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Brand Talk: Is your lumber business concerned about safety or high operating costs?

Improving Safety by GPS Insight

GPS Insight

How Sanford & Hawley Solved Their Business Challenges with Technology and Received Unexpected ROI.

Sanford & Hawley, a lumber and building supply company, is the oldest business in Farmington, CT, providing service to Unionville, Avon, Manchester, CT, and West Springfield, MA. Despite the many years that have passed, they take just as much pride in offering the same quality service. To better serve their customers and ensure the safety of their drivers and the people of their community, they knew it was time to incorporate technology that could help reduce risk, reduce costs, and improve efficiencies throughout their fleet operations.

Reducing risks, costs, and unauthorized use

Sanford & Hawley’s primary concern was improving driver and public safety. They needed a way to communicate with drivers without distracting them with phone calls while they were out on deliveries. They also needed a safer way of providing directions to drivers. They knew it wasn’t safe having them read printed maps or directions, taking their eyes off the road while driving.

Along with these safety concerns, Sanford & Hawley worried their challenge with fuel inefficiency was negatively affecting their bottom line. Fuel expenses were far too high and they needed to reduce fuel consumption. They knew that their drivers were idling excessively, resulting in plenty of waste, but they did not have a way of monitoring and reducing idle time.

Additionally, Sanford & Hawley needed to put an end to the unauthorized use of vehicles. Their drivers were using company vehicles to run personal errands far too often. This issue was increasing expenses and their risk of liability in the event accidents or other problems occurred when the vehicles were being used for non-business purposes.

Solving their business challenges to keep the fleet on track

After researching different technology options that could help improve safety, improve fuel economy, and prevent unauthorized use of company vehicles, Sanford & Hawley selected GPS tracking software as the right solution to solve these challenges. They chose the GPS Insight Vehicle and Asset Tracking Solution with Garmin integration. This configuration allows them to exchange data messages and send directions to their driver safely, without having them distracted by phone calls. The technology also provides safer navigation for their drivers, eliminating the distraction of looking at paper maps while driving.

Since implementing GPS Insight, Sanford & Hawley has experienced significant savings by reducing fuel consumption. The company uses the system to track idling through alerts and reports, which helps them significantly reduce excessive idle time. “The system is set to give us notice of a truck idling after 15 minutes, and this allows us to substantially cut idle time,” said Bob Sanford, President of Sanford & Hawley. “Our average miles per gallon (MPG) has increased 12% over the prior year, which I would attribute to decreased idling.”

GPS Insight also helps curb unauthorized usage of Sanford & Hawley ’s vehicles. “We all know that drivers may make some personal errand stops, but we were amazed at the frequency that some were stopping at their homes and how far out of their delivery run they would go to stop at home. With GPS [Insight], this has become reasonable,” said Sanford. Sanford & Hawley can now be sure that their trucks are staying out of areas where they are forbidden to be while on the clock.

Unexpected ROI

Along with solving their initial business challenges, Sanford & Hawley saw an immediate return on investment (ROI) when one of their vehicles was stolen from their yard and they had the ability to report its location to the authorities. “We had not had the GPS units in a week when we came in one Monday morning to realize that a truck was missing and that our soda machine had been smashed into. Thanks to GPS Insight, the police were able to immediately locate the stolen truck,” said Sanford. In this instance, the GPS Insight system enabled Sanford & Hawley to avoid having to buy a new vehicle and replace any equipment that may have been taken, saving tens of thousands of dollars. Sanford finished with, “The payback is definitely there.”


GPS Insight can help lumber distribution businesses like yours solve your specific challenges and deliver amazing results. Visit www.gpsinsight.com or give us a call at 877-477-2690 to learn more.

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