Huffman

Critical Systems Paper

Kevin Jones

BSA 310

17, January.2011

Paul Cooper

Critical Systems Paper

Founded in 1936, by owner, K. Huffman with one truck the Huffman Trucking Company soon grew to a fleet containing 16 trucks and twice as many trailers. This was because of the company’s main customers. The customers, needing special accommodations are the United States Government, auto parts suppliers and, manufacturers of plastic products. Its facilities are in Los Angeles California, Bayonne, New Jersey, Cleveland, Ohio, and, St. Louis, Missouri. With locations, spread across the country Huffman Trucking has access to many cities. Huffman Trucking employs425 support personnel, 925 drivers and. It currently has 800 road tractors, 2,100 45-foot trailers, and 260 “roll-on/roll-off” units (Huffman Trucking History, 2011).

Huffman Trucking outsources 100% of its information systems support to Smith Systems Consulting. For Huffman Trucking to survive in the 21st century, it needs a comprehensive IT support system.

The first software needed in the IT support system that a trucking company needs is a GPS tracking system in all its road tractors and trailers. The GPS tracking system would help truck drivers lessen delivery times, lessen fuel costs, improve customer satisfaction, and increase company profits. The GPS tracking system can be integrated in Huffman’s IT support system. The tracking system would provide dispatchers real-time information regarding status and location of each truck. Huffman’s customers would have an accurate status of their shipment. By tracking each truck, the dispatch office can ensure trucks are following their scheduled routes, are on-time with their deliveries, and determine if trucks are driving at the most fuel efficient speed without breaking any speed limits.

The second software needed in the IT support system that Huffman Trucking can use is an effective preventative maintenance schedule. At Huffman’s...