About Vehicle Licensing Consultants (VLC)
Vehicle Licensing Consultants (VLC) is a full-service consulting firm that has been delivering innovative solutions to the trucking industry for more than five decades. Starting out many years ago with an owner operated fleet compliance program, we now focus on providing management solutions and expertise in compliance to anyone in the trucking industry who wants to streamline their processes. We have been in the business for over 50 years and are dedicated experts in the field, specializing in data collection and professional assistance to help businesses meet reporting deadlines and acquire permits.
What is DQM Connect?
Our motto here at DQM is “driving time into your day“ because we make your life easier and save you precious time and energy by empowering you to manage DOT driver lifecycle digitally. Our innovative DOT driver qualification file management software, DQM Connect, brings your company into the digital age by providing recruiting services, a user-friendly onboarding platform, driver renewals, driver communication solutions, DOT audit preparation, and convenient services for seasonal rehiring.
DQM is an easy-to-use, self-managed software tool that is specifically designed to meet the needs of trucking companies, so that you can manage DOT driver qualification files and ensure clear communication and recordkeeping between management and drivers.
The Case Study at Hunt and Sons, Inc.
Hunt and Sons Inc. is a California-based distributor of petroleum products that has been in business for more than 75 years. This successful family-owned business has more than 450 employees and operates 13 different warehouse and office locations along with 38 commercial cardlock fueling sites. Hunt and Sons is, in fact, one of the largest Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) franchises in California and has many decades of experience and knowledge to back up their services. They provide an enormous variety of different petroleum products including not only standard gasoline and low-sulfur diesel fuel, but also bio diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, E85, and lubricant products for Chevron, Phillips 66, at Valvoline.
Shannon Amaral, Transportation Administrator at Hunt and Sons, Inc. explained in a recent interview how transitioning to DQM Connect software has changed not only her life for the better, but the lives of the drivers who work there as well.
How long have you been using DQM Connect?
We’ve been using DQM connect software for about four or five months now.
What was your process like for onboarding new drivers and managing existing driver files?
We haven’t actually dove into the onboarding portion of the software yet, however the process of adding existing drivers to the system was flawless. There were small mistakes but nothing huge, and VLC was very responsive and helpful when minor issue arose, assisting us immediately to resolve the problems.
Have you ever been audited by the DOT and what was that experience like?
We have never been audited by the DOT, in the past but I’m actually being trained on it right now.
How has DQM Connect helped your company?
I think as far as me being able to go in and glance and get notifications, it is extremely helpful. The fact that it notifies drivers… all 240 different drivers… is very convenient. Some of the drivers are responsive and some are not, but they are at least getting the notifications, and even if they are not particularly tech-savvy they are able to access the information.
Can you quantify how much time it is saving you in managing your drivers?
Since it’s all so new for us I can’t quite quantify it yet, but everything is really at a glance now, so there is a lot of time savings. The management team at VLC has also been very helpful and responsive to suggestions; they’ve actually reached out to me and have asked how they can improve the software even further for me and my drivers. I really appreciate how proactive they have been.
What was your biggest worry about switching to DQM connect and was it even worth worrying about now that you’ve had experience with DQM connect?
My biggest worry about switching to DQM connect from a manual system was drivers not being open to trying new software because change is difficult for people. It wasn’t entirely worth worrying about; I feel like I am now about 70/30 (70% not concerned) with that original worry as most drivers have actually been very receptive to the change and the other, less tech-savvy ones are coming around and learning.
How easy is it for you to onboard new drivers and manage their files compared to how you used to handle driver management?
We used to get everyone signed up manually, but it was easy to grandfather existing drivers into the digital system. I know I will like doing all of the onboarding electronically rather than with pen and paper much better. It is more automated, and I will quickly have all the criteria that I need to get them started.
What have the drivers said about using DQM connect?
The younger tech-savvy people get it right away, and though the older generation sometimes struggles, once they understand it, they are happy about it and say it works fine. Overall I am really looking forward to the auditing learning process as it will benefit us moving forward as well.
Why should other trucking companies use DQM connect?
The world is moving toward automated systems, and there’s always benefits of going that way. People need to keep up with the times. DQM Connect is now starting to interface with cameras and GeoTab, which is my GPS, and they keep track of my drivers’ hours and service. It’s going to make life easier for everyone in the end, even law-enforcement. Maintenance will soon be tied together too into one nice entity.
Do you see yourself going back to the way you used to manage drivers?
No, it was a pain in the butt. We used a ginormous spreadsheet, and one mistake would make a huge mess. If drivers’ certifications expire and you allow it, you can be in serious trouble and your company can risk losing operating authority. DQM connect is a much more accurate way of keeping track of renewals.
Inquire About How DQM Connect Can Make Life Easier for Your Company Today!
DQM Connect is the convenient and affordable solution for trucking companies who want to bring their processes into the 21st century, protect themselves legally, and get a leg-up on companies doing things the old fashioned way. Contact us at info@im4trux.com today to see how DQM Connect can change your company for the better.