By linking your TMS software with the onboard units in the trucks you benefit from a wealth of information in the TMS. Via GPRS connection, onboard units provide real-time insight into shipments, enabling you to optimise planning in the event of delays or urgent consignments.
The planning department tracks the trucks en route via GPRS. The planners see where the trucks are located and where delays are occurring or who is the closest to a particular consignment. Based on real-time information, the planning department adjusts its scheduling. Tracking & tracing is also vital for prompt and accurate information provision to both dispatchers and recipients.
Via the GPRS connection between onboard units and the TMS, messages can be exchanged between the planning department and the drivers. The drivers receive new shipment requests on their onboard unit, and the tracing thereof runs (automatically) from the onboard unit back to the planning department. Moreover, information pertaining to goods in, packaging, losses, petrol receipts, working hours and rest periods etc. runs via the onboard unit back to the TMS.
Via a planning system the driver receives the optimum shipment sequence on their onboard unit. If (for example due to a traffic jam) the navigation system in the truck recognises that the sequence or route changes, then an APS can compute this information and via a link-up with the TMS you can inform the dispatchers and recipients of the amended ETA. The planning department is informed via a message sent by the TMS when a driver deviates from the planned route or when a particular route isn’t proceeding as planned.
