How do our customers use TruckStops flexibility?
Decorative timber supplier Richard Burbidge Ltd replaced another routing and scheduling system with TruckStops because it provided flexibility that other systems couldn't.
"vehicle availability varies a lot from day to day. TruckStops has no problem taking account of this."
"They have come up with a system in which priority orders are allocated a special code, and are automatically singled out when we do the scheduling optimisation"
"Prior to introducing TruckStops, we were using another routing and scheduling system"..."but it wasn't flexible enough to give precedence to our priority deliveries. We had to do what it told us instead of telling it what we wanted, which meant we had to spend hours every day adjusting its proposed schedules manually."
Ian Wetherill, Richard Burbidge Ltd transport manager
TruckStops understands the calls you need to make
Whether it is details of the type of load you need to carry, the restrictions of the locations you have to visit or the needs of your customers, Truckstops vehicle routing and scheduling system is designed to be flexible enough to ensure the schedules it produces accommodate the specific needs of your business.
TruckStops also takes into account your resources.
Volume of Goods
You can specify how much can be handled by each resource in whichever way best suits your business, e.g. kilograms, cases, pallets...
Time Windows
TruckStops ensures your schedule takes into account time restrictions. Perhaps a customer needs a morning appointment or there is only site access at specific times...
Special Requirements
Truckstops can be configured to take account of special requirements such as when a particular call needs a tail lift or a small vehicle. A specific call needs to be first or is urgent, or it must be done by a Daventry-based engineer or by a senior sales representative.
At Richard Burbidge, the priority is to load heavy items first & lighter items can then be couriered. Find out more here.
Call Duration
TruckStops unload rate settings will enable you to specify how long a typical call takes (whether it is a 5 minute unload of goods or a one hour sales call). You can also specify different times for specific jobs, for example a longer stop where it is known that access is difficult or the job is complex.
Call Locations
TruckStops usually uses the full postcode (for example OX14 1PQ) to place each call point on the map with X,Y coordinates. There are lots of different approaches to choose from including using GPS signals.
Sometimes the location is itself a vehicle as in the case of Robert Wiseman Dairies who use "reload" vehicles - maximum-capacity artics that are stationed at strategic bases throughout the country, and serve as mobile collection points. Locally-based rigids deliver milk either direct to factories, or to reload artics making longer distances more efficient. Read more about how Robert Wiseman Dairies use TruckStops here.
Delivery Instructions
TruckStops vehicle routing and scheduling system is extremely flexible and enables the user to add details such as a note for the driver 'Leave delivery with No 12' or 'use the back entrance off Newton Road'.
