Author Archives: schatzi

A Transportation Management System Can Help Businesses Grow

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Managing the supply chain for a business is a daunting but necessary task. There are many transportation management systems available today. Transportation management systems are computer based software companies intended to manage transport operations and deals. They assist a company in controlling the day to day processes involved in transportation of their goods. These critical systems have made real time execution and information retrieval more mainstream.

With many various transport companies and services available, it is important to consider what particular services are most vital to the success of one’s business.

There are three options available. First, the traditional version in which they purchase traditional on-premises licenses; Second, the remote version in which it is web hosted; and Third, on premises hosted licensing which blends the first two together.

A blended system has quickly grown in popularity because of the additional flexibility that it provides a business. When a company chooses a blended transportation management system, it receives not only real-time usage and but also freight capacity. Often the software is provided for little to no cost and then a company pays for the freight capacity service.

The various transport management companies will help companies determine the best truck routes and shipping options. They will review the company’s needs and then implement systems based on whatever is most important to the shipping customer. They may focus on cost to transport, better lead-times, or the least amount of stops.

A Transport Management System (TMS) also helps with important follow up responsibilities. The system can do the billing and invoicing for shipment, track shipment details, and monitor warning regarding delays with planned shipments.

Another great tool that makes a blended TMS a good investment is that they can also measure how well a business’ supply chain functions. It has real time vehicle tracking, true transport cost and customer service control.

A company can truly profit from the Key Performance Indicators which involves tracking and reporting statistics. Transportation managers can determine how much a load cost down to the pound to transport. Being aware of the true cost to ship something can help a business better budget for such needs and also measure how well a company is doing comparatively to previous quarters or years. Along with this feature they can also track the percentage of on-time deliveries and pickups. Because this can affect the cost of shipment, it is important to monitor.

When a company makes the decision to use blended transportation management software, they do so to increase the overall effectiveness of the business. A blended TMS also encourages the company to be financially frugal without giving up the ability to customize the software to best fit their needs. Because a company is always striving to be more customer-service orientated, having an excellent way to track shipments, problems, and deliveries is a very valuable quality of the software. Another positive aspect of blended software is being able to know the total cost that a company spends on shipping so that the company can become more fiscally responsible.

Finally, while every business would benefit from a transportation specialist, those who utilize a blended system can enjoy overall cost savings, positive training and support for a traditional Transport Management System.

Common Road Obstacles That Cause Motorcycle Accidents

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Motorcycles open up a whole new world of driving. Not just a means to get from point A to point B, motorcycles allow drivers to navigate roads, paths, and trails only common cars could dream about. People fall in love with the sport and recreational fun of motorcycles for this reason and more. Although motorcycles are fun and exciting to ride, they are also very dangerous if handled negligently. Aside from motor vehicle accidents, weather and simple road obstacles are common unforeseen hazards that can put even the most experienced driver in danger. Continue reading to learn some helpful tips about safe motorcycle navigation on hazardous roads, as well as, who to call if you or a loved one has been negligently injured on a motorcycle.

Unpredictable Roads

There are several roads that take an unexpected turn, causing unexpected accidents and injuries. Twisty roads, loose gravel, rock beds, unleveled surfaces, mud, and more are common obstacles that motorcyclists must look out for. Gravel roads, in particular, are very difficult to brake on properly, especially for novice cyclists. One of the most frequent occurrences from riding motorcycles on gravel roads is flat tires. Although a flat tire is not a scary situation, it can be dangerous if a tire blows out while riding on dangerous roads. This can make a driver lose control, swerve, slide of the road, and wreck their bike. Often times, motorcycle accidents like this cause serious injury or death. To combat this type of road surface, simply keep steady and maintain your speed. Have your hands firmly gripped to the handlebars, but in a relaxed manner. Also, keep your distance from other vehicles, and wear your helmet shield in order to protect your eyes from flying rock or gravel. Remember, staying in motion gives drivers a better chance at stability. This means, do not panic and brake instantly when you reach gravel or rocky roads.

Muddy roads are a huge problem for motorcyclists because bikes are nearly impossible to navigate in these conditions. The best way to avoid an accident is to avoid riding on a muddy road altogether. If the road is only slightly muddy, then simply use caution and drive slowly to avoid slipping or sliding. If the bike does begin to sleep, immediately take your hand off the gas, but do not brake, and allow the bike to re-stabilize on its own.

For meandering and winding roads, like in hills or mountain ranges, it is safer to drive slower as well. It requires ample practice and experience to learn the skills of accurate timing and best judgment required to navigate twisty or narrow roads on a motorcycle. For novice bikers, it is recommended to start on small hills and practice using good timing and navigational judgment while taking turns and twists. You will eventually learn how to set up for a curve. Ride to the outside edge, and then lean through the curve and follow it at its widest angle. As the apex approaches, throttle and speed up just enough to straighten out the bike as you come out of the curve. This skill takes years of driving experience to perfect.

