In today's market conditions, waste haulers need to make every dollar count in order to stay ahead. With rising fuel prices, increased labor costs, and disposal rates that continue to trend upward, maintaining and growing your profit margin is more challenging than ever. While technology for the waste industry is more abundant today than it has ever been, choosing the right technology solutions that best fit your business can be daunting.  

Having previously led revenue growth at a fast-paced waste management company, I’ve seen firsthand how the right technology investments can make a big difference. When haulers use the right tools, they not only enhance safety and efficiency but also unlock new revenue streams. Here’s my advice on transforming your technology investments into a potent competitive advantage, ensuring you not only maximize profits but also consistently exceed customer expectations. 

Cut Operational Costs to Boost Profitability 

Reducing operational costs is essential to boosting profits in waste management. When you factor in labor, maintenance, and fuel, the cost of operating a collection truck can range from $900 to $1,400 per day. It’s easy to see how reducing route days or even entire routes (through efficiency) can have a material impact on improving operating costs.  

At Routeware, our route optimization tools intelligently sequence and balance stops to streamline your operations. By reducing the number of trucks needed and improving scheduling efficiency, our technology can cut down on route days or even eliminate entire routes. The outcome? Reduced fuel costs, increased workforce productivity, and greater savings and profits. 

Additionally, Routeware's technology helps to quickly address common issues like Missed Pick-Ups (MPUs), On Call Pick-ups, and Extra Pick-ups, by allowing dispatchers to easily assign a stop to an existing route or move to another route. This flexibility improves efficiency and communication, leading to increased revenue and stronger customer loyalty— setting the stage for long-term success. 

Use On-Board Computers and Truck Cameras to Increase Revenue 

Ensuring your customers are receiving the right level of service is another component of increasing route profitability. At Routeware, we’ve developed the most user-friendly in-cab technology in the industry, as well as on-board cameras that seamlessly link your trucks to the back office. This will be a game-changer for your drivers, who can easily snap photos of overloaded containers—turning what used to be a tedious chore into a simple, efficient process. 

The result? Drivers can capture two to three times more photos, leading to more billable overages and a direct boost in revenue. This streamlined process helps you catch charges that might have previously slipped through the cracks, putting more money back into your business. 

Understanding that generating additional income is a top priority for waste haulers, we’ve developed automated on-board systems that reliably detect when a collection is made and ensure customers are accurately billed for any applicable overages. This not only increases revenue but also strengthens customer relationships by nearly eliminating billing disputes. With clear photos of containers, your customers gain a transparent view of what they’re paying for, building trust and highlighting opportunities to enhance service levels and renew service agreements. 

Improve Safety and Compliance to Protect Profits 

For anyone managing a fleet of waste and recycling collection trucks, it's essential to recognize that diligent DVIRs (Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports) and consistent maintenance are critical for ensuring safety and peak performance in the communities served. 

Routeware’s electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (eDVIR) system is a prime example to help facilitate compliance in this area. Our eDVIR product is set up to maximize user engagement throughout the inspection process. By ensuring thorough and consistent safety checks, your path to zero incidents is more likely to be achieved.  

Additionally, on-board technology like cameras and easy-to-use in-cab computers further enable drivers to focus on what matters, while allowing supervisors and managers to be able to see and prove what actually happened during a safety incident.  

Increase Route Density to Maximize Growth 

One of the most profitable ways to grow your business is by increasing route density—focusing on volume growth rather than just price. If your trucks are passing prospective customers on their daily routes, that’s an opportunity you shouldn’t miss. With Routeware’s technology, you can visually see who you serve and who you don’t on a map, allowing you to identify potential customers who are within a minimal distance of your existing routes. 

This disciplined approach to growth reduces the cost of serve and maximizes operational efficiency. If your driver is already in the neighborhood, there’s no reason you shouldn’t serve more customers there. 

Why Routeware 

Investing in the right tools is essential, and Routeware’s next-generation technology is shaped by real-world user feedback and is built to deliver tangible results. 

At Routeware, our dynamic team of innovators and problem-solvers is committed to developing solutions that optimize operations, increase efficiency, and maximize your revenue. We’re driven by a passion for customer success, and we believe our technology can help you unlock new levels of profitability. 

I encourage you to discover the Routeware difference. Click here to get started.