Streamlining Deliveries

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) uses the Traffic Logix SafePace 700 sign to streamline the incoming cargo process as trucks deliver goods to South Carolina’s busy ports .

The City

South Carolina Ports are busy, beautiful, and a boon to the economy. As the fastest growing major ports in the US, SCPA handles more than $150 million worth of cargo every day. They are the most productive ports in the nation and support almost 10% of all jobs in the state. The average truck delivery at SC ports takes only 23 minutes. It’s imperative that trucks conveying cargo to port ships are checked in quickly and efficiently to maintain the high standards that make the SCPA so successful.

The Challenge

The South Carolina Port Authority recently instituted a gate entry system to improve accountability for incoming trucks bearing cargo for the port’s ships. As each incoming truck approaches the system, a photo is taken of the truck’s equipment. There is one caveat, however. The truck must be travelling between 8-12 mph in order for the photo to be taken. Any truck that is going faster or slower cannot be photographed and needs to exit the port and reenter through the gate again.

The SCPA needed a solution that could ensure that truck drivers would reach that 8-12 mph window so that they could be checked in efficiently without slowing the cargo delivery process or creating needless traffic buildup.

The Ports Authority was seeking a solution that could:

Regulate truck speeds so that photographs could be taken of incoming vehicles
Notify incoming trucks of their speeds so that drivers could try to achieve the targeted speed window
Message drivers whether they needed to slow down or speed up
Let drivers know when they should maintain their speed
Be programmable from SCPA offices in Charleston to signs at any port in the state

The Solution

Light enhancing, anti-glare When Senior Operations Analyst Rusty Matthews found the Traffic Logix SafePace 700 sign through an online search, he knew it was the solution that SCPA needed for their ports.

The innovative speed display sign has a full matrix of LED s so that driver speed, text messages, or a combination of the two can be displayed. The remote access offered by the SafePace Cloud means that port staff can program the signs from Charleston to the initial pilot program in Greer, SC, over 200 miles away.

The SCPA installed four SafePace 700 signs at ports in Greer and plans to install another eight at additional ports in Charleston and other South Carolina ports.

Unique Flexibility

The full matrix SafePace 700 allows SCPA to display driver speed as well as important messages pertaining to their driving. The sign shows vehicle speed in extra large 18” digits for improved visibility and includes two flashing strobes to further alert drivers when they exceed the threshold speed of choice.

Endless Programming Options

The SafePace 700 can rotate between text, numbers, or combinations of the two. The SCPA can therefore display the targeted speed limit as well as driver responsive messaging to slow down, speed up, or maintain speed. Once drivers meet targeted speed goals, the signs can message them to maintain their current speeds.

Remote Management

All aspects of the SafePace 700 signs can be managed remotely via the SafePace Cloud. SCPA staff can set parameters, change text messaging, or choose thresholds from anywhere with an internet connection. Furthermore, data from the sign including valuable reports for analysis can be downloaded remotely for optimal performance.

The Benefits

SCPA management, port staff, and truck drivers have all been enthusiastic about the SafePace 700 signs being used at the Greer ports. Management staff are pleased that the signs regulate truck speeds so that the new gate system can effectively obtain photos of incoming trucks to the port. In addition, the signs offer them the convenience they need to manage signs 200 miles away with the click of a button.

“The signs have been amazing for us,” said Operations Analyst Matthews. “We can now regulate truck speeds and control the signs right from our offices in Charleston via the SafePace Cloud. The driver responsive text messaging that the signs include is really key for us. It keeps our whole system working.”

The staff at the local ports where the signs have been installed are enthusiastic as well. Now that speeds are regulated, trucks don’t have to circle back and cause needless traffic as they did when travelling too fast or slow for imaging to be captured.

Truck drivers are pleased with the signs as well since they are now better aware of what they need to change to achieve the targeted speed window and don’t need to turn back around and waste time re-entering the port gates. Some of the key benefits that the SafePace 700 signs have achieved at South Carolina’s ports include:

Reducing unnecessary traffic caused by trucks having to re-enter the gate until they achieved the targeted speed goals
Improving the effectiveness of the truck imaging program by ensuring that trucks are traveling at the appropriate speeds for photos to be captured
Keeping drivers aware whether they need to speed up, slow down, or maintain speeds
Allowing SCPA staff to monitor and analyze data as well as program the signs remotely via the SafePace Cloud