Day Aggregates adopt PODFather technology

Company keeps track of vehicle fleet compliance with paper-free electronic check process

WITH a fleet of 190 vehicles delivering more than 4 million tonnes of aggregate to locations across the South of England each year, Day Aggregates are taking advantage of PODFather technology to keep track of fleet compliance and eradicate paper tickets from their vehicle check process.

Pre-PODFather, transport teams at each of the company’s 20 depots had to collect and scan more than 1,000 paper-based checks each week. Now, drivers have PODFather’s easy-to-use smartphone app to capture vehicle check information, which is uploaded back to the transport and maintenance teams in real time.

‘Using PODFather gave us the opportunity to take easy-to-use yet really effective technology and embed it into our operation,’ commented John Owen, head of IT at Day Aggregates. ‘Before PODFather, our vehicle check process was totally paper based but now our vehicle compliance checks are paper-free, which is better for us as a business and better for the environment.’

PODFather’s vehicle check system makes sure that all necessary information is collected by drivers before vehicles leave the depot. Drivers log into the PODFather app, which is downloadable from the App store and compatible with most Android and iOS devices, and are prompted to complete their vehicle checks before they can start work for the day.

Completing the vehicle checks electronically ensures complete compliance across the Day Aggregates fleet and allows the immediate escalation of any defects to both transport and maintenance teams.

‘The PODFather system gives us real peace of mind,’ continued Mr Owen. ‘We know that our drivers have completed all the industry required vehicle checks prior to their departure from our depots and the fact that it’s collected and stored electronically means we can deal with any issues, and find any information, quickly and easily as and when we need to.’

Colin McCreadie, managing director of PODFather, added: ‘Our vehicle check system is just one part of the PODFather functionality suite. Using the PODFather driver app, our clients can capture start-of-day checks and record defects, and everything is stored securely in the cloud, which means any information can be retrieved electronically by the driver in the event of a roadside inspection, offering real peace of mind to our customers.’

‘Our software is helping businesses…to streamline processes, improve operational and financial efficiency, and eradicate paper. Our cloud-based delivery-management software encompasses a range of features and functionality, including job management, route planning and optimization, vehicle checks, proof of delivery, driver and vehicle tracking, as well as invoicing and reporting modules.’

PODFather allows businesses to be better informed about the jobs they are managing, highlighting problems before they occur and making users proactive rather than reactive. The company’s customer base includes other well-known names such as Tarmac, as well as many independent logistics and construction service operators.