Fewer Bumps in the Road: Richards Building Supply Navigates Safely with Sygic and Descartes

Since 1978, Richards Building Supply has been a trusted, family-owned building supply distributor. With a diverse fleet of 375 vehicles — from box trucks to smaller trucks and large crane trucks — delivering safely and efficiently has always been at the heart of their operations.

Gradual Rollout

In 2022, Richards began introducing Sygic step by step. They started with a small number of branches to test it in different markets, making sure it fit their needs. After a successful pilot, they rolled out 279 licenses gradually, branch by branch, equipping every delivery vehicle with Sygic Professional Navigation.

Powered by Descartes

Richards uses Descartes for route planning and appreciates how smoothly it integrates with Sygic. Vehicle specs like height and weight only need to be entered once in the routing solution and automatically syncs into Sygic—no extra steps needed. This integration simplifies dispatching, ensures data accuracy, and saves the team valuable time. Plus, with digital dispatch and proof of delivery tools from Descartes, drivers stay connected in real-time and Richards has a clear, digital record of every delivery. For them, it's a reliable, hassle-free setup that just works.

“It’s a simple setup that just works—no double entry, no extra steps,” Jenny Vetter, Logistics Manager at Richards Building Supply adds.

Avoiding Costly Mistakes

Implementing Sygic was an important decision for Richards — it addressed key challenges with routing and vehicle safety.

"Before Sygic, drivers sometimes ended up on roads they shouldn't be on — resulting in fines or even accidents, like hitting low bridges. In one case, a driver ignored Sygic’s suggested route and was fined. When the team retraced the route using waypoints, Sygic had correctly avoided that road." Ms. Vetter explains.

"Another incident involved a truck striking a bridge it was too tall for. Again, Sygic would’ve guided the driver safely around it.” Ms. Vetter adds.

Changing Driver Mindsets

Getting drivers on board wasn’t easy. Many were used to their own apps or believed they already knew the roads and didn’t need help. Some even resisted change, confident that their experience was enough to avoid issues.

Recognizing this, Ms. Vetter developed a clear training manual and accompanying video to ensure every driver received consistent guidance. The training became mandatory, and once everyone was equipped with the same information and expectations, everything started to shift. The buy-in was immediate. Drivers began to understand how to use Sygic properly, they saw how it saved time and most importantly, how it could help them avoid accidents.

"Today, drivers not only use Sygic Professional Navigation — they want to use it." Ms. Vetter adds.

Chicago Test

To further test the system, Richards Building Supply ran a five-day trial in Chicago. Drivers compared routes they knew to be restricted against what Sygic suggested. The app successfully avoided all those areas, helping build confidence in the system.

Smarter Deliveries

Sygic is now a key part of daily operations at Richards Building Supply. As Ms. Vetter puts it: "It gets them directly to where they need to go — eliminating guesswork and keeping drivers on efficient, legal routes." The app is set to prioritize the fastest truck-safe route, and that setting truly makes a difference.

Ms. Vetter recalls a recent example: a semi-truck on a familiar delivery route encountered a highway shutdown due to a major accident. Sygic’s real-time rerouting, which factors in the vehicle’s size and weight, automatically directed the driver along a legal alternative. For Ms. Vetter and her team, these smart, automatic adjustments translate to smoother operations and better time management across the fleet.

Focus on Safety

Safety is a top priority, and features like the school zone alert play a key role. It gives drivers a clear warning when they’re approaching high-risk areas, encouraging extra caution. For Richards Building Supply, it’s a practical tool that helps promote safer driving.

With the right technology and ongoing training, Richards Building Supply is creating a safer, smarter experience on the road — one mile at a time.

About Richards Building Supply

Founded in 1978, Richards Building Supply is a family-owned wholesale distributor of building materials serving residential and commercial customers across the United States. With more than 60 locations nationwide, the company is committed to customer service, dependable delivery, and long-term partnerships built on trust. Learn more at: https://richards-supply.com

About Sygic

Sygic specializes in GPS navigation software and location-based services for smartphones, tablets, and in-dash infotainment systems. With over 200 million downloads globally, it's one of the world's most popular offline navigation apps. Its solutions for the enterprise sector are navigating more than 3,000 fleets and 4 million professional drivers. The company offers turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic information, speed camera warnings, truck-specific routing, and other advanced functionalities that help drivers safely reach their destinations. Learn more at: www.sygic.com/enterprise