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Hand-held logistics management

When operating a logistics company, limitation of your liability is of major importance. While standard trading conditions will reduce your risk, strong workforce management is crucial to ensure that you are not being exposed to unnecessary risk and potential liability.

Given South Africa’s crime statistics, it is essential to equip your staff and fleet with a tool to improve the safety of your workforce, your property and the cargo in your care.

The Active Track is a dynamic device particularly suited to the needs of players in the logistics industry. Customers who implement the Active Track report improved service delivery, heightened client satisfaction, and an overall reduction of loss and wasted costs. These benefits are showcased by one of Active Track’s customers evading hijackers in Gauteng earlier this year.

Airport security

A well-established clearing and forwarding company grew tired of intermittent communication between it and its truck drivers, and sought a system to improve accountability among its workforce. At the suggestion of a shipper, the company implemented Active Track as a tool to track, communicate with and provide emergency support for its drivers, and measure the work carried out by its managers. The ultimate aim of the implementation was to reduce the company’s exposure to risk, and cut-down on wasted costs.

At the end of the first month, the value-add became clear. The Active Track’s GSM capabilities allowed for uninterrupted contact with drivers, as the devices could not be turned off and would answer automatically after the first few rings if the driver failed to pick up the call. The excuse of a depleted battery was done away with, given the Active Track’s battery life of up to 72 hours and the fact that the device could be charged in the driver’s vehicle if necessary.

The GPS functionality made the managers’ tasks easier as they could track the movements of each device remotely and in real-time via the online portal. The portal also enabled managers to receive automated reports on the movement and alarm events of each device via email and/or SMS, which in turn improved manager accountability.

For enhanced monitoring, the company opted for 24-hour off-site monitoring by the Active Track support centre.

While the company was pleased with the Active Track, its functionality was truly tested following a routine collection from OR Tambo International Airport. A truck carrying a consignment of high-value goods noticed two sedans following it shortly after leaving the airport. As a precaution, especially given the spate of attempted hijackings near the airport, the driver activated the panic function on the Active Track. Within seconds, the call centre called the driver via the device, and passed on the disturbing conversation to the company’s management.

While the company arranged for back-up, the call centre continued to monitor the movements of the device. After a few minutes, the device slowed down and came to a standstill.

Fortunately, prior to being forced off the road, the driver was travelling in the direction of the company’s warehouse – from where backup was being sent. The reaction team was in constant communication with the call centre which was leading them to the truck, and arrived at the scene moments after the truck had stopped. A struggle ensued between the reaction team and robbers, resulting in the arrest of the assailants who were subsequently handed over to the SAPS.

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