Huffman Trucking - Tools For Business - Essay Example

Huffman Trucking has established their reputation in the field of trucking and shipping industry, servicing a number of and federal government agencies, as well as, companies from the business sector. The trucking and shipping industry is a fast paced business environment. The goal is to get the merchandise delivered on or before the schedule. And to see that the objective is met, one tool that can be used to evaluate, monitor and at the same time improve the quality and raise productivity of the business is: Global Positioning System: The Global Positioning System can be used as a tool that can incorporate all other data from different traditional process improvement tools.

The features of a GPS that can be very effective for the business are: 1. The tracking and surveillance feature – this feature will allow the company to monitor truck movements real time. With this feature available, it will be easy to monitor trucks on every shipping activity. This will also allow the headquarters to determine consistency of data under which is stated on the communication log sheet. 2. Real time input – this feature will allow the company to compare data and information on which is stated under the delivery log sheet. 3. Location indicator – provides the company and drivers with the exact location of the delivery point and their actual location, the GPS can also provide alternate routes (in cases that original routes are not accessible due to unexpected situations).

This supports the objective of the delivery schedule and itinerary sheet. Traditional process improvement tools: Delivery schedule and itinerary sheet: This is a tool used to organize and plan the route of each truck that goes from departure point to destination point, depending on the schedules and destination of delivery, this tool can also help determine which orders can go out in one truck. The delivery schedule and itinerary sheet also helps maximize time and efficiency for deliveries and fuel.

Delivery log sheet: The purpose of this tool sheet is to have the customers or receivers of the merchandise sign the sheet that they have received it and at the same time give a comment or description on the merchandise condition when they received the merchandise. Communication log sheet: The communication log sheet is a tool which provides data on the status or condition of each truck. Accidents like engine breakdown, heavy traffic and bad weather condition may occur, in these cases drivers would radio condition to the nearest branch or head quarters.

All communication details are logged in the communication log sheet. These are the basic process improvement tools for trucking and shipping, by gathering all the data of each tool, the company will be able to determine how to improve the level of service and at the same time maximize productivity and minimize loss in revenue. To further improve the quality of service the business provides, the use of Global Positioning System or GPS is recommended to be added to the process improvement tools.