Management at Sealy are sleeping easily these days thanks to satellites that are keeping a watchful eye on the firm's distribution fleet.  Sealy, makers of the world's favourite bed, has installed HourTrak, the Working Time management system from Masternaut.  Using signals from GPS satellites and special driver ID keys, the hours worked by drivers are automatically monitored.

Sealy operations simply log onto the Masternaut website to track the movement of each vehicle.  E-mail reports arrive automatically detailing hours worked with alerts to ensure drivers do not infringe Working Time Legislation that limits drivers to 48 hour weeks averaged over 27 weeks.

The tracking is proving a real asset in other areas according to Chris Bowness, Sealy's Distribution Controller: "We don't need to call drivers to find out where they are.  This cuts mobile phone use and allows us to instantly respond to customer calls asking about arrivals of deliveries. It also helps planning next day schedules and we can see who will get back and when."

"Masternaut gives us real time visibility of the fleet so we can better manage operations, improving customer service and allowing us to optimise use of our fleet.  And of course it provides vital protection against unintentional breaches of the law.  It automatically alerts us when a vehicle enters the London Congestion Zone and keeps a close watch on driver hour averages to ensure limits are not exceeded."  Says Ray Vince, Sealy's Logistics Director.

Sealy United Kingdom operates under licence from Sealy Incorporated in North Carolina, USA. Established among the top UK bed manufacturers, the company employs over 400 people and produces around 3,500 beds per week at the company's Cumbria manufacturing plant.