CleanScapes Gets Greener with In-Vehicle Data Management Solution

Based in Seattle, WA, CleanScapes is a solid waste collection, streetscapes management and recycling company. The company was founded in 1997 with a focus on revitalizing the historic Pioneer Square area of Seattle and now serves as the waste collection contractor for the cities of Shoreline City and Seattle. The company has grown from just two employees to over 250 and serves three states.

Challenges

For decades, waste collection companies relied upon paper route-books for their drivers to identify service areas, as well as record and report whether or not a can’s contents had been successfully collected. To improve the speed and accuracy of reported collection data, CleanScapes began working with industry partner, Routeware, to implement an in-vehicle computer solution and help CleanScapes transition from a paper-based to an electronic-based data transmission and management system.

To pull the in-vehicle solution together with the required mobile connectivity, Routeware recommended that CleanScapes incorporate Sierra Wireless’ AirLink intelligent gateways in CleanScapes’ waste collection vehicles to enable persistent 3G communications capabilities throughout the company’s service areas.

Solution

CleanScapes tested the Sierra Wireless AirLink™ PinPoint X in-vehicle gateway for use in concert with Routeware’s electronic data management system that allows drivers to use GPS navigation to run their collection route, while automatically logging and completing work in real-time with corresponding timestamps and location data.

“The introduction of the cellular electronic data collection system in our trucks has allowed us to gather more accurate data, which in turn enables us to improve operational efficiency with accurate route information, improve driver safety and improve our own awareness of actual truck activity,” said Sally Hulsman, vice president, CRM Systems at CleanScapes. “We also eliminated the added step of data entry required to transfer data from paper route-books into our system to provide reporting to cities.”

The AirLink PinPoint X is an intelligent and fully-featured mobile communications platform that includes a high-precision GPS receiver and robust features provided by ALEOS™ embedded intelligence. In addition, the AirLink device management tools allowed CleanScapes to connect quickly and reliably to multiple devices in a short period of time, almost completely eliminating the need for field visits to identify problems. Any required maintenance work is now identified and assigned as trucks return to the field, or simple fixes can be implemented remotely while vehicles are still out running service.

“Since integrating our fleet with the AirLink-powered solution, we have seen ‘missed–customer’ reports fall from a few hundred per week to less than 10 per week, company-wide. Driver efficiency has also increased, as has driver morale,” said Hulsman of the AirLink PinPoint X deployment throughout CleanScapes’ fleet of nearly 100 trucks.

Hulsman noted several other benefits to implementing the 3G cellular electronic data collection system. CleanScapes has seen a reduction in customer complaints and improved customer service issue resolution with the ability to track truck location and capture visuals showing waste receptacle obstruction. CleanScapes’ overall process has also improved with electronic data, such as data reconciliation that might have previously been resolved using notes on paper route books.

CleanScape’s in-vehicle waste management system utilizing the Sierra Wireless AirLink PinPoint X gateway running on 3G mobile broadband networks provided the following benefits:

• Reliable, on-demand communication – ALEOS intelligence provides the “always-on” and “always-aware” access to real-time two-way communication required for critical mobile data applications.
• Fleet management – High precision GPS tracking provides ability to acquire vehicle information, such as location and speed, without interruption.
• ROI and quality – The PinPoint X gateway’s unmatched performance and durability helps CleanScapes create the high quality service it has committed to provide its customers.