Analyzing Knight Transportation's Fleet System for Efficiency Gains

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Knight Transportation, particularly issues related to tracking goods and truck thefts, which resulted in significant financial losses. The implementation of the Fleet system brought about improvements in data management, truck tracking, and communication with drivers. Key features added to the Fleet system included cargo sensors to detect the presence of goods, door sensors to prevent theft, and automated truck maintenance updates. These enhancements led to real-time tracking of trucks and trailers, reduced fuel costs, and eliminated the need to drive empty trailers, resulting in substantial savings. The analysis highlights Fleet's advantages over basic GPS tracking systems, emphasizing its comprehensive monitoring capabilities that contribute to increased efficiency and security for Knight Transportation.

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CASE STUDY
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a.
There have been certain issues that were present ion the operational process of the
working process of the Knights. This section deals with the issue namely that tracking process of
the goods have been acting difficult. To start off with the operational process, the main aspect
that is considered in this case is that the management of the data that are to be performed and are
to be considered important in the process have been acting as an issue. This issue that is being
discussed in the case study have been age old issue that have been faced by several other
organizations as well. It have been observed that there have been issues regarding stealing of
trucks. This stealing of trucks have been causing huge revenue losses for the organization. This
section leads to the fact that the assessment of business have been getting affected in a negative
manner. The major reason of getting affected is that there have been issues of stealing for about
$2.2 million through out. After stealing of the trucks they were not being able to be tracked. This
inefficiency of the tracking process have been affecting the entire business assessment. The
trucks that are stolen are stuffed with expensive cargoes as well. It can be hence stated that there
is a loss of not only financial section but also good will of the organization was getting affected
as well. These were the major issues that are considered in the process. Another aspect that is
considered in the process is that the competition in the truck and delivery industry have been
very high as well. Thus the organization with the highest efficiency and the least travelling time
is preferred. This is one of the major aspect that is considered to be important. This importance
of the entire process have been processing the business management and not competitive
advantage will be received in the process. Another major advantage that is considered in the
process is that the functioning process of the delivery process and the route is considered to be an
important for increasing efficiency of the delivery process. In case the delivery route is not
properly tracked before setting off the journey this can be affecting the entire operational
process. This issue was also present. This presence of the business process issue was also
considered to be affecting the entire operational process of Knight in the delivery of good
process.
b.
There were several new features that got added in the operational feature of the Knight
Delivery process. The most important aspect that is considered in this case is that the

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management of the entire business process have been getting better. It have been seen that proper
tracking of the trucks that have been out for the delivery process. This section ensures that the
data that are gathered with the help of Fleet helps in better monitoring of the entire business
process. Another major aspect that is considered in this case is that proper communication is
maintained in the process with the truck drivers and in case of any emergency, centralized help
can be provided. In the year of 2005, another massive feature was introduced. This was a cargo
sensor. Presence of cargo was detected with the help of the sensors. The sensors have been using
ultrasonic rays in order to track the presence of the cargo. This helps in detecting the fact that
whether the environment is empty of goods are present. This technology acts beneficial for
demeaning the stealing of the thieves. These have been the major features that were received
after the processing of Fleet have been implemented in the operational process of Fleet. Another
aspect that is considered in the section is that whether the door is open or closed is understood
with the help of the sensors. This have been one of the major benefit that will be acting as a
preventive measure against stealing of products. Hence in the year 2005, Fleet was providing two
major information. One of which helps in understanding the presence of the goods and cargo in
the truck and the other aspect that is considered in the process is whether the doors of the trick
have been open or closed. Another feature was then added in the process. This feature provides
automatic maintenance of the truck. This automatic maintenance of the truck ensures that the
data that have been generated in the last servicing have been providing automated updates
regarding the servicing of the trucks. Proper understanding of the fuel level is also stated by the
technology of Fleet. These are the major features that are received due to implementation of
Fleet. It have been seen that the truck drivers will be able to take calls from the tricks themselves
and this is one of the major feature that will be providing as well as increase the efficiency of the
business organization. Knight’s will be having a proper knowledge of the data regarding the
location of the trucks.
c.
It have been seen that the data that are collected by the Fleet have been immense. This
includes the fact that there have been proper tracking of the trucks and trailers were performed.
This section ensures that the data that have been generated by the GPS system of the Fleet have
been bettering the business management process. Not only tracking of the trolley but also

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updating of the location in the website will be performed as well. Another aspect that is
considered to be an added advantage after the implementing the Fleet is that the data that are
generated will be helping in performing real time tracking of the trucks and trolley. This section
also ensures that the data that are provided also helps in understanding the movement of the
truck. Another major advantage that is gained in this process is that the cost of fuel have been
degraded. This degradation of the cost have been increasing the efficiency of the business
processor. It have been observed that there have been a saving of nearly $1 million. The need to
drive around with empty trailer was eliminated after the introduction of Fleet.
d.
It have been observed that Fleet have been one of the most efficient system that is
available in the market. As per the data that is provided in the case study, the main aspect that is
to be considered in the process is that in most of the other devices will only be providing the
GPS tracking of the truck and the trolley. In case the truck and trolley is just tracked the major
benefits that are to be received will be missed. However, with the help of Fleet the ,major
advantage that is received is that real time tracking of the trucks can be made, again with the help
of ultrasonic sensors presence of cargo in the truck can be sensed. Again similarly, the doors are
also traced and hence wise proper monitoring of the opening and closing of the doors can be
made as well. This process ensures that there are least chances of stealing. Auto updating of the
servicing process is also performed which has been increasing the robustness of the travelling
process.

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References
Pettis, A. “knight gets a handle on trucks.” eWeek, july 31, 2006; U.S Department of
transportation, 2002; finance. Yahoo.com, 2007: www.knighttransportation.com, 2007.