For transport manager Lee Troddyn, the benefits are clear. “Probably the most outstanding advantage for me has been the way Truckfile gives me a broad, yet finely detailed overview of everything that’s going on with our vehicles and in our workshops,” he said. “The information is so easily accessible and I have a level of visibility that I could never have imagined previously, over aspects such as vehicle defects, rectification work, and compliance. The fact that our compliance score has remained very high throughout the challenges of the past 18 months just goes to show what a great team we have here.”
Truckfile’s system means that all vehicle safety checks, workshop inspections and any maintenance or repair activities carried out, from start to finish, are recorded electronically. Details are stored securely and permanently in computer files, which remain easily accessible, so there’s no need to keep track of endless sheets of paper. Truckfile is also a validated IT systems provider for the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme.
“Before installing Truckfile, our record-keeping was all paper-based – very old-school,” recalled Troddyn. “We felt it was time to take advantage of the benefits technology can bring, and ran a trial with two rival suppliers of computerised management packages. The results left us in no doubt – while the other system was difficult to use and very rigid, we found Truckfile simple and user-friendly from day one.
“Compared to the way we used to do things, the change is like night and day. From my desktop I can now click a mouse and see every piece of information I need for any vehicle.
“Keeping tabs on our workshops is far easier too,” he continued. “This is especially advantageous in the case of our busy Eversley site, which has five bays and is open 24 hours a day.
“Meanwhile our technicians find the Truckfile hand-held tablets very intuitive to handle. Using the system has speeded up and simplified the process of completing vehicle inspections, and reduced the risk of human error in recording to almost zero.”
Collard’s fleet comprises skip loaders, tippers and ‘roll-on, roll-off’ rigids and concrete mixers, ranging from 7.5 to 32 tonnes gvw, as well as tractor units that work with tipping, movable floor and low-loader trailers. Two of these are STGO heavy haulage units rated for work at gross train weights of 80 and 150 tonnes, respectively. The line-up is dominated by Volvo.
Trucks work from headquarters at Eversley, near Hook, as well as a network of five other sites across Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey.