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Day: 5 September 2022

TIMOCOM presents shipment tracking for carriers

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TIMOCOM will be presenting several innovations at the IAA Transportation in Hanover from the 20th to the 25th of September in Hall 13, Booth C40. These innovations are specifically tailored to meet the needs of carriers, in particular smaller companies and mobile device users.

“We are expanding our European road transportation marketplace to include new products and features – two will be available during the trade fair, and the prototype for the third will be on display,” according to Gunnar Gburek, Head of Business Affairs at TIMOCOM.

Those visiting the TIMOCOM trade fair booth can look forward to testing the following innovations:

Modernised freight exchange: TIMOCOM users can now perform as many simultaneous searches as they like, receive notifications regarding new offers and exclude specific offers from the search results list. The new freight exchange is also much simpler to use on mobile devices, making it ideal for finding freight when on the go across Europe.

Live shipment tracking: This latest feature is designed to meet the needs of carriers. It makes it easy to exchange transport information, including an informative shipment status and an ETA calculation optimised for trucks. “It was important to us that service providers have a tool that allows them to maintain full control over which data they share but still meet the needs of transport customers, who want more transparency within the transport process,” according to Steven van Cauteren, Director of Key Account & Partner Management at TIMOCOM. Carriers can share information in real time with their business partner using a digital representation of the shipment, allowing all those involved in the transport process to react quickly to any issues. The product is currently being introduced in the DACH region.

Tour planning: This prototype is an extension of the live shipment tracking feature. It allows road hauliers to factor in tours when scheduling drivers and shipments, doing away with manual entries in Word or Excel. The drivers can then view their tour on their mobile device. “The tour planning feature is a prototype designed to make life easier for service providers. We are currently searching for beta testers, who will allow us to continue to develop the product in line with our customer’s needs,” says Steven Van Cauteren. The feature is primarily designed for use by smaller companies and road hauliers.

Logistics transport customers are increasingly requesting digital processes and more transparency from their service providers. TIMOCOM’s latest innovations help carriers meet these demands while maintaining control over their own data. This allows companies to concentrate on their core business while still profiting from digitalisation of their processes.

TIMOCOM presents shipment tracking for carriers

Posted on by David Priestman

TIMOCOM will be presenting several innovations at the IAA Transportation in Hanover from the 20th to the 25th of September in Hall 13, Booth C40. These innovations are specifically tailored to meet the needs of carriers, in particular smaller companies and mobile device users.

“We are expanding our European road transportation marketplace to include new products and features – two will be available during the trade fair, and the prototype for the third will be on display,” according to Gunnar Gburek, Head of Business Affairs at TIMOCOM.

Those visiting the TIMOCOM trade fair booth can look forward to testing the following innovations:

Modernised freight exchange: TIMOCOM users can now perform as many simultaneous searches as they like, receive notifications regarding new offers and exclude specific offers from the search results list. The new freight exchange is also much simpler to use on mobile devices, making it ideal for finding freight when on the go across Europe.

Live shipment tracking: This latest feature is designed to meet the needs of carriers. It makes it easy to exchange transport information, including an informative shipment status and an ETA calculation optimised for trucks. “It was important to us that service providers have a tool that allows them to maintain full control over which data they share but still meet the needs of transport customers, who want more transparency within the transport process,” according to Steven van Cauteren, Director of Key Account & Partner Management at TIMOCOM. Carriers can share information in real time with their business partner using a digital representation of the shipment, allowing all those involved in the transport process to react quickly to any issues. The product is currently being introduced in the DACH region.

Tour planning: This prototype is an extension of the live shipment tracking feature. It allows road hauliers to factor in tours when scheduling drivers and shipments, doing away with manual entries in Word or Excel. The drivers can then view their tour on their mobile device. “The tour planning feature is a prototype designed to make life easier for service providers. We are currently searching for beta testers, who will allow us to continue to develop the product in line with our customer’s needs,” says Steven Van Cauteren. The feature is primarily designed for use by smaller companies and road hauliers.

