“We have achieved significant efficiencies by bringing fuel management at each of our transport hubs onto a single web based platform. In effect, we have replaced site dedicated software with an automated stock management service that delivers management reports on demand, as and whenever required.” Nick Nichol, National Fleet Engineer, Arla Foods.
As well as being the UK’s number one dairy company, by turnover and milk pool, Arla Foods is the largest supplier of cheese, butter and spreads in the country. Behind this leading business is a transport logistics operation organised to cover two distinctive roles. The inbound fleet comprises specialist tankers for collecting and transferring raw milk from the farms and reload transfers between production facilities. The outbound role is geared to the distribution of finished products into the wholesale chain.
The ‘inbound’ task is generally handled by Arla fleet vehicles. There are currently 324 units. These include dedicated farm collection tankers as well as tanker and combination tankers required to support Arla dairies and production facilities, located in various parts of the country.
“By bringing fuel management onto a single web based platform. Fleet logistics staff can view current status from a web browser for any of the company’s fuelling points. In effect, we have replaced site dedicated software by an automated stock management service that delivers management reports on demand, as and whenever required.”
Transport is organised through five regional hubs each of which is equipped with fleet fuelling facilities. The most recent installation was at the new dairy facilities in Aylesbury which began operation in 2013. All of the Arla sites use Merridale dispensers and fuel management equipment to monitor transactions for stock control and management reports.
Under the new development, each of the Arla fuelling sites can now be managed centrally by using Merridale FuelWorks , which is a web-based service facility. The integration includes the dispensing of all wet-stock products, including LNG for dual fuel vehicles, Adblue and gas oil.
Stocks are now monitored automatically with e-mail alerts against pre-set minimum or reorder levels. To ensure the accuracy of management reports Merridale FuelWorks obtains the vehicle mileage data directly from Arla Foods’ fleet telematics service.
At the fuelling point, all the driver needs to do is present a hand held datatag to the pump to authenticate the vehicle. The tracking service acknowledges the transaction and sends the vehicle odometer reading to Merridale, which then records the amount of fuel drawn .
“We need the mileage data in order to monitor the vehicle’s economy performance,” says national fleet engineer, Nick Nichol.
“By bringing fuel management onto a single web based platform. Fleet logistics staff can view current status from a web browser for any of the company’s fuelling points. In effect, we have replaced site dedicated software by an automated stock management service that delivers management reports on demand, as and whenever required.”
Nick Nichol continues. “Merridale FuelWorks collates our fuelling data and provides the analysis for vehicle, fleet and fuel type performance. Wetstock levels are monitored in real time, and we can reorder fuel automatically. This was an additional benefit for our Adblue procurement.”
“As a management tool, we can use mpg performance to make better informed decisions on future vehicle specifications. The Arla Foods fleet includes a number of dual fuel vehicles using liquid natural gas (LNG). The information provided by Merridale supports our on-going commitment to research alternative fuel solutions that will help reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
“Merridale FuelWorks allows us to measure and compare different vehicle performance characteristics under actual operational routes and traffic conditions,” says Nick Nichol.
