Melka Auto’s experience with a digital solution

Melka Auto is an Estonian family-owned company operating both in the domestic market and across Scandinavia. We spoke with Meelis Jürgenson, logistics manager and managing director at Melka Auto, about his experience using Metrotec’s GPS tracking software. He explains how the solution has made their daily work more efficient, transparent, and easier to manage.

What are your main work processes, and what types of transport services do you provide?
With our dump trucks, we transport bulk materials. With curtain-side trailers, we carry essentially everything else that our clients need transported. We also use sea containers to move clients’ goods to and from the ports of Paldiski and Muuga. The range of goods we transport is broad, from construction materials to food products.

What does a typical working day look like, and what kinds of problems do you need to solve daily?
A typical working day often starts with a load unloaded abroad, after which I hand over the CMR to the local logistics coordinator. Once the coordinator sees that the goods have been delivered, they send me the next destination. I also continuously guide the driver and help find a suitable refuelling location based on current fuel prices. This mainly applies to international transport.

In Estonia, we are currently working on two major Rail Baltic sites on different sections of the project. We are the main contractor, and several smaller companies are working with us. At the moment, around 35 vehicles are operating on these sites. My job is to distribute work between different parties and assign the necessary tasks and work orders to companies based on the site, section, and quarry.

Overall, I am responsible for ensuring that the entire logistics process runs smoothly and that goods reach their agreed destinations on time.

Do you use digital delivery notes?
Yes, most of our delivery notes are digital. In general, digital delivery notes work very well, and fortunately, the entire industry is moving toward digitalisation. Our employees now see it as a clear and convenient solution. Admittedly, we were somewhat hesitant about digital delivery notes ourselves, but we have moved past that.

When was the last time work was delayed or could not be completed, and what caused it?
Such situations may occur, for example, when an employee falls ill and is unable to come to work, or when something unexpected happens to a vehicle, such as a flat tyre. In such cases, fewer vehicles are available, so the work still gets done, but it takes longer. In international transport, more serious problems can arise if an accident occurs and the load does not reach its destination on time. Fortunately, this rarely happens.

What information do you need every day to work efficiently?
The most important thing is to be able to see the locations of the trucks, both for domestic and international transport. We have agreed with our customers that I will send them a report on the vehicles’ locations every morning. With Metrotec, it takes just a couple of clicks to check a vehicle’s distance from its destination and calculate its estimated arrival time using Waze or Google Maps. This estimated arrival time and distance are exactly the information our customers expect from us.

Do you also use the system for working time tracking?
We use tachograph data, which the system provides in real time. All the necessary information is available in one place, including vehicle locations, tachograph data, and other information needed for our work. I can immediately see, for example, how much rest time a driver needs to take over the weekend, giving me a complete overview of our operations. This makes our day-to-day work significantly easier.

What experience do you have with competing software?
I have also used other solutions, but I have remained loyal to the Metrotec platform because of its simplicity and ease of use.

Which metrics do you monitor the most?
I mostly use the map view to see where the vehicles are and where they are heading. I actually use two monitors: one constantly displays the map view, while the other is used for emails and other communication.

I also keep a close eye on fuel consumption, because it is important to know how economically a driver is driving. The system also helps identify possible fuel losses. In addition, I monitor the work timetable, which provides a good overview of working hours.

What are the biggest challenges in your industry?
The recent geopolitical situation has significantly increased fuel prices, which in turn has raised the price of our services. Another major concern is the shortage of drivers. Experienced drivers are retiring, but not enough new drivers are entering the profession.

Because the world is changing so quickly, it is difficult to predict what kinds of problems may arise in a year or two.

Another challenge is that when construction work is underway, residents are not always happy with the work or with heavy trucks moving near their homes. This can create opposition and, in turn, cause problems for the client.

What do your clients expect from you the most?
Above all, clients expect shipments to move smoothly and arrive at the right destination within an optimal timeframe.

What do you consider the greatest value of this collaboration?
The most important benefit is the most fundamental one: knowing where the vehicles are 24/7. This gives me the confidence to plan operations with peace of mind and ensure, for example, that a truck reaches the ferry on time. I can also see how much driving time and rest time each driver has remaining. This is particularly important abroad, where infringements can result in substantial fines. Drivers cannot misrepresent or conceal anything, and as a logistics manager, I have an accurate overview at all times.

How many of your employees use the system?
Three people. It is equally convenient to use on both a phone and a computer.

What do you do if you need help using the system?
I am an experienced user, so questions rarely arise. My account manager is always just a phone call away.

How have you adapted to using digital tachographs?
In the past, tachographs used paper discs, whereas digital tachographs are now mandatory, particularly for international transport. Having tachograph files uploaded automatically to the system is highly convenient, as they provide a quick overview of driving times and any potential infringements. If an inspection takes place, all the necessary documentation is immediately available.

For example, abroad — especially in Sweden — authorities closely monitor where drivers take their 45-hour rest period. In long-distance transport, the driver must leave the vehicle during the rest period and stay in a hotel. If this requirement is not met, the fine can be as much as €2,000. In such situations, it is very useful when digital tachograph data immediately shows where the driver has been, how long they have driven, and how much they have rested.

With modern tachographs, police no longer necessarily have to stop a vehicle, as the data can be checked remotely while it is in motion. If anything suspicious is detected, the police can follow the driver, stop the vehicle, and identify any infringements. Today, this process is highly automated, giving law enforcement officers quick access to the necessary information. For this reason, I also install remotely readable tachographs in older vehicles so that driving and rest times can be recorded automatically in them as well.

What is the greatest benefit the tachograph solution has provided?
Peace of mind and convenience. Previously, if a driver had not downloaded their driving data within 28 days, they could receive a fine from the police. Now the data is downloaded automatically, so this risk no longer exists. The system also displays the expiry dates of driver cards.

Another important benefit is the time saved. We no longer need to bring the device into the office or manually download each driver’s card data one by one. Everything happens automatically—one less thing to worry about.

How quickly does the investment in a tachograph solution pay for itself?
Metrotec’s pricing is very reasonable.

Why should a transport company invest in digital solutions?
First, it provides significant time savings. Second, the entire world is moving toward digital solutions. If work is still done on paper and manually, it is very difficult to remain competitive, because others have already digitalised their processes and are therefore working much more efficiently.