How Much Does it Cost to Develop an App for Truckers (Features, Development Process, Cost, etc.)
All that you need to know while developing an application for Truckers
With the success of cab booking apps like Uber and Lyft, many are seeing the potential of creating their own solutions. You too can duplicate their business model to build something for your logistics business. If you are looking to develop an app for truckers just like UBER, you have come to the right place. Here we are going to discuss all the concepts involved in building an on-demand transportation app. It mentions all the details like features, development process, cost, etc. We guide you to hire a mobile app developer that best fits your requirements and budget. One that can save you a lot of money and get you great returns in minimal time. Continue reading to find out more.
Table of Content
How is An Uber App For Trucks Useful for Users?
Is There An App Like Uber for Trucks?
Trucking App Development: How Do You Make an App Like Uber?
Essential Features You Need to Include in a Trucking App
Logistics App Development: How Much Does it Cost to Develop An App Like UBER?
Total Cost Estimate for Uber Trucking App
Conclusion
How is An Uber App For Trucks Useful for Users?
The simple idea of creating a trucking app for the freight industry streamlines hiring and paying truckers. It also makes transportation of goods easier and helps you keep track of the trucker’s movements. This reduces your turnaround time of delivery and saves you a lot of money for your business. Here we have listed some key points that show the necessity to move your trucking business online and make it mobile:
- Portability: Earlier it was difficult to manage and arrange shipments just through emails and making calls. Moving your entire business online and making it mobile simplifies the shipping process while saving you a lot of time and money.
- Smoother Operation: We can now hold truckers accountable for all the leeways and stops they make. You can track their route through GPS. This helps to streamline all operations and reduces the time of delivery. No need to hassle with the trucker as a third-party company monitors all payments digitally.
- Cost Reduction: There are lots of trucks that drive back empty with no load. This requires paying for fuel for a round trip. Shippers can save a lot of money by using an app like Uber for truckers. They can track location, and pay for a one-way trip as truckers can simply choose another assignment on their way back. This makes for effective management and keeps the fleet always full.
- Excellent Customer Experience: Through a trucker app, you can check and compare prices, reviews, and ratings of truckers. While drivers can choose their load and get more opportunities.
- Easier Payments: Paying Truckers have never been easier for shippers. With a perfect trucking solution, users get a secure way to pay for successful shipments. Apps like this also guarantee the best prices for truckers. Drivers can easily keep track of their payment status and past transactions using the app.
Is There An App Like Uber for Trucks?
There are multiple examples to consider while creating an application for truckers. You need to survey the competition before proceeding with any kind of development. You can start by reading about the three most popular ones that are already running successfully in the market:
- UBER Freight: It started in 2017 and is useful in matching carriers with shippers. Truckers can signify their availability and receive shipment requests. Then, according to their truckloads, drivers can book loads and receive payment upfront.
“According to TechCrunch, UBER Freight has over 400,000 drivers and carriers. It also has about 1000+ shippers as consumers“
Shipping users can choose from a bunch of options through the web or mobile app. They can check for reviews, ratings before booking a carrier. Then choose an appropriate one to have their delivery done on time.
- Convoy: It is another digital freight network that gives special preference to drivers allowing them various features. Truckers can choose between keeping trucks full, detention pay requests, and a lot more. The application also shows the accurate pickup and drop-off times to avoid waiting times for drivers. Whereas, shippers need to sign up using the website version of the platform.
- Cargomatic: It is a mobile and web application that connects truck drivers with shippers. It has two separate apps: one for driver and another one for shippers. Using this app drivers can apply for jobs, send documents through emails, check supply availability, and determine routes through GPS. Whereas Shippers can view their shipment history, call a driver through the app, and give ratings to drivers.
Trucking App Development: How Do You Make an App Like Uber?
If you have finally decided to move forward with the logistics app development for truckers, you need a strategy and a development plan going forward. Here are the steps you need to follow to create something like Uber Freights:
Step #1 Create A Business Model
There needs to be a proper action plan in place before going forward with the development process. You need to document it electronically or on a piece of paper to gather all the relevant information. You need to have a clear perspective and prepare a proper functional roadmap containing the following details:
What will be the key functionality of the app?
How will you make a profit from your project?
What technologies will you be using for the app development?
Who will be the key partners that you will work with?
What will be the development plan for the project?
What will be the cost structure and investments in the initial stages of development?
What is the sole purpose of developing this app?
After you have answered all these questions, you can move ahead with the next step.
Step #2 Do A Thorough Research
Consider all the facts and figures before investing your time and money in a project. You need to analyze the market trends and competition to stay ahead and create something unique and relevant. You also need to determine the target demographics, locations, and type of vehicles that will be part of your truckers app.
Step #3 Determine the Application Type
There are two most popular application types for truckers. They are:
- One is where you are a logistics business owner and have your fleet of trucks. You need to create a solution to streamline your operations and scale your business.
- The second scenario is where you want to build a marketplace to connect carriers with shippers.
You need to decide which one best suits your requirements and develop an app based on the application type.
Step #4 Find A Reliable App Development Company
Finding the right development team is the most important part of creating an app. You can choose to hire in-house, but it will take a lot of time interviewing, recruiting, hiring, and onboarding. In that time, you could be half-way through development when you outsource your services to a trustworthy vendor. You need to choose to hire a mobile app developer that submits deliverables on time and is within your budget. You need to consider the ones that have lots of experience in the app development business. Ones that will go above and beyond to meet your expectations and requirements.
Step #5 Idea Validation
Once you have chosen your app developers, you need to validate your idea. This means that you need to check whether your product will sustain itself in the market. For this, you need to conduct deep market research to check whether the solution is giving the desired result and profits. It needs to be enough to justify the investments and efforts put into the project. After receiving the feedback, you can change the application to deliver better results. It will improve the quality of your efforts and that your investment is not in vain.
Step #6 Create an MVP
Minimum Viable Product (or MVP) is a prototype of the application you are creating with enough features. It must have the features that are the Unique Selling Point (or USP) of the app. Then, you can launch it in the market to receive positive or negative feedback. This process is useful in making final edits to your application.
Essential Features You Need to Include in a Trucking App
As the knowledge and usage of apps like Uber increases, so does the demand for the latest features. People need the simplicity and smoothness of picking up a phone and booking transport with no hassle. To provide such a seamless approach, your app needs to have the following fundamental functionalities:
For Drivers
- Login and Registration: To allow authenticated users to take part in choosing a shipment. You should make it as simple as possible for truckers. It can be one-touch login using a social media account, email address, or a mobile phone.
- Shipment Details: The driver must be able to see the important details of the shipment they are about to load in their vehicle. Cargo information such as weight, type (fragile or spillable), dimensions, pickup, drop-off location, pick-up time, delivery time, and date must also be available on the app.
- Sorting and Filtering: The option to sort all the shipment details is a must-have feature. It allows carriers to filter their shipment according to date, the destination location, pickup address, type of cargo, and many more.
- Request Cancellation: It helps drivers to cancel a shipment in case of an accident or emergency.
- GPS Tracking: To set a route in realtime and analyze for traffic, accidents, or road repairs.
- Proof Of Delivery: An option that allows a user to take a picture or upload a document containing proof of successful delivery of shipment.
For Shippers
- Registration: It should be simple and available through multiple channels like social media or email addresses or both.
- List of Vehicles: The app should provide a shipper with a list of all available vehicles in the nearby area with the details.
- Instant and Scheduled Booking: There must be an option to book a shipment in advance or instantly by the shipper.
- Notification & Alerts: To remind the shipper about the date and time of shipment delivery. It can also help notify the shipper about the time of delivery of the cargo.
- Payment Gateway: There must be multiple modes of payment available to the shippers. It can be through cash, card, and e-wallet to make payment for the services rendered.
- Rating and Reviews: Availability to rate drivers as per the shipping experience.
- Real-time Vehicle Tracking: To track all the vehicles that are carrying their shipment in real-time.
Admin Panel
- Dashboard: Screen that displays all the important information about the shippers, carriers, vehicles, orders (completed or pending).
- Tracking Drivers: Allow admins to view the precise location of the trucker, products in the shipment, estimated time of delivery, and much more.
- Bill Management: Using the application admins can manage bills, verify, and approve invoices easily.
- Notifications: Can be useful for admins to notify drivers of any change in delivery locations, routes, etc.
Logistics Apps Development: How Much Does it Cost to Develop An App Like UBER?
Any development of mobile or web apps is a complex process. It is hard to determine the exact number. But multiple factors contribute to the total cost of the entire project. Here we will discuss each essential one in detail.
1.UI/UX Design- The better the design, the more attractive it will look and will consequently cost more. You need to consider making simple, user-friendly features and avoid complex designs that take more time and money.
2.Admin Panel- It is essential to maintain control of your business. It is what keeps the service going flawlessly. The most basic feature of an app includes creating a screen to manage users and another for looking through all transactions.
3.Developer’s Location- The cost of app development largely varies on the location of the developer and the mobile application development company. Western countries charge more when compared to developing countries. You need to consider outsourcing to countries with affordable hourly rates and get the same quality as compared to hiring locally.
4.Price of App Developers- Different regions have their rates for providing services to create an application or web or mobile platform. Following is a table that contains developer rates per hour across different countries or continents.
Total Cost Estimate for Uber Trucking App
For your project, you need to consider the fact that there will be two apps: one for carriers, other for shippers. And to have a wider outreach you need to consider building for both iOS and Android platforms. This increases the time and influences the total cost of completion. Here is an estimate of the total cost of the development of a trucker app.
Conclusion
So the total time to build a trucking app can be anywhere between 6 to 8 months depending on the technology, complexity, and location of the developer. Such apps have great value in the present time and can be useful in saving time and money for your logistics business. It must contain all the features and functionality that you need to be successful. For this, you can partner with a third-party mobile application development company that can provide you the support and services you need.
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