Logistics transport customers are increasingly requesting digital processes and more transparency from their service providers. TIMOCOM’s latest innovations help carriers meet these demands while maintaining control over their own data. This allows companies to concentrate on their core business while still profiting from digitalisation of their processes.

Toyota scheme cuts cost of operating hand pallet trucks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

To support companies during these financially challenging times, Toyota Material Handling UK is offering an easy way of operating pallet trucks at the lowest cost and at a fixed annual rental rate with no capital outlay.

Toyota’s ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ scheme is a hand pallet truck rental option that enables users to receive a new pallet truck from the Toyota BT Lifter range for an agreed two-year monthly rental fee that can be as little as the equivalent of 79p/day.

Throughout the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ agreement period, the truck – or trucks – will be fully serviced free of further charge by Toyota’s experienced and dedicated pallet truck service team as part of an agreed structured maintenance schedule.

In addition, in the unlikely event of a truck suffering a mechanical breakdown between scheduled service calls, Toyota’s Pallet Truck Specialists will visit free of any further charge.

Tony Sharpe, Head of Service Development and Hand Pallet Truck After Sales at Toyota Material Handling, comments: “Hand pallet trucks are in near constant use in countless warehouses, retail outlets and manufacturing sites across the country. ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ provides quality equipment at the lowest rates and complete cost transparency for users. And, of course, because fees are agreed up-front, budget forecasting becomes far simpler.

“Furthermore, the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ service schedule will identify any potential issues with a truck that may compromise productivity or staff safety and thus prevent significant downtime – with all the cost and disruption to a business that can mean.”

While a strict servicing and maintenance regime is the best way of preventing significant downtime truck build quality is also a major factor in maintaining operational efficiency and in work-cycle tests trucks in Toyota’s BT Lifter range have lasted up to five times as long as other hand pallet trucks.

Sharpe adds: “Toyota’s BT hand pallet trucks have been setting standards in strength and performance for over 60 years and today’s BT Lifter range from Toyota Material Handling maintains these values with tests proving that these trucks are the most durable on the market.”

The full Toyota BT Lifter range – including top selling models such as the BT Quick Lifter, the BT Lifter Stainless and the BT Lifter Wet Spec – is available through ‘Pallet Truck Plus.’

 

Toyota scheme cuts cost of operating hand pallet trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

To support companies during these financially challenging times, Toyota Material Handling UK is offering an easy way of operating pallet trucks at the lowest cost and at a fixed annual rental rate with no capital outlay.

Toyota’s ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ scheme is a hand pallet truck rental option that enables users to receive a new pallet truck from the Toyota BT Lifter range for an agreed two-year monthly rental fee that can be as little as the equivalent of 79p/day.

Throughout the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ agreement period, the truck – or trucks – will be fully serviced free of further charge by Toyota’s experienced and dedicated pallet truck service team as part of an agreed structured maintenance schedule.

In addition, in the unlikely event of a truck suffering a mechanical breakdown between scheduled service calls, Toyota’s Pallet Truck Specialists will visit free of any further charge.

Tony Sharpe, Head of Service Development and Hand Pallet Truck After Sales at Toyota Material Handling, comments: “Hand pallet trucks are in near constant use in countless warehouses, retail outlets and manufacturing sites across the country. ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ provides quality equipment at the lowest rates and complete cost transparency for users. And, of course, because fees are agreed up-front, budget forecasting becomes far simpler.

“Furthermore, the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ service schedule will identify any potential issues with a truck that may compromise productivity or staff safety and thus prevent significant downtime – with all the cost and disruption to a business that can mean.”

While a strict servicing and maintenance regime is the best way of preventing significant downtime truck build quality is also a major factor in maintaining operational efficiency and in work-cycle tests trucks in Toyota’s BT Lifter range have lasted up to five times as long as other hand pallet trucks.

Sharpe adds: “Toyota’s BT hand pallet trucks have been setting standards in strength and performance for over 60 years and today’s BT Lifter range from Toyota Material Handling maintains these values with tests proving that these trucks are the most durable on the market.”

The full Toyota BT Lifter range – including top selling models such as the BT Quick Lifter, the BT Lifter Stainless and the BT Lifter Wet Spec – is available through ‘Pallet Truck Plus.’

