the success of TSS Technology. Additionally, it could take the form of a social effect besides the commercial impact. TSS Technology is for a safer, better, and more efficient work experience for the trucker. We help him save money, time, and avoid ambiguity; that means better performance for the company and a less stressful job for the trucker.

Jahongir, what are your plans for the future?  

Our plans involve growing the geography of our operations, adding new features, and integration with other services for freight carriers. We want TSS Technology to become an integral part of the freight industry and help it reach a qualitatively new level.

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