One of the UK’s best known freight transport companies, Eddie Stobart, has started the deployment of a major upgrade of its telematics system, which sees them implementing Microlise software across their entire fleet of over 2,000 vehicles, including the deployment of in-cab ruggedized tablet devices.
Recognized as an iconic brand worldwide, Eddie Stobart is a leader in the transport, logistics, distribution and warehousing industries. The company operates a pan-European network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in the major business sectors of consumer, retail, manufacturing, construction and e-commerce, moving everything from bricks to bananas, trees to turbines. The new deployment of Microlise’s Fleet Performance and Journey Management telematics platform, which they are calling ‘Eddie Stobart Link’, will deliver enhanced driver support and safety, help to increase fleet usage and efficiency, and reduce fuel costs. The move follows a competitive tender, extensive negotiations and detailed product evaluation by the privately owned logistics and supply chain company, where it compared its incumbent supplier’s offering with other solutions on the market.
One of the key features of the new system will be the ability to compare ‘plan versus actual’ routes in order to make efficiency improvements. Another important improvement is the ability to give drivers and fleet managers easy and clear driver performance access through the Microlise DPM app. Microlise engineers are currently installing telematics hardware, designed and manufactured in the UK by the company, on the entire fleet of heavy goods vehicles, with a ‘go live’ date in the spring.
Each tractor unit will also be fitted with a Microlise DriveTab; a 7in (18cm) ruggedized, Eddie Stobart-branded Android tablet device, which will give access to truck-specific maps for navigation, journey information, two-way messaging, and cost effective and safe hands-free voice calls. Eddie Stobart will also use the Microlise Safety Module, which features an incident data recorder to provide granular information about exactly what the driver and vehicle were doing 30 seconds before and after any incident. This will help the team to minimize accidents out on the road, and quickly investigate the causes when incidents do occur.
“Despite challenging market conditions, we are continuing to grow our business and see investment in new technology as key to supporting our plans,” explained John Court, Eddie Stobart’s chief information officer. “By giving our staff access to the best systems to do their jobs, we can improve their working environments, as well as the service we provide our customers. Through Eddie Stobart Link we will be right at the cutting edge of technology for our sector and continue to set the standards that others then undoubtedly follow.”
Nadeem Raza, chief executive officer at Microlise, noted, “Everyone in the country knows the Eddie Stobart brand; to many outside of the industry it embodies transport. It’s a privilege to be working with the team to refresh and upgrade their transport management infrastructure and we look forward to helping them to make a quick return on investment and boost their service offering.”
