Uber For Trucking App Development: Features & Cost to Include

The on-demand service trend was started back in 2009 during the genesis of a new company called uber who started the on-demand taxi. After that nothing remained the same, Uber became a perfect model for any kind of on-demand service that came into the market. These services became Uber for X.

A few years later, Uber came up with a new solution called Uber for trucks that aggregated owner-operators and shippers much like their ride-hailing app paired drivers with riders.

Today, in the market, there are several successful uber for trucking startups who rake up handsome revenue. Truckerpath, Convoy, and Keeptruckin are some of them. You might wonder what makes these startups successful. How do uber for trucking app development become a trending business idea among investors? How much does truck app development cost?

In this article, we have explained the working and features of these kinds of apps. Let’s Explore them.

How Does Uber For Trucks App Work?

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These apps are basically a marketplace that connects shippers with truckers. It is created in such a way that drivers don’t have to look out for the loads by hiring any broker or constantly struggling to get the haul. On the other hand, shippers can also find the best suitable driver for their shipment.

One of the major problem truck drivers faced before the invention of these on-demand trucking apps were their empty rides. They had to bear a huge loss due to this. According to Freightwaves 15.63 percent of miles driven by dry van fleets are empty. However, Uber for the trucking marketplace makes sure that truckers get full load during their trip and do not have to return with an empty truck

The whole process takes place in some stages.

Truckers look for the available Loads (Shippers)
Negotiate and bid for the load
Confirm the Load
Deliver the Shipment
Generate Online Documents
Receives the Payment in the app
Search for the new load While returning

The app must have a variety of features integrated with the design to perform so many tasks. That said, let’s explore the characteristics of Uber for the trucking app and know how much it can cost.

Uber for Trucking App Development: Features to Include

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While developing uber for freight apps, you need to develop two versions of the same app. One for the shippers and the other for the drivers. Additionally, you need a third panel for the admin to monitor the overall operations of your logistics business.
The set of basic and advanced features you integrate within your application is the deciding factor for the total cost of the app. The core features are essential to the proper functioning of your app, while the advanced ones will give it a distinctive look.
So, here are some of the features that a uber for commercial trucking app would need:

For the Shippers

 

Sign up & User Profile

Registration and profiles are two of the primary elements that an app like Uber needs for efficient customer service. It will not only help you monitor your consumer base but also allow your customers to access the full features of the app like mobile payments.
It is the first section where your users will land. You can allow registrations via email or through social media login.

Schedule & Manage Booking

Top uber for trucking companies allow your shippers to choose the vehicle based on their needs. Transportation requirements differ depending on the contents that need to be delivered. Allowing the customers to pick the truck will add convenience for the users and the drivers to deliver the package in a single trip.
Additionally, you can add an advanced booking feature. The consumers will be able to schedule and manage their bookings as needed according to the date and time.

Alerts & Notifications

Alerts and push notifications will keep the users in the loop with their deliveries, tracking, promo offers, and more.

Geo Location & Routing

Adding a tracking feature for your customers will boost the user experience of your Cargo transport app. It will help them track their deliveries, the routes, and the drivers’ locations before or after pickup.

Payment Gateway

Making payments via the app is another level of convenience for the users. They can generate invoices with the cost of each item listed individually and pay accordingly through the online payment methods available.

Estimate fare Charges

The feature will let the customers know the estimated fare for the delivery, the destination, and the route with a specific type of vehicle. They can then decide what’s feasible according to their budget before they book the trip.

For the Drivers

 
Drivers are an imperative part of the trucking industry. One of the apps is for drivers partnering with your company. Here are the features to add for the drivers’ convenience:

Register and Set Up Profiles

Give the drivers a separate login area to track their delivery, rides scheduled, and more. They can log in via email, social media, or a new account credential.

Receive & Manage Bookings

The feature will make it convenient for drivers to manage their schedules and keep track of deliveries along with their status. They can know if there are any pending or completed shipments for the day.

Analyze Shippers Details

All the information from the shipper, including name, address, contact details, destination, and the invoice will be stored for the driver.

Freight Details

The weight of the package, the distance to travel, the fuel, and the toll charges will help the drivers charter freight details.

Route & Navigation

It will help the drivers provide roadside assistance & track the road to their destination. Plus, it will allow the users and the admin to keep an eye on the truck during delivery.

Notifications

The drivers need to be alerted of any new bookings, cancellations, payments, updates, and more. Push notifications will keep the communication open between the users and the drivers.

