Whether you have 100+ trucks and multiple depots, or 5 trucks and 1 depot, you need to know when deliveries didn’t go to plan.
A key benefit of our goRoam mobile app and dispatch system for fuels and lubes delivery is providing visibility into drivers’ daily activities well beyond what you get with paper and simple mobile apps.
Our Daily Operations Review is a single report that consolidates the following key metrics:
Report R212-Daily Operations Review can be scheduled and emailed daily. The default start and end dates reflect the previous day, so you will receive the report at 7am for the previous day’s transactions. Let’s review the 5 key sections and how to use them.
Note that this is one report, but we will highlight each section.
This section shows scheduled trips, drivers, truck, trailer and start/end times. The keys to this section are trips that have not started, or trips that have not ended. Unstarted trips means you scheduled a driver but the trip was never done.
Trips that have not ended should be checked to see if all the stops (orders and loads) were completed.
You can configure your own list of reasons why a driver can reject loads or orders. The standard list is:
Rejected orders need to be reviewed to determine if they should be re-dispatched or canceled.
This section shows any line items that have zero delivered and zero back ordered. Where the ‘Rejected Orders’ section deals with the whole order, this deals with individual line items. These should be reviewed for specific reasons. In the example above, you can see that the driver entered ‘not needed’ on the last item. On a keep-full account this may be an opportunity to improve productivity by adjusting the delivery frequency.
The goRoam mobile app prompts drivers to enter a reason for a backorder, so you can get reason codes for individual line items.
The goRoam mobile app monitors driver activity and records abnormal or unusual events in an event log. This allows you, as a dispatcher, to understand what happens in the field by recording events without driver intervention. You can see the exact time an event occurred, even if the mobile device is not connected to the internet. Key events we record include:
As the last section of this report, we are continuing to get into more detail. We audit a significant amount of activity on the mobile device. You can think of it as an IoT (Internet of Things) for fuels and lubes trucks. We log things such as when a driver opens an order, when they open line items, what values they typed, etc.
You have access to all the audits in the MobileHub web app. This section focuses specifically on audits where the driver performed a manual activity. The key types of manual audits include:
If you would like a review to see how your daily operations can benefit from goRoam advanced reporting for fuels and lubes delivery, please call or contact us.
The goRoam mobile app for fuels, lubricants and chemicals delivery has gone through a major update in the second half of 2018. For hosted customers, we will upgrade your managed devices once you have trained your drivers. On-premise installations should update all mobile devices to the latest version of the 2018.10 release before updating your server and rolling out this version.
Note that all features are available on both iOS and Android versions, with the exception of Commercial Truck routes (Android only)
– Our Android version of goRoam supports full North American and Canadian commercial truck routes using integrated CoPilot® navigation. You can configure truck profiles with the height, weight, length, axle weight, and HazMat restrictions of each of your delivery vehicles so drivers can navigate with efficient and compliant commercial routes. Stay tuned for iOS commercial route capability.
– Comply with supplier mandates and stop contamination before it happens. When delivering from compartments, you can configure a truck to require a barcode scan/match of the compartment, the product, and the asset(tank).
– This is a great reason to have LCR integration. An automatic, system-generated email will be sent if a driver creates a sale in the LCR® meter outside of a goRoam inventory transaction (delivery, hose flush, etc.). The GPS coordinates, sale number, and total gallons are recorded and sent as an email. This audit happens behind the scenes so dispatchers can see when and where drivers are pumping product outside of a customer delivery.
– In addition to the LCR-II electronic register, we now also support the LCR-600.
– Think about how much it costs for a truck to make it to the point of delivery. Make the most of being there when delivering to tanks, vehicles or equipment. Drivers can record custom readings for any asset. For example, DEF, engine hours and grease for equipment and vehicles are recorded along with the delivered gallons. You can record any value for tanks, vehicles, and equipment, and then review them in a report. How many bottles of DEF did that asset use last month? How many gallons per mile/hour did that engine consume? Find out now.
– If a driver needs to complete orders out of sequence on a trip, but you don’t want to allow this on a regular basis, you can require a one-time PIN code approved by a dispatcher for each order they want to deliver out of sequence. PIN codes force drivers to complete stops in your dispatched sequence while giving them the flexibility to react to unforeseen issues in the field.
– When a truck has electronic meters and the driver wants to go in manual mode to enter gallons from the meter, you can require them to get a one-time PIN code to proceed. The idea of PIN codes arose from the need for flexibility and control – you can have both. Look for more PIN code features in the future.
– Set up categories and require a description when taking pictures, so you know which pictures are BOLs, receipts, etc.
– If a driver rejects an order; we have an updated email handler to notify a dispatch group. You can easily set up custom rejection reasons such as – “missed the delivery window,” “customer closed,” “inclement weather.”
– goRoam records and update for an asset’s GPS location when filling so that you find assets on a map. Find that lost tank or another portable asset. Share filling detail with customers.
– We have developed a new enclosure and mounting system that allows installing LCR meter integration on trailers. Our new enclosure keeps the meter integration with the trailer, not the truck.
