System Overview – Wood Pellet Distribution

With almost four decades of experience, TouchStar is internationally recognised as the market leader in digital solutions for all types of bulk fuel and biomass delivery.

FuelFuelStar facilitates a live connection between Drivers, transport staff, accounts teams and customers. Sharing live data regarding vehicle position, on-board stock, delivery weightand pricing, enabling better operational decision making and a reduction in administration time and effort.

With our highly flexible entry screens powered by our web-based back-office system we can cater for almost any fuel and biomass delivery scenario and facilitate greater operational efficiencies and reduced costs.

A typical flow of data through the FuelStar for the wood pellet delivery process would be as follows:

Once the jobs are entered on to the system they can be automatically allocated to vehicles in the most logical order, using our planning tool.

Job Planning

Using real time job information, the planner(s) can drag and drop the jobs on to the relevant vehicles. Once a manifest has been created it is then sent out to the delivery Drivers before they start their shifts, or, if plans change, the manifest can be updated in real time, during the Drivers shift.

To further enhance the efficiency, FuelStar displays the best route on a digital map SAVING FUEL and TIME ON THE ROAD.

Driver Log-On

The Driver activates the Android in-cab tablet, launching the FuelStar application. The Driver then enters his/her ID and current mileage. This enhances both the security and accuracy of the data returned from the system.

Vehicle Checks

The system (optionally) prompts the Driver to undertake his statutory vehicle checks prior to receiving the work schedule.

The checks are completed with a signed statement by the Driver which includes a location, date and time stamp. Once verified, the digital vehicle safety sheet is available both in the transport office and locally on the tablet for roadside check purposes. Vehicle check faults are instantly communicated to the appropriate team member, ensuring quick identification and corrective action. You have full control to customise which types of faults trigger these escalations. The system manages faults by exception, allowing for rapid identification and remedial action.

Daily Task List

On completion of the vehicle safety checks the Driver is presented with an overview of the scheduled loading and delivery tasks for that shift. The system allows easy review of location and product requirements and the Driver, or back-office team, can plan route effectively as a result.

Delivery comments by customer and specific order are presented automatically and trigger a read receipt message to the back office. This ensures that key information is shared effectively and instantaneously.

NEW! Mapping Console

The rationale behind the creation of our new Mapping Console is identical to our wider development philosophy... to maximise the amount of real-time information available within a single screen whilst ensuring that this data is accessible in a user-friendly format. The console operates as a powerful stand-alone module within Fuelstar, allowing the planning office to identify operational bottlenecks in real-time and to plan re-routes accordingly, without the need to reference other back-end software.

The Mapping Console matches the wealth of client and order information contained within FuelStar with GPS technology to provide accurate real-time data on the geographical positioning of vehicles and LOB (Load on Board) status.

A full historical audit trail of any time period is visible including;

• Driver Login
• Trip Start
• Loading Location & Per-Compartment Load Quantities
• Delivery Location, Discharge Quantities and Compartment Offload figures
• Trip End
• Driver Log-Off.

Specific filters can be applied to assist with easy and logical interpretation of the data. These filters include;

• Sorting of vehicles by Current Total LOB, Last seen, Driver Logon
• Excluding of vehicles with devices “logged off”
• Identification of vehicles closest to a particular Address/Postcode/Town/POI
• Advanced filtering of vehicles carrying specific products.

The available information can be utilised to optimise delivery processes. For example, ‘expected LOB’ data can be used to re-purpose the LOB to different deliveries.

Loading

The Driver is required to fill the truck with the planned amount of product. Within FuelStar, the vehicle loading process can be recorded by location, contract and bill of lading number.

The data is recorded by the Driver, on the FuelStar App on the in-cab tablet.

PRODUCT WEIGHT CAPTURE

Deliveries are typically made by weight, using load cells on the truck. All product weights are captured through an on-board integration.

DELIVERY

Each delivery requires a number of safety and quality questions to be answered, as part of the ENPlus Certification. Removing the reliance on paper-based records. FuelStar provides a digital platform to capture all this data and creates a digital record of all activities, which are immediately communicated to the back-office, where it is then available for office staff to review, reconcile and issue invoices as appropriate.

Tickets with all order details and terms and conditions can be printed on site, if preferred, and can be left with the customer. Additionally, a digital copy of the POD can be emailed if required.

Geofencing Technology

Our geofencing feature uses GPS to create virtual boundaries around your delivery locations, automatically triggering actions when the delivery vehicle enters these defined zones. This provides real-time visibility of your fleet movements and delivery status.

When the delivery vehicle enters a customer's geofenced area for a scheduled delivery, FuelStar can automatically send an SMS notification alerting them that their delivery is imminent. This advance notice helps customers prepare for arrival, ensuring they're "delivery-ready" when your Driver arrives.

The benefits are twofold: customers appreciate the proactive communication, while Drivers experience reduced wait times between arrival and pump-off, improving operational efficiency across your fuel distribution network.

Printing

The system provides weights and measures approved ticketing. The tickets can be printed from the existing printer or using a thermal printer that will allow logos, signatures and more flexible report printing options. Various reports are available for printing throughout the process, for example ‘Load Plan’, ‘Bill of Laden’ ‘Proof of Delivery’ & ‘Vehicle Inspection Report’.

Follow on Delivery

Should the customer require an additional remote delivery, FuelStar is able to consolidate the total deliveries on a single ticket.

Customer Signature

Once delivery is complete, customers can view comprehensive and detailed information about the delivery. It is at this stage that they can choose to settle payment on the spot or wait for the formal invoice. Our platform accommodates both payment collection and digital signature capture, offering maximum flexibility to suit customer needs.

Reconciliation

All details transferred and collected throughout the day are continually transferred to the back office which means end of shift reconciliation and client invoicing can be handled automatically.

Bespoke Design

The business logic behind the process flow of the software as well as the screen designs and layout are all definable by customer.

The core of the product grows as new customers and new technology continually add to the functionality of the software. This ensures that FuelStar customers are always able to access the most up to date technology in a cost efficient manner.

Mobile Computing Hardware:

FuelStar is an Android application, so can run on any Android tablet. However, at TouchStar we design, manufacture and support our own ATEX rated tablets, for potentially explosive environments; the TS3300. Most of our Customers use this as an integral part of our solutions, making the TS3300 the defacto standard ATEX tablet in the UK, Ireland and beyond.

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Third Party Software Interfaces:

We are able to successfully integrate FuelStar with all leading back-end ERP, accounting and fuel management software packages.

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Optional additional solutions

3rd Party Hardware Integration:

We work with leading providers of hardware components that are entirely complementary to our own core oil & gas solutions.

We have long-established business relationships with these companies and integration with their systems is both proven and underwritten.

Hardware includes fuel meters, gantry management, tank gauging and guard bar systems.

Click here to learn more.