TransFollow has integrated its e-CMR application with Transports Meunier's TMS and on-board IT system to centralise all functions for managing transport assignments and documents. The result is a totally digital transport operation, with zero paper and a 25-day turnaround on invoices.
Transports Meunier, which was set up in 1948 in Les Ancizes-Comps (63) and specialises in transporting products from the steel industry, particularly for the aeronautics industry in the Clermont-Ferrand region, is in the process of deploying TransFollow's solution for digitising transport documents, which was launched at the end of 2024. Already highly digitised, the company has been using Sinari's ACS Trans TMS for almost 25 years and Truckonline's on-board IT to manage its fleet of 24 tractors and 42 trailers. On the advice of Truckonline, Laurent Grangemare, Deputy Managing Director of Transports Meunier, opted to implement TransFollow's electronic consignment note solution in order to concentrate driver assignment and transport document management functions in a single application.
Transport Meunier, Les Ancizes-Comps. Photo : Jérôme Cambier/Double Espresso Productions
A three-way solution
After a test phase, 20% of consignment notes were dematerialised using the TransFollow solution by March 2025. Today, 80% of the company's CMRs are digital. The TransFollow Drive application, interfaced with both the ACS Trans TMS and the Truckonline fleet management portal, enables Transports Meunier to send drivers all their route data on their mobile application, as well as the enhanced electronic consignment note at each stage of transport, right through to final delivery. "Prepared in the ACS Trans TMS on the basis of the data for each transport operation, the e-CMR is sent directly to the Truckonline portal and then encapsulated in the job data that the drivers access via their mobile application," explains Laurent Grangemare. In the field, drivers use a single Truckonline mobile application, connected to TransFollow, on which they collect signatures from partners and customers during the loading and delivery phases. The information is fed back to the haulier's TMS transparently for the drivers, as they carry out their tasks, that the haulier can finalise the services and start the process of invoicing its customers.
"It's a three-way solution that simplifies the e-CMR management process for both operators and drivers. It was important to develop a high-performance tool and a single driver application capable of centralising all the functions required for the smooth running of their rounds. Together, TransFollow, Truckonline and Sinari have succeeded in meeting our expectations to perfection," says the Deputy Managing Director.
Paperless and ultra-fast invoicing
Since implementing TransFollow Drive, Transports Meunier has made a number of gains. "The CMR was the last document in the company that wasn't digitalised. With TransFollow, we have achieved our objective of 'paperless' transport operations", says a delighted Laurent Grangemare. By digitising the CMR, the carrier is able to meet the requirements of its customers, who want to receive feedback on deliveries within a maximum of 48 hours for operations carried out in France and one week for transport elsewhere in Europe.
"On the operational side, the solution transforms the simple CMR validation workstation into a data analysis workstation, enabling staff to progress from a basic task to an analytical . In addition, e-CMR means that the invoicing process can be started within 2 to 24 hours, depending on the assignment, compared with 27-28 days previously, with an immediate impact on cash flow", adds the Deputy Managing Director.
Transport Meunier, Les Ancizes-Comps. Photo : Jérôme Cambier/Double Espresso Productions
Tailor-made developments
In addition, TransFollow has developed specific functionalities to support Transports Meunier's international expansion strategy. "We transport goods in Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium and now Austria. We therefore need certification of the location of the e-CMR throughout Europe, which is now possible with TransFollow's support," adds Laurent Grangemare. TransFollow also guarantees the sovereignty of secure IT flows throughout Europe (data protection process in SaaS mode), a major advantage for Transports Meunier in view of its sensitive activities for aeronautical customers.
