ControlPro v3.4
Dispatches let you preset the load information ahead of time. You can assign amounts, drivers, equipment, consignee point, and system to a dispatch.
Here is an example of a ticket with 20,000 pounds of material. The truck carrying this load can only hold 12,000 pounds, so we’re pre-setting two dispatches, each with 10,000 pounds.
When the dispatch is filled out, you can process the load by selecting the dispatch under the dispatch tab, then clicking the process button. When you select the dispatch, it will fill in the batch pounds, driver, and equipment for you. When ready, click process.
Once every dispatch is processed, the ticket will close based on your auto-complete settings. If you open the ticket after it’s completed, you’ll see under the dispatch and loads tabs that they are all complete. Keep in mind that dispatch numbers use their own sequence separate from load numbers. You can always search for a ticket using the ticket number, load number, or dispatch number.
Dispatch notifications
You can set up dispatch notifications to email or text message the dispatch information to customers and drivers. Follow these instructions to set up the dispatch notifications.
In this example, I’ll be sending the notification via email to the customer, and via MMS text to the driver. Open the customer or driver and add the contact information under the contacts tab. Check the distribute button to mark them as a recipient. You can add as many contacts as you wish; only the ones marked for distribution will receive the notification. For MMS text messages, use the phone number with their carrier gateway address. For more information on how to do this, click the following link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_gateway
Once the contact information is added, create the ticket with a material and add a customer. Then go to the dispatch tab and enter in the dispatch information. Once saved, click the Email/Text button to send out the dispatch notifications.
Dispatch notification via email
Dispatch notification via MMS text message
The driver can enter the dispatch information manually into the unattended or scan the barcode to automatically load that information into the screen.
Using this feature is optional. We’ve added this feature so it’s easier for operators to plan loads and drivers to receive loads. It also saves time not having to enter all the information when the driver arrives. This can also help reduce the number of tickets in the system.
There are a couple things to keep in mind with dispatches. The first is that duplicating the ticket will not duplicate the dispatches. The dispatches must be created again on the duplicated ticket. Also, if a ticket has dispatches, you are not required to use them. You can always process the ticket normally by manually entering in the details under the tickets tab or batch tab.