Carters Haulage

Introduction

Carters Haulage (part of CEL Group) is one of the largest independent hauliers in the UK with a fleet of some 450 tractor units. Based in Felixstowe Suffolk, Carters specialise in container logistics and are responsible for a high percentage of goods trunked via their various hubs across the country. Having known and dealt with the installations arm of AMS for some years, Carters engaged with AMS in 2003 for the rollout of an all encompassing telematics solution. The list of requirements was extensive and required the integration of a variety of “bleeding edge” hardware bolt-ons in order to meet these needs. Although Carters recognised the benefits of simple track and trace functionality, if the system was to attain a sufficient ROI it would need to address some more far reaching and complex issues.

Fuel Management

As is the case for most hauliers, the ever volatile cost of fuel is a key consideration if they are to remain profitable. Fuel is typically the second largest expense for any transport company behind the overall wage bill. Controlling fuel costs using a telematics system can be a complex exercise and Carters were not alone in their need to manage and make decisions quickly and accurately. The system therefore needed to bring depth of information without a pain staking search by the management team!
By installing the AMS system integrated with the vehicle CANBus, Carters are now able to run detailed information, at the touch of a button, 24 x 7. However, gaining the raw data is of course only a very small part of the story. Presenting the data in a convenient and easily accessible format is key if the business is going to be able to make informed decisions - and act on them. AMS have constantly enhanced the reports suite to Carters specification which has enabled them to realise the following cost savings ;

• Increases of around 0.5mpg across the fleet through effective driver training

• Elimination of fuel going unaccounted for

• Ability to make informed decisions about the choice of vehicle manufacturer by using Carters own fuel figures rather than published ones

• Potential to gain more detailed information if required such as vehicle wear and tear through harsh braking, clutch depressions etc

Payroll and Wage Claims

One of the obvious benefits of any telematics system is the ability to monitor staff movements and therefore wage claims. Again however, a key consideration for medium and large enterprises such as Carters is the administrative burden that this represents. By understanding and integrating with existing payroll systems and procedures the AMS system has not only massively driven down the wage bill but the amount of time and effort spent in managing the entire process. In brief, Carters have realised the following benefits;

• Reduction in overtime claims of approximately 22%

• Reduction of claims for overnight expenses of around x%

• Increased productivity by at least x loads per driver per week

• Unquantifiable benefits eg vastly improved customer satisfaction

• Massively improved payroll systems halving admin time

Working Time Directive

A hot topic for all haulage and transport companies has been the impending Working Time Directive legislation and how it was to affect individual businesses. Most logistics companies recognised the need and thinking behind the legislation, however there still remains a good deal of uncertainty in terms of how things should be reported in relation to each company’s own interpretation of the law.

Being a large, highly visible and highly respected transport company, Carters had to ensure that they remained within the law at all times and that their reporting methods remained consistent wherever possible. At the same time however, during the transitional period it became clear that the system being put in place would need to adapt to any sudden shifts in legislation.

AMS have worked extensively with Carters and other haulage specialists to develop a comprehensive set of reports that adhere to the EU Working Time Directive. By issuing RFID tags to each driver, Carters are able to monitor the activities of the driver aswell as the vehicle, this is crucial for monitoring working time. With their flexible approach, AMS have tailored the system to cope with unexpected eventualities such as lost or forgotten tags and the need to reflect holidays at regular 9 & 16 week intervals.