When drivers deliver shipments, the same equipment immediately records the custody transfer. Drivers positively identify each delivered package with a quick scan of a traditional bar code on each package. Pen based hand-held computers record the signature of the receiver. Immediate transmission of reliable pickup and delivery information allows people to do their jobs better. Hub managers know the exact status of inbound freight and can plan their resources accordingly.
Accounting receives immediate information about completed deliveries and can quickly issue invoices.
Increased accuracy provides more accurate billing and decreased customer complaints. Customer service representatives can immediately answer queries about freight status. Effective information technology also allows progressive carriers to implement programs impossible with paper-laden procedures. When drivers visit customers for pickup or delivery, they can be given access to information about other shipments in transit. If a shipper wants to know when one of yesterday's consignments will reach its destination, the driver can quickly get the answer with a few keystrokes.