 

Livestock company adds IVECO S-WAYs to fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

Livestock nutrition company Harbro has put a 6×2 rigid drawbar unit with close-coupled three-axle trailer and two new IVECO S-WAY 6×2 mid-lift tractor units into service.

The IVECO S-WAY 6×2 6.7m chassis (AS260S42Y/PS) is fitted with a 7.9m curtain-sided body and is powered by the CURSOR 11 420hp diesel and tows a three-axle curtain sided trailer. The unit is fitted with a VBG coupling which enables the driver to detach the trailer to access the most difficult to reach farms when delivering animal feed across Scotland.

The S-Way drawbar unit will cover around 120,000km annually and despite the size of the combined unit provides an impressive 28t of payload, while a rear-steer third axle further adds to the rigid’s manoeuvrability.

The drawbar unit replaces an IVECO Stralis six-wheel rigid and came about after a meeting between Harbro’s head of logistics Billy McTavish and IVECO dealer AM Phillips’ sales director Tim Hally. The dealer had a three-axle drawbar trailer for sale and after closer analysis of the weights and measures in the IVECO S-WAY brochure a drawbar plan was conceived.

Harbro runs 50 trucks out of its Aberdeenshire headquarters which includes a mixed fleet of tractor units, rigids and 7.2t curtain-siders that deliver animal feed to over 8,000 farms and smallholdings from the north of England to the Scottish islands.

It also owns a network of 21 retail country stores stretching from the Borders to the Shetlands. The trucks make palleted deliveries to the stores and then backload raw materials to feed Harbro’s manufacturing facilities which produce 270,000t of livestock feed each year.

Supplied on a three-year Repair and Maintenance contract, the IVECO S-WAY rigid is fitted with the 2.1m (internally) tall AS sleeper cab which contains every conceivable comfort such as fridge/freezer, leather seats and steering wheel.

“The new S-WAY represents a major step-change for the brand, and drivers love the cabin which is spacious and very comfortable. They are spending five days and four nights in their truck each week so it’s important that they have all the home comforts as well as providing them with a good driving experience,” said McTavish.

“The drawbar unit brings another dimension to the fleet and is very flexible for drivers whilst providing us with an impressive payload,” he added.

Harbro has also specified both 6×2 IVECO S-WAY mid-lift tractor units with the range-topping Cursor 13 570hp diesel which generates maximum power at between 1605 –1900rpm. Fitted with the option of air suspension, they provide drivers with the ultimate companion as they traverse Scotland and northern England.

One truck tows a three axle-bulk blower trailer with electric rear-wheel steer while the other tractor unit, fresh out of the paint shop, will tow a three-axle tipper or curtain-sided trailer. As with all new trucks joining the Harbro fleet, each IVECO S-WAY is specified with leather upholstery, alloy wheels, air horns and LED light bars.

Both IVECO S-WAYs have been supplied on a three-year full Repair and Maintenance contract by AM Phillip Trucktech in Forfar, with each truck covering around 350,000km during that time.

“The tractor units travel the length and breadth of Scotland and the drivers have been impressed at the power and flexibility of the 570hp engine which is returning a very reasonable 7.6mpg. Having that amount of power on tap certainly helps tackle all terrains and with air suspension and the comfort of the IVECO S-WAY cabin drivers are well set for their week-long shift behind the wheel,” said McTavish.

The IVECO fleet doesn’t stop there, with Harbro also running an IVECO Daily 7.2t curtain-sider which makes deliveries to the retail store network, while an IVECO Stralis 18-tonner is based permanently on the Isle of Skye to deliver feed and consumables to farmers across the island.

“The IVECO S-WAY provides the optimal chassis on which operators can design and build bespoke vehicles to carry out very specific missions. The Harbro drawbar unit is one of the first to go into operation in the UK while the 570hp IVECO S-WAYs are perfect to soak up the arduous terrain of Scotland and northern England,” commented Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO’s Medium & Heavy Business Line Director.

