SJT Venlo BV brought structure to its tachograph infringement follow-up, from management down to the drivers

The transport industry is under pressure. Staff are in short supply, regulatory knowledge is scarce, and the rules keep piling up. Enforcement, on the other hand, keeps getting easier: armed with the smart tachograph and digital monitoring, the ILT, the Dutch transport inspectorate, is quicker than ever to spot where things go wrong, even remotely. "Our mindset is still stuck in the old days, but reality is catching up with us," says Tom Jeurissen, CEO and co-owner of SJT Venlo BV. Hauliers that want to hold their own will need to embrace new technology too. That is exactly what SJT did with Roadsoft's Digital Assistant.

Premium Logistics from Venlo

Founded in 1999, SJT Venlo BV runs a fleet of 18 vehicles with 25 drivers, operating both domestically and internationally across Western Europe. True to its "Premium Logistics" promise, the company is built around dependable deliveries, quality and digitalisation. It holds FSSC 22000, TAPA TSR 2 & 3 and EcoVadis certifications, among others, and every process is laid down in its quality management system. Tachograph monitoring included.

All the data, none of the process

SJT was diligent about downloading its tachograph data, but acting on it was another matter. Infringements went unnoticed for lack of a clear overview, and knowledge of the rules didn't travel through the organisation on its own. Too much time tended to pass between an infringement and the follow-up, and if you ask a driver weeks later what happened, chances are he won't remember.

Feedback drivers hear while the trip is still fresh

SJT recently adopted the voice version of the Digital Assistant. Whenever an infringement occurs, the driver gets a call explaining in plain terms what went wrong. He's asked to confirm he understands why it counted as an infringement, and his response goes straight into an inspection-ready file. And because the call comes shortly after the trip, the details are still fresh in his mind.

Voice was a deliberate choice for SJT: quick, clear and to the point. AI voice or not, the conversation feels personal. Naturally, not everyone was won over straight away. "You'll always have one driver whose first thought is: hang on, who are you exactly?" These days, nearly everyone sees the point. "Drivers find it odd at first, but we can tell the change is sinking in," Tom says. "If you put the effort in early on to explain why you're doing it, it sticks."

A steady rhythm of checks and feedback

The data flows in through Linqo and is analysed by Roadsoft. Beyond what the Digital Assistant handles, SJT runs its own monthly checks: is the data complete, has anyone driven without a card, and was out-of-scope mode used properly? "The trap is to think the assistant is doing my job, so we're all set," says Tom. "It follows up on what's been recorded. What hasn't been recorded, you still need to catch yourself."

Each month, every driver gets an email summing up what came up on his record, what caused it and how to prevent it next time. With the months stacking up, repeat patterns become obvious on their own. SJT sets its own severity levels: serious matters are addressed immediately, recurring issues are raised in a feedback session, and minor infringements wait for the annual review. If the same mistake keeps resurfacing, the driver is invited in for a conversation at the office and, if need be, sent back on the U23 refresher course.

It's not all about what goes wrong, either. Tom sets aside fixed moments throughout the year to hand out compliments. "People are people. A compliment really does land."

Where Roadsoft makes the difference

SJT hasn't been using the Digital Assistant for long, so it's too early for hard numbers. What Tom can already see is that it helps on two levels.

For management: structure and oversight. SJT knows which infringements are occurring, how often and by whom. Follow-up happens the same way every time, and each infringement, along with the driver's response, is kept in a single file. When the ILT comes knocking, SJT can show it has more than a process on paper. It has one that works.

For drivers: awareness. They get feedback while the trip is still fresh, and the tachograph has become something they actively think about. They're engaged, and they're starting to offer feedback of their own. The biggest early wins? Mistakes drivers were convinced weren't mistakes at all.

Tom on the approach

"You can feel the subject coming alive in the organisation. Early on, you gain a lot on things people had simply assumed they were doing right. That pool keeps shrinking, and once everyone's on board it just becomes the way things are done. My advice to other hauliers: build structure into your follow-up, and keep at it. As with advertising, it's repetition that makes it stick."

- Tom Jeurissen, CEO and co-owner, SJT Venlo BV