June/July 2008

Asda Home Shopping is fitting a telematics-based fleet management system in all 800 of its home delivery vehicles. It has chosen Isotrak as its primary supplier, and is adopting its Active Transport Management System, which combines satellite tracking and what is termed 'multifaceted' telematics data capture with advanced transport management.

The development follows a decision last year by the company to fit the Isotrak system in its trunking fleet. That project that was expected to involve up to 1,000 vehicles and 1,400 trailers, and included integration with the GTS routing, scheduling and resource allocation system from Manhattan Associates. (See m.logistics, issue 30 – available online at www.mlogmag.com.)

Asda says the most immediate benefit for the home delivery fleet will be a reduction in fuel consumption – achieved mainly though minimising deviations from plan. The company says this alone could make a sufficient business case for adopting ATMS.

Asda is also expecting to see the fleet working more efficiently, undertaking more drops per shift, and delivering within more tightly-defined time frames. The system specification includes two temperature sensors, providing independent monitoring of chilled and frozen food compartments. Isotrak is also fitting sensors for rear and passenger door sensors and to the bonnet.