FirstFleet, a trucking and logistics company with over 100 terminals across the U.S., was in need of a digital signage solution to streamline communication across its numerous terminals scattered throughout the country. With a workforce of drivers constantly on the move, the company faced the challenge of keeping them informed about critical updates, performance metrics, and company-wide announcements. To address this need, FirstFleet implemented Rise Vision, a cloud-based digital signage platform, to enhance its internal communication efforts.
This case study explores the experiences of Brent Brown, IT Help Desk Team Lead, and Elizabeth Wyndham, the Training Content Developer, and their journey in using Rise Vision to improve communications at FirstFleet.
Improving Communication Across FirstFleet’s Fleet
The goal that FirstFleet was looking to achieve by implementing digital signage was to improve communication and share company information. The signage was deployed in terminals across the country in areas like break rooms, offices, and dispatch rooms, where drivers and staff frequently visited.
At FirstFleet, Rise Vision is used to manage and display information at various terminals, ensuring that both on-site staff and drivers can access key data at all times. The company’s unique setup includes customization for all 50+ displays. Elizabeth describes this process:
“We’ve used Rise Vision a lot to personalize each slide for these terminals. For example, each location has its own [presentation], which displays localized weather, load statuses, and even birthdays of the staff and drivers. This level of personalization makes the system highly functional for our needs.”
How FirstFleet is Using Rise Vision to Improve Communication
The introduction of Rise Vision has transformed FirstFleet’s communication and operations. The company uses digital signage to share a variety of content types including safety initiatives, weather information, driver load information, training dates and staff birthdays.
Digital Signage Supports FirstFleet’s Commitment to Safety
FirstFleet has always prioritized safety as a core value in its operations, and with the introduction of Rise Vision’s digital signage, the company has been able to elevate its safety initiatives across all its terminals. With digital signage system in place, safety communications are front and center for every employee, ensuring that essential safety information reaches drivers consistently and effectively.
Using Rise Vision digital signage, FirstFleet shares safety related material like safety tips and reminders for their drivers. They also celebrate different safety achievements like their 1 Million Safe Mile or 3 Million Mile Awards.
Cheers to Justin M. for hitting the 1 Million Safe Mile milestone! Photo courtesy of FirstFleet.
Along with safety related content, each terminal with digital signage displays the local weather radar so that drivers are aware of what the current and future weather conditions are.
Lastly, terminal managers can see at a glance important information about their drivers. Elizabeth has presentations set up with proprietary software that pulls information to show all the trucks for a location and the trucks current location. The content refreshes every five minutes so a manager can see where their drivers are, if they're on their way back to the terminal, or if they've finished their delivery.
Through the use of Rise Vision’s digital signage, FirstFleet has been able to transform how it communicates critical safety information, making sure that every driver, no matter where they are, stays informed and engaged with the company's safety priorities.
Rise Vision Helps Streamline FirstFleet’s Operations
By improving access to real-time information with digital signage, FirstFleet has seen an improvement in operational efficiency. Drivers are now better informed about load statuses, reducing unnecessary delays and confusion.
One of the standout features of Rise Vision at FirstFleet is its ability to optimize the display of real-time load information. Drivers can check the digital displays for current information about their loads, reducing wait times and improving communication with dispatch. Elizabeth has been able to integrate Rise Vision seamlessly with FirstFleet’s proprietary load management system, allowing drivers and managers to access essential data in real-time. This streamlined process resulted in more efficient operations and reduced bottlenecks across the fleet.
The ability to integrate Rise Vision with their internal proprietary systems has had a positive impact on efficiency.
“We display live tracking information about the location of trucks on some of the screens, which managers can easily monitor.” - Elizabeth Wyndham, the Training Content Developer
Managing Content Across Multiple Locations
Elizabeth explains the content management process, emphasizing that although it can be complex due to the number of terminals involved, Rise Vision’s playlist and scheduling features have made the task manageable.
“Organization is key when managing this kind of system. Each terminal has its own unique set of [presentations], and initially, getting all the content set up was a big task. However, once everything [is] in place, the system runs pretty smoothly.”
She notes the ease of using Rise Vision to schedule content, particularly for terminals that require different types of information on various screens.
“In some of our terminals, we have multiple screens, each with different content. For example, we have screens dedicated to showing the current load information, while others display company-wide announcements or safety reminders. The ability to schedule different slides for different terminals or screens has been invaluable.”
Engaging Drivers with Dynamic Content
To maintain driver engagement, FirstFleet uses a mix of informational and entertaining content. At each terminal, the content is a mix display of driver performance metrics, driver appreciation content, and even friendly competitions.
Elizabeth shared a unique way that FirstFleet engages drivers. Every month, FirstFleet runs a ‘Save of the Month’ contest, where drivers vote on their favorite defensive driving examples from dashcam footage. They use QR codes on the screens, and drivers can scan them to vote for their favorite clip. Last year, the company had about a thousand drivers participate in the voting.
Sharing this type of content is a great way to encourage engagement and recognize good work.
Key Results and Benefits
FirstFleet’s use of Rise Vision has resulted in a number of tangible improvements:
- Improved Communication Efficiency: The company now communicates more effectively with its drivers through visually engaging, location-specific slides. Drivers can easily check load statuses, view training reminders, and keep track of performance metrics at a glance while they’re in the terminal office.
- Driver Engagement: Initiatives such as the ‘Save of the Month’ contest have driven higher levels of engagement. The use of QR codes on digital signage has made it easy for drivers to interact with the content.
- Streamlined Content Management: Elizabeth highlights the value of Rise Vision’s playlist and scheduling features, which have helped streamline the management of content across multiple terminals.
- Customization and Personalization: FirstFleet has successfully customized the content to suit the needs of each terminal, creating a more personalized and relevant experience at each location.
How Other Transportation Companies Can Enhance Communication with Digital Signage
When asked about advice for other transportation companies considering a similar solution, Elizabeth emphasized the importance of organization and preparation:
“Organization is key. You need to ensure that your storage is well-structured, and you have to be prepared for the initial setup, which can be a bit of a challenge. But once you’ve got it up and running, it’s incredibly easy to maintain, especially with features like scheduling.”
Brent, the trucking and logistics company’s IT help desk team lead also shared some insight into how other companies can enhance communication with Rise Vision digital signage saying:
“[Rise Vision is] a good tool to get a bold message out to a lot of people at the same time… It's just a good way to communicate. And for the most part, it's hands off. Once you set it up, it just goes.”
FirstFleet is Enhancing Communication and Driver Engagement with Rise Vision
By adopting Rise Vision, FirstFleet has significantly improved its internal communications, particularly with its drivers. The ability to display real-time load information, engage drivers with dynamic content, and tailor the system to the needs of individual terminals has made Rise Vision an indispensable tool for the company.
Interested in how your trucking and logistics company can use Rise Vision? Book a free demo today.
