“What if There Was – Finally – a Software System
for Oil Field Haulers that Really Worked?”
Dwayne
(“Boomer”) Thompson and his wife Joanne of Rivercourse, Alberta,
started oil field hauler Boomer Transport Ltd. in 1998 with a single
truck, contract hauling for Heavy Crude. Branching out on their own
in 2003 with 3 trucks, they have grown their business to 16 trucks
today.
Joanne Thompson spoke to us recently about
their Axon experience.
What
led you to start looking for new software for Boomer Transport?
“We started with the software in January 2007, so I was looking
in the fall of 2006.
“Basically it just got to the point where the
number of
field
tickets that were coming in meant that I couldn’t do it the way
I was doing it – by myself – anymore.
“So I either had to find some better software to
help me or hire somebody. And I went the software route.”
Do you remember the moment you decided that
Trucking Software represented the right direction for your company?
“Actually I searched and searched and searched on the internet
until I found Axon. What I read about the software on the internet I
really liked, so I called. They went through a software
demonstration with me, and that’s when I was sold on it. The
capabilities in the software were exactly what I was looking for.”
What was the major deciding factor for you?
“Handling the tickets. Specifically handling each individual
ticket and invoicing from that. I found a lot of other software that
was geared toward long haul freight companies that don’t do oil
tickets.
“Axon has the capability that I could build all
the locations, build all the rate sheets, and go from there. So that
was it – being able to handle my hauling tickets.”
Can you tell us about some of the problems
you’re solving with Axon?
“Actually my books were a complete mess before I went to Axon. I
didn’t realize that. I’m basically learning as I go in terms of the
accounting side.
“I kept asking the accountants if they wanted me
to do something different because I was basically running a mixture
of cash-based and accrual-based accounting, so every year-end it was
a nightmare for them.
“When I switched over to Axon Trucking Software and set up the
accounts, I learned a lot, and I realized how much of a nightmare it
was.”
Has it freed up your time to do the other
things that you need to do?
“Yes. Because even though we’ve probably doubled in size since
we started with Axon, I have a part-time person in the office and
between the two of us we’re keeping up, so it’s definitely helped.
“Twice a month we’re putting through between
1,000 and 1,200 tickets, and we can probably double that without
having to increase office staff.
“We do truck statements twice a month for our
contract trucks. I pull financial reports. And then I added the
payroll system about three years after we started because we ended
up with enough drivers that I found it easier just to do it all in
Axon.
“I also added in direct deposit after I started
doing payroll so I can do direct deposits to pay the trucks and our
employees.”
With all the features available in the
software, is there something that really stands out for you?
“The reporting – being able to
build my
reports and pull whatever I’m trying to look for. I’ve had some
oddball questions come up from different oil companies needing
information from prior years, and it’s helped me a lot.
“It’s way easier to find information if
somebody’s looking for something. It’s way easier to put tickets in
and have somebody come in to show them how to do tickets.
“It’s way easier to show them on the software than it was with my
handmade Excel spreadsheets.”
Implementing new software is a big change for
a company. How did you and your staff deal with that?
“I actually found the software very easy to learn. I still find
it easy to find new things or to build reports and so on.
“The biggest thing for me was the time just to
build the locations and the rate sheet. But you only do it once and
then you’re good for a long time.
“I find it very easy to use. The ladies that I
have had working in the office haven’t had an issue with it either.
One lady had a fair bit of office experience and the other lady not
so much.
“Neither one of them was experienced in the oil
fields, land locations or the ticket process, and neither one of
them had a problem.
“So they enjoy using it, and it’s easy for them
to enter tickets into the software.”
As a company owner, what would you say to
another manager who is undecided about investing in Axon software?
“Definitely do it. It’s well worth the initial investment and
it’ll pay for itself many, many times over.”
Could you estimate how long your return on
investment was to break even?
“Probably less than a year. Definitely less than a year because
I would have had to pay somebody to come in without it.
“Plus our relationship with our accountant has
never been better, and I think that a lot of that is because our
books are in such good shape now. They can find what they’re looking
for. They know everything’s done right.”
How has working with Axon helped you with your
customer relations?
“The statements and invoices that we’re generating now are very
professional. They’re easy to read and easy to follow.
“We’ve jumped from one major company when we
started with Axon to invoicing 7 or 8 different companies now, and I
haven’t had any complaints from any of them in terms of what they
want to see on the invoice or the statement.”
Has Axon helped you save money or make more
money?
“Both, I think. In terms of admin. we’ve saved. And it’s helped
us maintain a very good rapport with our customers. They can call
and ask for information any time or ask for invoice corrections, and
we can do it right away because it’s so easy to do with the
software.”
How has it affected your accounts receivable
turn around?
“Actually it’s been nice. It’s way easier to track [receivables]
with this than what I was doing before.
“It definitely helps us keep on top of things.
Our customers’ average days-to-pay has probably gone from 65 to 70
days down closer to 45 days.”
Joanne, is there anything else you’d like to
add?
“Just that I’m very happy with it. I’m really glad I made the
call to Axon and yes – I’m very happy with it.”
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