Knowing when the next load of concrete will arrive keeps things moving on the job site. With the TRUCKAST app, now you can view deliveries in real time – from loads scheduled to loads on the way and those already discharged.

Now available to Prairie Material customers in northern Illinois, TRUCKAST puts the same data our dispatchers have in the palm of your hand, letting you monitor progress at multiple job sites and request changes on the spot.

Mobile, simple, powerful: how TRUCKAST works

TRUCKAST works with your smartphone, tablet or laptop so you can see what’s happening from the office, the road or the job site. Use it anywhere – no need to hunt for a wi-fi spot.

The pre-pour display shows all jobs scheduled for the day with total yards ordered, mix details, start time and full delivery schedule for each.

Once work starts, the in-process display gives a real-time view of the entire job. See when the next truck is due, follow pour speed and monitor delivery delays, if any. An easy-to-read graph compares scheduled deliveries to actual delivery times and pour completion times. A second graph shows how many trucks are on site at any given time. (Jobs with fewer than 3 loads use a simplified display.)

For even more details, drill down to see the individual ticket. TRUCKAST tells you when the load was batched, when it left the yard and how soon it will roll onto the site.

A message stream links you with Prairie’s dispatch team. If a given load is running late, you’ll get an alert with the new delivery time. Send your own messages to change the job start time, adjust spacing between loads or change total loads ordered. Optional alerts give you the heads-up when the first load and last load of the day are delivered. You can even send photos to communicate issues that need fast attention.

Field tests show the benefits

Over the past 2 months we’ve put TRUCKAST in the hands of selected customers to see how the app works for owners, job superintendents and foremen.

Ben Olson , president of R. Olson Construction , gives TRUCKAST high ratings. “I use it to see how the day is shaping up before I get to the office. I can see what’s happening with all projects without having to ask anyone.”

Flatwork foremen love it, he says, because “in flatwork it’s crucial to know when concrete will get there so you can make adjustments. Before TRUCKAST, the foreman would call the job superintendent who would call dispatch who would then call the yard. It took at least 15 minutes and you might not trust the answer. Now the foreman sees what the dispatcher sees. When there’s a delay, he knows how long it will be and can have guys do other tasks or just take a break.”

Lawrence Cerami of Cerami Construction uses TRUCKAST to study day-long progress across multiple job sites. “You can see the full history – when you placed the order, changed the order, upped the order, canceled it – it’s all there,” he says.

“Right now we’re doing a mid-rise in Chicago, placing 30 to 40 yards every other day. We’re working with a crane and bucket, so timing is critical because it’s hard to get in and out of the site and crane time is so valuable. Knowing when the next load will arrive keeps anxiety down and productivity up.”

Accurate information build​s trust

“Customers say TRUCKAST is easy to learn and use,” says Prairie Sales Rep Chris Rapp ​. “It’s clear and intuitive, so you don’t need special training to benefit.” Rapp uses TRUCKAST to monitor all his customers’ jobs throughout the day so he can give accurate answers and fast support.

Customers of all sizes see the advantages, says Prairie Dispatch Manager Matt Jetmore . “This isn’t just for big contractors. The owner-finisher can’t afford to be idle for an hour any more than the 30-member crew can,” he points out.

The app “brings everyone in the construction process closer together,” says Dispatch Team Member Brent Pommerening . “There’s total transparency – which means we can work more effectively with greater trust.”

Since TRUCKAST stores job data for 30 days, customers can use it to study workflow and improve teamwork. “It’s also a great planning tool, since you can look several days ahead to see scheduled ​pours,” says Jetmore.

A tool for continuous improve​ment

Tech support for TRUCKAST is provided directly by the developers, who are committed to making the tool even more valuable over time.

“The idea for TRUCKAST came from studying the challenges contractors face,” says TRUCKAST CEO Todd Davis. “We worked hand-in-hand with contractors and producers to refine the app – and we continue to listen, prioritize and plan improvements every week. The goal is to make this a true productivity solution that builds trust, teamwork and profits for everyone.”

The TRUCKAST app is provided to Prairie Material customers directly by the developer and is backed by full tech support. Free 60-day trials are available for all northern Illinois customers now, with more regions coming soon. Contact your Prairie sales rep for details.