Implementing a smart fleet system for improved trust, transparency, and efficiency.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern business, maintaining a competitive edge often hinges on strategic partnerships and the adept adoption of cutting-edge technologies. Seven years ago, Eureka Recycling chose to move forward on both fronts by deploying the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling FleetLink™ routing solution to provide smarter, safer, and greener recycling services to their customers and communities.
This article contains an outline of the initial deployment along with some of the sustainable benefits that Eureka Recycling achieved as a result of their FleetLink™ implementation. These benefits are well within reach for any waste and recycling service provider with a vision to deliver service excellence and the adoption of this transformative technology.
About Eureka Recycling
Eureka Recycling is a non-profit social enterprise based in the Twin Cities that services more than 120,000 households per week. With a mission to demonstrate waste is preventable and not inevitable, it is the only organization in Minnesota that specializes in zero waste.
Eureka’s commitment to more sustainable operations runs deep: its collection fleet was the first in the state and one of the first in the nation to run entirely on B-20 biodiesel. Eureka also has diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) on its trucks to reduce particulate emissions.
Eureka has a legacy of long-term contracts providing recycling services to many cities including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, White Bear Lake, Roseville, Shoreview, and Lauderdale.
The Challenges
Seven years ago, Eureka significantly upgraded its fleet to accommodate a switch from curbside bin collection to collection of carts in alleys as part of its contract with the City of St. Paul and its constituents. Specifically, Eureka wanted to improve:
1. Operational, routing, and fuel efficiencies
2. Safety for both collection workers and residents
3. Visibility into detailed truck and driver activity
4. Detailed tracking of customer service activities to help improve response time
5. Integration of data/processes between routes
The Selection Process
Eureka spent nearly three years reviewing OBC vendors that could provide optimized fleet monitoring, and enable specific operational efficiencies, and safety benefits. Eureka knew their needs were complex and would require extensive customization to accommodate a complete re-route of the city, including the detailed incorporation of small alleyways often difficult to map via GPS.
McNeilus Trucks introduced Eureka to Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling, part of the Safe Fleet family of companies. McNeilus has a partnership with Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling for its OBC system on both new and after-market vehicles.
After an exhaustive review process, Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling was selected for the comprehensive and customizable attributes of its solution as well as its ruggedized sustainable hardware that was proven and tested in a waste and recycling truck environment. “For our comprehensive and complex needs, we felt Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling was the best vendor,” said Kate Davenport, Co-President of Eureka Recycling.
The Solution
Of Eureka’s fleet of 30+ vehicles, nearly all were upgraded to the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling fleet management system. This included:
• In-cab smart display with hands-free, turn-by-turn directions for drivers, along with electronic route sheet notifications.
• GPS tracking and telematics for improved customer service and real-time tracking of trucks, route progress, carts, and related activities.
• DVR system and 360-degree cameras for enhanced driver and public safety, improved service verification, and an expanded ability to easily capture all service exceptions.
The Rollout and Benefits
Eureka’s ambitious and phased rollout plan began mid-year in preparation for the launch of the new fleet and routes in January of the new year. This posed some significant challenges in terms of system customization, user adoption, and change management as the rollout schedule allowed for just four months of driver training.
There was a tremendous amount for drivers to learn and master in that timeframe—new semi-automated trucks, new routes, and new technology that would essentially change the way they work. Additionally, the new routes included a complex system of alleys and variable lot sizes. The dense urban setting with carts and containers in close proximity required a detailed and accurate tracking system.
It was a completely new experience for frontline staff, and, as with any change management, there was significant hesitation about the change. Eureka worked with the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling team throughout the first year of deployment to tweak and customize the system to meet Eureka’s exacting routing and reporting requirements. “Deploying the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling system was like going from a rotary phone to an iPhone overnight. Our drivers had a lot of frustrations at first. Now, they can’t live without it,” says Davenport.
The benefits of the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling deployment have proven to be sustainable, noteworthy, and far-ranging. Below is a small sample of the inherent improvements realized.
Better Frontline Collaboration and Trust
Previously, when customers called to complain about missed pickups and other issues, it often came down to a ‘who do you believe’ scenario. For example, when customer service staff had an irate customer on the phone saying their recycling was not picked up, and drivers insisted the recycling had not been put out, this created tension between frontline teams. With the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling system and camera/DVR systems, this type of scenario is now a thing of the past. Customer service personnel can verify if containers were placed out on time and provide any required evidence to customers, creating a much more positive environment of trust and collaboration between drivers and customer service staff. No more finger-pointing.
Says Davenport, “Drivers like that the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling system provides documentation on the route so that they feel supported in their decisions and get targeted training when needed.”
Routing Efficiencies
Eureka used the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling route management system to do an entire re-route of the city to ensure more accurate tracking and routing. This in turn enabled dramatic efficiencies by optimizing daily routes, reducing missed stops, and ensuring wireless delivery of electronic route sheets to drivers.
In addition, if a driver calls in sick, dispatch can quickly re-direct other drivers to cover the route, which eliminates miscommunication on how the open route will be covered. “The Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling route management system (RMS) allowed us to eliminate one route per day within two months! If you prevent just five unnecessary trips per day, the camera system pays for itself,” emphasizes Davenport.
Improved Safety and Visibility
Eureka wanted to ensure maximum safety for both its workers and residents. The new semi-automatic trucks helped to reduce risk for drivers, and the Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling camera systems and mobile DVR further allowed drivers to capture and avoid unsafe situations.
With 360-degree views around the truck, drivers can now capture video of activities from all angles, virtually eliminate blind spot areas, and secure evidence for accident and dispute resolution.
Eliminating Unnecessary Trips
A significant side benefit of installing Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling camera systems was the elimination of unnecessary trips. For example, when customers call to complain about a non-pickup, Eureka can provide evidence whether recycling was or was not put out. This has dramatically reduced the number of unscheduled, and costly retrieval trips.
Better Reporting
Having a municipal recycling collections contract also requires Eureka to track performance statistics and key productivity indicators. With Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling enterprise reporting capabilities, Eureka is more responsive to the municipality, identifies and solves problems faster, improves operational efficiency, meets targeted goals, makes better-informed decisions, and captures the information required to better align the organization with its municipal clients.
Today
Eureka celebrated its 22nd birthday in November 2023. Over the years, Eureka has both led and significantly influenced the Zero Waste movement in its community. It has served more than 500,000 people and 120,000 residences and recycled well over 1 billion pounds of material. It has also supported the local economy with more than 100 living wage jobs and has consistently provided environmental benefits to the communities it serves. Now, with its smart fleet management technologies, Eureka has ensured that the trucks it sends out on its communities’ streets every day to collect waste are smarter, safer, greener, and more accountable. | WA
Safe Fleet Waste & Recycling is the award-winning, technology leader of connected “smart truck” solutions for waste management fleets. Safe Fleet is a leading provider of video and safety solutions for fleets throughout North America and has more than 20 years of experience developing the most advanced fleet management, mobile, and software solutions designed for waste and recycling collection environments. Safe Fleet systems are installed in thousands of vehicles across North America. Products enable the industry’s top fleets to link their drivers and vehicles to business operations in real time to ensure optimal productivity, safety, sustainability, profitability, and customer service. For more information, call (877) 630-7366, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.safefleet.net