Communication plays a vital part in co-ordinating the thousands of tonnes of freight that transport firm Mainfreight carries throughout New Zealand everyday. That’s why Lui Naoupu, Mainfreight's transport manager in Penrose, has been using Telecom's Push 2 Talk in a recent trial to streamline communications with his team of warehouse supervisors.

Push 2 Talk is a walkie-talkie style T3G service that allows customers with Telecom Push 2 Talk mobile phones to quickly connect with up to five other people at once, anywhere within the 027 network.

"My job involves keeping an eye on things in the warehouse to make sure we're dealing with freight as efficiently as possible," says Naoupu. “Like most other Mainfreight branches, the Penrose branch has around 40 trucks to load, unload, and keep track of at any one time. It's really important to stay in touch with the warehouse supervisors to manage all these movements." 

Naoupu says Push 2 Talk helps him to remain in contact with his team of five warehouse supervisors who are constantly on the move. 

"Push 2 Talk lets you get answers quickly when you need to know whether a truck is ready to go, or you're wondering when one is likely to arrive. It's amazing technology. My guys are always busy in the warehouse so it's rare that they're at their desk or near a phone. Usually the best way is to give them a call is on their mobile but that can be time consuming if you've only got a quick question to ask them."

"With Push 2 Talk, the guys carry the phones with them so they're always contactable and because you use Push 2 Talk in short bursts to contact everyone it's less time consuming than making individual calls.”

Mainfreight is still trialing the technology but Naoupu says he can see a benefit in getting all the company’s truck drivers onto Push 2 Talk. 

“We often need to get hold of them to see how far away they are from their destination and to let them know addresses or route changes. Their radio transmitters are fixed inside their truck so if they've got out, we have to call them on their mobiles. Push 2 Talk would give us a more efficient way of staying in touch with our drivers than making phone calls. But if the driver needs to speak to a customer, they can still use their Push 2 Talk phone as a normal mobile."

Having field-tested the technology, Naoupu’s verdict is that Push 2 Talk is fast and easy to use.

"The best thing is how easy it's been to use. I can see it becoming as convenient a way of getting in touch as email or text messaging."

March 2006