Truck Tracking

[Matt]

What are dispatch and managment thoughts on the various ways of truck tracking

[batchmaster]

the tracking system we use is by dinet, which has a control box in the cab, the driver has to push buttons on it to change his status. seems to work fairly well here, pretty much just flat terrain. works over the same system as our two way radios. as far as range goes, probably good for about a 30 mile radius, sometimes more...depends on the day. the only problem with it is that the drivers sometimes forget to push the buttons, so sometimes you don't know where they are at. would love to have a gps system that we could monitor exactly where the trucks are at but, the company doesn't want to spend the $ to install those.

[davethepumper]

We are using Trakit GPS, GPS locations with a cell phone (CDMA) communication system. Only problem we have had was a few bad cable sets which were replaced at no cost. Had a new McNeilus with Trimble installed and hated the dam thing, customer support was terrible, had to go to ConAgg/ConExpo to talk to someone at the Trimble booth to figure out how to use it.

[batchmaster]

now most of the time i can't say anything over the radio so...anytime i say something then the tracker walks on me so, these radios here are sweet.

[concretejoe]

I have been in this industry for 10 years, and have sat in both the driver and dispatcher/batchman seats. Currently, I'm in the driver seat. Our company installed the Trimble system last year. I personally have had no problems with it. Our dispatcher though hasn't gotten out of the habit of asking for status and location updates. We had a company meeting where everyone made suggestions to improve the company. One of the suggestions was to utilize the Trimble to it's full capacity. For instance, drivers are constantly calling for dispatch on the radio. Dispatch is constantly on the phone. It's annoying to the driver not to get an answer, and it's annoying to the dispatcher to listen to "44 to dispatch" like a broken record. Everyone can tell the frustration in the voices. So I suggested that since Trimble gives the driver the ability to send a message such as "Request Talk" to the dispatchers screen, we should use that. Then the dispatcher can call the drivers back when he's off the phone in the order the messages were received. My dispatchers exact words were, "Then I'd have to pay attention to my screen." At my company there are three people in the dispatch office. Couldn't one of them pay attention to the screen? My point is that unless the tracking system is used to increase communications, scheduling efficiency and decision making, then it is a waste of money. We don't need a GPS system to tell us that drivers are going to make stops throughout the day, this is a given. The best dispatchers know it and plan for it.

[Matt]

Our messaging through our tracking system is hardly ever used unless it’s from base to all mobiles. Generally something all the drivers need to know, but the dispatch doesn't need to wait to contact each driver individually. I have found that dispatch has plenty of time to load trucks and handle all radio traffic so long as someone else is answering the phones and arranging orders. Things flow pretty smoothly when office work is separated like this. These two man operations will pick up each others slack if not busy. Not all of our locations operate with two guys, but the busiest of the bunch do. To have three guys in the office, and driver’s calls going unanswered seems unacceptable to me. I feel your pain though. Nothing sucks more than having concrete drying in your chutes while you’re waiting to hear back from dispatch!

[batchmaster]

Oh Matthew, if you wouldn't have been saving every last drop of water to keep that truck in showroom condition, you wouldn't have mud drying in your chutes. And the radios used by the company you work for don't accept messages from the truck to the dispatch, it only works from dispatch to the truck. The thing with the radios when I was a dispatcher, everyone acts as if you are doing nothing but sitting there with your finger on the trigger ready to reply at the drop of a dime. Doesn't work that way for dispatch or the driver. Give some time for the driver or dispatcher to finish up what they were doing before that expected reply and the frustration will disappear on both ends.

[gant]

my truck has tracer net in it.. we only have a few trucks that have GPS that we got from some of our city plants.. our plant doesnt use GPS though.. so mine is in my truck but I dont messwith it

[Mort]

We run Tracer Net in ours. Its nice, it eliminates a lot of radio chatter (if the yo-yos would actually look at what all the buttons do). There are some days where I don't use the radio at all, and the dispatchers like to keep pretty good tabs on us.

We've got GPS tracking in ours, which is good because it'll say "ON JOB" and you don't realize you're about to pass it. It also tells dispatch whether you're pouring, loading, leaving the plant, etc., so you don't have to punch all that stuff in.

[vaupell]

we use a system named Comlog
small computer in each cap, connected with a gps
and a possibelity for drivers to write small messages to dispatch
and virse versa.

no range limit, goes by cell phone system mounted on each truck.

