Software solutions tailored for waste industry

Chevin Fleet Solutions, a market leading fleet management software specialist, provides solutions designed to save time, money and improve efficiency for all varieties and sizes of vehicle fleet operations.


The company’s software systems – RoadBASE and FleetWave – are flexible and screens are definable to meet the needs and requirements of customers. The software can help companies comply with such issues as EU 4th Directive, London Congestion Charging and CO2 emissions, quickly and effectively. FleetWave, stated to be the world’s first internet-based fleet management solution – particularly useful for multi-site and multi-national operations – is now also available as a Pay As You Go version.

RoadBASE is Windows-based software and RoadBASE Xpress is designed as an easy-to-use, entry-level cut-down version.
Chevin also develops bespoke systems and has launched recent innovations including bar-code reading systems and touch-screens, which can make busy workshops more efficient.

Waste sector

Some 10% of Chevin Fleet Solutions’ customer base is from the local authority sector and the majority of those, together with other dedicated waste companies, use Chevin’s fleet management software to manage their fleets of street cleansing vehicles. One such customer of RoadBASE is East Staffordshire Borough Council whose waste department covers 40,000 properties every week, involving a lot of data, time, vehicles and waste.

“RoadBASE is worth its weight in gold,” said Jim Hadfield, East Staffordshire’s Waste Services Manager. “Every day we get between 16 and 20 weigh bridge tickets and RoadBASE produces figures on vehicle overloading or underloading, refuse truck ground structures and calculates our recycling tonnages. All the data on the system also allows us to produce statistics on our rounds, vehicles, staff numbers and thereby helping us to maximise vehicle usage and improve efficiency.”
The diary reminders ensure that East Staffs never miss any vehicle service dates and most importantly their HGV inspections and inspection intervals.

There is a complete audit trail for both repairs (even though this work is done externally) and stock (the stores department also uses RoadBASE for stock inventory and order generation). The system records all the information from order date and number to delivery notes and finally through to invoices.

“The most important aspect of RoadBASE,” Mr Hadfield added, “is that the software allows us to change it, ourselves, thereby not requiring modifications to be carried out by the software provider, which can be costly. It allows us to monitor what we want and in a manner that suits us and our individual organisation’s unique requirements.”

Concern over outsourcing

Looking at fleet management issues overall Chevin Fleet Solutions has voiced concern over outsourcing, stating that fleet managers have often complained of losing control of their fleet, lack of information and insufficient data to make informed decisions.

The company comments: “This issue is particularly important when considering the recent changes in legislation concerning Duty of Care requirements and Corporate Manslaughter, where understanding and having control over your own fleet is vital.”

Expansion in North America

The company reports that, owing to the continuing expansion and success of FleetWave in North America, Ben Ashley, Development Manager, is moving to Chevin’s North American office in Massachusetts.

FleetWave was launched into the North American market in 2002 when Chevin Fleet Solutions established an office in Massachusetts, USA.
Mr Ashley, who will provide more “hands-on” expertise locally, has been involved with many of Chevin’s American customer base, namely Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He has been instrumental in developing FleetWave over the last two years and has been responsible for introducing several features including the event engine, SQL and Oracle conversion, database extraction and diary planner.

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