Executive Summary
Trucking companies are buying more software than ever—but not necessarily getting more done. Mid-sized fleets in the U.S. often run 5 to 15 different SaaS tools just to keep daily operations moving. That’s a lot of dashboards, logins, updates, training, and recurring costs—without a lot of cohesion.
This tool-heavy approach was useful when digitalization was new. But now? It’s becoming a liability. Tools are solving problems in isolation. Systems solve them in context. And context is what trucking CXOs need most right now—especially as operational costs rise, regulatory pressure tightens, and customers demand faster, smarter logistics.
This PoV unpacks why tool sprawl is slowing down the industry, what it means to “build systems,” and how trucking leaders can shift their digital strategy from piecemeal to purposeful.
Because at this point, buying another app won’t fix what’s broken. It might just make things worse.
Let’s start with what’s really going on. Most mid-sized U.S. trucking firms use 5 to 15 SaaS tools. Fleet tracking, TMS, CRM, dispatch, insurance, route optimization, driver compliance—the list grows quickly. On paper, it looks like tech adoption. In practice, it often turns into tech chaos.
Each tool brings its own interface, workflows, and data models. Teams jump between tabs. Dispatchers and drivers work off separate systems. Data lives in silos. And IT spends more time maintaining integrations than actually improving operations.
This fragmentation has a name: tool sprawl. And it’s not just annoying—it’s expensive.
A recent industry analysis shows that trucking companies with fragmented software stacks suffer from:
Just one truck down for five days a year can cost a fleet up to $4,400 in missed revenue and repairs. Multiply that across your fleet, and you’re bleeding cash where you thought you were saving it.
There’s a simple but overlooked distinction here.
Tools are designed to do things. Route planning. Maintenance alerts. Driver scheduling.
Systems are designed to connect things. They create logic across operations. They automate cause and effect. They provide a view of the whole business, not just parts of it.
A good system acts like a digital nerve center—bringing together people, processes, data, and machines in one coordinated rhythm. That’s what trucking needs now: less clicking, more clarity.
Let’s break it down.
| Function | Tool Approach | System Approach |
| Compliance | Standalone ELD app logs hours | Compliance data auto-logged, cross-checked with dispatch and driver schedules |
| Maintenance | Alerts on mileage from a 3rd-party app | Real-time sensor data triggers preventive workflows, assigns tasks, and logs status in dashboard |
| Route Optimization | Basic GPS-based planner | Dynamic routes updated with live data on traffic, weather, and driver availability |
| Customer Service | CRM manages tickets | Tickets sync with vehicle location, load status, and incident history for faster resolution |
Buying more software won’t create this coordination. Building a system will.
The system-vs-tool conversation isn’t just about software. It’s about how your business thinks.
Many CXOs still treat tech purchasing like a checklist. Need route planning? Buy an app. Need compliance logging? Buy another. It’s tactical. Reactive. And increasingly, a problem.
Digital maturity isn’t about how many tools you have—it’s about how well your operations run.
The companies pulling ahead are the ones designing workflows, not just buying products. They ask:
And they build around those answers—with platforms like ServiceNow or custom digital layers that reflect their actual business processes.
Think of it like this: You’re not buying plumbing parts. You’re designing the whole system. That mindset shift has to start at the top.
Some CXOs argue that tools are cheaper. Sure—at the start.
Most SaaS tools offer low entry pricing, fast deployment, and out-of-the-box features. But once the stack grows past 7–10 tools, the hidden costs pile up.
And most important: every minute your team spends fixing, syncing, or babysitting tools is time they’re not solving real business problems.
So, what does “building a system” actually look like?
It doesn’t mean building a giant app from scratch. It means creating connected workflows using platforms that support automation, integration, and customization.
Here’s a simplified progression trucking firms are adopting:
Take Cummins, for example. They moved from siloed fleet operations to a unified system using ServiceNow—automating maintenance workflows, linking vehicle data to service orders, and integrating with their financial systems. Result? Over $30 million in ROI, better uptime, and global visibility across 800+ vehicles.
Let’s talk numbers.
So yes, systems take time to set up. But the return—operational, financial, and strategic—is hard to ignore.
At Amazatic, we’ve seen firsthand how trucking companies fall into the “tool trap.” They add software trying to solve problems—only to create new ones.
Our belief is simple: You don’t need another app. You need a smarter system.
We help U.S. trucking companies streamline their operations with custom ServiceNow workflows that reflect how they actually run—not how a vendor thinks they should. From maintenance to compliance, load tracking to driver onboarding—we connect the dots. You get more clarity, more control, and fewer surprises.
Because the future of trucking isn’t about having more tech. It’s about having the right logic behind it.
Let’s talk.
www.amazatic.com