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Customer Survey Reveals Interesting Figures about Technology Solutions

There have been two significant findings from Paragon Software Systems’ annual UK customer survey. The first: integrated technology systems are being used ever more frequently in the courier industry to overcome various business pressures. The second: the transport sector is still struggling to recruit new drivers, and the skill shortage is now the biggest challenge that the industry is facing.
A Growing Concern

Delivery businesses have been struggling to recruit for the last three years. Statistics from the survey show that since 2017, there has been a significant 62% increase in respondents stating that the lack of drivers is impacting their business. This year, over half of the respondents (55%) agreed to the statement, whereas in 2018 the figure was slightly lower at 46%.

Some other issues were highlighted in the survey, and drivers were asked whether these factors were of concern. Some 13% agreed that transport costs were an issue and 12% saw the Brexit debate as a contributing factor. Urban transport restrictions were less of a concern, at 7%.

Technologies to the Rescue

Although there are still industry concerns, it has been found that many courier drivers are looking to telematics and other technological planning systems to overcome these problems. Nearly all respondents (97%) claimed to use some kind of telematics solution, whether it was to plan and schedule timings or simply map out delivery routes.

The most common technology systems in use at the moment are vehicle tracking (95% of fleets use this) and proof of delivery (over half use this). Other solutions include various workforce management applications, vehicle cameras using 4G and live temperature monitoring. Courier companies and owner drivers using these kinds of resources are able to benefit from real-time performance data, allowing them to figure out the best ways to run their businesses and make their operations more efficient.

Why Change?

Many businesses have chosen to invest in new telematics systems as a result of industry pressures. The survey showed that some of the biggest transport planning pressures came from customers – these included the demand for more accurate delivery time windows as well as more frequent communications and proof of delivery. Other pressures such as the need to maximise the utilisation of available drivers has also had an effect.

The courier industry continues to evolve as customer demands become more challenging and technologies become more reliable. The Managing Director of Paragon Software Systems, William Salter, stated that the survey’s results “suggest the road transport sector faces another tough year, with a number of continuing challenges that are compounded by the current economic and political uncertainty.”

There is hope that integrated technology solutions will eventually result in better customer communications, resource utilisation and real-time fleet visibility, but with various uncertainties still looming, only time will tell.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange company in the UK.

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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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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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