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Review of Telephone and Data Networks - Huffman Trucking

Analysis of Huffman Trucking Telephone and Data Networks

Huffman Trucking has been a leader in transportation needs since 1963. The company

currently operates hubs in California, Missouri, New Jersey, and Ohio with 1,400 employees.

Huffman Trucking needs an efficient telephone and data network systems for all locations to

keep up with the flexibility and changes of technology. Huffman Trucking requests a review of

their current data network and telephone systems for all their locations per Service Request (SR-

ht-010). An initial study of the current systems by Smith Consulting concludes company-wide

changes and upgrades are essential in maintaining data integrity and ease of use. The company

must leverage technology to provide incomparable customer service and business competence to

be a profitable and growing company. Upgrading the data and communication systems to current

technology trends within Huffman will make sure growth plans will be met. Huffman’s mission

is to be "a profitable, growing, adaptive company in an aggressive logistical services industry

environment. Communication systems need improvement, as the company’s estimation plan for

growth in revenue is 12% in the next three to five years. In addition, Huffman requests a cost

proposal with system recommendations.

Telephone Systems

Interpersonal communication is vital and currently each location at Huffman has a

different setup of telephone systems. The California office has a business-class phone system for

small businesses and consists of a PBX system with Intercom connected to the PSTN using

analog trunk lines and use CAT 3 wiring. They have no voicemail or caller ID. The California

plant has a VOIP system by Nortel and uses CAT 5 wiring. The two locations (plant and office)

link using a POTS line to the PBX system. The Missouri office uses an Avaya digital phone

system (not VoIP) and uses CAT 5 wiring. The Missouri plant has a simple setup with a phone

Review of Telephone and Data Networks - Huffman Trucking

connected at each working station using CAT 3 wiring. Both locations in New Jersey use a PBX

phone system. The New Jersey office uses a PBX with Intercom connected to the PSTN using

analog trunk lines and uses CAT 3 wiring (thick net), but no caller ID. The office has its PBX

connect to the New Jersey plant using a POTS line and routes their PBX into a split-50 punch

down block to a patch panel for distribution of resources. The Ohio office is set up much like

New Jersey with an Avaya system in the office that connects to a Cisco 10mb hub and uses CAT

5 wiring. The Ohio plant has individual phones set up at each terminal and CAT 3 wiring, and

uses POTS for their communication needs.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Huffman Trucking needs to address the telephone systems in all locations to ensure

communication meets the needs of the company. Considerations of whether or not to use a

standard PBX system currently in place in the California and New Jersey locations, or a hosted

PBX system will be more effective. A PBX system is more of an investment compared to a

hosted PBX system, which means a bigger investment. By implementing a hosted PBX phone

system with flexible features, you can virtually communicate with your potential customers from

anywhere at any convenient time (The VoIP Co, 2010). Disadvantages are each location has a

different phone system, some are VoIP and the rest use older technology with no caller ID, no

voicemail, and the offices and plants at each location connect on a local level.

Recommendations and Benefits

Huffman Trucking should move toward unifying all locations under one single system

using the same phones and features as a company standard. Smith Consulting suggests the

Missouri plant and Ohio plant upgrade to a VoIP system. The California office, New Jersey

office, and New Jersey plant should upgrade to VoIP as well. The PHONEBOCHS® VoIP

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Analysis of Huffman Trucking Telephone and Data Networks Huffman Trucking has been a leader in transportation needs since 1963. The company currently operates hubs in California, Missouri, New Jersey, and Ohio with 1,400 employees. Huffman Trucking needs an efficient telephone and data network systems for all locations to keep up with the flexibility and changes of technology. Huffman Trucking requests a review of their current data network and telephone systems for all their locations per Service Request (SR-ht-010). An initial study of the current systems by Smith Consulting concludes company-wide changes and upgrades are essential in maintaining data integrity and ease of use. The company must leverage technology to provide incomparable customer service and business competence to be a profitable and growing company. Upgrading the data and communication systems to current technology trends within Huffman will make sure growth plans will be met. Huffman's mission is to be "a profitable, growing, adaptive company in an aggressive logistical services industry environment. Communication systems need improvement, as the company's estimation plan for growth in revenue is 12% in the next three to five years. In addition, Huffman requests a cost proposal with system recommendations. Telephone Systems Interpersonal communication is vital and currently each location at Huffman has a different setup of telephone systems. The California office has a business-class phone system for sma ...
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