Case Studies
Case Study
Custom Concrete, headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, provides concrete work for both residential and commercial customers. Founded in 1969, Custom Concrete originally started as a framing company. After, they constantly had to wait for the concrete guys to arrive, Custom Concrete’s founders bought a concrete form and starting pouring their own basements.
TRUCKAST and Custom Concrete
TRUCKAST continuously provides me a real time and trending view of both IMI’s performance and our performance.Casey Harvey of Custom Concrete
Now, in 2014, Custom Concrete’s commercial work includes a wide range of projects – fire stations, churches, multi-story office complexes, and a new distribution center for Subaru parts.
Custom Concrete’s concrete supplier is IMI Irving Materials. Headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana, IMI Irving Materials was founded in 1946 and now supplies concrete to 6 states via 4 regional operations centers.
Before Custom Concrete started using TRUCKAST to manage its IMI concrete orders, the company struggled with a very manual, time intensive process to manage concrete orders. The very large concrete pours for industrial warehouses were particularly complicated for Custom Concrete to manage with IMI.
Custom Concrete would place its concrete order with IMI, and then the difficult part was managing that pour with multiple concrete trucks hauling concrete mix from multiple plants.
“We never knew where those trucks were or when they’d get there,” said Casey Harvey of Custom Concrete. “If they got 5-10 minutes late, we’d have to call IMI dispatch, or we’d call our IMI sales person and they’d call the plant or dispatch to check on our concrete. The issue is knowing where you’re at on yardage. It’s critical that we don’t have four extra trucks sitting there and you can’t use their concrete. That’s thousands of dollars extra.”
With TRUCKAST I instantly and always know what is happening – no more sitting around guessing, wishing, hoping and wasting money – now guys take lunch or work on another part of the project.Casey Harvey of Custom Concrete
Streamlines Concrete Order Management Process
With access to real-time, trustworthy data using the TRUCKAST mobile app in the field and browser based interface in the back office, Custom Concrete’s concrete management process with IMI is now much different. Custom Concrete calls IMI’s dispatch, as before, and places its orders for specific mixes and specifies delivery locations and times. Once the initial concrete order is placed, Custom Concrete manages the order much differently with TRUCKAST.
“With TRUCKAST, we can pinpoint-how many yards of concrete are on the road, how many yards we’ve already poured,the rate that the trucks are coming,etc.,”Harvey said.
One of the biggest indicators of how much Custom Concrete values TRUCKAST and the app’s ability to streamline the concrete delivery process is how much Harvey uses the app.
“When we have several different jobs going at one time or of I’m one of those big industrial warehouse pours, I’ve got TRUCKAST running all day,” Harvey said.
Instead of calling his IMI salesperson or dispatch throughout the day to manually track his concrete order and when trucks will arrive at the site. Harvey now opens up TRUCKAST on his iPhone.
TRUCKAST delivers all the data Harvey needs to manage Custom Concrete’s big jobs-what concrete mixes were ordered,which plants are working on the order, where trucks are on the road and when they’ll arrive at the construction site. and the total amount of concrete delivered throughout the day. The end result is much less stress on the job thanks to instant access to reliable order information and decreased down-time and delays.
Harvey is looking forward to start using the TRUCKAST photo feature that allows him to take photos of a concrete pour throughout the day and upload the photos to TRUCKAST. With TRUCKAST, having both supplier and contractor simultaneously see the same data results in improved conversations and mutual, clear accountability for delivered orders.
I no longer spend time calling IMI dispatch or my IMI sales person, instead I look at TRUCKAST and
have my questions answered immediately.Casey Harvey of Custom Concrete
Case Study
W.E. Beaty, an Indianapolis, IN, residential construction company founded in 1982, specializes in slab-on-grade concrete foundations. Ninety-five percent of W.E. Beaty’s business is residential foundations. W.E. Beaty is working on an average of 15-17 different foundation sites every day, and sometimes that number can go up to 25 different projects at one time.
TRUCKAST and W.E. Beaty
I need to know if we’re being efficient with our concrete orders, and TRUCKAST gives me the information to figure that out.Scott Beaty of W.E. Beaty
W.E. Beaty’s concrete supplier is IMI Irving Materials. Headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana, IMI Irving Materials was founded in 1946 and now supplies concrete to 6 states via 4 regional operations centers.
In the past, W.E Beaty’s on-site construction foremen on the 15 different job sites would call IMI Irving Materials with questions about the concrete for that job site- is the concrete behind schedule, when will the trucks arrive, are you sending the right mix? Since IMI was supplying concrete for 15 W.E.Beaty projects, the old process for managing the concrete orders and deliveries was very cumbersome.
“They (IMI) would have to look through 30 different W.E. Beaty orders in their system, and try to figure out the right order number for that foreman’s site,”said Ricky Pryor, W.E. Beaty Field Operations.
