Keeping a 180-vehicle fleet connected and in control

Operating 24/7, Reed Boardall is one of the UK’s leading temperature-controlled food distribution businesses. From its Boroughbridge base, the company stores and transports frozen goods from manufacturers across Europe to major UK supermarkets, supported by a 180-strong vehicle fleet and around 350 drivers. See how my.plan helps Reed Boardall stay connected, compliant and in control.

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Secure, limited smartphone access for hundreds of drivers

With a large driver workforce on the road at all hours, Reed Boardall needed a solution that allowed drivers to make essential calls while also supporting a small number of specific apps. These apps were crucial for completing mandatory vehicle and trailer checks, identifying approved refuelling locations and accessing traffic updates.

However, the company needed to ensure that mobile usage remained tightly controlled. Unlimited access wasn’t an option – usage had to be restricted to prevent the business from unnecessary data consumption. Switching from basic mobiles to smartphones in 2019 created an immediate need for a platform that could manage permissions, restrict data and deliver full transparency over how devices were being used.

Controlled connectivity and flexible management with my.plan

Reed Boardall chose plan.com to deliver a customised package including unlimited calls and texts and a tailored data bundle designed specifically for driver requirements. Through the my.plan platform, the IT team gained complete control over what drivers could access on each device, ensuring essential apps remained available while blocking unwanted usage.

“Using the plan.com platform, we can provide a very controlled smartphone service so that our drivers can do everything they need to do, without incurring any unwanted usage and costs,” explains Ian Edwards, IT Manager.

Back when the Covid-19 pandemic forced office staff to work from home, plan.com’s flexibility proved invaluable. The team could quickly repurpose driver phones for office use, unlock restrictions and apply additional call spend where required.

“plan.com also offers us the flexibility that we need… we’ve been able to re-purpose some of our driver phones quickly and easily,” Edwards adds.

Peace of mind, full oversight and long-term partnership success

“The best thing about plan.com is the peace of mind it gives us. Every time we see a bill, there’s no additional spend and we know exactly what drivers can access. It was an ideal solution for what we needed,” says Edwards.

Beyond control, the platform delivers the flexibility the business needs – especially when adapting devices for remote-working office staff during the pandemic, unlocking phones individually and adjusting allowances in seconds.