Project Details

At first glance, a truckload of dirt looks like just that – a truckload of dirt. But for companies like Prince Contracting, uncovering the difference between 12yd³ and 18yd³ wasn’t just about being able to cast a spotlight on a couple of pretty significant digits on a loading ticket. It was about taking away the guesswork on projects where margins are already slim enough, and replacing it with accountability, marking a very clear line between profit and loss.

Precision that pays

For Prince Contracting, a leading civil contractor across Florida and Georgia, tracking material quantities accurately is critical to profitability. Field engineer Matt Dorris has seen how two trailer-mounted Loadscan LVS-3TMM (LVS) units have transformed operations across multiple quarry sites.

Where manual tickets assumed 18yd³ cubic yards per load regardless of actual volume, Loadscan’s precise 3D scanning revealed trucks sometimes carried only 12yd³ yards – costing thousands of dollars over hundreds of loads.

“Even if the material’s free, the trucking isn’t,” Matt says. “Eventually you’re still going to lose money.”

Full visibility, fewer disputes

Using Loadscan’s secure, cloud-based MyScanner platform, Matt can access accurate load data instantly, share reports with vendors, and attach proof notes where needed. “We haven’t had a dispute, or any cancelled scans with the trucking company,” he says.

The transparency extends to subcontracted haulers and pit owners. “If they have any disputes, we can show them the 3D scans… everybody’s open.” Even initially resistant partners came onboard once they saw the clarity in billing.

Efficiency across sites

The LVS has proven effective on both large pits and tight residential projects. One scanner stays at the main site, the other rotates as needed – ensuring no material is hauled without a scanner in place. “We won’t run material from the site unless we have one set up,” Matt explains.

This visibility is especially valuable given Prince contracts all trucking through brokers. Trucks are billed for both haul and material, and Loadscan gives a solid check on both.

Support that delivers

Behind the tech, Matt credits Loadscan’s responsive service. “If they can’t answer the phone right away, they’ll get back to me in about 10 or 15 minutes.” For Prince Contracting, Loadscan has become essential – a tool that not only improves accuracy, but gives confidence in every load received.

Project Details

For Jackson Taunton at Razorback Mining, the Loadscan Load Volume Scanner (LVS) isn’t just a tool – it’s the backbone of accurate, efficient operations in the company’s two busy borrow pits in Waimauma, Florida, USA.

Located just over a mile apart in southeast Hillsborough County, both sites supply a range of materials for commercial development, infrastructure, and major FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) projects.

Razorback has been using Loadscan technology for well over a decade, starting with a previous quarry long before the current sites opened. “When we opened this pit, there wasn’t really any decision to make,” Jackson says. “The ownership wanted to go with Loadscan, just for the simplicity of it, and because they were familiar with it.”

That decision has paid off – day in, day out.

Accuracy without the guesswork

One of Jackson’s biggest praises for the Loadscan system is its ability to measure true load volumes, without moisture content distorting the figures.

“One of the biggest advantages of it is it doesn’t measure water weight in material.

“When you leave here with 17 yards of material, you’re getting 17 yards of material and you’re not being charged with any water weight,” he explains. That’s vital in Florida’s climate, where rainfall can add hundreds of pounds to a load.

Using the Loadscan LVS gives him the oversight to prevent those costly mistakes, by monitoring volumes in real-time directly from Loadscan’s MyScanner system that he can bring up on his phone.

Fast, efficient, and transparent

Throughput is another major benefit, with Razorback able to run an average of 55 to 60 trucks an hour through the scanner.

“Theoretically, as long as the drivers’ information is correct, we can run a truck off in 50 seconds from the time it runs underneath the scanner until it pulls off, and then start the new one,” Jackson says.

That speed is crucial during peak demand. Over an especially busy two weeks recently, Razorback moved an average of 11,000 yards per day – more than 600 trucks daily. Since then, they’re still averaging 6,500 – 7,000 yards each day.

“This year’s actually been exceptional so far,” Jackson says. “It depends on the day but, on average, we’re probably doing 350–450 trucks per day.”

The LVS also makes invoicing and reconciliation straightforward. Tickets are printed in triplicate – two for the driver and one for Razorback’s records – and data is downloaded daily into Excel for easy integration with accounting software. Customers receive detailed reports, allowing them to cross-check with their own ticket records.

“One of the advantages is the customer has a chance to reconcile the Excel sheet versus the tickets they’ve actually got,” Jackson explains. “If they’re missing tickets, they’ll call us and ask for them or, if we charged the wrong truck to the wrong place, they pick up on that too, and we make the correction.”

Reliable, low-maintenance technology

Unlike scales or a weighbridge, Loadscan LVS units don’t require constant calibration.

