Over 564 companies involved in the express freight and courier industry generate intense competition – it is a real challenge to be a leader and survivor in this segment of road transport. Running a fleet of 80 trucks on both long distance haulage and local distribution, national carrier Bigfoot Express Freight has consistently grown market share through service orientation above being a road transport operator.
The company's service is entirely based on time - anything that brings Bigfoot Express Freight into realtime relationships with its clients is a win-win situation. That is where Orchid fleet management and tracking systems come into time equation improvements.
Crime and security have been initial drivers of vehicle tracking in local fleets - simply a need to know where a vehicle is and to raise rapid response for recovery purposes. Pressure on 'sweating the assets' for greater utilisation combined with higher levels of service offerings have increased demands on tracking systems to provide more than security. This is the evolution of fleet management into vehicle tracking in South Africa.
For over three years Bigfoot Express Freight had tracked its fleet for security purposes only and communications with drivers were supported through two-way radio. Now every one of the national 80-strong fleet is equipped with an Orchid tracking system that provides realtime vehicle positioning via SMS messaging. Bigfoot's fleet is also fitted with extensions to the tracking units, SMS-D (short message service - display) terminals that receive and send text messages from the fleet's monitoring station. The SMS-D unit has the advantage of being able to handle up to 40 pre-programmed responses that give drivers sufficient choices of quick response while preventing time wastage in having to key in a message. The clutter of conversations is eliminated, allowing controllers more time to get down to organising and controlling instead of trying to limit two-way radio chatter.
Cutting edge of service - time management
Bigfoot Express Freight views itself as a quality service provider, moving parcels in realtime frames. Time, linked to service, is the over-riding issue - tracking its fleet in realtime has allowed Bigfoot to monitor vehicle position in relation to customer request for parcel collection. This means the closest vehicle always satisfies customer demand, shortening collection times and promoting vehicle utilisation.
Employing high-quality differential GPS technology, Orchid determines vehicle position better than 5 m of actual location - tracking and recovery depend on exact, not approximate location.
Integrating logistical and vehicle tracking software
Dovetail provides Bigfoot's logistical software and cooperation between Dovetail and Orchid allows effective interface for data flowing from both logistics and tracking. Proof of delivery (POD) is absolutely critical in the express freight industry and current software development will allow realtime generation of POD documentation. This means that POD's will be generated via the SMS-D terminal in a truck cab for instant processing and transmission to customers.
Do not ignore the driver
It is said that a driver is a nut behind the wheel holding a vehicle together. Bigfoot's Sun Moodley points out, "Driver acceptance of Orchid tracking is part of the success we are enjoying with this system. Our drivers do not see this as a policing tool and accept all the benefits it offers - they find extra security in knowing that their controller is completely aware of their position on the road. The SMS-D terminals allow rapid receipt and transmission of messages without blocking time on the air."
Orchid is an ISO 9001 product and VESA approved, one of very few fleet management tracking systems to receive this mark of approval. VESA approval is a stringent appraisal of Global Telematics' ability to provide customer support, provide communication historically and in realtime, and management information that includes mapping facilities, data storage, reporting and vehicle identification.
Bigfoot's service runs on 24 h/day - especially the longhaul intercity fleet. Matching this 24 h operation is Orchid's 24 h customer response centre. Mark Holgate, Orchid's General Manager: Marketing, concludes "Vehicle tracking is intrinsically a partnership - we are with our customers wherever they may be, 24 h/day and trying to add value every kilometre of the way."
For further details contact Mark Holgate, Global Telematics SA on tel: (021) 915 6505, e-mail: holgatem@orchid-sa.co.za
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