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ONLINE TO STAN C1N COURSE
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The advent of the internet has changed the way business is conducted forever, so don't be left behind.
Oliver Dixon reports.
The internet has two business-tobusiness (B2B) roles to play for the truck operator. It can be used for revenue generation and for cost management and reduction.
When it comes to bringing in extra cash, a well designed corporate website catches the eye, and is a valuable — albeit unquantifiable — addition to a company's marketing strategy. On the other hand, how many new customers source transport via a web search? Probably not too many, but increasingly customers expect a web presence from their suppliers.
Freight exchanges
Results are far more readily quantifiable with freight exchanges. •
• ballM2 Mem
Sites such as www.freight2malcom • ...•■••■•■• and www.haulageexchange.co.uk offer a load-matching service that can do much to iron out backload problems.
It could, of course, be argued that any operator relying on ad-hoc backloads on a regular basis might not be doing the job as well as it could, but there can't be a truck in the land that hasn't run back empty at some time due to a last-minute slipup. In cases such as this, freight exchanges are worth a look and a couple of minutes spent on the web might pay off.
Cost reduction is a different matter. Transport is a low-margin business and if you are in a position to negotiate prices upwards in a buyers' market, then fair play to you. But for the majority of operators, cost control and reduction are a central part of their business.
An obvious starting point is the Freight Best Practice website — www. freightbestpractice.org.uk — which contains a wealth of information.While some of it is obvious, there are useful ideas lobe found on investments,the internet really comes into subjects such as fuel consumption, training its own — prior research can be carried out and the like.This is one site that is well worth a without a rep breathing down your neck.
bit of time. All truck manufacturers put their spec Not strictly speaking a sheets on their websites,while many cost. but certainly a royal ancillary suppliers give potential buyers the pain are the twin terrors opportunity to browse product ranges, and of the WTD and the some sell online.This allows for a fair bit of digital tachograph.Visit background work to be done before an in iti www.tachomaster.co.uk meeting with. for example, a truck dealer. It and you will find a rather saves time and reduces the likelihood of bei elegant solution to record told what is good for you.
management for both, It is hard to imagine life without the urtesy of Roadtech.This internet. Granted, it hasn't necessarily is a full service operation, increased the flow of business, hut it has works with digital and analogue records, and altered the manner in which it is conducted removes a potentially serious headache from 'There will always be a place for face-to-fact the traffic office. dialogue, but as a tool for basic research. tht Fuel is the biggest cost for just about any web offers great potential. truck operator and drivers who get lost ar wasting it. At wivvvids.q8.com, these two elements are combined with an up-to-dat tally of European diesel prices and a rout( planner. ==i11=11.1111EM Operators who help saving fuel wl be well advised to www.fuelchamp.o MAO. the website for the Safe and Fuel Effi■ Driving Programn (SAFED). It migh also be worth takir look at Michelin' tyre site — www. stopthirstytyres.co —which has a fair bit of good information tyre cost management.
The issue of routeing seems to have corn from nowhere. Once upon a time. a driver had a map, read it and got to his drop.Toda sat-nav, autoroute and the like have rather taken over, hut there are systems designed specifically for the haulage market. A good place to start if you are investigating this is www.paragonrouting.com— it's a nice,clea website with refreshingly little technobabb
Research tool
For businesses looking to make purchases