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Ferns Surfacing Ltd.

The Organisation

Part of the Ferns Group, Ferns Surfacing is one of the south’s leading reinstatement companies. The company undertakes more than 40,000 projects annually, often with short timescales and in challenging environments. Ferns can provide all aspects of reinstatement on the public highway and on private land, ranging from minor remedial work to large scale resurfacing.

Head office is in Maidstone, Kent and the company has other depots in Wembley, Dagenham, Colchester, Norfolk, and Bedfordshire. Ferns Surfacing employs around 200 staff and has a fleet of around 160 vehicles, mainly tippers ranging from 3.5 tonnes to 32 tonne hiabs, and 20 pick-ups used by supervisors.

The Challenge

Ferns undertake around 800 jobs a week, covering around 60,000 miles a week, many of which are short runs. Almost all jobs are time sensitive and carry large penalties for delays. Completing each individual job often involves three or four different teams, meaning that accurate co-ordination of vehicle movement is critical. Delays can mean penalties, usually of around £500 per day, but for major projects daily penalties could be as much as £10,000.

With CO₂ emissions becoming a significant part of the tendering process, Ferns also required a system for accurate measurement and proof of reduction in carbon emissions.

Whilst driver safety had always been paramount, recent information from the transport police and the traffic commission revealed that companies monitoring driver behaviour could have stronger mitigation in the event of any prosecution.

This has brought driver behaviour into sharper focus.

The Solution

Ferns chose the LINK and ecoPLUS, to install into their 100 vehicles, which work with the cloud-based WEBFLEET system for fleet management control. Implementation involved the Contracts Managers from the start so they were given an opportunity to make suggestions about how the system could be set up to so it most benefitted them and Ferns’ working practices. They, in turn, were made responsible ensuring thorough communication and gaining buy-in from each of their teams of 40 staff.

Once the system was installed, I asked what the driving standard at Ferns was like and was told by Webfleet Solutions Regional Manager that it was the second worse he had ever seen in our sector, said Contracts Director Andy Saunders.

For Ferns, one of the most important functions of the system is OptiDrive, which benchmarks all drivers and gives them scores for easy comparison. This makes all drivers aware of their own performance standards and identifies areas requiring improvement, such a speeding, harsh braking, cornering and idling. To encourage them further, at every depot Ferns offered an incentive of £100 every week for the driver with the best or most improved performance. Conversely, worst offending drivers are given appropriate training and support to encourage them to drive more efficiently and safely.

Within three months significant improvements were achieved, with the easy to use OptiDrive indicator playing a major role in influencing drivers to change their driving styles. Speeding reduced by 95% and driving events, such as harsh braking, reduced by 65%.

The business benefits gained from the Webfleet Solutions installation have been phenomenal. If it cost twice as much, we’d still use it, said Andy Saunders. As well as fuel savings of £160,000 in 12 months, the improvements in driver behaviour have also led to a reduction of £50,000 in our insurance premiums. The ecoPLUS facility has proved a major benefit to our tendering process as we have been able to track CO₂ emissions and demonstrate improvements. We are very happy with this outcome.

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W.S. Dennison

W.S. Dennison was established in 1979 with a workforce of only two. From this small but enthusiastic beginning the company has grown into a well established business with over 50 employees and 25 vehicles.

W.S. Dennison provides a furniture delivery service direct from manufacturers throughout the UK & Ireland or alternatively delivered directly into their warehouse from European & Asian manufacturers. These goods will then be routed for delivery directly to households and businesses throughout Ireland from operating centres in Antrim and Limerick.

W.S. Dennison has installed Webfleet Solutions' LINK tracking unit, PRO navigation devices, and ecoPLUS fuel monitoring devices within 20 of their trucks. Personnel in the office are now able to monitor the movements of the vehicles, analyse the way in which the vehicle is driven and supply accurate ETA's to customers.

The drivers are able to navigate routes to customer's premises with greater accuracy, whereas with the previous solution they were only able to navigate to a certain distance of their actual destination. Live traffic information informs the driver of any delays en-route and suggests alternatives saving time and fuel. This also enables the office to keep customers informed if there are delays, giving accurate times of arrival; a great boost to customer service.

In recent years, W.S. Dennison was experiencing recurrent driving issues, in particular with excessive wear on the clutch. The company has appointed a member of staff to monitor driving behaviour using information from the LINK and ecoPLUS unit to highlight detrimental behaviour such as harsh braking, cornering, speeding and other factors which amount to vehicle damage. Drivers are profiled using the Optidrive Indicator score.

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Strata Logistics Ltd.

The Company

Strata Logistics is a growing independent haulier covering the whole of the UK with a focus on the North West and East of England as well as Central and Greater London. With 12 HGVs, its fleet provides distribution services for a variety of sectors, including blue chip organisations such as Yodel, Hermes, ASDA and Tarmac.

