CRS achieves Earned Recognition status

CRS Building Supplies has joined the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) Earned Recognition scheme with the help of Truckfile fleet management systems.

The builders’ merchant was awarded the status in acknowledgement of its commitment to compliance with all fleet safety requirements.

CRS runs 34 heavy trucks – DAF CF rigids at 12, 16 and 26 tonnes, and 7.5-tonne Fuso Canter 7.5-tonners – alongside 13 Isuzus which at 3.5 tonnes (GVW).

All vehicles make deliveries of building materials to commercial and domestic customers across Somerset from 12 CRS depots.

Paul Gibbard, transport manager at CRS, said: “We weren’t looking at Earned Recognition initially, we just wanted a programme to run our assets on.

“Truckfile was one of four we looked at, which we then shortlisted down to two. In the end the result was clear – Truckfile won hands down, thanks to an excellent demonstration of its capabilities from the very professional team.

“As we’d hoped, the computerised system made the job of keeping up to date all our vehicle service records, and other paperwork required for fleet operation, far simpler.

“As a fleet manager it’s given me two major advantages: I now have a much more detailed overview of everything that’s going on with all our vehicles; and the information is a great deal easier to access than ever before.”

CRS said it previously did not have a system in place to share the required information to achieve the status.

“Because Truckfile is highly automated and completely secure, everything is always filed in the correct place and no documents ever get lost. Sending the necessary updates to DVSA, to ensure our continuing Earned Recognition status, is now very straightforward,” said Gibbard.

“Applying for and gaining Earned Recognition with the help of Truckfile has not led to any increase in paperwork for me or my team.

“The administration of our fleet is more streamlined and efficient than ever before.”

CRS said its drivers use Truckfile to complete walk-around checks, scanning QR codes on vehicles with their mobile phones.

GIbbard added: "The package has been refined with our input to make it easier for our staff to use, with the functions that we need simplified and sped up, which saves a lot of time and effort."