Freeway helps fleets keep tabs on compliance
Fleet maintenance software specialist Freeway has described how it has been assisting both road transport and passenger fleets with elements of their compliance regime, including London bus company Abellio.
The fleet operator has implemented an extensive workshop and compliance management system from Freeway that is used across its six workshops, managing Abellio’s assets which include 853 buses.
Abellio started the process of moving to paperless working in late 2018 with the introduction of mobile devices and a total of 160 tablets are in use across six London workshops. Technicians use tablets to manage their jobs and pick up jobs and are being deployed to replace paper recording wherever possible.
“Using the tablets in the workshop ensures staff follow a strict data entry process,” said Dan Crumpton, Abellio’s technical systems manager.
“Everything is now complete and consistent and that saves a lot of time later not only by eliminating keying in but also because everything is recorded properly in the first place – so we always have all the information we need at the click of a button.”
He continued: “With Freeway we can see what people are doing and we can run audits very easily. We have much better visibility and improved accountability. As a result, we are more efficient, the levels of accuracy and compliance are improved; the result is a better quality of fleet maintenance.”
Abellio has been accepted under the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme, and Freeway plays a central role in managing compliance under the scheme; the system’s Earned Recognition Tracker ensures compliance criteria are properly managed.
“In meeting the DVSA’s key performance indicators, everyone has confidence that we are correctly inspecting and repairing,” Crumpton added.
“We also feel it gives us a competitive edge with TfL when tendering for new work.”
Meanwhile, Elddis Transport is rolling out new mobile working technology as part of a programme to fully digitise the workshop.
Part of a fleet maintenance system from Freeway Fleet Systems, workshop fitters are being equipped with rugged tablets to replace paperwork. Freeway also receives daily vehicle inspection data from mobile devices used by drivers. With the addition of digital data from the workshop, Elddis will gain a complete and real-time insight into the status of the fleet.
Elddis is headquartered Consett in County Durham, and operates a fleet of 150 vehicles and 360 trailers with additional depots in Heywood and Doncaster.
Through integration between Freeway and the Mandata transport management system (TMS), transport operations are given around-the-clock visibility of the status of the fleet. In turn, first-use-check data received from mobile data terminals used by drivers, the workshop is provided with immediate information on defects.
“Freeway is proving invaluable as it links engineers with transport planners,” said Alan Henderson, fleet engineer at Elddis Transport. “This means we can reduce vehicle downtime and ensure the fleet is always operating at maximum efficiency and safety.”
As well as receiving 700 daily vehicle check reports, Freeway also helps Elddis manage around 60 preventative maintenance inspections (PMI) and MOT preparations each week.
Through a mobile app, fitters also have instant access to historical maintenance information so they can immediately spot recurring defects.
Elsewhere, Abbey Logistics is rolling out a new fleet maintenance system across its four workshop locations to help improve compliance, vehicle reliability and utilisation.
Abbey, which operates nearly 1,000 liquid and powder trucks and tankers, had previously implemented a system to manage compliance and maintenance but with the business expanding, a more integrated and comprehensive system was required that would provide better management information and a platform for future expansion.
“With Freeway’s tablets in the workshop, we have visibility of all work in real-time allowing better coordination with the workforce, improving uptime,” commented Paul Jamieson, head of finance at Abbey Logistics Group.
“We also gain vital insights such as an accurate cost allocation per asset. That allows us to make properly informed decisions on how to improve the way we work.”
Abbey will also be using Freeway’s driver app so drivers can use their mobiles to record their walkaround safety checks. This gives the workshop immediate visibility of any issues so decisions can be made immediately on the urgency on the rectification of any reported defect.
“Crucially Freeway joins up the dots between the fleet team, the operations team and drivers,” added Jamieson.
“For example, the introduction of a live, paperless defect system is one way we can ensure the fleet is proactively maintained and 100 per cent compliant at all times.”