In addition to these updates, we have a significant release scheduled for early 2019 that includes:
You asked, we listened! goRoam mobile fueling software allows fuels, lubricants and chemicals distributors to easily capture asset readings during tank or mobile equipment fueling. Whether you are doing fleet fueling or packaged and bulk lubricants delivery, with goRoam you can easily capture additional asset readings such as:
When filling things like construction equipment or tanks, it is important to specify on a per-asset basis what readings you need to capture and be able to report the readings. You can see from the report image above how much product, such as diesel, was delivered along with DEF and Engine Hours.
This is very simple to setup in the goRoam app. The system administrator simply specifies a preference (MASTER_ASSET_READINGS_LIST) that lists the types of asset readings you can capture. When a driver scans a new asset in the field, they are prompted to check the types of readings that apply to that asset so valuable data collection isn’t overlooked. Alternatively, you can enter or update the required readings in the desktop web app, as shown below.
When the driver scans an asset, they are prompted for each reading specified for that asset.
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| Equipment filling – capturing DEF | Equipment or tank filling – capture percent full | Entering the number of gallons from the meter |
This is available in the latest version of goRoam. Contact us for more information about this feature or assistance with setting it up.
We occasionally get questions from customers about using barcode labels or RFID tags to mark assets for fuel and lubricant deliveries. When using fuel or lubricant delivery software, the driver typically scans a barcode or RFID tag to confirm the vehicle or tank being filled. This eliminates the need for a driver to manually key in a value or hand write a tank number, and possibly record the wrong ID. When the driver scans the label or tag, the mobile device can validate product compatibility, so the driver cannot put dyed diesel in a gas tank, or cross-deliver 5W-20 conventional oil into a synthetic tank.
The questions we get include:
• When should I use RFID over barcodes, or barcodes over RFID?
• What’s the cost difference?
• What kinds of companies are using RFID vs barcodes?
• Come in 2 main types: 1D (the vertical lines like UPC codes) and 2D (like QR codes or your driver’s license).
• Can be printed on various materials – paper, polyester, polypropylene, metal, etc. The material they are printed on determines their durability.
• Use different adhesives to stick to different materials – there are adhesives for metal, plastic, etc.
• Have different durability characteristics depending on their use. For example, KIMDURA labels are designed to withstand exposure to chemicals, solvents, abrasions, etc.
• 2D barcodes can hold up to 4000 characters of data
• Come in 2 main types: HF (High Frequency), which have been around since the 1950’s, and UHF (which were popularized when Walmart started their initiative).
• HF tags are frequently seen as a button, and have a read range of approximately 8 inches.
• UHF tags typically can have a read range up to 10 feet from a mobile RFID reader, but 2-3 feet is more common.
• UHF tags range in size from very small (less than ½ inch) to 4”x6”
• In order to use UHF tags on metal, you need a specially designed metal-mount tag.
• RFID tags can have specialty adhesives just like barcodes, but due to the lower volume they tend to be a specialty order.
• RFID can be read through other material, like clothing, but it does NOT read well through liquids or metal. A non-metal mount RFID tag placed on a metal tank will not read, even if you are less than a foot away.
• If an RFID tag is on a poly tank full of liquid (oil tote, bleach, etc), it will not read through the tank.
RFID for fuel and lubricant delivery has typically been implemented with HF tags (buttons). In this scenario, the tag scanner/reader needs to be placed within a few inches of the button in order to read it. The advantage of RFID buttons in extremely dirty or harsh environments is that the button can get covered in dirt or grime, and you can still read it. A 1D barcode label that is damaged will not be scannable. A 2D barcode can sustain some damage and usually still be scanned. The downside of RFID buttons is they are raised, so if you power wash a truck or tank, it can be pretty easy to wash off the button. And if you have multiple buttons, you have to scan the button in order to find a specific one because they may not have a human readable value that a driver can see. Some smart phones can read HF RFID tags, but in general, RFID readers can be significantly more expensive than barcode scanners. A UHF capable RFID mobile scanner is typically $3000-$4500. Your choice of devices for RFID is significantly limited compared to barcodes.
Barcodes can be read by imagers (ex. phone cameras) as well as dedicated barcode scanners. Barcodes are available in exceptionally durable (polyester, polypropylene, KIMDURA) formats and are designed to last years in rugged outdoor environments. In our experience, there is NO advantage to use RFID over barcodes when using fuel and lubricant delivery software, or really for any bulk products (bleach, chemicals, etc.). Today’s barcode material and adhesives meet the durability needs of most bulk product distribution scenarios without the higher cost for RFID tags and reader hardware.
Hardened HF RFID tags are typically $3-6/each, depending on quantities purchased (less than 1000). $130 for qty of 25.
UHF RFID tags are around $.10/each. Metal mount UHF tags are > $1/each.
Durable barcode labels are about $.01/each. 2500 labels are around $300.