 

Livestock company adds IVECO S-WAYs to fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

Livestock nutrition company Harbro has put a 6×2 rigid drawbar unit with close-coupled three-axle trailer and two new IVECO S-WAY 6×2 mid-lift tractor units into service.

The IVECO S-WAY 6×2 6.7m chassis (AS260S42Y/PS) is fitted with a 7.9m curtain-sided body and is powered by the CURSOR 11 420hp diesel and tows a three-axle curtain sided trailer. The unit is fitted with a VBG coupling which enables the driver to detach the trailer to access the most difficult to reach farms when delivering animal feed across Scotland.

The S-Way drawbar unit will cover around 120,000km annually and despite the size of the combined unit provides an impressive 28t of payload, while a rear-steer third axle further adds to the rigid’s manoeuvrability.

The drawbar unit replaces an IVECO Stralis six-wheel rigid and came about after a meeting between Harbro’s head of logistics Billy McTavish and IVECO dealer AM Phillips’ sales director Tim Hally. The dealer had a three-axle drawbar trailer for sale and after closer analysis of the weights and measures in the IVECO S-WAY brochure a drawbar plan was conceived.

Harbro runs 50 trucks out of its Aberdeenshire headquarters which includes a mixed fleet of tractor units, rigids and 7.2t curtain-siders that deliver animal feed to over 8,000 farms and smallholdings from the north of England to the Scottish islands.

It also owns a network of 21 retail country stores stretching from the Borders to the Shetlands. The trucks make palleted deliveries to the stores and then backload raw materials to feed Harbro’s manufacturing facilities which produce 270,000t of livestock feed each year.

Supplied on a three-year Repair and Maintenance contract, the IVECO S-WAY rigid is fitted with the 2.1m (internally) tall AS sleeper cab which contains every conceivable comfort such as fridge/freezer, leather seats and steering wheel.

“The new S-WAY represents a major step-change for the brand, and drivers love the cabin which is spacious and very comfortable. They are spending five days and four nights in their truck each week so it’s important that they have all the home comforts as well as providing them with a good driving experience,” said McTavish.

“The drawbar unit brings another dimension to the fleet and is very flexible for drivers whilst providing us with an impressive payload,” he added.

Harbro has also specified both 6×2 IVECO S-WAY mid-lift tractor units with the range-topping Cursor 13 570hp diesel which generates maximum power at between 1605 –1900rpm. Fitted with the option of air suspension, they provide drivers with the ultimate companion as they traverse Scotland and northern England.

One truck tows a three axle-bulk blower trailer with electric rear-wheel steer while the other tractor unit, fresh out of the paint shop, will tow a three-axle tipper or curtain-sided trailer. As with all new trucks joining the Harbro fleet, each IVECO S-WAY is specified with leather upholstery, alloy wheels, air horns and LED light bars.

Both IVECO S-WAYs have been supplied on a three-year full Repair and Maintenance contract by AM Phillip Trucktech in Forfar, with each truck covering around 350,000km during that time.

“The tractor units travel the length and breadth of Scotland and the drivers have been impressed at the power and flexibility of the 570hp engine which is returning a very reasonable 7.6mpg. Having that amount of power on tap certainly helps tackle all terrains and with air suspension and the comfort of the IVECO S-WAY cabin drivers are well set for their week-long shift behind the wheel,” said McTavish.

The IVECO fleet doesn’t stop there, with Harbro also running an IVECO Daily 7.2t curtain-sider which makes deliveries to the retail store network, while an IVECO Stralis 18-tonner is based permanently on the Isle of Skye to deliver feed and consumables to farmers across the island.

“The IVECO S-WAY provides the optimal chassis on which operators can design and build bespoke vehicles to carry out very specific missions. The Harbro drawbar unit is one of the first to go into operation in the UK while the 570hp IVECO S-WAYs are perfect to soak up the arduous terrain of Scotland and northern England,” commented Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO’s Medium & Heavy Business Line Director.

 

GXO graduate swaps Kent for Kampala

Posted on by David Priestman

Tessa Wilson, a Graduate Management Trainee at GXO UK and Ireland, has commenced a six-month secondment as a Project Officer for the second phase of Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Uganda project, helping the country to respond to the huge rise in demand for HGV and PSV drivers.

