Tracking System Improves Fleet Mileage for Smart & Final

MICHAEL GARRY

COMMERCE, Calif. — Smart & Final here is using the PeopleNet fleet tracking system to improve its fleet’s gas mileage “hugely” and boost on-time deliveries to stores, said Michael Quesada, transportation scheduler for Smart & Final. It has also affected “the way we lease equipment.”

Smart & Final has used the onboard tracking system from PeopleNet, Minneapolis, for about two years, to manage its private fleet consisting of 55 tractors and 100 drivers and serving about 300 stores.

In addition to onboard computers, Smart & Final’s system includes the PeopleNet Fleet Manager (PFM), which is hosted by PeopleNet, and customized “Link” software running on an on-site server provided by PeopleNet.

The overall system helps Smart & Final keep track of “all the stuff we never saw,” such as the amount of fuel used per vehicle and per driver, accelerations, speeds, number of stops and on-time delivery performance, said Quesada. The technology allows Smart & Final to do a “top-to-bottom measurement” of performance issues, providing insight into “what we need to do about it,” such as “whether we need more deliveries in the morning vs. the evening,” he said.

The system also maintains “e-log” data to ensure that Smart & Final is meeting federal hours-of-service rules. “It takes responsibility for maintaining logs and makes us a partner in that,” said Quesada. “It’s very accurate and we are able to key in on issues with drivers.”

Smart & Final also employs the Direct Route fleet routing system from Appian Logistics Software, Oklahoma City.