“The biggest advantage of this versus the scale is we don’t have to calibrate it,” Jackson says. “We can tell if something is out when we start getting some scan error messages pretty consistently, so we back drag the drive coming up to the scanner, bring it back into tolerances, and just keep going.

“It’s really simple,” Jackson says. “When we’re outside our tolerances, we just fix it and keep going.”

Even driver habits are accounted for, with some drivers trying to run through the scanner with tarps over their loads.

“It does change when the tarp’s over, but 99% of the time it shows a mismatch and most of the time, I get a misread,” Jackson says.

Built for demanding operations

Razorback’s customers range from trucking companies to developers, and Loadscan’s flexibility helps meet their varied needs. Some drivers are paid by the yard, others hourly, and some on a flat rate – but in every case, accurate load volumes keep things fair and consistent.

That accuracy also protects the business. With the LVS, Jackson can reconcile end-of-month yardage against financial records with confidence.

“I can take the Loadscan report and look at the total yardage and volume, then do a reconciliation out of our accounting system. Our accounting system shows the yardage and the dollar amount too, so I can reconcile the two of them.”

It’s this kind of operational clarity that makes Loadscan more than just a measurement tool – it’s a productivity enabler and a safeguard for both Razorback and its customers.

More than just a scanner

Jackson and the team at Razorback don’t just see the LVS as simply another piece of equipment – it’s a solution that keeps the operation moving, ensures customers get exactly what they pay for, and removes the guesswork from one of the most critical phases of the process.

“I think it’s a great system,” he says. “Loadscan gives me the visibility I need to stay on top of things.

In an industry where both accuracy and speed directly impact profitability, Razorback’s investment in Loadscan continues to prove itself every day – load after load, truck after truck.

Project Details

On large-scale site development projects, accuracy isn’t optional – it’s essential. For Alan Payne, project lead at The Kearney Companies, based in Riverview, Florida, the difference between guessing and knowing has had a major financial and operational impact. After nearly four decades with the company, Alan has seen plenty of industry change, but few innovations have delivered as much value as Loadscan’s Load Volume Scanner (LVS) system.

A growing need for volume accuracy

Founded by Wes Kearney in 1956 with just a single bulldozer, The Kearney Companies has grown into one of West Central Florida’s leading site development contractors, employing more than 400 people and handling a wide range of subdivision, apartment complex, and commercial developments. With every project, a major part of the operation comes down to one thing: dirt—buying it, selling it, moving it, and measuring it.

Historically, fill material has been purchased by the cubic yard, but without a reliable volumetric measurement system in place, Alan recalls the company being routinely shortchanged.

“Before we were getting ripped off so bad; we were paying for 18 yards, which is just a guess,” he explains. “And we discovered through trial and error, when loads looked light, by levelling them and measuring the truck body to see the volume, we were getting between 12 and 15 yards.” “We figured there had to be a better solution than that because we were getting ripped off big time.”

The turning point came with the introduction of Loadscan’s LVS-3TMM Load Volume Scanners, which provide a precise volumetric measurement of every truckload through its LiDAR laser-based scanners. “So, we found that the Loadscan was what we’re looking for,” Alan says. “We had seen them around and we knew of them and what they did.”

Today, Kearney Companies operates three of these trailer-mounted units across various jobs sites, dirt pits and other locations.

Fair pay and confidence in every load

The LVS system has changed the game by shifting pay-for-load guesswork into data-driven accuracy, which can then be used to avoid difficult conversations with pit owners or other suppliers.

“The critical thing is we’re now paying for what we get, averaging about 16.5 yards per truck, which is pretty close to the legal weight for most trucks,” Alan says.

This clarity in measurement has also eliminated long-standing disputes with suppliers. With ticket-based systems, disputes over truck volumes were common and often difficult to resolve. But with Loadscan, the data is irrefutable.

“Any dispute would be with a supplier of the material, but now there’s no dispute with them because we’re paying them for exactly what we’re getting. “If they don’t have their own volumetric scanner, we have an agreement in place that we’ll send the vendor a report the next morning for the day before, of all the loads that we hauled from their location,” Alan says. “The vendor checks the number of load tickets they provided to our trucks for that day against the number of loads we received on the dump end. “If a load or two didn’t get scanned, we’ll tell them what the average is for the day, and they’ll bill us those extra loads at the daily average.”

The scanner also gets used internally on jobs where material is being moved within a job site. In these cases, it’s not about verifying deliveries, it’s about checking the performance of Kearney’s own loader operators.

“We’ll set the scanner up when we’re moving material on site with dump trucks, just to make sure that our loader operators are loading a full 18 yards”, he says.

