Why Understanding Technology Is Crucial for Traditional Industries Like Trucking and Manufacturing
By: Robert Fuller, CIO, Toggle
As we enter deeper into the Fourth Industrial Revolution—better known as Industry 4.0—industries once considered low-tech or slow to evolve are facing a turning point. Manufacturing and trucking, two sectors critical to the economic fabric of the United States, are being reshaped by a wave of technological integration that promises increased efficiency, adaptability, and long-term resilience. But to reap these benefits, stakeholders must first understand the fundamental shifts underway.
The Manufacturing Case: A Blueprint for Tech Adoption
Manufacturing has long been seen as a backbone of the American economy. In Iowa, for instance, over 226,000 people work in more than 4,100 manufacturing facilities, contributing $30 billion to the state’s GDP—representing 17% of the total economy. However, as the state’s Manufacturing 4.0 Strategic Plan highlights, “Iowa’s manufacturers were generally in a strong position” heading into the pandemic, yet they now face “lagging productivity and output growth combined with acute workforce shortages”.
Technology, especially under the umbrella of Industry 4.0, is positioned as the solution. This includes everything from robotics and sensor-based monitoring to cloud computing and artificial intelligence. As one Iowa manufacturing leader put it:
“We know our factory has a lot to tell us… and these [Industry 4.0] technologies can enable it.”
By enabling “smart factories” that utilize real-time data, predictive analytics, and machine-to-human communication, companies can dramatically increase their competitiveness, flexibility, and ability to respond to customer demands.
From Factory Floors to Freight Corridors: What This Means for Trucking
The implications for trucking and logistics are direct. Manufacturing’s pivot to real-time production, automation, and data-driven decision-making will inevitably demand a corresponding transformation in how goods are shipped. Industry 4.0 includes improvements to the supply chain, which “allow for more customization and flexibility in specific orders” and enable “enhanced traceability and security throughout the supply chain”. That means freight systems must become smarter, more connected, and more adaptable.
This transformation might include:
- IoT-enabled fleet tracking, offering real-time updates between production and delivery.
- Predictive logistics, where AI forecasts delivery times, maintenance needs, and fuel optimization.
- Digital twins of supply chains to simulate disruptions and optimize routes dynamically.
As manufacturing becomes smarter, so too must the trucking systems that support it.
Lessons from Other Industries: When Everyone Wins
Other sectors offer valuable lessons. Retail and e-commerce, for example, have embraced digital transformation by integrating customer behavior data, automation, and supply chain optimization. The result? Better margins, faster service, and a broader customer base.
One of the key strategies for success in these transformations has been inclusive implementation:
- Upskilling existing workers, rather than replacing them.
- Creating cross-sector partnerships, such as those Iowa envisions between manufacturers, community colleges, and innovation hubs.
- Building shared digital infrastructure, like the 5G networks Deere & Company is implementing to future-proof its Iowa factories.
These industries remind us that technology alone isn’t the solution—it’s how it’s adopted and integrated that determines success. As Iowa’s plan puts it, “The disruptive nature of Manufacturing 4.0 technologies… underscores the relevance yet again of multi-stakeholder coordination and collaboration.”
Bridging the Gap for Trucking and Beyond
To ensure that trucking doesn’t fall behind manufacturing, industry leaders must:
- Engage in multi-stakeholder planning, including manufacturers, logistics providers, government, and educators.
- Invest in training programs tailored for logistics roles—especially in rural areas where both sectors are prominent.
- Focus on interoperability and cybersecurity, two themes emphasized repeatedly in the Manufacturing 4.0 report, which are just as crucial for digital logistics.
Final Thoughts
The future of American industry isn’t just high-tech—it’s deeply collaborative. As the integration of digital tools spreads from the factory floor to the highway, success will depend on our collective ability to understand the technologies at play, train our people, and design systems where everyone—workers, companies, and customers—wins.
By learning from manufacturing’s strategic embrace of Industry 4.0, industries like trucking can begin their own transformation journeys—not just to survive, but to thrive.
For more on Iowa’s Manufacturing 4.0 roadmap—including its focus on automation, workforce up‑skilling, and smart trucking integration—see details here.