How small fleets can turn smarter operations into bigger profits
The playing field is leveling out in trucking. That's according to Asparuh Koev, founder of Transmetrics, who sees smaller trucking companies gaining access to technology and tools that previously only large fleets could afford.
But before layering shiny new tools onto fleet operations, trucking executives need to begin with the basics: good, clean data. Here, Koev shares why and how to get started.
What's the risk to small trucking firms if they're not maximizing or utilizing available data?
They’re leaving money on the table. Poor data means unreliable decisions, which can often lead to inefficient routing, empty miles, overcapacity and missed maintenance. Small fleets can’t afford that kind of waste. But it's difficult to fill return trucks without visibility into capacity and demand trends, leaving many truckers to miss these opportunities. On average, 35% of return trips are empty. When trucking companies cross-analyze route histories with delivery patterns, they can start load matching. More advanced use cases will layer vehicle type, fuel usage, and telematics on top of this to ensure the most efficient routes for the vehicles available.
Everyone likes to hype up AI, but what's one practical use case of the technology for small business motor carriers?
It depends on what bottlenecks your business struggles with the most. You might have installed a really good route planning software, but it won’t deliver real value if your load data is inaccurate or if your dispatchers are constantly reacting to last-minute changes. The best tools in the world can’t fix bad inputs. That’s why AI works best when it’s focused on a specific, well-defined bottleneck—whether that’s demand forecasting, fleet utilization or maintenance planning.
For a small fleet, even a 5% improvement in planning efficiency can significantly boost profitability. AI is about giving dispatchers and drivers the right information at the right time to make smarter, faster decisions.
What's your advice to fleet owners who want to move forward with implementing tech but don't have the budget?
Start with your data. Even simple tools become powerful when your operational data is clean. You don’t need a huge budget to begin organizing and understanding the information you already have, such as capacity usage, mileage, fuel use, load patterns and maintenance logs. Once that’s in shape, identify the biggest operational pain point and invest in a tool that targets it specifically. Don’t chase all-in-one systems you’re not ready for. Look for modular, scalable solutions with a proven ROI. Also, talk to your tech providers about phased pricing or pilot programs. Good vendors want long-term partners, not quick sales. And remember, the cost of inaction is often higher than the upfront spend.
What excites you about the future of resilience in the trucking industry?
Smaller fleets are getting access to the kind of advanced tools that only the top-tier fleets used to afford. That levels the playing field. With the right digital toolbox, even a 40-truck operation can run like a 1,000-truck fleet—with more precision and flexibility. It means they can respond faster to market disruptions, fuel price swings and customer demands, without adding overhead.
What else is really exciting is that these tools are making operations leaner, but also cleaner. We are seeing more trucking companies monitor their fuel usage alongside driver behaviors to understand the correlation between idling and harsh turns with fuel patterns. When good behaviors are rewarded and bad ones are trained out, fleets can operate more safely while minimizing their carbon footprint.
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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