“Weight doesn’t matter on a job site with dump trucks, and we want to make sure that our loader operators are loading correctly, so we’ll just have the scanner on site where we’re monitoring our own loader operators.”

Massive return on investment

The financial impact of adopting Loadscan has been undeniable. Alan estimates each scanner has scanned an average of 500,000yd³, and he points out that if the company had continued paying for 18yd³ per load (instead of the measured 16.5yd³), they’d have overpaid by around 50,000yd³ per scanner. “At five dollars per yard, that’s a $250,000 difference,” he says. “So, each scanner has paid for itself at least three times over.”

But the return isn’t just financial — it’s operational. The scanners allow Kearney to optimise haul schedules, eliminate unnecessary loads, and streamline project billing. What once involved levelling truck loads manually or performing rough measurements is now handled automatically, consistently, and accurately.

Strong service and seamless integration

Alan describes the LVS system as straightforward, reliable and simple to use. “We’ve had no real issues but, when we’ve needed support, the local dealer here in Florida has been fantastic.”

He also notes that even Loadscan’s New Zealand-based support team is responsive, despite the time difference. “Even if we have to reach out overseas to New Zealand, their response has been almost immediate.”

Building trust with clients and suppliers

One of the most significant outcomes of adopting LVS technology has been the increased trust and collaboration between The Kearney Companies and its suppliers, and even with its clients. In several cases, project owners have opted to use Kearney’s scan data to validate the quantity of material delivered and placed, knowing it reflects true volumes, not ticket-based estimates.

“One of the interesting things that’s happened, is that some of our clients will now ask us to bill them for the fill material and placement off our daily Load Scanner volumes, because they know that they were not getting what they were paying for before,” Alan says.
“We’ve done jobs where we’ll put the Load Scanner on site, and we’ll give our client a report every day of how many yards were hauled in there, and they will pay us for the material and the placing off that Loadscan quantity.”

Practical, versatile, and proven

The flexibility of the Loadscan system means it’s used in a variety of ways across Kearney’s operations—from verifying third-party deliveries to auditing internal performance. In one example, Alan describes how Kearney’s in-house mulch production, made from chipped trees, is also measured with LVS before resale to manufacturers.

Whether buying, selling, or simply moving material, the scanner ensures that everyone knows exactly what’s in the truck. “It’s not a guessing game anymore,” he says. “You pay for what you get and, if you’re on the selling side, you can show your customer that they’re getting what they’ve paid for.”

A smarter way to do business

Alan says the adoption of Loadscan’s Load Volume Scanners has not only considerably reduced waste and improved billing accuracy, it has fundamentally changed the way The Kearney Companies thinks about material movement. “Before Loadscan, it was always a guessing game,” Alan says. “Now, we’re not guessing. We’re managing. We’re measuring. And we’re making better decisions every day because of it.”

With three scanners in operation and over 1.5 million cubic yards measured to date, The Kearney Companies has no intention of going back to the old ways of doing things. And with results like these, it’s easy to see why.

Project Details

Pro Bark Industries, located in Plaistow, New Hampshire, is a leading producer of mulch, compost, soil, and other organic products.

The operation is just one of the diverse Mayer group of companies and produces around 200,000 yards of material each year, servicing a wide variety of customers, including large garden centres, landscaping companies, and even homeowners who need bulk products.

Pro Bark operations manager, Rory Holmes, says Loadscan’s Load Volume Scanner (LVS) has streamlined their processes, improved accuracy, and significantly increased efficiency to the way the business operates.

The challenge of accurate measurement

At Pro Bark Industries, accuracy in measuring outbound material is critical. With such a high volume of material leaving the yard annually, precise volume measurements are critical to ensure accuracy.

“We normally don’t scan in, because it’s not as important to for us to count the yardage as it comes in because it gets sorted out into different products,” Rory explains. “For us, it’s really important outbound to know what the yardages are,”

Before implementing Loadscan, Pro Bark relied on a manual process for measuring material volume. Loader operators would estimate the amount of material by counting the number of loader bucket scoops and multiplying by the known yardage of the bucket, typically 12 cubic yards. However, this system was far from perfect.

“You’re kind of guesstimating; the loader operators basically just count buckets. They know the yardage of the machine bucket and then they go from there. But it’s definitely not ideal to do it that way because there’s quite a bit of guesswork that that goes into that way of doing it,” Rory admits.

This process was prone to errors. Depending on how the material was scooped or how consistent the loader operator was, the volume could vary – sometimes significantly.

“A loader bucket is built to a certain amount of cubic yards. We usually run 12-yard buckets but, depending on how you dig into a pile or whatever happens if you shake out too much or you don’t shake out enough, you might you might be at 10 yards or you might be at 15 yards,” Rory explains.

