Carriers feel constant pressure to keep up with the latest technology, but choosing when and how to invest precious capital is not easy. There’s no simple tried-and-true formula for calculating the return on investment. One size doesn’t fit all in this industry.

Even when investment returns are calculated accurately, there are pitfalls that can keep companies from gaining all of the expected paybacks. One danger is creating ROI numbers based on a full-fleet installation and then deploying the technology to only part of the fleet.

ROI numbers can come from many sources, so the issue arises of which numbers can be trusted.

“Focus on the positive” is a theme repeated by people who coach drivers. “We feel strongly that we should have something positive to say every time we speak with a driver,” said Jeff Baer of LinkeDrive.

When drivers adopt driving habits that increase fuel efficiency, the added benefit is that safety improves.

Technology that incorporates everything from GPS location to ambient air temperature can help drivers maximize fuel efficiency, tech executives said.

Mack Trucks said it has partnered with Telogis to offer fleet-management services that utilize built-in telematics hardware.