Management Group 1:

Information Systems
Abhijeet S - 19061

Apoorva R - 19071
Case - Harshith Y M - 19081
KNIGHT
MANAGEMENT NanditaaRaj - 19091

Rakesh M - 19101
 Case Overview

• Knight Transportation Inc. was established in 1989 in phoenix, Arizona

• At 2002, it operated with 1087 trucks and 4834 trailers

• In mid 2007, it operated with 3400 trucks and 7900 trailers

• Company faced theft issues and lost worth of 2.2 million dollars of
goods

• So they implemented GPS and cargo sensor technology

 Scenario before Implementation Of
Technologies

• Theft issues was severe

• Timeliness was not maintained
• Lack of communication between truckers and their
deliver sites
• Company was not updated with current information
Implementations

Installation of GPS tracking devices

Installation of Fleet View-Cargo Sensor

 Hardware Platforms

DESKTOP SENSORS CELLULAR DATA PHYSICAL

CHIPS AND TRANSMITTING DATA STORAGE
GPS DEVICE DEVICE DEVICE
 Software platforms

1.Fleet
view
software

1.Management Telecommunication Network

software
 Verizon Cellular Network
1.Cargo
sensor
Software
 Installation of GPS tracking devices:

To track/Locate trailers and trucks

Scenario after To improve communication

implementation
of technologies Installation of Fleet View-Cargo Sensors:

To detect cargo presence

To provide necessary information to truck drivers and

company.
Business Process of Trucking Industry
  Time Dimension:
o Timeliness
o Frequency
Qualities of  Content Dimension:
Information: o Accuracy
o Completeness
 Form Dimension:
o Clarity
o Detail
Information System
1. What were the inefficiencies at Knight before
fleet-view was installed?

• Theft of trucks, trailers and goods

• Locating nearby trucks and trailers was a problem
• They also spent too much time and fuel because of the unnecessary route
travelled by their trucks.
• Communication between truckers and their delivery sites is poor
• This increased the need for more trailers than is actually necessary.
2. What information do managers have now that
they did not have before?
• Managers now have an accurate location of its trailers and information of its cargo
in a click of a button.
• Using GPRS they can locate or monitor their drivers to ensure they do not stop
excessively or do not take unnecessary routes.
• The managers now can easily determine which trailer is empty and which is not by
using Cargo sensors which is mounted inside trailers.
• Cargo sensors sends information which helps to prevent robbery
• Fleet-view sends the trailers’ current performance such as fuel level and air-
pressure so they can inform the drivers to make necessary stops to take care of
their trucks.
• This helps the managers to save also money by timely maintenance
3. What are the indicators for greater efficiency
at Knight Transportation now?

• They saved at least $1 million dollars in fuel alone since installation

• The carrier can dispatch its truck on more efficient routes and reduce the need to
drive around in search of an empty trailer
• The company’s fleet operators spend one hour less daily trying to locate trailers
• The ratio of trailers to trucks was reduced to 2.3 :1( earlier 4.4)
• The company is profitable and enjoyed 11% profit in 2006
4. Of the approaches to gaining strategic advantage
discussed in this chapter, which one applies to this
case?

 Reducing cost
 Differentiating the services from competitors
 Enhancing the services from competitors
5. Considering the devices and software that Knight
uses, can it keep an advantage over competitors for
long? Explain why or why not.
Considering the devices and software that Knight uses, it keeps an advantage over the competitors for
long because,
• Compared to the competitors who are not using such devices, they can send their cargo to the
location much efficiently and faster.
• They can dispatch their trailers and trucks more efficiently so they can be able to save fuel and
money instead of spending to invest or upgrade their services.
• It can help them to do their business easily by saving much time and it will fasten their business
transactions without much efforts.
• Although, if their competitors also have this kind of devices and software or if the drivers of their
trailers try to ruin or manipulate the devices for their own consumption, the company cannot keep
advantage over its competitors for long.
Recommendations:

Implementation of RFID

The sensors should have improved using solar panel with

greater charging capacity which requires low maintenance

The devices should be built with integrated impact and tamper

detection which can withstand extreme weather conditions,
dust, shock and vibration
THANK YOU!