The appointment sees Tessa swap her previous placement at a GXO facility in Kent for Kampala’s tropical climate, working closely with Transaid’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) partner, the Safe Way Right Way Driver Training Centre, as well as local truck and bus fleet operators.

Tessa explains: “This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve taken on and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to work in such a different environment. I’m only a few weeks in, but I’ve already learnt new skills and it is wonderful to be contributing to such a hugely important project.”

During the secondment Tessa will split her time between the training centre and meetings with local businesses running commercial vehicle fleets, to reinforce the importance of professional driver training and the opportunities and benefits of hiring female drivers.

Neil Rettie, Transaid’s Road Safety Project Manager, says: “Thanks to the continued support from GXO we can deliver a level of resource at a local level which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible full-time.

“The value Tessa is bringing cannot be underestimated; plus, we know from experience that these placements can go a long way to helping secondees develop their skills and confidence in an environment you just can’t replicate at a UK level.”

Transaid and Safe Way Right Way have been tasked with training 750 drivers in Uganda between April 2021 and April 2023, of which at least 25 should be female – a goal which has already been exceeded, with more than 40 female drivers having completed the training to-date.

This project is an initiative of the GIZ Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) programme, which is funded by the German and Norwegian governments. It is being implemented jointly by Transaid and local NGO Safe Way Right Way on behalf of GIZ E4D.

The Professional Driver Training Uganda project is one of Transaid’s largest driver training programmes, currently running alongside similar initiatives in Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Tessa picks up the baton from colleague Abbie Rennison, who had previously been on secondment from GXO on the project. The opportunity to participate in secondment programmes is one of the many benefits open to Transaid corporate members.

similar news

Transaid helps tackle Covid-19 in Uganda

 

 

 

GXO graduate swaps Kent for Kampala

Posted on by David Priestman

Tessa Wilson, a Graduate Management Trainee at GXO UK and Ireland, has commenced a six-month secondment as a Project Officer for the second phase of Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Uganda project, helping the country to respond to the huge rise in demand for HGV and PSV drivers.

The appointment sees Tessa swap her previous placement at a GXO facility in Kent for Kampala’s tropical climate, working closely with Transaid’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) partner, the Safe Way Right Way Driver Training Centre, as well as local truck and bus fleet operators.

Tessa explains: “This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve taken on and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to work in such a different environment. I’m only a few weeks in, but I’ve already learnt new skills and it is wonderful to be contributing to such a hugely important project.”

During the secondment Tessa will split her time between the training centre and meetings with local businesses running commercial vehicle fleets, to reinforce the importance of professional driver training and the opportunities and benefits of hiring female drivers.

Neil Rettie, Transaid’s Road Safety Project Manager, says: “Thanks to the continued support from GXO we can deliver a level of resource at a local level which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible full-time.

“The value Tessa is bringing cannot be underestimated; plus, we know from experience that these placements can go a long way to helping secondees develop their skills and confidence in an environment you just can’t replicate at a UK level.”

Transaid and Safe Way Right Way have been tasked with training 750 drivers in Uganda between April 2021 and April 2023, of which at least 25 should be female – a goal which has already been exceeded, with more than 40 female drivers having completed the training to-date.

This project is an initiative of the GIZ Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) programme, which is funded by the German and Norwegian governments. It is being implemented jointly by Transaid and local NGO Safe Way Right Way on behalf of GIZ E4D.

The Professional Driver Training Uganda project is one of Transaid’s largest driver training programmes, currently running alongside similar initiatives in Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Tessa picks up the baton from colleague Abbie Rennison, who had previously been on secondment from GXO on the project. The opportunity to participate in secondment programmes is one of the many benefits open to Transaid corporate members.

similar news

Transaid helps tackle Covid-19 in Uganda

 

 

 

DispatchTrack launches intelligent visibility platform

Posted on by David Priestman

DispatchTrack, a leading solution provider of right-time delivery management software, has launched its intelligent visibility platform for the last mile. The AI-powered dashboard provides the next level of control, clarity, and actionable insights to improve and predict ETAs so businesses can proactively respond to delivery obstacles before customers are impacted.