Over time, this led to inconsistencies in volume and, ultimately, could affect both customer satisfaction and inventory management.

Enter Loadscan: A revolution for Pro Bark Industries

In the spring of 2024, Pro Bark decided to address this issue by installing the Loadscan LVS. The system immediately transformed how they handled volume measurement.

“We installed it for this previous mulch season, which would be in the spring for us,” says Rory.

Loadscan’s system uses LIDAR laser technology to scan each truckload as it exits the yard, providing precise volume measurements in real time. For Pro Bark, this meant no more reliance on visual estimates or rough calculations. The system provides an instant, accurate reading of the volume in each load, removing much of the guesswork from the process.

“If we have a bigger customer that’s in here a lot, then we’ll have them scan into the Loadscan and that way, when they’re outbound, they can scan out and then they’ll be in our system as a customer,” Rory explains.

“What’s nice about Loadscan is that it’s so easy to use. It’s user-friendly for the truck drivers, so they just come into the office, put in their information and then they’re on their way.”

This method ensures that Pro Bark can track all outgoing shipments, accurately record the volume of each load, and keep a reliable inventory.

Real-time monitoring for better control

One of the most valuable aspects of Loadscan for Pro Bark has been its real-time monitoring capabilities. Rory now has the ability to keep track of the volume of every load that leaves the yard, from his office.

“It’s nice because being able to have the [MyScanner] cloud app that’s on the computer, I can see every load that comes in, and I can keep up with it as the day progresses,” he explains.

“For example, if I notice that there’s something off with the loader operator loading trucks, and if he’s loading light or heavy, then I can make that phone call and let them know to lighten up or to put more on,” Rory says.

“Also, if you have multiple scanners, you can — on your computer in your office — remotely look into your scanners. So it’s just really convenient to use… and it’s also very accurate.”

This enables him to catch any discrepancies as soon as they occur.

This has helped Pro Bark dial in their volumes for each load and fine-tune the process to ensure that they are consistently hitting their targets.

“I think we’ve really been able to get our average yardage on every load. We’ve really been able to dial that in to get it to where we want it to be, so we’re not giving away too much and we’re not shorting people,” Rory continues.

This precision has been critical to maintaining both Pro Bark’s profitability and satisfaction for its customers.

Preventing overloads and underloads

The LVS system has been instrumental in preventing both overloads and underloads. By providing precise volume data, Loadscan ensures that each truck is filled with the correct amount of material, reducing the risk of delivering too much or too little. Rory notes that accurately measuring loads is particularly important for ensuring fairness in customer transactions:

“You obviously don’t want to short people…or give it away for free either,” he says.

In the past, the manual system meant that occasional inconsistencies could lead to situations where material was lost, or customers weren’t receiving the volume they paid for.

“It adds up at the end of the season, for sure,” Rory points out.

Since the installation of the Loadscan LVS, those discrepancies have been virtually eliminated.

Scalability and industry reputation

Although Pro Bark is still relatively new to using Loadscan, Rory is already seeing the benefits in terms of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The system has integrated seamlessly into their day-to-day operations, and they are starting to gather useful data that will inform their long-term planning.

“At the end of the year, we’ll take a hard look at the numbers,” says Rory. “It’s also a great way to make sure that you’re matching the hard numbers to what your projections are.

“If you’re purchasing material, and if that’s getting scanned in, then you want to make sure that you’re not getting shorted and that everything’s adding up, so it’s a good way to failsafe your operations as far as taking in material and then sending it out, so it’s a good way to double check things.

The benefits of Loadscan in handling material variability

Another challenge Pro Bark faces is the variation in material moisture content, which can affect the weight of certain products. Materials like soil can be particularly finicky, as excess moisture can result in varying weights, which is where Loadscan’s LVS provides a clear advantage by measuring volume rather than weight, which eliminates the complications that arise from varying moisture content.

The accuracy of Loadscan’s volume measurements, unaffected by moisture content, has made it an ideal solution for Pro Bark’s operations.

Collaborative industry environment

Pro Bark’s relationships with larger local companies in the bark, mulch and compost industries have also been strengthened by the use of the Loadscan LVS. As Rory explains, many of the other industry players, have a strong history with Loadscan, and rely on the system to track their material volumes.

Loadscan’s reputation in the industry, built on success stories around the reliability and accuracy of the Loadscan system, helped influence Pro Bark’s decision to invest in the technology.

“It was a word-of-mouth situation,” Rory says. “The bigger players have several of them at all their locations and, knowing how much these other companies rely on them and use them and don’t have any issues with it.”

