August 15, 2023

The last mile of delivery – from a distribution hub to the customer’s doorstep – represents a major cost for retailers and transportation companies. Real-time tracking technology provides visibility into this critical final leg, enabling data-driven optimizations for efficiency.

Gps enables live etas

Outfitting delivery vehicles with GPS devices allows real-time location tracking. The software can calculate updated ETAs as drivers navigate routes. Customers get live delivery status rather than guesstimates.

Tracking reduces failed deliveries

When customers know the truck is 5 minutes away, they prepare to receive their order. This reduces missed connections and repeat delivery distribution management attempts that waste time and fuel. Drawing a geophone around the delivery address generates an automatic timestamp when the truck enters that location. This confirms successful hand-offs without manual driver scans.

Sensors monitor item condition

Sensors can track package environmental conditions like impacts, light exposure, or temperature. Alerts notify logistics managers if items sustain damage en route.

Route optimization uses live data

Software factors in live traffic, weather delays, and real-time order information to dynamically optimize routes for drivers. Efficiency improves.

Analytics identify delivery patterns

Historical tracking data reveals spikes in volume by day and time. Forecast future delivery needs based on analytics rather than guesswork. At-a-glance dashboard metrics like dwell time per stop, miles driven, or incidents tracked provide delivery insights. Trend analysis guides improvements.

Alert systems enhance reactivity

Real-time alerts notify managers of exceptions like cold storage failures, delayed arrivals, or cancelled orders. Rapid response minimizes problems.

Tracking enables eta communication

Contacting recipients with truck ETAs from an en-route driver enables coordination. Deliveries get handed off rather than tagged and reattempted.

Transit times provide accountability

Saved time-in-transit data benchmarks provider performance. Contracts can penalize carriers for late deliveries.

Supply chain visibility increases

Sharing inbound shipment tracking data across supply chain partners improves coordination for just-in-time inventory and deliveries.

Enhanced customer experience

Order tracking visibility and proactive delivery communications create positive post-purchase experiences, building loyalty.

Predictive analytics forecast the future

Combining tracking data with machine learning algorithms enhances predictive capabilities for demand forecasting and capacity modeling.  While implementing live tracking capabilities requires upfront technology investment, the ROI in terms of optimizing last-mile delivery is substantial. Eliminating manual steps, improving reliability, and leveraging data insights drive efficiency miles to positively impact customers and bottom lines. Real-time visibility fuels logistics breakthroughs. Tracking provides insights into driver behaviours like speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, and unnecessary idling. Safety and efficiency coaching opportunities emerge.

Proof of delivery audit trails

Timestamped geofencing data, photos, and e-signatures create verifiable delivery records in case of customer disputes. Liability risks are reduced. Monitoring non-employee crowd sourced drivers ensures compliance with routes and service standards through tracking visibility. Telematics data better schedules preventative maintenance like oil changes based on actual mileage and engine diagnostics rather than estimates.

To enhance passenger safety and curb unfit taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers, the Department for Transport and The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP have introduced robust new rules across England. These measures aim to crack down on drivers with a history of misconduct and create a safer environment for passengers using taxis and PHVs. The latest legislation mandates councils to use a national database that records instances where taxi drivers have had their licenses removed due to wrongdoing, preventing them from easily reapplying in other areas without authorities being alerted.

The primary focus of these new regulations is to instil greater confidence in passengers when using taxis and PHVs, fostering more robust communities and boosting pride in towns and high streets across the country. While the vast majority of local taxi services operate safely and responsibly, a small minority have been linked to incidents of sexual harassment, abuse, and poor driving. The safety of passengers, particularly women and girls, is of utmost importance, and these new measures seek to eliminate any risks posed by unscrupulous drivers.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper emphasized the significance of these steps in ensuring that passengers can travel safely and without incident. By identifying and removing drivers who abuse their position and pose a threat to passengers, the government aims to protect the public and promote a secure transport environment. Implementing these measures also pays tribute to Sian O’Callaghan, whose tragic murder by a PHV driver in Swindon in 2011 prompted her family to campaign for stricter measures to safeguard passengers.

The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safety and Road Safety) Act 2022, led by Darlington MP Peter Gibson, has received support from Sian O’Callaghan’s family and the personal safety charity, Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Suky Bhaker, CEO of Suzy Lamplugh Trust, expressed approval of the tighter checks on drivers, recognizing it as a crucial milestone in improving passenger safety.

While the existing database has been used voluntarily by some local authorities, not all councils in England have embraced it, with only 74% currently utilizing the system. To address this, the Department for Transport has now made it compulsory for all driver license applications. Licensing authorities will be closely monitored to ensure compliance, and those failing to conduct the necessary checks may face legal repercussions.

Hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network, the database records instances where taxi and PHV driver licenses have been refused, suspended, or revoked due to safeguarding or road safety concerns. By enhancing information-sharing between licensing authorities, the system prevents unfit drivers from obtaining licenses elsewhere without facing scrutiny.

The benefits of the database have already been demonstrated in places like Luton and Winchester, where it exposed applicants with a history of misconduct, resulting in their applications being rejected. These instances illustrate the effectiveness of the system in identifying and weeding out potentially dangerous drivers.

The government’s commitment to supporting survivors and prioritizing the prevention and prosecution of those who exploit their position of trust is evident in these new measures. In conjunction with other initiatives like the Grooming Gangs Taskforce, focused on tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation, these regulations aim to safeguard passengers and maintain the integrity of taxi and PHV services.

In conclusion, the implementation of the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Safety and Road Safety) Act 2022, along with the compulsory use of the national database, marks a significant step forward in improving passenger safety. By weeding out unfit drivers and preventing them from slipping through the system, the government aims to create a more secure and reliable transportation environment for all passengers.