It is exelent, plus if needed cell phones are used for voice
communications since the dispatch is often more than 100km away.
not sure what that is in miles, but im guissing some thin like 60-70miles.

each truck is fittet with tracer for map marking
plus sensors for the drum unloading/loading
conveyer in use yes/no which is registered automatic
and the driver does not have to click anything but are able to
if he finds it nessesary.

old system, but exelent in performance and reliability.

Radio is something you listen to music on, not for chatter *jokeing* but a reality.

[mixermark]

We use TracerNet. It monitors the truck loaction, speed, gear, slump, how many revs and and ofcourse wether he is loading, to job, unloading or returning to plant! All tied into the RS system.

[Crazy Mudder Trucker]

Here at robertsons ready mix in cali we use trimble cross checks and mobile processors. They know everything I was the GPS tech for a year. Shows your weight, speed, slump/hydro pressure, when your drum is in charge/discharge, washing out and adding water. Along with latitude and longitude.

[Mort]

Ooh, I'd like mine to monitor slump. That would be a lot better then looking and guessing.

Anything for a mixer driver to do less work is a-ok with me.

[LEAD DOG]

WE USE A GIZMO CALLED "COMMAND DATA EAGLE' PRETTY MUCH LIKE MOST TRACKERS I SUPPOSE. EACH TRUCK HAS A KEY PAD WITH BUTTONS. THE DRIVER PRESS A BUTTON WHEN HIS JOBSITE FUNCTION CHANGES. THE DRIVER CAN TELL DISPATCH THE AMOUNT OF LEFTOVER HE HAS BLAH BLAH BLAH,,, YAHTA YAHTA YAHTA.

[kibo]

At my company we all have nextels in a lock box with the gps showing our location. Then all drivers have nextels to talk on , dispatch came up with using the 10 codes. 10-1 is loading, 10-2 is on the job,10-3 is pouring, 10-5 is hosing down,10-6 is returning back to the plant, 10-7 is back at the plant, and 10-8 means you are stoping for smokes,lunch, etc..

[gant]

our company has it to see where the trucks are at.. we dont use it to tell them what we are doing.. I just start my truck and let it do its thing.. except now they took mine out to work on it and never brought it back..we just get on the radio and talk if we need to.. we've only got 11 guys that talk on our channel..and our 10 codes are 10-10 returning back to plant empty..10-30 coming back with a left over.. 10-5 whats your location..thats about all we use.. we talk on the radio alot.. but our batchman gets bored..so he talks alot..

[Mort]

They're finally getting the TracerNet devices worked out on the trucks we've brought up from California. Before they did, everybody was on the radio for stupid stuff, and that gets annoying. I prefer it when they leave the radio for important things, like making fun of other drivers and making weekend plans.

[BillyCement]

[quote I prefer it when they leave the radio for important things, like making fun of other drivers and making weekend plans.[/quote]

I am down wit dat, homey. I used to play the rooster crowing (from The Beatles "Sgt Pepper" album) every morning until my boss left me a note that said "Billy....either the rooster goes or you go.". I never figured out how he knew it was me.

[Mort]

We've got a knocker. Whenever one of the whiners says something whiny or stupid, they give them three knocks of the radio. I don't understand why, but management has a real problem with it. They've said that if they find out who it is, they'll get a few days off, but they'll probably fire him.

They don't realize its a lot of different people, but I ain't tellin'.

[gant]

everytime someone tries to kiss ass on the radio everyone gets on and makes kissing noises lol..and everytime our number 1 driver comes in and hangs his ticket up he says "another satisfied customer.. " or "another happy camper" so when he 10-10's and is on his way back to the plant I always say "another happy camper" lol..we hardly talk about business on the radio..

[mrwonderful]

you got whiners too? i thought i was the only one who had to deal with that whiny crap.

do they b*I*t*C*h about having to work late on saturday and come monday, P*i*S*s & moan that they haven't made as much money as they did last year too?

[Mort]

We've got a couple guys that complain constantly. Thin skin, can't give them any crap or they start to cry. Its their philosophy that inside every silver lining is a dark cloud.

[concretejoe]

We have to complain, it's in our genetic make up. If we don't we explode.

[BillyCement]

Oct 17, 2008 16:42:26 GMT -5 Mort said:

We've got a couple guys that complain constantly. Thin skin, can't give them any crap or they start to cry. Its their philosophy that inside every silver lining is a dark cloud.

We have them, too. They ain't happy unless they're miserable.

[twoalphahotdog]

The difference between a truck driver and a puppy..........eventually the puppy quits whining.

[Yard Bird]

Remember the squeaky wheel always gets the grease, or replaced for another