• In-cab phones are a common sight in today's trucks;
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they have become seen as essential tools, earning operators extra business and providing a necessary link with drivers.
But despite this many hauliers are still wary about fitting them. The last mobile communications study on the transport industry revealed that almost 60% of operators had not invested in cab phones or similar equipment.
Mobile communications equipment manufacturers are quick to stress the benefits to the mass of unconverted transport operators.
But it is not only manufacturers and dealers who brag about their equipment. Many transport operators are quick to praise mobile communications and bless the day that they fitted their equipment.
AE Costin (Haulage) is one such firm. It runs a fleet of 65 vehicles for its general-haulage operation based in Willenhall, West Midlands.
The first in-cab radio phones were fitted to Costin's trucks 12 months ago. Now the firm is running a rolling programme to kit out the rest of the fleet.
Operations director Wyn Hooper is adamant that the system has brought the company extra business which easily covers the monthly payments: "Without the equipment it was so frustrating," he says. if we had to get hold of the driver we would ring the customers and get the phone numbers of all the delivery points. Then we would have to phone around the delivery points and try and catch the driver at one of them. It happened time and time again."
Hooper believes that the radio system saves the firm from running empty. It also helps to promote good customer relations.
"The other day a customer wanted one tonne moving at short notice. I could contact a driver who happened to be in the area. That job may have only been worth around £40 but I see it as giving me another month's free radio phone rental," says Hooper. "It also kept my client very happy. That means next time he won't go elsewhere."
Costin is particularly pleased with the billing system operated under the GEC National One network. It pays £39 a month rental on each phone, no matter how many calls are made.
The charge is calculated on how many zones an operator subscribes to. Long distance vehicles are linked to all zones; Costin's mobile parts delivery van stays within a two-zone radius.
Geoffrey Rayner Transport of Manchester is testing a number of cab phones and already it has found that there have been several occasions when a mobile phone has been used to divert a vehicle to pick up an extra load.
Express delivery firm Parceline is also a keen advocate of mobile communications. It fits data transmitters to its London vehicle fleet which enables it to pass written information to drivers in seconds.
Under this system delivery addresses or collection times cannot be misheard. "This is a particular problem in London due to the large number-of taxis and couriers. There is constant interference on the radio," says Tony Kelly, depot general manager at Parceline's West London site.
Company driver Dave Earl believes that data transmitters are easier to use than many other types of mobile communications. "Not having to he in the cab all the time to receive collection details by radio and not having to stop the van to write down messages is a great asset," he says.
Parceline is also aware of the security benefits of transmitting written details. It says there is a real threat of parcels being intercepted by people listening into the capital's frequencies. Speed is the other benefit for Parceline. Parcel collection details can be passed on to drivers almost as soon as they are received in a depot. "This means customers' goods are picked up and delivered speedily," says Kelly. "In the express parcels business a quick turn around is essential."
Peter James Transport of London has fitted Vodaphone cab phones into its fleet of 25 1-1Glis and vans. Although getting airtime can sometimes be a problem in the rush hour, the company believes continual driver contact is essential. PIT distribution manager Jodi Connolly says that any operators looking at mobile communications should ensure that the system incorporates good dealer support. Once hauliers begin to rely heavily on cab phones a hiccup in the system can cost a lot of money, he says. "We had a vehicle stolen and within a couple of days we had all the mobile communications system replaced," he says. "In this sort of business you can't run without that sort of back-up." 0 by Tanya Cordrey