When Technology Meets Trash Haulers – Implementing a Telematics PC

Waste360

The Situation
Traditionally, trash truck operation relies on generating paper and using the driver’s record book for communications between the fleet managers and the hauler drivers. Daily printing of all the record sheets has been a formidable task. The operation data are manually recorded by the truck driver, then collected by the fleet managers when haulers return to the service hub. This adds even more tasks to the fleet manager’s already punishing workload. For example:
- Interpreting and processing handwritten notes and the paperwork this generates
- Customer Service Records cannot be monitored and filed in a timely fashion
- The extra work generating when a truck out of action results in rushed planning
- Incidents that cause rushed planning often result in overtime and excessive fuel waste
- An incomplete picture of the reasons behind skipped pickups
- Infrequent and manual route audits

Looking to find a solution
A nationwide fleet management system company that spotted these issues implemented a total solution based on sophisticated trash truck management software. However, while a simple x86-based telematics client PC could execute these functions, they soon realized that the features required for this client device are mission critical.

The environment in which trash haulers operate is definitely not a pleasant one either locally or nationwide.

When taking these critical requirements into consideration, Portwell determined that the best solution to these challenges lay in its robust and fan-less PCS-8277 telematics PC system.