If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, feature-packed electronic work diary (EWD) with definitive returns from the first day you log on, then look no further than Hubfleet, says its founder James Doherty.
Doherty is confident it’ll be the best $19 per month – the entry-level subscription offering for individual users – that you’ll invest in your trucking operation all year.
With the recent device agnostic tick of approval from the NHVR – meaning it’s not tied to a particular type of hardware – you can also be up and running today with Hubfleet on almost any smartphone or tablet.
The only caveat is that if you’re using an Apple device that its operating system is 12 and above (2017 models and newer) and Androids must be running 6 and above (2016 models and newer).
“The only other restriction we’ve imposed is that your device has to be 4.5 inches or bigger, so basically it’d have to be a postage-stamped size phone not to be able to use it,” said Doherty, a Perth-based civil engineer by profession.
To put that in context, the new IPhone mini is 5.4 inches, so easily big enough.
Hubfleet is also completely self-service.
Anyone can register and set up a record keeper account, choose the packages they require and select the number of drivers they want to participate and start a free trial straightaway.
From there, it’s simply a matter of inviting the drivers to connect using their mobile phone numbers. Owner-drivers invite themselves.
Each driver is sent a text message with a link to the app and a link to the help centre that includes instructional videos.
“We’ve had several companies get started this way and when we’ve reached out to offer support, they haven’t needed it,” said Doherty. “That to me is a sign we are doing something right.”
Doherty says owner-drivers and fleet truckies keen to ditch the paper diary for the many EWD benefits have quickly become Hubfleet’s best advocates.
“We try and make it as easy as possible to get a pdf of their work records into the fleet manager so at end of every shift, the system sends the driver an email that summarises their work hours and includes a link to a pdf of their full work history over last 28 days.
“They can than then just forward this email on to their manager and that replaces the paper diary for the manager. It’s much easier than dealing with paper copies!”
Other advantages of using Hubfleet include the fact it’s the only EWD that works seamlessly across all jurisdictions, and it also has unique forecasting tools.
“When a driver starts his [or her] shift we simulate them working to the limit of their rules set.
For example in Standard Solo that would be 5.5-hour rule, 8-hour rule, 11hour rule, and so on, the rules you engage in over the day, and we make sure that you’re not going breach any of the longer rules.
“So if our forecast gives you the all clear you know at the start of the day that if you work to the limit of your short breaks, you’re not going to breach”
At the time of writing, Hubfleet was also about to include a more general forecasting feature to accommodate future events, enabling truckies to park up at night check their planned route for the next day won’t result in a breach.
Doherty says early feedback from drivers has already been very positive with some saying they’re getting half an hour a day extra, or another 50km each day as a result of making the switch to the EWD.
“One of the reasons being is that the EWD works to the nearest minute rather than in 15-minute blocks.
“So, if you’re pulling up for three rests a day and rounding up, it pretty quickly adds up to half an hour [of extra time].”
Hubfleet convert Cody Cooper regularly delivers freight on 15,000km runs between Brisbane and Kalgoorlie.
Like many other truckies he was initially opposed to using an EWD, but after trying Hubfleet during a company trial, he’s done a complete 180.
“Now I firmly believe that to go back to a paper-based work diary would be a massive step in the wrong direction,” said Cooper.
“Time is counted in minute intervals, allowing for much more productivity, and the app does all the fatigue calculations for the operator.
“This means there’s no need to stress or second guess yourself about your fatigue breaks, as all potential violations are flagged before the start of a shift.”
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