This has created an open, collaborative environment where companies can share knowledge, resources and even customers.

“We tend to play nice with everyone because some companies offer products that we don’t offer,” he explains. “Rather than tell a customer ‘we don’t sell that, sorry I can’t help you’, it’s way more beneficial to make a call and say ‘hey, we have a customer that’s looking for this. We’re just going to resell it to them’, and they’re fine with that.”

A valuable investment for Pro Bark Industries

Rory believes that Loadscan has had a transformative effect on Pro Bark Industries. By providing precise, real-time volume measurements, Loadscan has eliminated the guesswork that previously led to inconsistencies in outbound shipments. The system has not only improved operational efficiency but also provided Pro Bark with the tools to maintain strong relationships with their customers and ensure that each load is accurate.

As Rory sums up, “For something that’s as sophisticated as it is, it’s really user-friendly. There’s no contact. It’s really easy to set up and use as far as the setup goes and how you adjust it.

“It’s just been a big help, for sure.”

Project Details

Headquartered in central Florida, USA, S&L Materials is a company involved in the construction and materials hauling industry, and has seen significant improvements in operational efficiency and data accuracy through the adoption of Loadscan’s LVS (Load Volume Scanner) technology.

Brian Northway, the company’s Senior Trucking Estimator explains how the company has successfully integrated the Loadscan LVS into its daily operations to enhance logistics, improve load measurement, and streamline data management for back-end reporting.

The challenge: Inconsistent load measurements and operational inefficiencies

Before integrating the Loadscan LVS into its operations, S&L Materials faced significant challenges with inconsistent load measurements and the time-consuming nature of manual tracking. The company operates a fleet of around 150 company and owner-operated trucks, handling large volumes of material, across a varied range of different sites around the state.

However, their traditional methods of estimating the volume of material in each truck created variability and inefficiency.

Brian Northway explains the issues with the previous system:

“We would just take a full dump truck and just, you know, put 18 yards down on the ticket, and that was it. We went by bucket count. We always tried to stay right around 18 to 19 yards in a dump truck.”

This approach relied on estimates made by excavator and loader operators. For instance, with an excavator, it was assumed that three to three-and-a-half buckets would equal 18 to 19 cubic yards but, in reality, these estimates could vary depending on factors such as the type of material, compaction, and truck size. As a result, there was often a gap between actual load volumes and what was reported, leading to inefficiencies and billing inconsistencies.

Brian elaborates on the challenges with the old system:

“You had drivers that would pop the tailgate, you know, they’d lose some of the material; trucks weren’t coming in [with] full loads and stuff.”

These discrepancies were problematic, especially as drivers were often paid based on the volume of material they hauled. Without accurate load measurements, it was difficult for the company to ensure fairness and transparency in compensation. In addition, the manual process of tracking loads and generating reports for billing was labour-intensive and prone to error.

The solution: Loadscan LVS technology

To solve these issues, S&L Materials turned to Loadscan, who provided a technology-based solution through its Load Volume Scanner.

The Loadscan LVS uses laser scanning technology to measure the exact volume of material in each truck as it passes through a scanner, providing precise and consistent data. The solution ensures that each load is accurately recorded in real time, which significantly reduces human error and makes the overall hauling process more efficient.

Brian explains the decision to adopt the Loadscan system:

“We decided to go with the Loadscan. That way, there was no ifs, ands or buts about it. We knew what was in the truck and, not only that,  you can put the truck number down, where they were going. It just made it a lot easier with being able to calculate and keep track of loads and how many yards are moving in and out of a job.”

The integration of the Loadscan LVS meant that S&L Materials could eliminate any guesswork from their operations. With each truck’s exact load volume automatically measured and recorded, the company could now rely on hard data to improve logistics and billing accuracy.

Improved efficiency in operations

The Loadscan LVS system has significantly improved operational efficiency at S&L Materials. The company now knows the exact volume of material being moved by each truck, which has helped reduce unnecessary trips and optimize the loading process. Before Loadscan, trucks would sometimes be underfilled or overfilled, based on rough estimates, but now every truck is loaded as efficiently as possible.

Brian shares how the technology improved speed and accuracy:

“Even the truckers like it because most of the truckers get paid by the yard. So when they come in and they’re hauling and it’s 18, 18, 18 [cubic yards] when we were generating tickets, they looked at it and would go ‘I know I’ve got more than 18 in there’, so now, with the Loadscan, there’s no guesstimating. They know exactly what it is.”

This level of precision means that the trucks are loaded more consistently, reducing downtime and improving efficiency, as trucks no longer need to return to the site to correct underfills or overfills.