Since W.E. Beaty and IMI began using TRUCKAST, a software and app solution for the construction industries, W.E. Beaty’s foremen have seen and immediate shift in how they can stay organized in managing the concrete delivery process resulting in reduced anxiety on the job and a reduction in calls to dispatch. For concrete supplier IMI, dispatchers and sales people no longer have to search through all of W.E. Beaty’s current concrete orders to find the right job numbers.
“If they do not have to call, out foremen can now look on the TRUCKAST app on their phone and get their order numbers,” said Scott Beaty
However, in many cases, the foremen don’t have to call, because the
TRUCKAST app provides detailed,real-time data on the foreman’s concrete order- the type of concrete mix ordered, the number of trucks that will be delivering the mix,when those trucks are scheduled to arrive at the job site, etc.
TRUCKAST app provides detailed,real-time data on the foreman’s concrete order- the type of concrete mix ordered, the number of trucks that will be delivering the mix,when those trucks are scheduled to arrive at the job site, etc.
Since W.E. Beaty and IMI began using TRUCKAST, W.E. Beaty’s foremen have seen an immediate shift in how they can stay organized in managing the concrete delivery process resulting in reduced anxiety on the job and a reduction in calls to dispatch
TRUCKAST Gives W.E. Beaty’s Managers Insights and Data
W.E. Beaty’s field operations supervisors appreciate how the TRUCKAST app has organized the concrete delivery process and changed the conversations they have with IMI. It is no longer about ‘where’s my order?’ instead it’s about how we work together better to create mutual improvement and clear accountability for both IMI and W.E. Beaty
“I look at TRUCKAST numerous times throughout the day. I can tell the number of trucks a site is supposed to have,” Pryor said. If an issue does develop with a concrete order, Pryor can now usually spot those issues before they become bigger problems, and he has much more information when he does need to call IMI to check on an issue.
W.E. Beaty’s managers and office staff value the instant access to organized and complete job information that TRUCKAST offers about their IMI concrete orders across all their job sites.
“I need to know if we’re being efficient with our concrete orders, and TRUCKAST gives me the information to figure that out,” Scott Beaty said.
As W.E. Beaty continues to use TRUCKAST and integrate the app into the company’s daily work flow on its job sites, W.E. Beaty’s foremen are looking forward to enabling the Order Request feature which allows foremen and field operations supervisors to place concrete orders from directly within TRUCKAST app.
In addition, W.E. Beaty also anticipates using TRUCKAST’s photo feature to enable construction foremen to take photos of the company’s slab-on-grade concrete foundation projects and upload
those photos to TRUCKAST.
those photos to TRUCKAST.
With years of construction experience pouring slab-on-grade concrete foundations throughout Indianapolis, W.E. Beaty is now using TRUCKAST’s smartphone technology to streamline their concrete ordering and delivery processes resulting in improved crew utilization and job performance.
I look at TRUCKAST numerous times throughout the day. I can tell the number of trucks a site is supposed to have.
Ricky Pryor, W.E. Beaty Field Operations
Case Study
Shiel Sexton, a national construction firm with offices in Indianapolis, IN, and Charlotte, NC, was founded in 1962. The company, named as one of America’s Top 400 Contractors by the Engineering News-Record, constructs a variety of buildings – commercial, hospitals and schools.
TRUCKAST and Shiel Sexton
TRUCKAST has completely changed how we manage our concrete orders.Tim Brogan, Sr. Project Manager, Shiel Sexton
Shiel Sexton’s concrete supplier in Indiana is IMI Irving Materials. Headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana, IMI Irving Materials was founded in 1946 and now
supplies concrete to 6 states via 4 regional operations centers utilizing TRUCKAST across all production locations to sustain long-term, high-trust relationships with contractors.
supplies concrete to 6 states via 4 regional operations centers utilizing TRUCKAST across all production locations to sustain long-term, high-trust relationships with contractors.
TRUCKAST off ers Brogan a real-time view of all his job sites concrete orders, and has become an integral part of Brogan’s day resulting in improved crew utilization and job performance.
Tim Brogan, Sr. Project Manager, Shiel Sexton, manages 15 foremen in charge of construction sites across Indianapolis. Brogan begins and ends his days calling all of his foremen. Before Shiel Sexton began using TRUCKAST to manage its IMI concrete orders, Brogan’s conversations used to be very different. He would spend a lot of time discussing all the specifics of the foremen’s concrete order for the day or the next day – what mix had been ordered, how much had been ordered, what time was it scheduled to arrive, etc.
Now, Brogan still has daily calls with his foremen, but thanks to TRUCKAST, he doesn’t have to spend as much time discussing concrete orders. Brogan can spend time talking about other site and job issues. With TRUCKAST, Brogan has a streamlined, detailed view of all of his foremen’s concrete orders.
