Satellite tracking technology has played a major role in helping maintain delivery servicelevels during the recent severe weather conditions, according to TNT Express.
Grant Cochrane, divisional general manager for TNT Special Services, said: “It was particularlyuseful during wintry conditions when snow – and the associated traffic disruptions that came withit on our roads – meant we sometimes had to re-route our drivers around hold-ups. It allows theoperator to take complete control of the fleet, but also use the fleet as a national fleet whichhas hugely increased our efficiency on delivery runs.”
TNT Express UK said all its Special Services vehicles were now fitted with advanced GlobalPositioning System (GPS) satellite technology that allowed traffic operators to monitor exactlywhere a vehicle and parcel is while in transit, and inform customers when their parcel is going tobe delivered or of any delays, caused by traffic jams, accidents or roadworks. TNT Express UK’s 720Special Services vehicles carry time-critical parcels and special project packages, including vitalblood supplies and donor organs for National Blood Service and the NHS, vital components and partsfor industries such as telecoms and automotive. The service has also been used recently to deliverurgently needed football boots for England international players and even freshly felled Christmastrees in the run up to the big day last month.
Stephanie Derwin, project manager of TNT UK Special Services, said: “The system will also tellus whether or not the driver is trained to carry particular consignments such as blood. If italerts the operator of a delay on the route, he or she can re-route the driver or find analternative driver to pick up the parcel.”
The bespoke system, developed in conjunction with the supplier Masternaut, also allows operatorsto tap into the Highways Agency roadside cameras so they can see road and traffic conditions inreal time. TNT said the increased efficiency was reaping benefits for the company, its drivers andits customers, helping it to differentiate itself in the market place and claiming it had helpedmake TNT the number one provider within the UK time-critical delivery market.
Grant said it was also playing a significant part in reducing the company’s carbon footprint. “We are better able to monitor backloads, which drives down fuel consumption and helps us achieve agreener fleet,” he added.
