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5th November 1998
Page 46
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Technology has revolutionised communications. Andrea Kirkby examines the ways the Internet could improve the lot of the haulier.

The world is coming online, and hauliers are no exception. E-mail could soon replace the telephone as a way of doing—and getting—business. And getting online isn't as difficult as it used to be, either.

Buying Internet access is now much easier than before—even Tesco sells a package. Simple access will give you Web browsing ability (surfing the net") and, perhaps more important, e-mail. Most cost about £10 a month. On the other hand, if you want a Web site to promote your company you may have to pay more. Note that some providers, such as America Online, offer five different e-mail addresses on one account, which could be useful for a small business.

Finding an access provider is not difficult. WI' and most of the cable companies offer plans. However, you might save time and money by purchasing one of the Internet magazines which have a list of suppliers in the back—and usually an evaluation of their services. Whichever supplier you choose, make sure you can access it for the cost of a local call. Most of them use 0345 or 0845 lines so that you can do this from anywhere in the wuntry.

Obviously, security issues are important when you're on the Internet. Basic disciplines—not letting other people have your password, not leaving computers logged on overnight—will cut out 90% of potential fraud. However, email can be—and is—intercepted. If you're using credit cards over the Internet, make sure you use a secure server: don't put your number in an email!

Legal acceptance

By the way, electronic documents have been admitted as evidence in court since 1978, so as long as you have confirmation of a deal by e-mail it's as good as a piece of paper.

Junk e-mail is one of the curses of the Internet, where it is nicknamed "spam". Most is for either porn or pyramid schemes. If you don't want it. tough! But there are some ways to cut it down. Don't post messages on newsgroups: your e-mail address can be picked up automatically by "spammers". And ask any Internet provider you are considering signing up with what steps it takes against spam. Some will automatically "kill" mail from known spammers.

Now that you're on the Web, what can it do for you? It seems the transport industry has only just discovered it perhaps because so many firms were already using different types of ED!. But there are now various facilities on the Internet which you can use to improve your business. Getting return loads is one of the trucker's nightmares—and also one of his biggest opportunities to increase profitability. It's estimated that 30% of trucks on our roads are running empty. A couple of Web sites have now been set up to provide bulletin boards on which both hauliers and customers can put up details of availability of loads or haulage, and hauliers can bid for work via a secure system.

Colin McKee at Loadfinder, one such site, said it has just gone live with its first loads. He's aiming to sign up major customers such as Dalgety and Cargill, and has even made it possible for customers to download their internal databases straight on to the system rather than typing in the information. Loadfinder will also add links to the AA's Roadwatch service and provide industry news and a list of weighbridges, and it might add links to tyre, maintenance and fuel suppliers. Of course, everything has a catch: it will cost a haulier £50 a month to join. On the other hand, if no business comes through to cover that cost, the next month's subscription will be free.

The Web also provides some good information about tyres and purchasing used trucks.

E-mail

However, if you think the Web is the main advantage of possessing an Internet account, think again. E-mail is far more powerful for your day-to-day work. It's like the difference between having a telephone directory and having a telephone. E-mail not only enables you to deal easily with customers— particularly when the same message has to be sent to several people—but it enables you to send computer files such as copy invoices without needing to print them out.

The Internet isn't crucial for hauliers You can still run a business the old-fashioned way. But considering the relatively low costs, it might well be worth adding a modem and an Internet account to next year's budget There's a simple way to decide. How many of your customers have got wired?

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