Truck and Track Summer 2021

www.truckandtrack.com Summer 2021 Truck and Track 55 INTERMODAL TRANSPORT SOFTWARE With roots going back to 1956, Grangemouth-based John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing have made futureproofing its haulage and warehouse operations its business imperative. Investing in a young new management team in 2019 to pave the way for the next phase of the company’s development, John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing also commissioned Fargo Systems to undertake a full review of the transport management systems currently in place and advise on its optimisation for the future. Steve Collins, Director at Fargo Systems, says: “Jim Slade, projects teammanager, and I spent some time up in Grangemouth working closely with the team. Identifying better processes in TOPS and new areas for development and enhancement projects to yield further business efficiencies.” Transport Operations Director Ross Mitchell takes up the story: “Having Steve and Jim here to review our daily operations was invaluable. We’d invested in Fargo’s TOPS and CYMAN systems back in 2007, and 2010 and whilst the technology was serving us well, the review quickly highlighted that both systems had far greater functionality than we had been using.” Post review, John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing readily accepted its recommendations. In 2019, the logistics specialist increased its investment in TopsTMS™ technology to include TOPS…on the go, TOPS Anywhere closely followed by CYMAN.WEB and projects to review the fleet management and purchase order processes. AngelaMartin, Business SupportManager at JohnMitchell Haulage and Warehousing, says: “Our strategy is to ensure every aspect of our business is as robust as possible and thatwe’reworking as smart as we can. Armed with a better understanding of our existing TOPS solutions’ capabilities plus our new TOPS investments, everyone in the business can view day-to-day activity in real-time. Benefits are being reaped across every part of the organisation, fromfleet to our drivers, the accounts department, yard operatives and lifters. “Another stand out benefit for us is that every one of our TopsTMS™ solutions is constantly evolving and regularly updated – keeping us at the forefront of the industry.” Steve Collins adds, “The benefits and efficiencies made by the team at John Mitchell have been astounding. Working with a management team with the strategic foresight to utilise technology to achieve their goals and challenge the Fargo Systems team to deliver best-of-breed solutions has been very rewarding and pleasing. The projects’ success is testament to what can be achieved from a close working relationship and collaboration.” John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing’s TOPS use enables the company to monitor its inland container movements and plan all jobs and create purchase orders. Finance co-ordinator Tracey Birkett explains: “Before TOPS, it’s hard to believe that each person in the business had a paper book where they were recording their PO’s. Now the whole process is digital; it has completely streamlined the month-end process with all the data accessible in one place.” TOPS has also transformed the data held and managed by John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing’s 150+ vehicle fleet. Jordan Lumsden, the Workshop Administrator, continues: “With TOPS, we’ve been able to digitalise our mechanics’ service documents. Removing the need to complete manual paperwork, the operator now inputs everything straight into TOPS. Providing greater checks and controls, and the system has a validation function that ensures necessary authorisations have been made. With the old-fashioned clipboard and pen, potentially, this does not happen. “What is exciting is that our TOPS investment has enabled us to apply to join the DVSA’s Earned Recognition programme. We are also Fargo Systems’ first client to be involved in the project. “Earned Recognition is a scheme for vehicle operators to prove they meet both vehicle and driver standards, with participants regularly sharing key performance indicator (KPI) targets with the DVSA. In return for involvement, participants are less likely to be stopped for roadside inspections. And they won’t be subject to DVSA enforcement staff visiting their premises as real-time information is held regarding the fleet.” When it comes to traffic operations, TOPS…on the go has it covered for John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing. Ross Mitchell continues: “With our current fleet standing at 150 plus trucks and future vehicle investment planned, we must provide the tools for our drivers to do the best job possible. “TOPS…on the go provides a seamless service, defect and repair management, job management, sign on glass PODs and camera