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Truckfile Digital Recording Systems Making Life Easier for Hauliers

Haulage companies, like most businesses, thrive on being able to receive and respond quickly to accurate data. Logistics managers are always on the lookout for anything that can help them source and react to information about their business. The new Truckfile digital recording system has the potential to change the way fleets are managed. Read on to find out more about this new technology.
What is Truckfile?

Truckfile offers haulage companies an integrated means of managing their fleets. Its simple display means managers can view all relevant information with just a glance.

And there’s a lot of information to view. Any defects and alerts are logged, along with on-the-road information. The linked app allows technicians to enter data as easily as they would with a pen and paper, but with the added benefit that everything is automatically uploaded to a central storage hub.

What’s more, all this updates in real-time, meaning firms can view and address problems as soon as they arise.

What can it Record?

The system’s developers pride themselves on its ability to record and store a vast range of information.

Haulage companies using the system can record:

• All vehicle safety checks and workshop inspections. • Details of any job, from start to finish. • Allocation of jobs to technicians or drivers. • Drivers’ walkaround checks.

How can it Help?

The biggest selling point is that the system captures all this information easily and stores it in one place. These electronic files are easily searchable and avoid many of the pitfalls of keeping physical copies. Issues like storage space, perishability and difficulty finding information could become problems of the past for haulage companies.

Herefordshire-based firm ABE Transport recently switched to the system, and their response has been very positive. Compliance manager Jeff Pryce was especially enthusiastic. ‘I love it’, he said. ‘I have full visibility of everything that happens.I can see when jobs are being started and follow them right through to completion, while all the relevant records are updated automatically.’

Pryce also praised the ease of searching, noting that nothing is further away than the click of a button.

What do Workers Think?

Of course, haulage companies rely on workers in a variety of different areas to keep their business running. Many managers are rightly sceptical of new technologies that promise to make life easier and wind up confusing and frustrating frontline staff.

Thankfully, this doesn’t seem to be an issue in this case. Concerns about practicality led ABE to request a second demonstration, this time including workers from all areas of the company. This project met with overwhelming success, with all involved impressed with the new system’s functionality.

It seems that Truckfile has a lot to offer haulage companies. Its intuitive interface puts everything managers need at their fingertips and its ease of use enables drivers and technicians to input data quickly and easily. Pryce says ABE is looking to extend its use of the technology, noting the potential to use it for billing third-party work and even get detailed breakdowns of cost per vehicle.

In an industry that moves fast, managers would be well advised not to fall behind with this new technology.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage companies or self-employed drivers with jobs in road transport and haulage work. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

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All a Fleet Manager Needs to Know about Courier Insurance

If you’re a fleet manager in charge of a courier company, irrespective of the size you probably already know that the job comes with a great deal of responsibility. You’re effectively in charge of what can often be a large number of employees and vehicles, and one of the most important aspects you’ll need to consider is choosing the appropriate insurance for a fleet that carries out delivery work.
This article will go into detail about insurance on the whole – the benefits, whether or not you need it (spoiler alert: you do), and other concerns. So if you’re responsible for multiple delivery work vans of different sizes and capacities, read on for all the fast facts.

Do I Need It?

The short answer is yes. As a manager, it may be tempting to try to save the company a few pounds by not investing in any, but this is a bad idea and extremely ill-advised. After all, if unforeseen circumstances arise and something happens to any of the vans in your fleet during the course of their delivery work, you’ll want to be sure that you are protected so that you’re not paying an arm and a leg for something you weren’t expecting.

What Should It Cover?

The exact package you choose will depend on the specifics of your operation, however it’s recommended that you pick one that will allow you to manage your entire fleet under a singular policy. You should make sure you’re insured against damage to your own vans and operatives as well as damage to other people, property or vehicles – especially if you’re running a fleet of five or more.

What Are the Benefits?

For starters, investing in insurance will give you total peace of mind. You won’t have to constantly worry about having to pay extra expenses or face legal action if an accident happens, which means you can properly focus on running the business. Other benefits include:

• One renewal date • One policy that covers all your drivers and vehicles (potentially all the different types your company has) • One point of contact to get in touch with when you have questions or concerns.

What Else Should I Keep in Mind?

As a manager, other relevant factors you should keep at the forefront of your mind when deciding which insurance policy is right for you are as follows:

• The delivery work destinations • Your drivers’ details • Each of your vehicles’ individual details (value, size, model, make, annual mileage, etc.) • How many vans you’d like to insure • What kind of goods you’re transporting

If you’re working in the delivery industry as a fleet manager, no doubt you feel passionately about the safety and efficiency of your drivers and vehicles, which is why it makes all the sense in the world to make sure they are protected by insuring them correctly. Knowledge is power and now that you know all about the benefits, coverage requirements and more, you’re in a position to make an informed purchase. Here’s to years of happy, safe and insured driving and deliveries.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Courier Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Courier Exchange provides services for matching delivery work with available drivers, and is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.

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Outfitting Your Vehicle For Work Or Play

When it comes to work or play our vehicles go with us wherever we go. If it’s a trip to the most remote areas for a camping trip or to a client or job site our utes, vans and other vehicles are there taking the journey with us. While travelling, van storage may be an issue. Many tradies will tell you that travelling from job to job with their vehicles can be a daunting task. Trying to fit all of their equipment, supplies and miscellaneous materials in their vehicles can be a chore. Then, when arriving to their destination trying to find exactly what they need takes precious time out of their day, causing their production to go down. This is why many are looking for van storage systems.
Easily Organised

When looking for van storage, tradies will typically look for solutions that give them easy access to their most used tools. Ideally, this should be a system with drawers large enough to hold the main tools, quick access release of the drawers, and deep storage so that tools can fit comfortably and reduce the likelihood of being damaged during transport.

Security

Drawers keep all your expensive tools and equipment locked away. And importantly out of sight. Most thieves are opportunistic, if they can’t see anything worth pinching, they’ll simply move on until they find a ute or van with gear on display.

Multipurpose

Drawer units for van storage should have multipurpose functionality. This refers to being able to store tools for work and items for play. Many love to take their vehicles off-road and to popular camping sites. As such, the ability to quickly store tents, food, recreation equipment and more make a van storage system ideal for everyone involved.

Customisable

No vehicle is the same and as such, no van storage system will be the same either. Having the ability to customise a system for optimum fit, function and feel will make everyone want to have a unit.

Strong construction

When riding through the countryside and off-road, the items in your drawers will likely bounce around. This can cause damage to tools and equipment that no one wants. Placing them securely in van storage drawers with solid construction behind them will protect every item from damage.

Storage

When designing your storage keep in mind that the typical drawer to hold general tools has the capacity of holding 150 kg each. Most vendors, however, have drawers with more capacity as well as slides.

Whether you are looking for something to take camping or to organise your working van, storage is a great option to consider. With the versatile functionality, design options and ease of use anyone looking to transport for work or pleasure can be assured a van storage system will fit your needs.

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