SUPERVALU UPGRADES ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR TRUCKS

LINDA PURPURA

MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu here is beginning to upgrade onboard computer systems in 1,100 trucks across 39 distribution centers nationwide. The upgrade will improve the wholesaler's electronic communications, reporting capabilities, and driver productivity within the fleet.

Supervalu's distribution center in Milton, West Va., is the first location to have its trucks updated with the new version of the onboard computer system. The upgrade process, which began last month, will be complete by the end of July.

Trucks at six more sites will get the upgrade by the end of 1998, and vehicles at the remaining distribution centers are scheduled for the upgrade between 1999 and 2000.

Supervalu is moving from a DOS-based onboard computer system to the Windows environment, "which is more user-friendly for our distribution centers, and also interfaces with the various routing packages," said Dan Eisinger, Supervalu license and registration specialist. "For example, we will be able to download routing information from our load-planning software into the onboard computer system."

The updated system will track miles by state and truck for fuel tax reporting. The electronic system will reduce the manual monitoring of this information.

"This [feature] will provide us with paperless consolidation of information," Eisinger said. "Currently this information is summarized by our distribution centers and routed to me where it is further summarized to meet the reporting requirements."

The ability to electronically track mileage information by state will also help Supervalu to prepare truck registration reports required by states.

"Every year we have to run reports to determine how many miles we ran in each state and then pay the various states their registration fees based on that information," Eisinger said. "Our new onboard computer system will tie in directly with fuel tax reporting so all the information about miles traveled will be available electronically. Then we'll be able to run reports from there."

Supervalu runs 92 million miles every year supplying over 4,900 food stores through the United States.

Drivers will also be impacted by the updated onboard computer system. "We hope to increase our driver productivity, and make it easier for drivers to comply with Department of Transportation regulations regarding log books and hours of service," Eisinger said. "We also expect the system will track truck idle time more efficiently."

The improved system will also enable Supervalu to connect with its local area network.

The updated onboard computer system comes from Cadec Systems, Londonderry, N.H. The original onboard computer system was also supplied by Cadec.