Tech Firms Say Sales, Orders From Trucking Companies Still Rising

AS VEGAS — Several information technology companies that provide software, tracking and communications systems to the trucking industry said their sales and orders increased sharply last year and were headed even higher in 2005.

Higher motor carrier profits, increased tractor and trailer sales and driver-retention problems converged, they said, making tech products more attractive to fleets.

Technology and software providers interviewed at the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual convention here March 6-9 said booming sales were helping to make up for ground lost the past few years, when a variety of factors kept carriers from investing heavily in technology.