The short answer: Plan for each failure before it happens. A second internet connection, such as 4G, 5G or satellite, can take over when the main line drops. Moving key systems to the cloud, or protecting the office server properly, reduces the risk of a single failure. Tested backups, a written plan and a clear person to call do the rest. Together, these make up logistics business continuity: keeping trucks moving when the office technology stops.
This guide is for small and mid-sized haulage, distribution and logistics firms in Meath, Cavan, Westmeath, Louth and Dublin. It focuses on the dispatch office, where an outage hurts fastest.
What logistics business continuity means for dispatch
A dispatch office depends on a few things working at once. Planners need the transport management software, email, phones and live tracking. Drivers need instructions, and customers expect updates. If any one of these stops, the day can unravel quickly.
The NCSC’s 12 Steps to Cyber Security sets out the principle. Plan recovery “in line with their criticality to the survival of the business”. For a haulier, that usually puts dispatch at the top of the list. So, logistics business continuity starts by listing what dispatch needs, and what happens if each piece fails.
A backup internet line: 4G, 5G or satellite failover
For logistics business continuity, the internet line is usually the first weak point. In fact, most dispatch systems now rely on it. That includes cloud software, email, tracking and often the phone system too. Our guide to dispatch office phone systems explains why broadband matters for calls.
A failover setup uses a router or firewall with two connections. When the main line drops, traffic switches to the backup automatically. Common backup options include:
- A 4G or 5G router with a business data plan.
- Satellite broadband, where mobile signal is weak.
- Another fixed line from a different provider, where one is available.
Before choosing, check mobile coverage at your yard. ComReg’s coverage map is a useful first check by address. However, real speeds vary, so test a backup connection on site. Our Wi-Fi and networking work covers routers, firewalls and failover together.
Cloud or office server for transport software
Where your transport software runs shapes what can go wrong. A cloud-hosted system keeps working if the office loses power, as long as staff can get online elsewhere. In contrast, software on an office server stops when that server or the building has a problem.
Neither option is risk-free for logistics business continuity. Cloud systems depend on the internet and on the vendor’s own service. Meanwhile, an office server depends on its hardware, power and backups. Therefore, check with your software vendor about:
- Whether a hosted or cloud version is available.
- How they back up your data, and who restores it.
- Whether drivers’ apps keep working during an office outage.
- What support hours they offer, especially for early starts.
Backups and how long recovery takes
Nobody can promise a recovery time without knowing your setup. Still, a few things speed up recovery and support logistics business continuity. These include recent backups, copies kept away from the office network and a restore that someone has practised.
The NCSC’s guidance for small businesses says to keep backups “not directly connected to the business network”. It also says how often you back up “will depend on how frequently your data changes”. For a busy dispatch office, of course, data changes all day.
Also remember that Microsoft 365 backup covers email, OneDrive and SharePoint. It does not automatically cover transport software, a local server or office PCs.
Who to call when something goes down
At 6am, nobody wants to search for a phone number. After all, logistics business continuity depends on quick calls. Instead, keep a short contact sheet in the office and on managers’ phones. It should list your IT provider, broadband provider, software vendor and phone system support. Also note account numbers and who can log a fault.
Equally, agree who makes decisions during an outage. For example, someone should decide when to switch to paper run sheets. The NCSC’s SME recovery steps ask whether “you put workarounds in place” while systems are down.
From our own work
We have worked with a business hit by ransomware. It showed how much depends on backups kept apart from the network, and on knowing who does what. Those are the same foundations that help with any outage.
Setting up logistics business continuity in advance
In practice, most of the work happens before anything breaks. A managed IT provider typically sets up:
- Internet failover, tested so staff know what it looks like.
- Monitoring that flags failing disks, full storage or a dropped line.
- Backups of Microsoft 365, and of servers and key PCs where agreed.
- Regular restore tests, with records you can check.
- A written plan with contacts, priorities and paper fallbacks.
A simple logistics business continuity checklist
- Do we have a backup internet connection, and when did we last test it?
- Where does our transport software run, and what happens if it stops?
- What exactly do we back up, and when did we last restore something?
- Can dispatch work from home or another site for a day?
- Who do we call first, and who decides on paper fallbacks?
Hypothetical example
A 20-truck haulier near Navan loses its fibre line at 5am after roadworks. The router switches to 4G automatically. Planners keep working in the cloud system, and the phones stay up. The broadband provider repairs the line later that day.
How Sweeney Computer Services helps with logistics business continuity
Oliver Sweeney founded the company in 1985. Today, we support more than 50 businesses and more than 10 schools from Hurdlestown, Kells, Co. Meath. We work with transport and logistics firms on connectivity, backup and support through our Managed IT Support.
Silver includes Microsoft 365 backup. Within our managed packages, we can also back up servers and key devices, scoped in a written proposal. We restore-test backups every two weeks and share the records on request. Our plans are Silver at €49, Gold at €69 and Diamond at €89 per user per month, excluding VAT. We bill Microsoft 365 licences separately. Gold includes email security, phishing awareness training and unlimited on-site call-outs. Our helpdesk runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, with after-hours emergency support at extra cost. For more on costs, see IT support costs for haulage companies.
A quick sense-check
Could dispatch keep running tomorrow?
Book a short call with Michael Sweeney to talk through your internet, backups and what would happen in an outage.
