Total Foodservice Solutions has introduced a high-tech real-time vehicle tracking system for its entire fleet of vehicles - including specialist combination chilled and frozen food delivery trucks and field sales representatives' cars. The system in conjunction with the SAFED training programme across all vehicles has helped optimise deliveries and vehicle usage and is saving 10 per cent in annual fuel costs by encouraging drivers to conform to speed limits and consequently improving MPG.
The web-based Masternaut Three X system live monitors vehicles as they travel to and from customer sites, providing real time information to assist senior managers with speeding, idling and route deviations.
"The Masternaut system has made a big difference to our entire fleet, which operates from both our Huddersfield and Clitheroe depots. Because we get a real time view of the fleet, we are able to work with our drivers to encourage them to conform to speed limits. This not only makes them safer drivers safer it has also reduced our annual fuel bill by 10 per cent," says Paul Nowell, Operations Manager.
"In fact one of our drivers won the recent national Masternaut Three X 'Drive for Life' safe driving competition, beating over 50,000 other UK commercial drivers. This is a great honour for the company and highlights the progress we are making across the organisation," he adds.
Improved route planning is another major benefit of the system, with a significant proportion of manual work having been removed through the use of Masternaut's automated mapping functionality. The system prevents delivery routes from overlapping and ensures that customers are served from the most appropriate depot. In addition, the system allows the fleet operations team to guide drivers to difficult to find sites using its "bird's eye view" feature.
"We make over 1500 deliveries per week and the system enables us to meet our on-time delivery promises. If there is a delay we are alerted, allowing us to contact the customer to give them a revised estimated time of arrival. This means they never have to chase us to enquire about their deliveries as we can provide a proactive service based on real-time information," says Paul Nowell.
With over 60 years in the business, Total Foodservice Solutions offers more than 5000 product lines, including ambient groceries, chilled, frozen, non-food and cleaning materials. The company services restaurants, pubs, care homes and leisure facilities throughout northern England and also provides specialist foodservices to Shire Hotels across the UK.