(PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

* .. • ./29
However, for me it gave me a chance to learn also at the same
rate as people on the job. The esence of the computer is to make
sure customers are served as fast as possible and then ensure that
vehicles are matched with return loads.
Dispatching is headed princiaplly by two people, one incharge
of tanks and the other in general dry freights. All dispatching
being done at the headquarters at Eagle Groves although Umthun has
terminals in areas like Chicago, Fort Dodge and others where their
trucks report and minor repairs can be made. All scheduling is
untralized on the computer at Eagle Grooves.
One main customer or the biggest is the Boone Valley
Co-operative Processing Association which I shall describe later.
Here there is a dispatcher stationed at the Co-operative and handles
the transport requirements of this very big organisation.
8.3. Computer Department.
Here I was conducted around the computer room and saw how
various prints were being made. One thing however that interested
me most was the analysis of the tachometer chart readings on the
computers. This is a separate computer known by the trade name as
Argo Computer Tachograph Chart.
This I thought was a wonderful piece of equipment capable, of
making prints on daily, weekly and monthly performznce, analysis of
each driver or vehicle, ranking and evaluating performance of each
driver and able to print percentage deviation from each driver as
compared to all other drivers and "Under performers" and Weak links
in delivery cho.in earlier, so that cost - corrective measure can be
taken earlier. Apart from that the Argo tachograph recordings could
be used to save the Company from a costly accident liability suit.
Most of the time I spent studying the tachograph charts and
analysis the prints obtained from the computer department. I felt
this would be very useful tool in controlling our drivers although
quite prohibitive in cost.
8.4. BOONE VALLEY PROCESSING ASSOCIATION:
SEPTEMBER, 2ND: After a proposal by the president, I was arranged
that I should accompany a delegation of about 5 soya team experts
visiting the Boone Valley Co-operative Processing Association. Thus
on the September, 2nd, I was fully engaged on a tour of this big
organisationo • ../30