“We're always looking for ways to stay ahead within this highly competitive sector."
A traditional risk for any long-running company is becoming increasingly reliant on disjointed and inefficient systems as the business expands, giving more forward-thinking competitors an edge in the marketplace.
However, Ireland-based Frank McCarthy Haulage (FMC Haulage) has avoided falling victim to this legacy issue since its founding in 1977. Today, the company is a leading Irish haulier offering a diverse range of logistics solutions including bulk haulage, construction materials transport, container handling and abnormal loads transport.
The key to FMC Haulage’s success over the past 40 years has been a steadfast commitment to constantly evolve, actively seeking out innovative ways to improve its service. “In recent years, we have embraced technological advancements to enhance our operations,” explains Gary McCarthy, managing director of FMC Haulage. “For instance, transitioning from paper-based processes to mobile devices and cloud-based systems almost 10 years ago.”
Pain point
However, one area remained problematic – FMC Haulage’s TMS system. As a leading haulier, FMC Haulage understands that efficient operations are vital to delivering timely and cost effective high-quality services, and it was this mindset that triggered a drive to find a new approach to telematics.
The company’s search led to the assessment of several different TMS platforms but it soon became clear which offered the optimal solution for the haulier’s needs: “After the Qargo team demoed their platform, we saw an opportunity to streamline and optimise our processes using its innovative technology – so we signed up,” says Gary McCarthy.
Smooth transition
Often a time of considerable operational disruption, the transition to Qargo thankfully proved to be friction-free for FMC Haulage. “The onboarding process with Qargo was impressively smooth, allowing us to transition our operations with minimal disruption,” recalls Gary McCarthy. “The Qargo team provided clear guidance and support throughout.”
While there were inevitably minor issues – such as adjusting to new workflows and customising settings to meet FMC Haulage’s specific needs – the Qargo support team were responsive and proactive. “They quickly addressed any concerns,” says Gary McCarthy, “providing practical solutions and ensuring our team felt comfortable with the new platform.”
“The smooth transition reinforced our confidence in Qargo as a reliable partner.”
Paying Dividends
While it is still relatively early days for the platform at FMC Haulage, Gary McCarthy is already seeing benefits across several key areas of the business. First, by being able to manage scheduling, routing and load assignments all in one place, the haulier has reduced the complexity of its day-to-day operations and introduced seamless coordination across the entire company.
Another key area is improved load planning and routing efficiency. “With Qargo, we can make data-driven decisions to optimise load planning and route assignments,” explains Gary McCarthy. “This helps us reduce empty miles, maximise vehicle utilisation and ensure that every journey is as productive as possible. Over time, this translates to reduced fuel costs, lower emissions and more efficient use of our fleet.”
The platform’s real-time tracking is also proving to be beneficial, optimising visibility for both FMC Haulage’s operations team as well as clients. These core services are backed up by enhanced compliance and documentation management as well as data-driven insights to ensure continuous improvements are made. For instance, the latter is helping to boost productivity by identifying and addressing any operational bottlenecks.
The road ahead
While switching to a new TMS provider is understandably means some uncertainty – even trepidation – for any haulier, Gary McCarthy knows FMC Haulage has made the right decision: “By adopting Qargo, we’re able to operate more efficiently and sustainably, better manage our resources, and deliver an even higher standard of service to our clients,” he says.
“The switch also marks an important step in our commitment to operational excellence and long-term growth – and we’re delighted to have Qargo along for the ride.”
“Qargo has become an invaluable partner in our journey toward operational excellence, enabling us to innovate, streamline, and grow while delivering the exceptional service our clients expect, and most importantly driving a culture of collaboration at FMC Haulage.”
