Resources

The Resources module encompasses the maintenance of the Resources used throughout the C-TMS 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 C-TMS 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 C-TMS 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 C-TMS, 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 Lanes

This tab allows you to configure different carrier lanes. This is bespoke to carrier lanes functionality for thrid-party carriers.

You can search by the following criteria:

• Lane ID
• Lane Group
• Region - a planning group lookup is provided.
• Carrier
• Collect
• Deliver
• Procured
• Lane Type
• Trailer Type - a trailer type lookup is provided.
• Historic
• Inactive

You can refresh the data shows using the Refresh button, and clear the criteria using the Clear Search Criteria button.

You can view the following information:

• Lane ID
• Region - a planning group lookup is provided.
• Lane Group
• Country
• Carrier
• Country
• Collect
• Country
• Type - A drop-down list, one of Postcode, Postal Region, Planning Region, Distance Greater, Distance Less or Anywhere.
• Deliver
• Procured
• Lane Type
• Action - A drop-down list, one of Manual Planning, Create Trip or Brief Trip.
• Currency
• Cost
• Trips
• Rate Ref
• Tariff
• Start Date
• End Date
• Trailer Type - a trailer type lookup is provided.
• Cost Centre - a ost centre lookup is provided.
• Inactive

Actions are available through the following buttons:

• New - create a new record, entering all of the above data.
• Delete - delete the selected record.
• Copy Record - copy the selected record
• Cancel - discard any changes.
• Save - save changes
• Group
• Update Rates
• Audit

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.

Carrier Service Level

This allows you to specify a cross-reference of carrier service levels.

You can enter:

• Carrier ID - a lookup is provided.
• Product Type - a drop-dwn list is provided.
• Service Level - a lookup is provided.
• Carrier Service Level - the carrier service level to use.
• EDI Carrier Service Level - the carrier service level to use in EDI messages.

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.

Fixed Charges

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

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.

Trailer Group

You can specify trailer groups here. These are used when specifying trailer types.

You can enter the group ID and name here.

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 C-TMS with this information as trips are assigned to and accepted by drivers.

You can also maintain resource diary exceptions here.

Loc Prd Conv

This allow you to enter product type conversion factors per location.

You can enter:

• Location ID - a lookup is provided.
• Product Type - a lookup is provided.
• Conversion Factor - a number to multiply.

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.

Standardised DU's

This allows you to cross-reference customer DUs with standard DUs.

You can enter the customer Du and the standard DU.

RPEs

This allows you to maintain RPE combinations.

You can enter:

• DU Type - a lookup is provided.
• Product Type - a lookup is provided.
• Loc Type - a lookup is provided.
• Volume
• Vol Collapsed
• Max KG
• RPE
• Priority

RPE Cust

This allows you to maintain RPE combinations for customers.

You can enter:

• DU Type - a lookup is provided.
• Product Type - a lookup is provided.
• Customer
• From Loc - a lookup is provided.
• To Loc - a lookup is provided.
• Volume
• Vol Collapsed
• Max KG
• RPE
• Priority
• Dry Ice
• Gel Packs
• Weight
• Charge
• Charge Point

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.

Despatch Units

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.

Vessels

This allows you to maintain carrier vessels.

You can enter the vessel ID, Name and Carrier ID.

Resource Availability

This allows you to maintain resource availability per hour.

Note: When using vehicles, this is superseded by the use of shifts and the resource availability calendar.

You can find resource availability by Depot, Date, Resource Type or ID.

The screen will display the resource type and ID for that criteria. The resource availability is colour coded green (available) and red (unavailable).

You can then maintain whether that resource is available in that hour of that day by clicking on the cell - the colour will flip between green (available) and red (unavailable).

You can switch to previous and next days using the buttons provided.

You can view a day, tear and month summary using the Summary button provided.

Carrier Routing

Warning: This is an incomplete guide.

Carrier Routing UKMail

Warning: This is an incomplete guide.

Carrier Formats

This allows you to maintain carrier formats (manifest and Zebra labels) used by carriers.

Carrier Tracking

This allows you to maintain carrier tracking IDs used by carriers for carrier manifests and labels.

Carrier Config

This allows you to configure carriers as to which manifest and label formats can be used, along with some cross-reference information that can be used on those formats.

Vehicles

Warning: This is an incomplete guide.

This allows you to maintain fixed vehicles (e.g. vans).

Fixed vehicles consist of a tractor and trailer, linked together. The tractor and trailer will have the same ID. You will enter all details related to tractor and trailer in one screen.

You can also maintain resource diary exceptions here.

Carrier Hazard Qty

This tab is used to maintian the maximum quantities of hazardous classes that a carrier can carry.

Carrier Formats Mapping

Warning: This is an incomplete guide.

Prd DU Load

Warning: This is an incomplete guide.