JMD Haulage Uses In-Cab Communications and Internet Based Freight Management to Improve Customer Service and Aid ExpansionIndustry

The international logistics industry is increasingly competitive. There is growing pressure to improve cost control and increase efficiencies, whilst at the same time improving customer service. Along with worsening port and road congestion and heavier security requirements, shipping lines and hauliers are looking to technology to provide solutions.

In particular, the use of in-cab communications or telematics can provide significant efficiencies during the part of the global supply chain termed the first and the last mile, ie, the stages of the delivery cycle where goods are collected from the shipper and delivered to the final end customer.

Bringing the global supply chain online and into the cab can provide multiple benefits for many companies, industry sectors and certainly for many inland container hauliers. In the past implementing such systems and gaining the benefits which were intended at the outset has been a challenge. Today, however, ContainerPort’s new in-cab communications and online services offer a simple and affordable way of harnessing the latest technology to deliver cost, efficiency and customer service improvements throughout the supply chain.Solution

The ContainerPort service was introduced which allows JMD’s customer to more effectively manage their inland movements by tracking goods from the point of collection to its final destination. At the destination the transport company is able to confirm proof of delivery, which is immediately available via the internet on the portal as the end customer signs the proof of delivery on the PDA. This information is then available to the shipping line, the collection / delivery location and the transport head office, providing at a stroke a reduction in queries and an improvement in efficiency and supply chain visibility for all partners.

There are three key components to the ContainerPort solution:

- A PDA in the cab allows remote job management and provides a GPS data feed back to the ContainerPort portal.

- An advanced online freight portal, www.containerport.co.uk, which is hosted at a state-of-the-art data centre.

- The portal and indeed the whole system is based on the SaaS concept (Software as a Service) which simply means that the company has no up front cost, virtually unlimited computing power and only the cost of paying for the service on a monthly basis.

The system has additional roles in cost saving by reducing paper usage, providing improved communication with drivers and automating the daily vehicle checks. It is also a mobile phone and a camera which can be used to record damage to support any claims.

Access to the portal provides vehicle status, the capturing and historic retrieval of electronic proof of delivery, exception reporting and improved utilisation of backspace.

The transport company will pay around £45 per vehicle per month for the PDA, the service and unlimited access to the portal. The shipping line and/or their customers can gain visibility through the portal from any location which has internet access.Customer

JMD is a Liverpool based haulier which specialises in the transportnd storage of inbound and outbound containers covering destinations anywhere in the UK. The company has a committed culture of customer service and seeks to create long term sustainable relationships with customers to the benefit of both partners.

In doing this they have sought to improve communication with and improve efficiency in working for strategic customers such as Atlantic Container Line. At the same time in such a cost critical industry JMD have an objective to reduce costs, improve efficiency and grow their market position.

Atlantic Container Line is the leading carrier of containers, oversize cargo and vehicles between North America and Europe. For over 30 years, ACL’s pioneering spirit has been the driving force that has made the company not only the leader in their trade but one of the most respected names in ocean transportation.Customer Challenge

At the forefront of their industry, JMD Haulage had identified a growing problem with last mile tracking and connectivity. Moreover, in an effort to enhance their service to customers it was essential to find a simple and efficient way for them to communicate with their customers during the last mile.

Improving the accuracy and availability of time estimates for the container reaching its destination, would permit more effective planning by their customers. Additionally, queries in relation to the delivery paper work, arrival and departure times and confirmations were taking up a lot of staff time. And key performance indicators that they needed were just not available. They needed a solution that would address these key issues.Customer Feedback

Paul Blundell, Director of JMD says

"What we set out to do at the start of the project is now a reality. We can better manage our fleet not only at the consignment level but we can also look at the bigger picture. Transport instructions are sent seamlessly to our drivers and tracking and status updates are received back in real time. At any point in time we can monitor how we are performing for all customers. Shipments for ACL, CMA-CGM, K-Line, Hapag Lloyd are all visible with one view. It means better control with just the same team as we progressively grow the fleet"