Streamlined billing and data management

In addition to improving operational efficiency, the Loadscan LVS has greatly enhanced S&L Materials’ back-end data management. The system automatically generates daily reports detailing the number of trucks that have passed through the scanner and the exact volume of material that was hauled. These reports provide invaluable data for the company’s billing department.

Brian explains the impact of the system on the company’s billing process:

“We pull a report every day off MyScanner, so we know exactly what happened here. How many trucks, how many yards went out. And then we, you know, build off of that for our billing department.”

By automating the data collection and reporting process, the Loadscan LVS reduces the risk of errors that could occur with manual data entry. This has streamlined the invoicing process, ensuring that clients are billed accurately based on the actual volume of material moved rather than relying on estimates.

Additionally, the Loadscan LVS system allows for remote monitoring. If there are any issues or discrepancies in the load measurement, the team can remotely access the system to investigate and resolve any problems.

“The scanner is also really nice when you can remote in and actually see what’s going on. If there’s an issue, it definitely helps out a lot,” Brian says, highlighting the benefit of remote access.

This ability to monitor operations remotely has improved oversight, allowing S&L Materials to act quickly to address any issues that arise without needing to be on-site in person.

Enhancing client relationships with accurate data

The Loadscan LVS has not only improved internal processes but also enhanced the company’s relationships with clients. Clients can now be confident that the volume of material they are being billed for is accurate and verifiable. In contrast to the old system of estimating, the LVS provides concrete data that clients can rely on.

“When we would go set them [Load Volume Scanners] up at different mines where we were hauling out of, they’d look at it and be like, ‘what does this do?’, and when we started telling them that it takes the volume inside the truck and tells you how many you have, instead of just guessing 18 on every ticket, now you know whether you’re running 20/21 or if you’re at 17, so it definitely helps out a lot better.”

This transparency not only strengthens trust but also gives S&L Materials a competitive edge in the market. Clients appreciate the clarity provided by the LVS, knowing they are being billed based on precise measurements rather than estimates.

The future with Loadscan

The impact of Loadscan LVS on S&L Materials has been overwhelmingly positive, improving operational efficiency, data accuracy, and client relationships. With the technology in place, S&L Materials can now track every load in real-time, generate accurate billing reports, and ensure that their trucks are loaded to optimal capacity.

“It definitely makes it a lot easier. You’re not just guessing at an 18-yard bed and they’ve actually got 20. So you know, we can better keep count of what we got exported,” Brian says as he reflects on the improvements the system has brought.

Project Details

PR Russell, a leading producer of bark, mulch, and compost products based in New Hampshire, has solidified its position as a dominant player in the bulk supply market in the region.

As one of the first companies in the USA to implement the Loadscan Load Volume Scanner (LVS), PR Russell has revolutionised its operations, significantly enhancing efficiency and accuracy in product measurement and loading processes.

Background on PR Russell

Established with a commitment to quality and reliability, PR Russell has become a cornerstone of the bark and mulch industry in the USA’s North-East.

The company is known for its dedication to providing high-quality products while ensuring customer satisfaction. However, like many businesses in the bulk material industry, PR Russell faced challenges in measuring and loading products efficiently. Traditional methods often led to discrepancies, customer complaints, and wasted time.

Challenges prior to Loadscan implementation

Before adopting the Loadscan LVS, PR Russell relied on manual measurements to determine the volume of material loaded onto trucks.

Marco explains the limitations of this approach: “We would physically measure the trailer and put lines in the trailer every ten-yard increments. So that was a guideline for the loader operator, but not efficient.”

This system was prone to human error, leading to inconsistencies in the loading process. Additionally, the company faced significant challenges with customer complaints regarding perceived short loads.

“There was a lot of complaining in the past of, ‘Well, we think this is three yards short,’” Carrier recalls. “There was always room for discrepancies.

“That’s how we did it in the past. And, like I said, not very efficient.”

This uncertainty created friction between the company and its customers, undermining trust and satisfaction.

The shift to Loadscan LVS

Recognising the need for improvement, PR Russell decided to invest in the Loadscan LVS, a transition Marco describes as a game-changer.

“Now loading is just loading. Come to the ramp, we’re going to load you up and you move on, so we saved a lot of time.”

The LVS technology makes the measurement process much more efficient, allowing for precise volume calculations without the need for manual intervention.

Efficiency gains

With the implementation of Loadscan, PR Russell experienced substantial time savings during the loading process. Carrier highlights that the need for the truck driver to monitor the loader operator has been eliminated.

“The loading was a process where now it’s just streamlined,” he explains.

This newfound efficiency has allowed the company to serve more customers in less time, ultimately leading to increased productivity.

