Box Tracker

From order to completed drop

Box Tracker is a cloud application for roll-off dumpster companies, which the makers say still run much of their business with paper and pencil. The workflow starts when an order taker or dispatcher enters a job and assigns it to a driver in the field. The driver's list updates automatically, and the driver records each delivery and pickup, along with any scale fees. When the driver marks the work complete, the dispatcher is notified, so the office knows what has been finished without a phone call.

Why small haulers look at it

The makers explain that roll-off containers are a large capital investment, so turnover matters a great deal. They say many small haulers find full-scale software too expensive, too complex and too slow to train staff on, because such systems tend to do far more than a small waste hauler needs. Box Tracker is pitched as a simpler route: it covers the core tasks of order taking, dispatch and container tracking without the extra features a small business would not use.

Running on any device

The product is delivered as a web site rather than as an app. It works in a browser on existing computers, tablets and smart phones, so a company does not need to buy new hardware or install and update separate software for each device. For a business whose drivers work from the cab, this means the same system is available wherever the job is taking place.

Who it suits

The site names several kinds of business. These include waste removal firms that want their containers turning over faster, haulers that have grown past in-house tracking systems, small and mid-sized waste haulers competing with the bigger players, and dumpster firms whose paper records are slipping, so that they no longer know where each container is. Franchise companies are also named, as they can give franchisees proper container tracking while keeping an overview of the whole business.

What the system records

For each job, the system holds the order, the driver who has been assigned it, the movement of containers and the completion status. Because the record is kept in the cloud, the dispatcher and the owner can see the same information, which is the central purpose the product sets out for small haulers who are trying to grow their business without adding administrative staff.