SWITCHING FROM PEN AND PAPER PLANNING TO A TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS BRINGING SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO A FAMILY-RUN HAULAGE FIRM.
Based on the outskirts of Cambridge, S R Harradine is a bulk haulage company specialising in aggregates and muck away. Steve Harradine started in 2000 with just one tipper; today the company operates 30 vehicles and has around 40 staff, including Steve’s wife Joan and their sons Bryn and Rick.
“It has definitely helped us to become more efficient,” said Bryn Harradine, operations and transport manager. “It enabled us to grow and have better access to important information – as when I was writing it all in a book only one person could see it or use it at any given time. Now multiple people can get involved, inputting jobs or providing customers with ETAs for deliveries.”
S R Harradine moves up to 5,000 tonnes of materials per day in its aggregates and muck away operations.
“It has enabled us to grow exponentially and take on more staff,” added Bryn. “We now have five people using HaulTech – two in the transport team and three in the office. HaulTech has also streamlined the way we communicate with the drivers. Before I had to text them their work individually, which took up a large portion of my day. Now the system automatically updates the drivers, and they can all crack on with their days.”
A relative recommended HaulTech after the company they worked for successfully installed the system.
“At first it was quite daunting as I am not a tech expert,” said Bryn. “But HaulTech sent out a training manager who walked me through the system. Once I’d used it a few times it became second nature and there’s no way I’d go back to pen and paper now.”
“HaulTech is like a one-stop shop for us. We use it for everything from adding jobs onto the system through to electronic proof of delivery and invoicing. One of the things we really like is that we can add on more functionality as the business grows. So, when we are ready to go to the next level, HaulTech can help us.”
“HaulTech has been a game-changer for our company. I would recommend it and in fact I already have. Some people from other transport companies asked me and I have told them that if it works for us, it will work for them as well.”