“Foremen used to have to go to a pay phone to call the concrete supplier. Mobile phones changed that. Foremen could call IMI or another supplier and complain, “ Brogan said. “Now TRUCKAST has completely changed how we manage our concrete orders.”
Today, Shiel Sexton foremen still call and place their orders with IMI, but then Brogan monitors and manages all those concrete orders via TRUCKAST throughout the day. Brogan can monitor and track all the concrete orders in real-time – the type of concrete mix ordered, the truck numbers that will be delivering the mix, when the trucks are scheduled to arrive at the job site, and much more.
I check TRUCKAST when I get up, throughout the day, and when I get home from work.”Tim Brogan, Sr. Project Manager, Shiel Sexton
Soon, Shiel Sexton will adopt TRUCKAST’s Order Request functionality with its pre-defined mix options and real time documentation. Brogan anticipates a reduction of costly order errors. With Order Request his foremen will spend less time calling to place orders while simultaneously having order confirmation to reduce errors.
“When I’m doing my cost reporting, I can easily check how much concrete was delivered to a specific job site,” Brogan said. Before the TRUCKAST app, Brogan would often have to track down the final quantity of concrete delivered from his accounting department. Not only does TRUCKAST help Brogan manage the day-to-day concrete delivers at job sites across Indianapolis, it has also sped up his cost reporting workflow.
How much has TRUCKAST changed how Brogan works?
By providing instant access to organized and complete job information to both IMI and Shiel Sexton, TRUCKAST is creating mutual accountability and cultivating mutual improvement and increased profitability.
It’s almost a pain to pour with someone else because I can’t see this information. It’s just not as convenient.Tim Brogan, Sr. Project Manager, Shiel Sexton
Case Study
Custom Concrete, headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, provides concrete work for both residential and commercial customers. Founded in 1969, Custom Concrete originally started as a framing company. After, they constantly had to wait for the concrete guys to arrive, Custom Concrete’s founders bought a concrete form and starting pouring their own basements.
TRUCKAST and Concrete Supply Co.
TRUCKAST is helping us communicate better with our customers… it creates new level of mutual performance and trust.Henry Batten, President, Concrete Supply Co.
“The proverbial question is, “Where’s my truck?” said Henry Batten, President, Concrete Supply Co. To provide their customers with real-time, digital info on their concrete orders, Concrete Supply Co. is rolling out TRUCKAST to their customers.
“TRUCKAST is helping us communicate better with our customers with improved transparency, it creates new level of mutual performance and trust,” Batten said.
Concrete Supply Co. has a long and rich history of delivering concrete to builders and contractors throughout the Carolinas. Formed in 1958 through the merger of three ready-mix companies with a total of four plants, all located in Charlotte, NC. Today, Concrete Supply and its subsidiaries operate more then 30 concrete plants and more than 340 mixer trucks, employ more that 500 employees, and produce approximately two million cubic yards of concrete annually.
Prior to implementing TRUCKAST, Concrete Supply Co. averaged seven telephone calls to dispatch or sales people per concrete order. Batten is confident that the simultaneous real-time data available via TRUCAKST will reduce the number of phone calls per order.
Contractors or builders can view TRUCKAST and see a wealth of vital information about their concrete orders: the status of the order, the number of trucks scheduled, when those trucks are scheduled to leave the concrete plants, when the en route trucks will arrive at the job, when the job will finish, how their crews are performing,etc.
TRUCKAST, a smartphone software app for the bulk construction materials industries, was specifically designed to help concrete suppliers and their contractor and builder customers:
- Access complete, accurate concrete orders and full order history.
- Decrease communication errors via automated documentation.
- View real-time tracking of concrete jobs,trucks and orders.
- Receive dynamic alerts throughout the entire concrete order and delivery process.
An example of improved performance is with tail outs – the last truck or concrete delivered to a building site. Prior to TRUCKAST, when the last concrete truck arrived at a construction site, the foreman would have to call dispatch if he needed additional concrete delivered to finish the pour. This often created problems because there could be a delay of an hour or more from the time that the customer called in their last-minute concrete order.
With TRUCKAST, the customer received a message when the last truck leaves the concrete plant. Knowing that the last concrete order is on the road customer can immediately measure and determine if they’re going to need more concrete delivered if they’re going to need more concrete delivered to finish the job. If so, they can immediately place and order, reducing or eliminating waiting for Concrete Supply Co. to deliver the concrete needed to finish the pour.
Concrete Supply Co. prides itself on its long-standing relationship with customer throughout North and South Carolina.
With the mutual performance data we are simultaneous viewing in TRUCKAST, conversations with our customers are more valuable.Henry Batten, President, Concrete Supply Co.