Resources

The Resources module encompasses the maintenance of the Resources used throughout the MTS system. Resources define the various core entities used in the transport system to enable trips to be made. These are entities such as Carriers, Trailers, Despatch Unit Types and Drivers. Resources data is used by many of the key functions in MTS including Trip Manipulation, Generate TI's and Bookings.

The data can be viewed, created, edited and maintained through the accompanying Resource Maintenance form.

Key Functionality

Carriers

This section allows carrier information to be configured. Carriers can be connected to carrier groups and can be of a certain type. For example, FLEET type is part of the business or client using MTS whereas HAULIER may be deemed to be 3rd parties. One use of the carrier records is to record typical fleet routes or groups so that planning personnel in other areas of the system, such as when using Trip Manipulation can easily identify them.

A variety of attributes are configured here for each Carrier record such as V.A.T. number, hub location, maximum shift time, fixed costs and head quarters.

Carrier records can also be created and updated by synchronisation between the external applications and MTS, especially where the client offers the trips for tender to third-party hauliers, and, where new hauliers may bid for business.

Carrier Groups

This section allows carriers to be ordered for reporting purposes.

Carrier types

Configuration of the different Carrier Types in the system is possible here. This information can be typically used to distinguish between a client's own fleet and external carriers. Areas such as Accounting and Profit & Loss to determine where to assign revenue and costs can use this information.

Fixed Charges

This section allows set costs to be configured for groups of carriers, such as own fleet for a certain depot.

Service Types

The different services that carriers may supply can be maintained here. These can be linked to the delivery type of orders to enable calculation of the cost of deliveries for particular order types.

Trailer types

This section allows configuration of different trailer types used in the system. Various parameters for each trailer are set here and affect how a trailer is chosen in processes such as Generate TI's and Trip Manipulation. Details such as maximum RPE constrain how much that type can hold. This section also allows configuration of the types of compartment present in a trailer type and how the different temperature types can be combined together.

Temperature types represent certain types of goods that require storage at a certain temperature range. The temperature combination entries determine how the temperature types can be combined and in which compartments on a trailer they should be stored. In addition there is a field that allows the user to specify a modifier for each trailer type. The modifier will affect the drive time that is returned for a trip stop using that particular trailer type. If the modifier is 1 then the drive time will not be affected. However if the modifier is greater than 1 i.e. 1.5 the drive time will be 50% greater than the unmodified drive time. Conversely if the modifier is less than 1 i.e. 0.5 then the drive time will be 50% less than the unmodified drive time.

Trailers

This allows configuration of instances of trailers. This can be used for tracking trailers throughout the system. This tab also allows Trailers to be linked to a particular Carrier Group to control who is able to user the Trailer.

Drivers

This allows a record to be kept of each driver in the system. Typically, this allows reports to show which drivers are assigned to which trips. Isotrak's Manifest system, used by some client's transport personnel, allows drivers to be assigned to trips. Isotrak updates MTS with this information as trips are assigned to and accepted by drivers.

Despatch Unit Types

This allows configuration of dispatch unit types. These define different methods of containing units of goods, and the volume and maximum weight each can contain. It also contains a flag to indicate whether quantities of each type can be decimal values. This determines whether the quantity values throughout the system in following forms will be allowed to be a decimal value: Orders, Trip Summary, Lane Based Order Entry, Order Entry Target, Order Templates, Order Tracking, Debrief by Invoice, Trip Manipulation and Trip Debrief.

Load Rates

Configuration of the rates taken to load different DU types is provided in this section. Typically, this section is used to represent the particular dispatch units onto Trailers and also includes categories such as default start-up and close-down times

DUs

Despatch Units can be configured here. This can be used to track individual DUs such as when, say, pallets are tracked to prevent loss and maximise re-use.

Tractors

Tractor units can be configured on this screen. A registration number should be used as the Id to identify the trailer. The Trip Manipulation forms then use this information to provide a list of valid vehicles that can be assigned to a Trip. A Tractor can be assigned to a Carrier to ensure they are assigned to appropriate Trip.