DispatchTrack says it is the only solution that goes beyond optimisation and provides delivery, execution, and visibility in a single platform. Its intelligent visibility platform offers a dashboard with a single, consolidated view of how each delivery is unfolding in real-time and it’s instantly scalable. The intuitive interface enables users to immediately see on-time delivery and order completion rates, the number of items delivered for the day, and the status and delivery time or ETA for each order, broken down by service unit.

This consolidated view provides a single version of the truth that ensures everyone in the organisation has the same insight into how the last mile is unfolding, eliminating surprises and delays associated with looking for answers across multiple disparate IT systems.

The platform is also extremely dynamic and delivers the right data to the right people at the right time, showing each user the details relevant to them. It provides actionable insights right from the dashboard and predictable outcomes in real-time so organisations can be proactive and not reactive. Delays, obstacles, or what-if scenarios can be addressed before they occur, so deliveries arrive as promised. The solution is easy to use and intuitive, requiring minimal training.

For consumers, the platform also offers live order tracking, empowering end customers to check on order statuses and delivery ETAs in real-time. This heightened level of end customer visibility results in increased trust and confidence that items will be delivered reliably and on time.

“Given the dynamic nature of deliveries, there are so many factors affecting ETA. It’s only when you have full visibility into delivery operations that you can manage proactively,” said Satish Natarajan, DispatchTrack co-founder and CEO. “Our dashboard is redefining last-mile visibility end-to-end by providing the highest level of visibility and predictability so hiccups can be avoided, and customer communication is proactive and straightforward, not reactive and frustrating.

“Our visibility platform offers intelligence on a single pane of glass to make decisions at the speed of business. The right control means better routing, better driver management, and better inventory insights which results in a better delivery experience. Deliveries arrive as promised, instilling brand trust.”

 

DispatchTrack launches intelligent visibility platform

Posted on by David Priestman

DispatchTrack, a leading solution provider of right-time delivery management software, has launched its intelligent visibility platform for the last mile. The AI-powered dashboard provides the next level of control, clarity, and actionable insights to improve and predict ETAs so businesses can proactively respond to delivery obstacles before customers are impacted.

DispatchTrack says it is the only solution that goes beyond optimisation and provides delivery, execution, and visibility in a single platform. Its intelligent visibility platform offers a dashboard with a single, consolidated view of how each delivery is unfolding in real-time and it’s instantly scalable. The intuitive interface enables users to immediately see on-time delivery and order completion rates, the number of items delivered for the day, and the status and delivery time or ETA for each order, broken down by service unit.

This consolidated view provides a single version of the truth that ensures everyone in the organisation has the same insight into how the last mile is unfolding, eliminating surprises and delays associated with looking for answers across multiple disparate IT systems.

The platform is also extremely dynamic and delivers the right data to the right people at the right time, showing each user the details relevant to them. It provides actionable insights right from the dashboard and predictable outcomes in real-time so organisations can be proactive and not reactive. Delays, obstacles, or what-if scenarios can be addressed before they occur, so deliveries arrive as promised. The solution is easy to use and intuitive, requiring minimal training.

For consumers, the platform also offers live order tracking, empowering end customers to check on order statuses and delivery ETAs in real-time. This heightened level of end customer visibility results in increased trust and confidence that items will be delivered reliably and on time.

“Given the dynamic nature of deliveries, there are so many factors affecting ETA. It’s only when you have full visibility into delivery operations that you can manage proactively,” said Satish Natarajan, DispatchTrack co-founder and CEO. “Our dashboard is redefining last-mile visibility end-to-end by providing the highest level of visibility and predictability so hiccups can be avoided, and customer communication is proactive and straightforward, not reactive and frustrating.

“Our visibility platform offers intelligence on a single pane of glass to make decisions at the speed of business. The right control means better routing, better driver management, and better inventory insights which results in a better delivery experience. Deliveries arrive as promised, instilling brand trust.”

 

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