Time is the most valuable resource for any fleet manager, but far too often time gets consumed handling exceptions that detract focus from activities that produce better outcomes from the start.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many fleets have accelerated their use of technology to remove busywork and give people more time to spend on the most essential business activities.
Such has been the case for Quality Transport, a 20-truck dry van carrier based in Freeport, Ill. Senior Vice President Amanda Schuier, who works remotely in Missouri, had been wanting greater access to data than its outdated transportation management software (TMS) system could provide.
In March 2020, she led a changeover to Axele, a cloud-based TMS, and soon after a new ELD platform from Samsara. The two systems are integrated to share real-time visibility of fleet operations, financial, compliance and safety data.
One of the most significant time savings of new technology is having drivers’ hours-of-service (HOS) data within the TMS. Previously, getting HOS data to plan loads was a manual process that involved “constantly talking to drivers,” she said.
As a small fleet operator, Schuier looks for technology that provides data that is easy to interpret and take action on. “Overall, we are so much better than what we were a year ago because of technology upgrades.”
