Project Background
The Challenge
Research
We kicked the project off with a week-long design sprint. We formulated questions and asked drivers directly, as well as fleet managers, driver managers, and experts at our own company. The better part of a week was spent researching and sketching as a group, posing each other questions and pitching solutions. After settling on an early design that covered the key features drivers wanted, we presented it for feedback to all of the same members we’d initially interviewed.
Basic flows were then tested with real drivers via Maze, and further features tested via UserZoom. Once the app was built, it was regularly focus-tested with panels of beta testing drivers. Drivers who submitted individual feedback through the app were contacted later for 1:1 interviews and testing sessions based around features or changes they had specifically requested.
Features
The features drivers most wanted in their down time were the ability to message the back office, view their drive time, and accept a dispatch the moment it comes in. Our app is split into these main categories, plus an administrative tab requested by driver managers as an area to provide driver resources that are specific to their fleet
View Driver Clocks
Giving drivers a way to view their clocks allows them to determine when to sleep, take breaks, spend time with their families, and activate new loads. Our solution calls out the drivers most relevant clocks and allows them to change their duty status from anywhere without having to call the office.
Duty Status Changing
Drivers can go on or off duty with a single swipe from their app. Because duty status has legal implications, various confirmation gestures were focus tested with drivers as a surefire confirmation of their intent to switch status.
View Assignment Details
The jobs area features 3 tabs that hold jobs available to the driver in different states of completeness. Drivers who are given the choice between multiple loads can track the state and pertinent information to those jobs, as well as accept upcoming loads and activate their new one.
Accept Assignments Remotely
Drivers are able to confirm with the back office that they'll be accepting a certain job. The driver can also receive updates on the details of that job as it progresses.
Send, Receive, and Manage
Although our tablet platform offers drivers a way to reach the back office, they had no way to do so outside the cab short of calling the office or texting their manager. We added a way for the driver to not only send an receive messages of varying priority, but to search and curate messages by archiving them.
Archive Whole Conversations
Drivers can also archive conversations to keep their messages clean. Dispatchers are always able to go un-archive a message if they need to pick the thread back up.
Light & Dark Mode
The app supports light and dark mode using Material 3's dynamic theming tokens. Rather than having white, black, and green, the colors are assigned to tokens that can then switch automatically without needing to create 2 designs for every single project.
Material You Theming
Because the app is Android only, the final design incorporates Material You’s Dynamic Theming. This feature uses a set of auto-generated design tokens to allow any color combination to be applied based on the user’s mood preferences or wallpaper. This is a departure from traditional light/dark theming, but contributes to an overall customizable and personal experience on an Android user’s phone. To learn more about the new design ethos of Material You, check out Google’s documentation.
Dynamic Theming Applied
The most common application of dynamic theming is through auto-generated tones from a user's wallpaper. Users can also choose the color they want for a system-wide theme, such as matching the color of the truck they own.
Outcomes
Drivers were really happy with all of the features introduced. Drivers now have more responsive communication with the back office, and are better able to plan their time and manage their personal lives around their career on the road. Overall we produced a best-in class user experience that can make it easier for drivers to be drivers.