Whimsy Intermodal, a mid-sized trucking company with a strong presence in Chicago and Kansas City, has been a vital player in North American logistics for nearly 30 years.
Specializing in the transportation of consumable goods, Whimsy is dedicated to delivering exceptional service with a team of 133 drivers, including 38 company drivers and a fleet of owner-operators.
To enhance efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction, Whimsy turned to the CargoWise Landside drayage platform, Trinium TMS.
As Matt O’Mara, President and Founder, explains, “I’m always reinvesting and positioning Whimsy to be a leader in the industry. Trinium TMS makes us more transparent with customers and gives them the proper documentation and data they need to complete a successful international move.”
Navigating inefficient processes and operational hurdles
Before adopting Trinium TMS, Whimsy faced several challenges due to outdated manual processes and a reliance on paper-based documentation.
Managing orders, driver files, and truck maintenance records with physical folders was cumbersome and prone to errors, causing delays and difficulties in accessing vital information.
Michael Baylian, IT and TMS System Administrator, recalls, “We used to have folders, print outs, and whole a lot of manual processes. Today, we’re all on computers, but back then, it was a different story.”
The lack of digital tools resulted in customers facing uncertainty about their shipments. The absence of real-time updates and tracking created challenges in planning and communication.
Dispatch Manager Wesley Gastel adds, “There was a lot of paper – printing work orders and handwriting details on T-cards. If you misplaced a document, things could get pretty hectic.”
Additionally, compliance with federal regulations and safety standards was challenging. Manual data handling increased the risk of errors and made it difficult to stay current with regulatory requirements.
How Trinium TMS transformed Whimsy’s efficiency
Whimsy's solution to their operational challenges was the implementation of Trinium TMS, a comprehensive drayage solution designed specifically for the trucking industry. This advanced platform addresses a wide range of needs, from order management and dispatching to real-time tracking.
Clayton Rule, Chief Financial Officer, notes, “Trinium TMS has reduced errors tenfold and cut our invoicing timeline. Our people are working eight hours a day instead of 12, reducing costs and improving employee well-being. We have a structured process now versus organized chaos.”
A major benefit of Trinium TMS is its centralized data management. By digitizing driver, truck, and order information, the system replaced physical folders with an easily accessible digital format. This transition has streamlined data retrieval and minimized errors from manual record-keeping.
Jacob Mueller, Order Entry Data Analyst, adds, “Our operations are now completely paper-free. All processes have been integrated into Trinium TMS with action codes. The order entry team inputs information once, and dispatch can instantly view and act on it.”
Trinium TMS also brought real-time visibility to customers, a major upgrade from previous methods.
The team credits Trinium MC3 (mobile app for drivers) as a powerful productivity tool, which provides automated dispatch event updates, ensuring dispatchers and customers receive timely and accurate data.
Wesley further explains, “With MC3, our drivers get up-to-date information in a few clicks. The app provides an ETA and sends it to customers as soon as the driver leaves the pickup location.”
In terms of compliance, Trinium TMS has been instrumental. The system simplifies record maintenance, aiding Whimsy in adhering to regulatory requirements. It also supports safety initiatives by monitoring driver behavior and ensuring compliance with safety protocols, contributing to a stronger safety record.
Kevin O’Boyle, Billing and Processing Analyst, summarizes the impact: “The system enhances our capabilities by preventing errors. Features like auto-rate and proof of delivery checks streamline invoicing, which now happens automatically and is emailed to clients. This has made our compliance processes much smoother and more efficient.”
Charting a course for future growth
The integration of Trinium TMS has been a game changer for Whimsy, helping them to significantly reduce errors, cut operational costs, and improve employee well-being. The transition to a paper-free, digitally managed system has not only enhanced internal processes but also delivered a superior customer experience through real-time tracking and transparent communication.
“It comes down to your IT infrastructure, the assets that you add to that infrastructure, and the team you have running your processes. You don’t get to where we’re at without having a lot of good people on your team to help you achieve the goals you want to every day,” Matt concludes.