MacIntyre Transport hits the road with TOPS… on the go

Ten years since first adopting Fargo Systems TOPS transport management software, MacIntyre Transport is currently embarking on the rollout of the latest version of TOPS…on the go (TOTG) across its 215 strong fleet.

Piers Kilfoyle, operations manager of the Suffolk-based logistics company says: “Over an eight -week period, TOPS…on the go, and 10 inch handheld tablets, were installed in all our trucks, 30 vehicles at a time, representing a six-figure investment for us.

“Having embraced the TOPS technology a decade ago, we now consider it very much a business essential, bringing untold commercial and compliance benefits to our organisation. Hence, our decision to deploy TOPS…on the go and the in-cab hardware.”

Steve Collins, director of Fargo Systems adds: “We’ve been working with MacIntyre Transport for a long time and it’s great to see that their commitment to TOPS and understanding of the benefits it brings across all aspects of their business is as strong as ever. Our technology provides pinpoint accuracy to MacIntyre’s clients, letting them know where a driver or consignment is at any given moment. But we’re also able to take this a stage further.

“Increasingly shippers are tracking data to the end customer, whether this is via an EDI interface or a secure web-portal, which enables only data relevant to that particular shipper or consignee to be viewed; giving them peace of mind that their consignments are where they should be when they should be. This level of information provides a real competitive advantage and keeps TOPS at the forefront of the telematics industry.”

With shipping line of the year, MSC, one of MacIntyre’s largest clients, Piers continues: “The increasing sophistication and complexities of today’s global marketplace demands real-time information, but the benefits that TOPS brings aren’t all client facing. Through the system, we’re able to control our fleet’s daily vehicle checks and defect notifications or capture ePODs via its camera when a site refuses to sign, for example.

Looking to achieve maximum return on investment from TOPS…on the go, it was vital for MacIntyre Transport to have buy-in from everyone expected to use the system.  Piers explains: “To achieve this, managers have been meeting with their drivers in the early hours, at the start of their working day, to explain how the cab-based system works, its benefits and how when used competently, it simplifies all aspects of their role.”

He adds: “Our aim is for TOPS…on the go to create a totally paperless process, from start to finish, and to work seamlessly across our five depots. From receiving the job, etas v atas, any demurrage notifications being automatically sent to the office, ePODS, defect reports, drivers timesheets, it will be looking after the lot.  And from the transport operator’s perspective, it’s just one click to send a job to our driver, they’re able to manage more trucks per operator and status updates and PODs are delivered automatically.  For us, TOPS…on the go is going to be a game changer.”

For more information on Fargo Systems, TOPS and TOPG visit their website