Introducing General Insulation
Founded over 40 years ago, General Insulation (GIC) is a leading distributor of insulation and construction supplies with 46 locations across the U.S. and a growing fabrication division.
GIC is committed to ensuring safety and compliance across its extensive fleet of vehicles, which includes over 100 box trucks and other assets.
The challenge
Before implementing Whip Around, GIC faced several challenges:
- Paper-based inspection processes: The reliance on paper documentation for vehicle inspections made it difficult to track compliance, manage defects and hold drivers accountable.
- Inconsistent inspection quality: There was no reliable way to ensure that all 46 locations were performing daily vehicle inspections correctly, resulting in inefficiencies that led to extra costs and wasted time.
- Risk of DOT violations: Without proper inspections, GIC’s fleet was at risk of DOT violations and fines for issues like faulty headlights or brake lights.
“We really didn’t know if people were performing daily inspections or not and tracking compliance on paper forms was challenging and inefficient,” said Ian Allison, Transportation and Supply Chain Manager.
The solution
GIC turned to Whip Around to digitize and streamline their vehicle inspection process. Ian spearheaded the transition, focusing on ensuring daily inspections were thorough and consistent across all locations.
- Digital inspections: By replacing paper inspections with Whip Around’s digital platform, GIC gained real-time visibility into their fleet’s condition at every location from a single platform.
- Custom forms: GIC created tailored inspection forms for their various vehicles, ensuring that each type of asset received appropriate checks in any given situation.
- Compliance and accountability: Whip Around’s interface enabled GIC to monitor inspection completion times, identifying and addressing “pencil-whipped” inspections that were done too quickly to be thorough.
“Whip Around has given us the ability to see what everyone is doing at all of our locations,” Ian said. “We can get granular with the driver data to make sure that when they are getting in the cab of the truck, they’re performing that inspection and they’re doing it correctly.”
The impact
Since implementing Whip Around, GIC has seen substantial improvements:
- Enhanced safety and compliance: The compliance rate for inspections has improved dramatically, with only 1.5% of inspections being pencil-whipped — down from 35% at the start. This ensures that potential issues are caught and addressed promptly, reducing the risk of DOT violations.
- Operational efficiency: The easy-to-use digital platform has simplified the inspection process, making it easier for drivers and managers to complete and track inspections. This has led to more consistent and reliable data across all locations — and much less wasted time.
- Improved accountability: GIC can now hold drivers accountable for their inspections. Managers use the platform to review inspection times and follow up with drivers who may not be performing thorough checks. This has fostered a culture of accountability and attention to detail within the fleet team.
Looking ahead
GIC plans to expand its use of Whip Around to include other vehicle types and maintenance features, further integrating the platform into their fleet management processes. As they continue to grow, GIC is well-positioned to maintain high standards of safety and compliance, thanks to the robust capabilities of Whip Around.
General Insulation’s successful implementation of Whip Around highlights the significant benefits of transitioning from paper-based to digital inspections and preventative maintenance.
Ready to see similar results? Book a Whip Around demo today to learn how our comprehensive fleet management solution can transform your operations.
