Boosting productivity

Over the past few years, an increasing number of customers have realised the benefits of fleet management solutions, which includes Briggs’ award winning telemetry system Speedshield.

Briggs Sales Director Bill Goodwin believes this interest is part of a wider trend across UK business as more firms look to an integrated and comprehensive management information offering.

"In a tough economic environment effective asset management is essential and as a result purchasing decisions now take into consideration a wider range of factors rather than just the cost of individual trucks. When managed proactively; fleet optimisation, real-time reporting and increased safety deliver real bottom line savings.

"Our telemetry solution Speedshield can play a pivotal role in this process by providing real-time data on each individual truck with the information being used to more effectively manage the fleet and influence operator behaviour. What’s more, activity monitoring and load sensing can boost productivity; a top priority for most businesses.”

One of the latest companies to adopt the system is Senator International, the country’s largest manufacturer of office furniture.

Across five manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Lancashire it operates a mixed fleet of around 60 counterbalance and very narrow aisle trucks, alongside other materials handling equipment.

Speedshield was installed across the fleet after a trial on two trucks and is now proving its worth. It facilitates H&S controls by enforcing a tailored health and safety checklist on start-up and also brings to the fleet a range of safety features including automatic cut-out in an accident or other emergency. 

Now Senator is hoping to follow in the footsteps of other companies that have benefitted from Speedshield, including leading recycling and waste management company Viridor that’s on target to save around £220,000 over five years by reducing its damage costs by nearly 75 per cent.

At its Skelmersdale facility, Viridor operates six diesel-powered fork lift trucks supplied by Briggs as part of a longstanding relationship between the two companies. 

On site the trucks operate under very demanding conditions, handling up to six tonnes of waste an hour as they load and unload around 14 lorries a day that come into the facility from different sites across the UK.

The intelligent Speedshield system is tailored to individual requirements, in the case of Viridor this includes enforcing a 5 mph speed limit. 

Bill concludes: "Briggs is leading the industry in its fleet management solutions. With national KPI reporting, telemetry, specialist products and services and a dedicated operator training team Briggs has the structure and expertise that enable customers to develop more efficient and results driven businesses.

"In today’s world, technology and the ability to utilise management information has become an invaluable tool for businesses that need to retain a competitive edge.”