The trucking and logistics industry is like a lifeline in the USA. Trucking accounted for more than 80% of the total US freight cost in 2022. This results in a total revenue of $940.8 billion. There are roughly 168.6 million public, private, and commercial trucks in the country.
All of these numbers indicate one thing, developing an app like Uber for trucking has a high potential for success. In this blog, we’ll look into the essential things you need to know for trucking app development.
Major Features of a Trucking App Development
The features you provide influence whether people will download your app and stick with it or not. The right features are the key to making your app stand out and keeping your users engaged. Here are some essential features you need to implement in your trucking app development:
Personalized Dashboards and Accessibility
A trucking app like Uber will be used by drivers, fleet owners, and shippers. All of them have different purposes for using the app and need a different set of functionalities. For instance, a trucker would be interested in his destination for delivery, while a shipper would like to track his shipment in real-time.
Here’s a breakdown of what the individual dashboards would look like for a trucker, fleet owner, and shipper:
Trucker Dashboard Elements
Delivery Details: Information about the objective for the day, such as pickup and drop-off locations, pathways, and stops.
Current Location: A GPS-powered map.
Earnings: Total amount earned along with the number of deliveries successfully completed.
Notifications: Messages, updates on orders, reminders for maintenance, etc.
Fleet Owner Dashboard Elements
Overview: A graphic representation of the fleet’s performance, including the total deliveries, revenue, and rating.
Fleet Management: Assign orders, monitor live locations, and communicate with the truckers.
Reports: Daily, weekly, and monthly summary.
Notifications: Updates on cancelled orders, missed deliveries, breakdowns, accidents, customer complaints, etc.
Shipper Dashboard Elements
Order Placement: Create and submit an order, specify the details, and make payments.
Order Tracking: Live location and status of the order based on GPS data.
Rate and Review: Provide ratings about the service provided by the driver and fleet owner.
Notifications: Updates about the order.
Messaging
A chat system is the basis for establishing communication between truckers and shippers. They can ask questions and clarify doubts regarding the shipments, just like Uber. It’ll help them build trust and rapport with each other.
You can elevate the experience by allowing media sharing, such as images, videos, etc.
Vehicle Tracking
Real-time vehicle tracking is a key feature of Uber. By implementing it in your trucking app, you can allow users to monitor the movement of trucks in real-time. You’ll need a GPS-powered map that shows the exact location of the trucks for this.
Vehicle tracking is beneficial for both shippers and fleet managers. Shippers can check where their shipment has reached, whereas fleet managers can understand the status of their trucks.
Document Exchange
Allow drivers and shippers to share and verify the necessary documents, such as invoices, receipts, bills of lading, etc. Smart contracts and blockchain technology have to be implemented to ensure the safety and transparency of the transactions.
Schedule Management
This feature will help both drivers and shippers modify or cancel their bookings. Connect this feature with push notifications to send alerts and reminders for their upcoming deliveries.
Cost of Developing an App Like Uber for Trucking
While we can’t provide you with an exact number, we can present some ranges to help you get an idea.
| Development Phase | Description | Estimated Cost |
| 1. Research & Planning | Market analysis, competitor research, and project planning | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 2. Design | UI/UX design, wireframing, and prototyping | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 3. Frontend Development | Creation of user interfaces and user experiences | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| 4. Backend Development | Server development, database setup, and application logic | $30,000 – $60,000 |
| 5. Mobile App Development | Development of iOS and Android apps | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| 6. Admin Panel | Dashboard for managing users, payments, and data | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| 7. GPS Integration | Real-time location tracking and mapping | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| 8. Payment Gateway | Integration of secure payment methods | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 9. Testing | Quality assurance, testing, and bug fixing | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| 10. Deployment | Deployment of the app on app stores and servers | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 11. Maintenance & Updates | Ongoing support, updates, and maintenance | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
| Total Estimated Cost | $170,000 – $370,000+ |
While a trucking app like Uber can be developed for less than $170,000, you’ll have to cut corners on many essential features. In such cases, you can go with MVP and build upon that.
How to Generate Revenue With a Trucking App
There are multiple revenue models you can go with for a trucking app like Uber. Here are the most popular ones:
Commission Model
The commission model is the most efficient way to generate revenue from a trucking app. Here, you charge a fee from either the shippers, carriers, or both for each transaction they make in your app.
Subscription Model
Offer premium membership at a monthly/annual rate to your users, who can access exclusive features and benefits.
Advertising
Allow fleet managers to advertise their services on your app. You can charge based on the level of promotion you offer.
Technologies Required for Building a Trucking App
The exact technology you need to build any app depends on its features and type, such as Native, Cross-Platform, and PWA. Here’s a breakdown of what technologies are ideal for the app type you choose.
| Category | Technology |
| Frontend Development | React Native (for cross-platform mobile development) |
| or Swift (for iOS) and Kotlin (for Android) | |
| Backend Development | Node.js (Express.js) for server-side logic |
| MongoDB or MySQL for the database | |
| Real-time Communication | WebSockets or MQTT for real-time updates |
| Geolocation Services | Google Maps API or Mapbox for mapping and navigation |
| Payment Gateway | Stripe, Braintree, or PayPal for secure and seamless transactions |
| Authentication | JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for secure user authentication |
| Push Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) or Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) |
| Cloud Services | Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure for scalable and reliable cloud infrastructure |
| Containerization | Docker for containerization of application components |
| Deployment | Kubernetes for container orchestration and deployment |
| Monitoring | Prometheus for monitoring and Grafana for visualization |
| Version Control | Git for version control and GitHub or GitLab for repository hosting |
| Development Tools | Visual Studio Code or IntelliJ IDEA for coding |
| Testing Frameworks | Jest for unit testing, Postman for API testing, and Detox/Appium for mobile app testing |
| Collaboration Tools | Slack or Microsoft Teams for team communication |
| Project Management | Jira, Trello, or Asana for project tracking and management |
Note that this is just a general overview, and your specific requirements may lead to adjustments in the technology stack.
How WDI Can Develop the Perfect Trucking App for You
WDI is a top mobile app development company with over 20 years of experience delivering digital solutions. Our large team of developers and access to a wide range of technologies ensure that you get all the necessary development services under one roof.
Allow us to deliver the best.
Contact WDI today to start your Uber-like trucking app development!
