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When combines are running and grain trucks are hauling away the harvest, Kendal Coleman doesn’t want to wonder who’s where. He’s the logistics manager for Bryant Agricultural Enterprise, and he’s responsible for making sure trucks are where they need to be, when they need to be there. That job can get complicated, with 10 truck drivers hauling crops off some 23,000 acres, spread across six southwestern Ohio counties.

To help manage the moving parts of the enterprise, Coleman relies on a telematics system from Razor Tracking. The system combines data collection and telecommunications technology to provide real-time access to information about vehicle location and performance. 

“Razor’s been a big part of me being able to be efficient with my job,” Coleman said. “I couldn’t imagine not having Razor right now at harvest; there’s just so many changes you have to make on the fly.”

As Bryant Agricultural Enterprise has expanded, the family farm has brought on professionals like Coleman to help manage the operation, said Kasey Bryant Bamberger, a third-generation owner of the farm. Bamberger’s grandfather, John Bryant, started the farm in 1958 on land near Washington Court House, Ohio. Today, Bryant Agricultural Enterprise farms land in Fayette, Ross, Madison, Clinton and Highland counties, raising corn, soybeans and soft red winter wheat. 

“We have 32 employees that show up every day, and we have more than just family members who make managerial decisions today,” she said.

Coleman started work with Bryant Agricultural Enterprise last April, bringing his experience outside of agriculture working in logistics. He’s using tools and technologies such as Razor Tracking to help the farm become more efficient as it continues to grow.

Razor Tracking uses a system of sensors in each truck to monitor vehicle operation and performance. The data is shared through a digital platform so it can be accessed remotely with a web browser or a mobile app. The information can be used in a variety of ways to manage logistics, reduce risks, cut costs and improve efficiency. 

Nationwide partnership

Vicente Rico, a senior consultant in product development for Nationwide, explained that Nationwide is working in partnership with Razor Tracking to offer discounts on telematics and fleet management systems to Nationwide agribusiness customers. The partnership is part of Nationwide’s effort to help customers improve the efficiency and profitability of their operations.

Besides helping farmers become more efficient with their trucking operations, Razor Tracking can have an indirect effect on insurance costs, said Rico. For instance, if some drivers have issues with speeding or other dangerous driving habits, the system can help identify the issues so drivers can be coached to perform better. “You minimize your losses, you minimize your accidents, that reduces premiums over time because you’re not having payouts on claims,” Rico said.

Since Nationwide began offering the discounts last April, Rico has seen considerable interest from a variety of farmers. Many had already been researching tools such as dash cameras or GPS tracking systems, he noted. Agents have been helping connect those customers with the solutions they want at a lower cost than they can find on their own.  

“Nationwide customers can expect discounts between 20 to 30 percent on the telematic solutions such as the devices, the dash cameras and the subscription costs,” he said.

Unlike some other telematics systems, Razor Tracking is designed to be used by farmers and agricultural businesses, Rico added. It was developed in the Midwest with agriculture in mind and it is designed to integrate with precision ag technology commonly used by farmers, such as John Deere Operations Center and Raven systems.

Learn more

Nationwide agribusiness customers can learn more about Razor Tracking through their Nationwide agents. Information is also available online, by phone at 833-467-2967 (833-GORAZOR), or through email at [email protected].

Photos by Brooke Beam

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