In addition, the accuracy of the Loadscan system has transformed how PR Russell manages its operations.

“Every time we did testing, it was on the money,” Carrier states, pointing out that the consistency has virtually eliminated customer complaints about short loads.

“Once we had that system [Loadscan LVS], that went quiet. We don’t talk about that anymore.

“It’s a big deal…and it’s accurate,” he adds.

Improved measurement and training

The Loadscan LVS has not only enhanced operational efficiency but has also improved the way the loader operators operate.

Carrier emphasises the importance of measurement in the improvement process: “In order to improve it, you have to measure it. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it” – Marco Carrier, PR Russell

The Loadscan system provides precise data, allowing operators to understand their performance better.

“It was really a great deal for us. It saved a lot of time; it’s a good training tool for our loader operators.” Carrier explains.

This training aspect has been crucial, as operators can now receive immediate feedback on their performance. For instance, if a customer requests 80 yards of product but an operator mistakenly loads 81 yards, the system flags the discrepancy, enabling corrective action.

Navigating volume and weight challenges

The bark and mulch industry often deals with a wide range of different products, and Marco points out that the weight and volume of the materials handled at PR Russell can vary significantly.

“We deal with both extremes. When we deal with cedar bark, you can put 100, 110 yards onto a trailer and be at legal weight. If we deal with our aged material, once we get to 72 yards, we’re at weight capacity, so it’s a huge variation in that case.”

This presents challenges in accurately converting between weight-based purchases and volume-based sales.

Before using a Loadscan volume scanner, PR Russell struggled with this conversion.

“So this is where we would scratch our head a lot of time if we didn’t have a good way to measure the yardage.

“We did not really know how to do our conversion between everything we buy by weight to everything we’re selling by volume,” he says.

With the Loadscan system, however, they have developed a better understanding of their operations.

“There’s always variation obviously, but we have a way better understanding of where we’re going,” he asserts.

The bottom line: A valuable investment

Reflecting on the impact of the Loadscan LVS, Carrier declares,

“Looking back, it’s the best investment we’ve ever done for the industry.”

“…it’s the best investment we’ve ever done for the industry” – Marco Carrier, PR Russell

This statement underscores the profound changes the system has brought to PR Russell’s operations, highlighting the benefits of increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and enhanced operator performance.

Conclusion

PR Russell’s adoption of the Loadscan LVS has transformed its operational efficiency and customer satisfaction levels. By moving away from outdated measurement techniques, the company has streamlined its loading processes, reduced complaints, and fostered a culture of continuous improvement through precise measurement.

As Marco aptly summarises, the investment in Loadscan has not only optimised their operations but has also set a new standard in the bark and mulch industry, highlighting the significant advantages that technology can bring to traditional industries.

Project Details

Underloading trucks can be extremely detrimental to the bottom line on any project if it slips by unnoticed. Sprint Sand and Clay, Houston’s leading supplier of fill material, has improved its daily efficiency by up to 8% on large mass hauling jobs thanks to Loadscan’s load volume scanner (LVS).

The load volume scanning system utilises laser scanning and RFID technologies combined with software that creates 3D model images of trucks to measure the exact volume of the material loaded in a truck or trailer bin.

With over 20 active mining locations and a network of over 200 dump trucks and trailers that provide quality sand, topsoil, fill dirt, select fill, mulch and other construction and landscape materials, Sprint Sand and Clay has the resources needed to supply projects of all sizes throughout all five counties surrounding Houston.

Matt Strickland, vice president of Sprint Sand and Clay, explains how volume measurement plays a huge role in their operations as it gives them the information they need in real-time to ensure their operators adjust loading capacities to avoid underloading.

“The Loadscan technology has helped us improve our daily efficiency on larger mass hauling jobs by allowing us to increase our daily production by 5-8%. Loadscan’s ability to ‘ticket’ the truck electronically by passing through the system and reading the RFID tag without the driver having to stop his truck to retrieve a paper ticket each time allows the truck to get 2-3 more loads daily.”

“When paired with the 3D images, it takes the worry out of our minds because we know that each truck has a full load and we are truly maximizing our loading capabilities whilst also saving time. We have roughly 24-27 trucks running daily and the LVS can often scan up to 600 times a day, so if each truck can get 2-3 extra loads each day it impacts our daily production hugely.”

Not only does the scanner increase efficiency it also enables Sprint Sand and Clay to ensure future bids are estimated accurately by forecasting using data gathered by the LVS.

The Loadscan system has the potential to increase transparency with clients to give both parties comfort in knowing the true cubic yard yield of each truck. Loadscan can be used as an educational and quality control tool for internal operations to ensure loading practices are as consistent as possible.