Bill Approval

Based on the fuel consumption, the toll, the distance traveled, refreshments, the drivers assign the bill, which is later approved by the admin.

Rating & reviews

Rating and reviews are essential features to add to your trucking app. It will make the app more user-oriented, allowing them to rate the drivers based on their behavior, punctuality, and quality of service. Additionally, it will let the other consumers know what to expect with a particular driver.
Plus, you can monitor your drivers and know which ones are more troublesome than others.

For the Admin (You)

 

The admin panel is another aspect of uber for trucking app development. It is primarily a web-based application that will give you the chance to supervise the business processes, managing drivers, deliveries, payrolls, and gathering user information.

Secure Login

A secure login means only the authorized personnel with the relevant credentials can access the dashboard to maintain the system’s integrity.

Dashboard

Via the dashboard, the admin will be able to monitor incoming orders, pending deliveries, track shipments, and other information relevant to the business.

Monitor Drivers

The admin can manage the drivers taking the shipment, the number of orders executed, the deliveries pending and completed.

Manage Trucks, Shippers, and Tariffs

It’s not just the manual labor you need to track; the admin panel will also have the liberty to manage and store the vehicles, shippers, and costs incurred during deliveries.

Push Notifications

Notifications keep you in the loop at all times. For the admins, it’ll help track payments, driver allotments, and order completion.

Billing & invoice

The admin holds the authority to analyze and approve the invoice and billing generated by the customers and the drivers.

Trip Log Reports

The duration of the trip, including the start and end time, the milestones covered by the drivers are evaluated, recorded, and stored by the admin.

Fuel Consumption & Vehicle management

To keep the running of your company smooth and profitable, you need to know which vehicle is running what routes, suffering from damage, and the fuel consumed per trip. The admin panel will hold the feature for such management activities.

How to Make Your Uber for Truck Delivery App Unique

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Here are some of the extra features you can integrate with your trucking app to give it a competitive boost:

In-app chat will keep the communication open between you and the consumers. Plus, it will increase user engagement on your app.
Live delivery stats from merchants will let you stay on top of deliveries completed and pending, allowing you to assign tasks without delay.
Multilingual support will open communication with the drivers from a different region, keeping operations running smoothly.
Real-time analytics will give you real-time updates of new orders, the region with the most order requests, fuel consumption details, and vehicle status.
Driver safety will track the safety score of the on-duty drivers based on their attitude while driving when delivering goods, phone usage, speed, and more.
Multiple payment gateway integrations will make the app more convenient for users, offering transparent and reliable transaction procedures.
Enabling cloud storage will meet your requirements for big data storage space.

Cost of Developing Uber for Freight App

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Now that we have covered the features, you’ll need in your uber for trucking app development, here is the cost breakdown that you can expect:
The price for each element mentioned varies according to its simplicity. For example, for sign-up, email registration can cost $2000. Another $1000 will get you social media log-in, and an additional $2000 will give you a two-step verification feature with signup.
For profiles, the price can range from $4000 to $7000 depending on the complexity. Ratings and reviews can cost you $5000, while the price calculator feature will add another $3000 to the budget.
The built-in calendar features to track deliveries cost $4000, payment gateways add another $7000, and GPS tracking can cost up to $15,000.
Generally, hybrid apps are more costly than native apps for Android and iOS, with iOS being more affordable than Android.
If the Android and iOS native app development costs around $5000, then cross-platform apps would cost you up to $8,750. There is also another way, which costs you lower than these two options and it is buying an Uber freight clone.

Hiring a Development Company or a Freelancer

Your choice of developer also influences the final cost of the trucking app development. Freelance Mobile app designer will cost you less compared to an agency, but the accompanied hurdles are not worth the convenience. From communication troubles to differences in time zones, and other problems disrupt the flow of development.
Full-scale development companies offer a smoother development experience, but the rates are higher than an average freelancer. The price may vary from $50 per hour or $2000 per week for simple projects to $75 per hour or $3000 per week for complex apps.

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• Uber Alternatives For 2021 – Best Apps Like Uber and Lyft
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Conclusion

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On-demand apps are gaining recognition as an apt method for the customer service sector to cater to their consumer base on a global scale. With almost every business developing their mobile apps, it’s the best time to invest in the trucking industry.
The cost of your uber for trucks app depends primarily on your choice of platform, the hourly rates of the company, and its global location.
If you have any queries regarding uber for trucking app development, we would love to help you with the technical problems.