The benefits of using fuel distribution software for fleet fuel deliveries go well beyond just accurate accounting for gallons delivered. Yes, using software allows the driver to capture correct gallons delivered which results in reduced billing errors. Additional benefits include:
– Less driver time on site – the driver does not have to return to the meter to record gallons dispensed into each vehicle or tank. The software captures the gallons dispensed automatically so the driver can remain at the end of the hose and quickly move from asset to asset.
– Better recording of gallons delivered to each asset – By barcode labeling the assets to be filled, the software automatically records the gallons dispensed into each asset. Rather than invoicing only for total gallons at a stop, you are able to provide an itemization of gallons dispensed into every asset.
– Electronically capture the customer’s signature – This allows printing the signature on the Proof of Delivery and server-side storage for later recall.
– Print a detailed receipt at the customer location – the detailed receipt will show the asset, totalizer values, gallons dispensed, and the product.
– Prevent dispensing incorrect product – If the product does not match the configuration for the asset, the driver will be notified and prevented from dispensing the incorrect product.
The business owner will see efficiency and monetary benefits from reduced driver time to fill assets. The customer experience will be improved as fuel distribution software allows new ways to service the customer. The software can automatically send an email to the customer when the driver is on the way to their location, provide a detailed list of gallons dispensed by asset, and a host of other ways to improve the customer experience.
Using bulk fuel distribution software also shortens the order to cash cycle. Once an order is completed, the data is quickly sent back to the server, which allows invoices to be sent immediately. There is no need to transcribe gallons delivered from the drivers order sheets.
Contact us to learn more about the benefits of fuel distribution software.
The goRoam Lubricants distribution software for iOS app for lubricants delivery has all the capabilities of our Android app for bulk and packaged lubes distribution, including barcode scanning, electronic signature capture, wireless dispatch and LCR-II meter integration.
 goRoam iOS app – start trip for lubricants delivery |
 goRoam iOS app – list of orders and stops for lubricants distribution |
 goRoam iOS app – signature capture for lubes delivery |
Lubricants distributors are looking to iOS for a few reasons. One of the top 3 lubes manufacturers released a contamination app that only runs on iOS. In addition, many distributors are providing drivers with company iPhones for phone, email and texting.
Whether you use the iOS or the Android version of goRoam, it makes a statement on customer service when drivers do everything electronically and then hand the iPhone to the customer for their electronic signature, printed and emailed delivery receipt for Proof of Delivery (POD).
Key capabilities of the goRoam iOS app include:
In addition to the features listed above, our Q3 2018 release will include:
If you are trying to decide whether to use iOS or Android, you should consider the following factors:
Send a powerful message!
It seems simple, but a notification email that order #9987 will arrive between 8:15 am – 11:00 am tomorrow sends a powerful message about your company’s logistics.
It also says you care about customer service.
Here are three easy ways to improve customer service for fuels and lubes distributors while sending a powerful message about your company:
A further customer service differentiator is capturing an electronic signature on a mobile device for proof of delivery. When top logistics carriers make a delivery, customers expect a barcode scanner and signature capture. A key benefit when customers call your customer service is saying..“Tom signed @ 11:01 am, here is his signature, GPS of the delivery, the tank readings and list of filled assets”.
Emailing a delivery receipt with all of the delivery details makes an immediate and lasting impression within minutes of signing for the delivery.
Examples:
* Pre-delivery notification
* Signature capture
* Delivery receipt
POD delivery receipt with detailed unit/asset filling info
It’s been a while since we’ve posted, but that doesn’t mean we havent been busy! We’ve been actively rolling out our Android app for metered delivery and wanted to post a quick video to show how fast and easy it is for fdrivers to make deliveries.
The app works the same for metered lubricants and supports electronic as well as mechanical meters. You can even use a truck that has a combination of electronic and mechanical meters.
The driver selects a product to deliver and picks the meter they are using. The driver scans a barcode and goRoam validates the product (to prevent cross pumping/contanimation). Once validated, we wirelessly open the LCR solenoid (valve) to allow the driver to pump. The driver sees the meter values in realtime on their Android device – no more going back and forth to the truck to record meter values.
The driver can take a picture of assets or BOL’s (Bill of Lading) to attach to the order. They can add products or services such as demurrage or splits, and get an electronic signature from the customer…just like FedEx or UPS.
Once complete, goRoam can print a receipt and/or email a PDF receipt so the customer has an electronic document of all assets fueled and their quantities within a couple of minutes of completing the delivery!
“Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it.” – Peter Drucker
Do your competitors offer a better delivery service? Do you show appreciation of your customers’ business in all facets of customer interaction – from order entry to scheduling, dispatch, delivery and invoicing. For distributors, your delivery drivers are the face of your company. Your drivers are who your customers see each day.
The impression your drivers make is key to your customer service.
Paper-based deliveries involve manual processes that are time consuming, prone to errors and costly to manage. While many companies still use paper tickets, imagine going to Walmart or Target and getting a receipt with hand written quantities for thousands of dollars of products.
Compare that to a delivery where you sign a mobile device and get a receipt printed on the spot. The following are examples of what best in class distribution companies use:
If you would like to learn how BizSpeed helps deliver best in class customer service, contact us!