The Challenge

As a new logistics business, scaling-up initially called for extensive outsourcing. But to grow to the next phase of maturity, the company needed to bring its administration processes in-house.

Strata identified that a lack of visibility over driver’s hours, working time on site and live tachograph compliance was making the management of workflow difficult. Work scheduling was also becoming cumbersome, with a reliance on using spreadsheets.

In addition, to continue eligibility for key contracts, Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation was needed.

The Solution

Following an extensive market review, the company specified a fully digital, single interface, fleet management solution, underpinned by WEBFLEET.

The cloud-based fleet management platform from Webfleet Solutions was integrated with TDi Software’s TransMaS traffic management system and disc-check tachograph analysis software, along with connected cameras from VisionTrack.

The combined solution is now helping Strata to achieve high levels of automation-led fleet efficiency – getting the right data to the right people at the right time.

A shot in the arm for productivity

A number of separate operational tools had been previously employed to administer, schedule and dispatch deliveries, communicate with drivers and manage and record job information.

The company has simplified how these processes are carried out, eliminating duplication of effort and streamlining its workflow management by using one single, integrated, software interface. Jobs can now be scheduled dynamically, with daily job itineraries sent to drivers via Webfleet Solutions’ PRO 8 Series ruggedized terminals. As jobs are accepted by Strata’s drivers, the system automatically provides truck-specific navigation instructions and accurate ETAs, meaning customers can be notified when their deliveries are due to arrive. Drivers can also capture customer signatures electronically on their driver terminals, with proof and time of delivery immediately relayed to the back office.

We had previously relied heavily on manual planning, but the introduction of the integrated WEBFLEET and TransMaS solution has been revolutionary, said Paul White, Owner, Strata Logistics. We have seen fantastic gains in productivity and now have full visibility over our entire operation without the need to distract a driver from his duty needlessly.

Asset tracking

Strata Logistics’ vehicles and trailers are usually parked off-site, which had previously required drivers having to manually report back to management on their status.

Using WEBFLEET’s Asset Tracking functionality, managers can now see their precise location at the touch of a button, and receive alerts whenever they’re in use to help improve security. At the same time, TransMaS will inform them whether the trailers are loaded or empty, helping improve job planning and allocation.

Improved visibility, enhanced safety and fuel cost savings

The new system is also helping to improve driver behaviour, encouraging Strata drivers to be greener and safer behind the wheel. WEBFLEET’s integral OptiDrive 360 functionality highlights dangerous or inefficient driving, profiling drivers based on incidents such as harsh braking, sharp cornering or speeding. All the while, VisionTrack’s connected cameras provide associated video evidence for each and every event.

This supporting footage helps paint a complete picture of where intervention, such as driver training, may be required. It also offers surety in the event of vehicle collisions or insurance claims. It is still early days but we have already started to benefit from significant fuel savings, said White.

Average fuel consumption has improved by around 12 per cent, helped in no small part by a 75 per cent reduction in speeding and a 50 per cent drop in vehicle idling incidents.

We also expect our maintenance spend to fall as we experience less wear and tear on vehicle components, such as tyres and brakes.

In a bid to incentivise further performance improvements, Strata has now produced a reward scheme, linked to drivers’ monthly OptiDrive scores. Automated weekly performance reports are shared with all drivers adding a competitive element.

In recognition of improved operational practices and enhanced standards of driver and vehicle safety, Strata has achieved FORS bronze accreditation and is now well on the way to silver certification.

Compliance commitments

To help protect the safety of vulnerable road users, the connected forward and side-facing vehicle cameras have been supplemented with side sensors and left-turn warning alarms. These measures ensure compliance with the Transport for London (TfL) Direct Vision Standard, in force from October 2020.

An app on the PRO terminals is being used by Strata’s drivers, meanwhile, to perform their vehicle safety checks. Before they set off each morning, they will digitally confirm the safety of key functions, such as tyres, exhausts and brake lights – uploading supporting photographic evidence where required.

The combination of WEBFLEET TachoShare with TDi’s disc-check is also making life easier for Strata to remain compliant with tachograph regulations.

TachoShare has taken responsibility away from the company’s drivers by automating the remote download of driver card and vehicle unit data, saving them time through reduced administration. Disc-check then simplifies back office tachograph analysis and reporting, helping to monitor and reduce the likelihood of future infringements.

Furthermore, Strata management has achieved greater control over working hours and shift patterns, with fewer cases of drivers staying out overnight, thanks to access real time reports for remaining driving time.

The office now receives automated alerts when drivers are due to take breaks, when shifts are due to end and, significantly, when compliance policy has not been followed.

Strata Logistics’ investment in the fleet management solution was supported by TDi Software, an official Webfleet Solutions partner.

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