Waste and recycling service providers have long depended on two-way radios as their primary means of communication. Before the introduction of cellular phones, there were few viable options for staying in contact. Given the mobile nature of these businesses—regularly traveling to collect waste and recyclables from various locations—it has always been crucial to maintain reliable communication with drivers and vehicles in the field. Consistent and immediate contact ensures efficient operations and enables quick responses to any issues that may arise during service.
Small waste and recycling operators often rely on cellular phones to communicate with their vehicles. While this method is effective for managing a fleet of five or fewer vehicles, its limitations become increasingly apparent as the number of vehicles grows. As fleet size increases, the challenges associated with cellular phone dispatch multiply rapidly, eventually leading to significant inefficiencies that can overwhelm office operations. At this point, transitioning to a two-way radio system becomes essential for effective fleet management. Additionally, some waste and recycling companies either prohibit the use of cellular phones or find them impractical due to various factors, such as challenging terrain, inadequate cellular coverage, and the potential unavailability of cellular networks during emergencies. For these reasons, alternative communication solutions, like two-way radios, are often necessary to ensure reliable and efficient operations.
Using a cellular phone is not a good solution to the issues presented by the Waste and recycling industry because of the following:
- State law prohibits the use of handheld electronic devices while driving which include cellular telephones unless connected to a Bluetooth or other hands free device. Hands free devices do not work well in environments that have background noise like in the cab of a truck, bus or other large vehicle.
- Kenwood white paper regarding new law affecting mobile device use by commercial drivers does not affect two-way radio.
- The initial cost of smart phones is high and the reliability is low
- Cellular phones often need to be rebooted
- Missed calls end up going to voice mail which significantly delays message throughput
- Cellular phones almost always fail during a major emergency
- Cellular systems become instantly overloaded during a major emergency
- It takes too long to dial, wait for the phone to ring and receive an answer compared to Push-To-Talk with two-way radio.
- Only 2-3 people can discuss an issue at the same time with cellular. With two-way radio, any size group of people can be part of the same conversation
- The time it takes to recall a phone number, dial, allow the phone to ring awaiting an answer takes too long, especially when a situation arises that needs an immediate solution
Two-way radios empower company management by restoring control over business operations. Waste and recycling operators frequently encounter the challenge of managing dissatisfied customers. Utilizing two-way radios enables staff to promptly coordinate assistance and keep customers updated on pickup status, significantly improving customer satisfaction and helping to de-escalate tense situations. Challenges commonly reported by waste and recycling personnel that our Diga-Talk Network radio addresses include:
- Being able to coordinate (overload work) with other Waste and recycling operators that are also on our Diga-Talk network
- One button PTT group communications with many talk groups
- Quickly reroute or respond to weather or traffic changes
- Use of a California compliant electronic device eliminates liability
- Use of a two-way radio eliminates the distraction of non-compliant device
- Reduces potential liability and insurance costs by creating a pro legal work environment that will stand up to scrutiny in a traffic accident or when receiving a traffic ticket.
- Being able to have a group conversation is equivalent to having a in person office meeting with all of their drivers
- Having the ability to conduct a private call with any of the company personnel allows discussion of sensitive issues
- GPS tracking allows better utilization of resources, knowing where the vehicles are located, keeping drivers honest and on time
Two-way radios offer substantial advantages to waste and recycling operators beyond simply addressing customer concerns. By enabling real-time communication, radios streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and help reduce operational expenses, ultimately boosting profitability. According to a government study conducted several years ago, three vehicles equipped with radios can accomplish the same workload as four vehicles without radios—demonstrating a 25% cost reduction and a 33% gain in operational efficiency.
Our Digi-Talk network is the premier choice for dependable wide-area communications across Southern California, offering more sites, frequencies, and coverage than any other provider. Office managers can seamlessly take their radios home, enabling efficient communication with staff working in the field. With Digi-Talk, this flexibility is easily achieved—something that is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate with other vendors.
Click here to view an interactive presentation on Communications Solutions for Transportation. There are many interactive features in the presentation by clicking on the arrows.
Try our Diga-Talk radios with the following great features:
- Loud and clear quality audio that can be heard under loud noise conditions with Kenwood’s noise reduction technology
- Quick access to your personnel – connection time is typically 1.0 second or less
- GPS tracking can tell you where your crew are located
- Eliminate the distraction and illegal use of cellular while driving
- The liability associated with a driver getting into an accident while using a cellular device can cost a company far in excess the cost of a two-way radio system
Remember the 3 rules of making money in real estate, Location, Location and Location. The 3 Cs of radio communications are Coverage, Coverage and more Coverage. Our customers demand coverage. Every waste and recycling provider has their own need for coverage which is never exactly the same as another provider. By providing more coverage in Southern California than any other radio company, we can provide solutions when the others can’t do it. By using the Diga-Talk Network, we can provide our operation with the coverage you need and the coverage for your key personnel to use at home. Read more…
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