If you or a loved one has been recently injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another, contact a licensed motorcycle accident lawyer right away. You or your family might be entitled to compensation for your suffering and damages. Motorcycle safety is vital for everyone. If you enjoy riding on the open road, be sure you are protected with proper gear, licensing, insurance, and driver knowledge.

POS Hardware – What Is Important When Buying Point Of Sale Hardware Systems

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When you are buying POS hardware for your new retail store, there is really just a few things you need to bear in mind: Proper components and Reliability. Regardless whether you are buying POS hardware systems or bundles, or separate retail POS components, and regardless whether you are buying new retail POS hardware or used, the POS hardware system must be highly reliable and must contain the following reliable elements: The computer/monitor, The cash drawer, The pinpad, The credit card swipe, The receipt printer, and The ccd scanner or laser barcode scanner.

The reliability of the POS computer

There is no ifs or buts about it, the retail POS hardware must be unconditionally reliable and always ready to take orders. After all, your business sales depend on it! Sure, there is an advantage when you are buying a new computer system as far as reliability. As computers age, their components do become less reliable and can break down over time, so buying new can be advantageous. But even when buying used, you can inquire about the reliability of the system. Ask the seller how often will the system crash occur, ask about any disruptions of any need to reboot frequently. If none of that is an issue, used POS hardware will do just as well as new.

The cash drawer reliability

As most today’s cash drawers are USB based, there will be no batteries to worry about. In general, your cash drawer should be highly reliable.

The pinpad

The pinpad is a very simple device which is also USB based so there are no issues of it running out of battery juice. Also, the keypad is robust and will reliably withstand many daily uses.

The reliable credit card swipe

This is a bigger problem. Even though today’s credit card swipes are USB based, they can be quite unreliable. I have recently tried to rent a DVD at a DVD kiosk in town. However, the card swipe in that kiosk did not work at all. Because the card swipe was the only way to pay, I had to use another DVD kiosk elsewhere and the owner lost a day’s worth of revenues.

The reliable receipt printer

Today’s receipt printers are quite reliable. They are mostly thermal printers and use thermal paper. Thus, they have no moving parts other than the paper transport mechanism. Just make sure you have sufficient thermal paper rolls on hand.

The laser bar code scanner

These are mostly optical, CCD readers. Some of the bar code scanners are wireless, which means that they include a cradle which is permanently connected to the POS computer, but the hand held barcode scanner is communicating with a cradle via a wireless connection. The major source of unreliability and failure in such barcode scanners are the rechargeable batteries. When the CCD reader is not working properly, replacing the batteries will be the most likely solution of the problem.

Good Reasons to Read Customer Reviews on Car Rental Companies

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When you rent a vehicle to go on a long trip, it is imperative to be confident in the rental car company that is providing you with the rental. There are hundreds of thousands of rental car companies across the country. Some of the companies are major chains and have locations all across the nation; and others are smaller companies that are family run or owned and operated by employees. When you take the time to perform a comparison on how the various rental car companies have been reviewed and rated by previous customers, you will be able to have confidence in the decision you make when you do select a company to rent a vehicle from.

Reading customer reviews from rental companies can provide you with a wealth of information that can help you to make the best decision possible. You’ll be able to discover which rental companies are known for prompt customer service and professionalism. You will also find out how quickly you can reach an actual agent or customer service representative, as opposed to getting the run around with automated systems all day.

These things may seem minor until you need something urgently from your rental company, or until you have a breakdown on the road in a rental car. When something like this happens, it is imperative that you are able to get a hold of a professional, helpful, and live customer service agent who can assist you in finding a rapid solution. Being able to get a customer service rep on the phone quickly can also affect your safety and the safety of your family if you are traveling in a rental car that breaks down on the road. If the company offers roadside assistance as part of the contract, you can read customer reviews and discover how quickly each company reacts when something unpredictable happens.

Customer reviews can be found online and in traveling magazines. Online access may be the easiest way to read many different reviews so you can determine which car rental companies in your area provide the best service, the smoothest-running vehicles, and the lowest rates. Traveling websites and websites that feature review of major companies are a good place to start to begin your review comparison process.

You may also consider reading reviews on which car rental companies offer promotional codes, coupons, and online discounts. This can help you to obtain the best rates possible for your rental car. In addition to reviewing these issues for car rentals, reviews are also written about car rental companies that offer free upgrades if the car you reserved is not available when you arrive to check it out.

Although it can take a few hours to thoroughly read several reviews on various car rental companies, you will be able to save yourself time and money in the long run by selecting a company that is professional and operates to high standards.