Tyler Cain, Project Manager at Sprint Sand and Clay uses the data gathered from the scanner to maximize efficiency in daily operations.

“The measurement information paired with the electronic ticketing software has made a very positive impact on operational efficiency.  The electronic ticketing software gives us truck turn information that allows us to determine the exact amount of trucks we need to allocate to the job each day to maximize our loading capacity without ‘over-trucking’ the job.” Said Cain.

Sprint Sand and Clay are expecting the scanner to pay for itself in a short amount of time, providing them with fast return on investment.

“For us, the clearest return on investment will come from the ability to essentially ‘ticket’ our trucks on mass excavation projects without having to have a ticket writer or dispatcher. We have essentially removed the labour costs of one person from the project.

“There are also additional cost saving that we know exist, but are harder to measure. For example, the RFID tag reader ensures trucks are not ticketed in error and we don’t pay for loads that did not happen. We also know there are cost saving measures that will occur from the ability to ensure trucks are loaded to the proper capacity to ensure we are not overpaying in freight for light loads.”

Sprint Sand and Clay choose to deploy a mobile trailer mounted unit (LVS-3TMM) as it can be easily transport around their 20 sites as necessary. The fully self-contained unit can move locations and be fully setup and operational in as little as 45 minutes.

For more information about load volume scanning (LVS) systems visit www.loadscan.com

Project Details

If your customers are purchasing sand, gravel, stone or any other aggregate in bulk volumetric quantities, doesn’t it make sense to manage your inventory in the same way? J. McKinnon Development, based in Greater Central Florida, operates several sand pits and relies on Loadscan to accurately track every yard of sand that leaves their sites.

Loadscan’s Load Volume Scanner (LVS) system utilises laser scanning and RFID technologies combined with software that creates 3D model images of trucks to measure the exact volume of the material loaded in a truck or trailer bin.

“With Loadscan we’re getting an accurate volume and we can represent exactly what we’ve loaded on that truck, nothing more, nothing less. We sell in volume, we should measure in volume. That’s exactly what we’re doing with Loadscan.”

—Lawson Lamar, vice president of J.McKinnon, enjoys the simplicity and convenience of Loadscan.

Load volumes are traditionally computed from bulk densities (mass/volume ratios), but this method can be inaccurate. It is also labour intensive and time consuming for the contractor who receives product purchased by volume measure to manually level and check each truck load. “Prior to Loadscan we were counting carbon copy tickets, scanning and recording them into Excel. This was an extremely time-consuming process.

Loadscan has taken what used to be hours and streamlined it down to mere minutes. Loadscan has become an essential tool in our operation, as essential as the loaders that are loading our material. It’s been an essential marketing tool. Our consumers know they’re paying for what they’re getting and nothing more or less.

All of our Loadscans are connected wirelessly to our overview software. I can be anywhere and see each one of our locations, what our load count is for the day and how we’re actually loading those trucks.” says Lamar.

Project Details

Mala Mills, a producer of premium animal bedding, based in Minnesota, United States providing their range of products to poultry and livestock growers throughout the Midwest, purchased Loadscan’s CVS (Conveyor Volume Scanner) over a year ago. Andy Yetzer, CFO of Mala Mills says, “It seems as solid as the day we got it”.

Before implementing Loadscan’s Conveyor Volume Scanner technology, Mala Mills was facing a critical operational issue. “We did not have the ability to accurately and consistently measure our production output in an efficient manner.” says Andy Yetzer.

One of the key benefits of conveyor volume scanning with the CVS is that it enables better decision-making based on accurate, real-time data feeds. “We have been able to identify key tasks that need to happen more regularly than we originally thought to maximize production. The output information we receive from Loadscan confirms what regular maintenance tasks need to be done to be as efficient as possible. In the past we have had a lot of ideas, but now with this information we know for sure and can make operational decisions as a result”.

We asked Andy about how easy it is to use the CVS within Mala Mills’ environment. “I would say it’s very easy to use as all we do is reset the meter (on a nearby computer) when a new shift starts, the system does everything else. Most of our people utilize the dashboard reports on a daily and weekly basis to monitor production output. We produce some custom reporting monthly, which we are very easily able to do with the export feature as well. And the service and support have been second to none.” adds Andy.

With their new Texas branch that opened this June, Loadscan is striving to provide excellent local technical support to our customers around North America.

“We have been able to fine-tune our production and have identified key actions we need to take on a regular basis to maximize output and efficiency.”

— Andy Yetzer, CFO of Mala Mills

Project Details

Florida is home to some of the US’s aggregate leaders. The Sunshine State is known for riding on higher aggregate shipments, strong pricing, cost-saving initiatives and strategic acquisitions.