As a result of the Covid-19 crisis, many hauliers have had to change processes and adapt systems to keep their drivers safe and wheels turning.
For the directors of Tapfreight, the Barnsley-based operator who specialises in the distribution of chemicals and pharmaceuticals in the UK and Europe, it was essential for them to reduce the risk of contact at the point of delivery.
Tapfreight use a Mandata transport management system and integrated Manifest ePOD app to capture electronic proof of delivery for most of their work. However, many of their customers reportedly insist on their own paperwork being signed, in addition to electronic signature capture.
Once the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the company had to protect staff by avoiding contact with the receivers of the goods as much as possible.
One of the risk assessment outcomes was to find a way to eliminate the need for goods receivers to sign customer’s own paperwork or the drivers’ PDAs.
Mandata proposed a solution which automatically transposed the name of the receiver and the signature onto the electronic POD which was also time and date stamped, avoiding all contact at the point of delivery.
Tapfreight Director, Bob Milton, explained: “The adaptation has literally been a lifeline for our drivers, business and customers. It was essential for us to achieve a safer method of proof of delivery. Transposing the POD details straight on to the electronic delivery note was a neat solution which meant we were able to adapt quickly.”
With everything in place to implement the change in process, Tapfreight’s operation was able to continue safely, without disruption.
Bob continued: “We have been trying to convince customers for some time to go down the paperless route. Now we’ve proven we can eradicate the need for hard copy delivery notes, this is a major step forward for us. It has demonstrated to us what we already knew, that in this day and age it’s simply not necessary to lump around great wads of paper.
“Just one consignment can have 2 or 3 delivery notes and we’re required to get each of them signed. Since mid-March we stopped using customer’s own paperwork, and enclosed documents in wallets on the pallets. Customers have been very supportive and accepted that this was required to reduce the risk of Covid-19.”
