Capturing Data - Roll Off Containers (Dumpsters)

← Return To Getting Started for Roll Off Containers

Executive Summary

This is your guide to getting started with TrackAbout's iOS/Android Application. Here we'll help you learn to setup your smartphone and use the TrackAbout App.

Make sure to do these things first

First, there are some pre-requisites you need before continuing with this guide.

1. Getting Started - Roll Off Containers (Dumpsters) - By this time, you should already be well on your way through this page which provides the steps for setting up your system. If you are having problems with setting up your system please contact support@trackabout.com
2. Smartphone App -- Have you downloaded the application yet? If not, go to your respective Apple or Google Play Store to download and install the TrackAbout app or follow the link to get step by step instructions.
3. Labels! -- Have you ordered and received your QR Code labels to put on your bins? If you haven't already ordered your labels, please email labels@trackabout.com and let them know how many sets of Roll Off QR codes you need.

Log into the TrackAbout app

On the mobile device, start the TrackAbout app by clicking the TrackAbout icon.

Login using the username or email address, and your password sent to you in your welcome email

Menu and Basics

You are now logged in. The main action menu is displayed.

Note that your screen might differ from what is shown here.

Tip Swipe right to display other action menu(s).

In the header of the app, you will always see two icons:

• Hamburger menu (three stacked lines) - This gives you access to the Asset Search, app settings and other features
• Synchronization - this button allows you to sync your app with your TrackAbout website. This pulls down the latest information from your website and also ensures any records currently on your devices are saved up to the site.

NOTE: You should be syncing your application at least on a daily basis to make sure you're working with the latest data from your TrackAbout system.

Add your bins to the system

Tap Add New Bin and fill in the fields

When complete with all barcodes Tap Save in the upper right hand corner.
Note When the action is saved, your device will provide visual and audible feedback.

Put QR codes on your bins

Roll Off Labels

At the end of the Add New Bin stick a tag/barcode on the bin. Your labels will arrive in sets of two. When affixing labels, be sure to have a clean dry surface. Also, it's best to place the label in a place that won't receive regular rubbing but is easy to access for scanning purposes.
Note: A physical barcode should not be applied to a container before the "Scan Asset Barcode" step below. This will ensure that all barcoded containers have correct and complete information collected as they are registered in TrackAbout.

Review Labels_for_Roll_Off_Containers_(Dumpsters) for best practices for selecting and placing Roll Off Container tracking labels can be found here.

Set Container Location

This allows you to set a container's location at one of your internal branches/facilities.

For instance, let's say that you have containers that are going to be moved from your main facility to a storage location or yard. Use the Set Container Location action to move that container.

Find Inventory

This allows you to search your inventory and find specific assets by filtering based on location and/or product code. Once the results are shown, it also provides easy access to an asset's details by selecting the asset from the list of inventory results.

Deliver and Pick up Bins

The Delivery process is used to move your assets from an internal location to a customer location.

Enter Customer Orders in TrackAbout

You may choose to create Orders in TrackAbout for Container Drop Offs and Pick-ups. This is a great way to organize all of your customer orders and provide your drivers with information about where to go and what needs to be dropped off/picked up. Use the Add New Order page to get your orders in the system. The Add New Order wiki page gives complete information about how to create those orders.

• Please Note, your customers need to be in the system before you can create orders for them. Review the information on Customers to create your customer accounts.

Once your orders are in the system, you can print out the Delivery Tickets report. This report provides your drivers with order information as well as Customer and Delivery number barcodes so that no manual entry is needed during delivery. This report is available to you on the TrackAbout website via the Custom Reports page.

Here is an example of how each delivery ticket will print:

Schedule your Orders to be delivered

To manage Orders that exist in the system, use the Order Planning page. This page will show you orders by intended delivery date and location. From here you can change dates, trucks and routes. You may also click into each individual order to change details just as ordered items and quantities.

Deliver and Pick up Bins

Next, use the TrackAbout App to Drop Off and Pick up your containers:

Mobile Delivery Screens This shows the manual delivery process without having pre-existing orders in TrackAbout.

You can also have an option to email the delivery receipt to your customer. Simply submit a request to Support@trackabout.com to enable the feature.

Dump / Empty Bins

Tracking when and what is emptied from your containers can be done with the Dump action. You'll have two Dump Options

1. Internal Location - this is used after a container has been returned and no longer needed by a customer
2. At Customer - when a container is being used by a customer, needs to be emptied and then returned to that same customer.

Dump action steps:

• Tap Dump
• Choose where you want your container to end up after dumping:
  • Tap your internal location to return the container to your yard after completing the action
  • Tap At Customer and choose a customer to set the container to a customer's location after completing the action
• Tap Next
• Scan the container and tap Done
• Tap Next
• Tap Dump, then tap Next
• If you want to capture the tonnage dumped, or any notes, enter them here and tap Next
• Tap Save to finish the action

Audit what's at a Customer

The Customer Audit functionality allows you to compare what TrackAbout thinks a customer has on balance to what is found physically on-site.

The TrackAbout app is used to scan all found assets at a customer location and then the TrackAbout website is used to reconcile the audit. See the page on Customer Audit for more information about this process.

NEXT: Reporting and Maps

Now that you have started to collect information, go to the next page to learn about tools and reporting available on your TrackAbout website.

Continue to Reports and Maps - Roll Off Containers (Dumpsters) →