AGRO Merchants Group is implementing fleet maintenance software from Freeway Fleet Systems at the company’s Irish HQ in Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. 

When fully implemented, the system is expected to significantly improve the management of a fleet of 220 trucks and 580 trailers, which are used to deliver chilled and frozen distribution services throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe.

AGRO Merchants Group, which owns and operates 61 facilities in 11 countries in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific, acquired Northern Ireland’s Sawyers Group in 2015. 

The Freeway software will provide automation of workshop administration, stores and purchasing to improve efficiency and cost control.  Freeway also integrates with AGRO’s Mandata Traffic Management System (TMS) to give fleet operations complete visibility of vehicle availability.

“It was clear from the outset that Freeway offered all the functionality we needed to improve the management of AGRO’s expanding fleet operation,’ says Richard Smith, systems manager, UK and Ireland, AGRO Merchants Group.

“We are now implementing Freeway fully to take advantage a host of features that will allow us to streamline fleet maintenance.  Our plans include the elimination of cumbersome paperwork with tablets to replace paper jobs cards and inspection reports.  And in view of Freeway's excellent capability for managing parts and procurement, we see tremendous potential for the system to manage a wider range of company assets.”

Matt Reeve, AGRO’s independent systems consultant, said: “For a system to work best the core data has to be complete and accurate and our first task has been to improve asset data held in Freeway.

“That process has already identified some key areas where efficiency can be improved, including savings of tens of thousands of pounds through reducing unnecessary stock holdings.”

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