Trucking businesses run on tight margins, which means that any improvements in efficiency or reduction in operating costs are worthwhile. Automation leads the way in this area, and ISAAC has long been focused on helping truck fleets raise their efficiency and control costs via integration and automation.
To that end, ISAAC integrates with most transportation management systems (TMS). This blog post will focus on one integration in particular—that of McLeod’s LoadMaster. As a supplier of transportation management and trucking software for carriers, McLeod is a well-known leader. ISAAC’s open platform has enabled a tight and highly functional integration with McLeod. Accordingly, this integration has provided a very useful modern workflow appreciated by many carriers.
Shortening the route to operational efficiency
The neat integration of ISAAC’s in-cab and telematics solution with McLeod’s software includes many features. As a result, carriers can accomplish tasks including:
- Facilitating and automating communications
- Viewing drivers’ hours of service (HOS) status within McLeod’s LoadMaster
- Monitoring asset locations
- Reducing out-of-route travel
- Increasing driver safety and overall satisfaction
- Improving fleet performance and productivity
Main features enabled by integration
ISAAC’s integration with McLeod is designed to make daily tasks easier for both drivers and back-office personnel. As a result, several features are enabled, such as:
- Easily accessible trip information for drivers
- Automatic stop updates
- Automated capturing of trip information
- Easy scanning and imaging of paperwork
- GPS tracking
- Readily accessible HOS information
- Master file synchronization
The benefits of automation
One of the primary benefits of the ISAAC and McLeod integration is simplified driver workflows. In addition to the already helpful and intuitive ISAAC rugged tablet features that require minimal screen taps and include next action prompts, this integration provides information for virtually everything drivers need. In brief, this includes:
- Trip summaries
- Stop information and appointment times
- Freight details
- Information on equipment/trailers
- Any applicable notes or instructions
The tablet automatically routes drivers to their next location. This requires the installation of CoPilot Truck, however, which is one of the many applications offered in ISAAC’s ecosystem. Arrivals and departures based on GPS/geofencing data are automatically updated to the McLeod TMS. Likewise, trailer handling for drop/hooks or for unknown trailer pick-ups are sent back to McLeod’s system automatically.
There is also automatic capturing of load information from each driver at each stop. This includes pieces, weight, arrival and departure times, and recipients’ signatures—all of which are sent back to McLeod’s system automatically without requiring the driver to do anything.
When the drivers do any scanning/imaging of paperwork with their ISAAC tablets, the data goes to McLeod’s DocumentPower imaging system and is automatically indexed. Lastly, the integrated systems keep master files (information about drivers, tractors, trailers, customers, and company IDs) fully synchronized. This means that such information only needs to be entered into McLeod’s system and it will automatically upload and/or update it in the ISAAC system.
In brief, automation eliminates a lot of manual data entry, along with the potential for errors that goes with manual entries. It also results in simplified driver workflows and provides improved visibility for dispatchers in terms of planning and ETAs.
Additional advantages of the McLeod and ISAAC integration
The increased degree of automation of truck fleet management functions saves significant amounts of time. Consequently, this translates as productivity gains and more efficient operations. One area in particular will benefit from this integration—telemetry data, specifically GPS fleet tracking. The integrated system sends real-time GPS information back to McLeod’s system so as to give fleet managers and dispatchers up-to-date locations for every truck.
Likewise, the integration enables the automatic transmission of odometer/engine hours back to McLeod’s TMS and/or to a third-party asset maintenance system. These improvements in functionality and automation extend to hours of service (HOS). With the ISAAC/McLeod integration, the system transmits HOS information in real time to dispatchers to aid their planning. Meanwhile, log summary information goes back to McLeod’s system for sharing with the fleet’s safety department.
Efficiency will also be improved with the ability to:
- Leverage driver HOS availability and vehicle positions to dispatch upcoming loads to the best available driver
- Implement multiple driver workflows based on different divisions, load types, or for customers with unique requirements
- Send and receive messages to and from drivers, with delivery
- Update freight level details using driver confirmed information at pick-up or delivery
- Create a fully integrated maintenance loop between vehicle inspections (DVIRs) and odometer readings for preventive maintenance (PM), by integrating third-party maintenance systems
- Confirm deliveries on the ISAAC driver workflow with electronic signature capture and scanned POD receipts
Built for the future with modern API architecture
ISAAC is the first major telematics provider to be integrated to the new McLeod Symphony Mobile Communications Service (SMCS). This ensures solution longevity, as all future innovation initiatives will be carried out using this newer API integration platform. In addition to ISAAC’s McLeod integration, carriers can benefit from ISAAC’s modern API architecture that supports many other industry-leading supply chain technology solutions.
Available technology solutions include valuable apps for trucking, such as the app CoPilot Truck, as well as the Drivewyze weigh station bypass service, trailer tracking apps, fuel tax/IFTA systems, DataDis fleet maintenance software, and many more. The ability to add industry-leading supply chain technology solutions, along with quick development and turnaround time,
This modern architecture enables faster project completion. In fact, by requiring less development and adding more configuration options, these cloud-based solutions and API integrations allow for fast development cycles and short turnaround times, which helps avoid
As noted above, more automation helps to keep the drivers driving and the wheels turning by simplifying the driver’s workflow. This is done by prompting drivers for each next step based on where they are currently at during a trip and reducing data entry with the pre-population of key trip information. ISAAC also automates logbook header documentation (i.e., load and trailer information) and the capturing of duty status changes based on custom-defined driver activities within the driver workflow.
There is also time saved for drivers and better visibility to dispatchers in real time for some trip activities, thanks to ISAAC’s automatic detection of arrivals and departures from trip stop locations.
Furthermore, the system also automatically captures key load information from drivers that can be used for adding line items to customer invoices or paying drivers for extras.
Another advantage of increasing integration is that fewer actions are required by dispatchers when there is a load change. The ISAAC workflow eliminates confusion by only notifying drivers of load changes—such as an additional stop—without resending the entire dispatch or multiple follow-up messages.
Finally, Integration allows automatic reception and indexing of documents scanned within the driver workflow into McLeod’s DocumentPower. This eliminates manual back-office handling of paperwork.
In short, the integration of ISAAC and McLeod adds a great deal of automation to readily benefit trucking fleets. This integration, coupled with ISAAC’s open architecture which makes it easy to integrate various useful apps, can help give trucking operations long-term sustainability while enhancing the efficiency and productivity of their day-to-day operations.
About the author
Matt Ruth
Vice President Implementation
Matt Ruth is the Vice President of Implementation at ISAAC. Matt started his career working in transportation immediately upon graduating from college and has served in a wide variety of operational, technology, and leadership roles. He has gained a wealth of experience over the past 25+ years, largely invested at TMW systems and Trimble Transportation in senior management roles, leading teams responsible for managing the most complex transportation technology implementations. Matt has thus developed a unique ability to provide practical solutions to an otherwise complex and fragmented ecosystem of supply chain technology solution providers.
