European tolls and cash flow: why the issue is not just paying
For those travelling across borders, tolls are not just a cost item: they affect cash flow, checks and reporting times. Here is what to watch.
Read articleTrucksOut Observatory
Resources and insights for people running a small transport company
Practical guides and evergreen insights on orders, drivers, trucks, documents and the daily organisation of road haulage. The Observatory also brings together industry analysis and updates.
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How to keep a small fleet's day organised
When orders, drivers and schedule changes pass through WhatsApp, the phone and Excel, it is easy to lose track. Here is a simple approach to organising day-to-day work better.
Read articleSmall fleets: how to make day-to-day planning more reliable
Drivers, trucks, orders and schedule changes: for a small fleet, the day can become complicated in just a few minutes. Here are some good practices for working more methodically.
Read articleFrom an Excel spreadsheet to shared planning: what changes for dispatchers and drivers
When the plan changes during the day, the problem is not just updating a file: it is getting the right information to the people who need to work.
Read articleWhy a small transport company does not need complicated management software
For many small fleets, the point is not to add complexity, but to keep orders, drivers and planning aligned simply.
Read articleAll resources by topic
The complete directory of evergreen guides from the TrucksOut Observatory.
Digitalisation
- How to avoid losing orders between email, WhatsApp and phone calls
- How to manage a small road-haulage business with Excel
- Excel for transport management: when it works and when it becomes a limitation
- How to move from Excel to transport management software
- Transport management software: what it is and what it does
- TMS: what a Transportation Management System is and how it works
- Transport management software and TMS: what is the difference
- How to choose management software for a small transport company
- Management software for 5 trucks: which functions are really needed
- Management software for 10 trucks: what changes compared with Excel
- How to digitalise a small road-haulage company without changing everything
Operations
Planning
Drivers
- How to organise drivers' work between working time, driving and rest
- How to communicate deliveries and collections to drivers
- How to manage changes to drivers' schedules
- How to organise drivers' holidays, rest periods and unavailability
- Driver apps: what they simplify and which privacy rules to consider
Orders and trips
Transport documents
- DDT: what it is, when it is used and what information it contains
- CMR: what it is and when it is used in international road transport
- DDT and CMR: practical differences
- Consignment note: what it is and what it is for
- Transport order and consignment note: practical differences
- POD: what proof of delivery is and how to manage it
- Which documents may accompany a freight transport