Transport Manager, Sam Jones talks about refining MJ Refrigerations’ transport administration processes and increasing the company’s output.
Family-run company MJ Refrigeration was established in 2003 to cater to the frozen goods requirements of businesses. The mastermind behind the company started with just two refrigerated artics, but the company now boasts a fleet of 30 vehicles based in Shropshire. We recently spoke with Sam Jones, the Transport Manager of MJ Refrigeration and son of the company’s founder, to discuss how he future-proofed the business and optimised its operations.
HaulTech: Can you tell us about your role at MJ Refrigeration?
Sam: As Transport Manager, I oversee all the planning we do, whether that’s organising loads or drivers’ working schedules. I also look at what are the most cost-effective methods to get the job done. It’s part of the reason we decided to review our transport software.
HaulTech: How were you working before you started using transport software?
Sam: Before I started with the company, and before we had any software package in place we were using A3 running sheets to plan out our work, it could be time-consuming and sometimes we would have to reprint sheets if loads or driver/lorry allocation was changed multiple times as the sheets would become messy and hard to understand. Because of compliance regulations, we had to store all of the running sheets which meant we had cupboards full of sheets.
HaulTech: Is that what led you towards a transport management system?
Sam: Yeah, so Mark (The company’s director) knew we had to work a different way because the running sheets mounted up and it just wasn’t an efficient way to operate. We researched how to improve operations and learnt about how transport software can get rid of the need for paperwork and help to streamline the work we do.
HaulTech: How did you find using a system?
Sam: We found the concept of using a haulage system great, we could use one system to input jobs, allocate drivers, vehicles and trailers and plan the work all on the screen in front of us, this then meant that the accounts department could invoice our customers out of the same system rather than using multiple methods. We used our original transport software for over 15 years but times change and so does technology.
We were finding the system didn’t have all the functions we required for our business and after a system failure where we were left without use of the system for an extended period of time, with sadly little support from their customer support team and poor communications as to when everything would be back up and running, it left us with no option but to review them as a supplier and start looking for a new system which ticked all of our boxes.
HaulTech: What were your next steps after having an unsuccessful run with your original transport software provider?
Sam: A lot of research led us to HaulTech. We read online reviews and then spoke to some of the team there and we could instantly tell the customer service was good and what we were looking for in the way they interacted with us.
HaulTech: How do you find the two systems compare in functionality?
Sam: So far we are finding that HaulTech is all-round better, the process steps of using the system are simple. It’s easy to input deliveries and allocate them as needed and the process for invoicing is simpler with less steps than before. One of the great things for me is the way you can segment the diary, I can break it down to look at it in different ways. So I can literally click a button and view a driver’s day from their perspective. It was difficult to do that with the old system. Now I can easily see what is going on and the ability to see everything in one place gives me total control of the operation.
HaulTech: What other areas of the business has a transport management system helped to improve?
Sam: The user within our accounts department finds the system user-friendly with a simple invoicing procedure that has less steps than our previous system, meaning she can do her tasks faster. We also like that it integrates with our accounts package meaning that there’s one less job to do rather than duplicating work.
HaulTech: Would you recommend a system to other haulage firms?
Sam: I definitely would! I would also recommend that people do their research and make sure the system they are looking at is right for their company. Make a clear plan of what you need the system to do and get as much information about the system as you can. For us, we can definitely say HaulTech is great and the support they provide us is second to none.
If you’re interested in taking control of your operations like M J Refrigeration and want to learn more about transport software then contact us today by clicking here, calling 01782 662244 or saying hello@haultech.co.uk.
