The Planner system offers fleet route planning, automatically converting orders and work lists into the most cost-effective runs. It manages scenarios such as multi-drop, collections en route and time window constraints, with manifests printed, emailed or delivered to drivers’ smartphones, tablets or in-cab displays.
Dispatch is a cloud-based traffic management system and its Dispatch app (available for Android and iOS) allows drivers to log in and view their day’s work and to electronically capture customer signatures. A live proof-of-delivery can be sent back to base, with existing smartphones.
Deliveries and collections can be imported automatically from Palletline Contrado, UPN, TPN and Stirling Traffic Desk – and non-network jobs can also be created and managed within the same system. All signatures and other PODs collected electronically are automatically separated and returned to the correct pallet network from one device, eliminating the need for vehicles to carry multiple pieces of hardware or download and manage multiple apps.
In other pallet sector news, Pall-Ex has announced the acquisition of two of its longstanding members – Shears Brothers of Dorset and Bowden Transport of Essex.
Shears Brothers is predicting growth of 5.5% over the next 12 months, due to the acquisition, while Bowden is also expecting sales to rise, in its case by 7.5%.