The first picture that comes to mind when most fleet managers think about telematics is a digital map with dots showing where their vehicles are at any given time.
"Although many fleets have come to appreciate the advantages of location tracking, the most effective telematics implementations go beyond GPS" highlighted one of our experts.
Numerous daily routines revolve around telematics, which can also serve as the foundation for contemporary digital processes that increase fleet efficiency and decrease error-proneness. One of our experts in the trucking industry said that electronic DVIRs could aid in the collecting of crucial maintenance data and the automation of scheduled maintenance procedures.
Approximately one billion gallons of fuel are wasted annually by vehicles as a result of idle time. Additionally, according to the FMCSA, each driver logs 20 hours on average each year. Trucking fleet management may save expenditures and increase overall safety by connecting drivers and dispatchers with in-cab smartphones and tablets.
A telematics system uses the GPS tracking device in the car to send, receive, and store telemetry data. A SIM card is used to link the device to the onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) port or CAN bus port. Additionally, it connects to the company's main server via a wireless network via an onboard modem.
The telematics system gathers GPS and vehicle-specific information, which it then communicates to the central server through a variety of channels (cellular network, satellite communication, 4G mobile data, and General Packet Radio Service). The server analyzes the data, and end users can access a secure website or mobile app to examine the findings.
Businesses that run a fleet of vehicles can benefit greatly from telematics.
1. It boosts productivity and efficiency.
GPS tracking is used by telematics to track a vehicle's whereabouts in real time. The data it gathers can be used to design safer and more effective driving routes, which can shorten delivery times and save fuel. Geofencing can be used to track and evaluate driver performance in relation to delivery timetables and shorten driver hold times.
2. It lowers operating and fuel costs.
Telematics can help you create smarter route plans that can save down on fuel costs and other costs. The program can be used, for instance, to monitor and lower vehicle idle. You can readily identify who has to improve in this area by comparing the idle times of various drivers and cars. The biggest price for a fleet is gasoline, which may be further reduced by cutting down on idle time.
3. Payroll management is automated
Exact information on how long and how far a particular car has driven is provided by telematics. You can use this to automate the management of payroll and personnel records. This eliminates the possibility of errors while reducing the amount of manual administrative and clerical work needed.
4. It encourages preventive car maintenance.
You can locate and fix car maintenance issues remotely, thanks to telematics. Schedule preventative maintenance using the hours of service data. Real-time alerts can let you know when a vehicle problem code is found so you can address maintenance issues before they become more serious. This keeps your cars in working order for a longer period of time, reduces costly repair costs, averts serious safety infractions, and safeguards your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores.
5. It facilitates communications between businesses and their clients.
Your business can offer real-time, two-way conversations between office personnel and drivers thanks to fleet management software. Your customer care representatives can offer superior service thanks to telematics since they can give precise delivery estimates using real-time information on vehicle positions.
To support numerous applications, your company can combine telematics systems with leading fleet management software and other systems.
The majority of contemporary commercial vehicles can employ telematics. Fleet cars already have GPS tracking and telematics systems installed by many commercial vehicle manufacturers. Most contemporary commercial vehicles can be equipped with aftermarket GPS equipment. The electrical system or internal batteries of the vehicle are used to power these devices.
To promote the seamless integration of the systems with automobiles, certain automakers have formed partnerships with telematics service providers. Smart cars currently have internet access and Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing for two-way data connection with current networks.
In the expert's opinion, the trucking and transportation sectors increasingly depend on telematics. The costs of setting up and maintaining the technology typically pale in comparison to the savings and efficiencies that arise.
The introduction of electronic logging devices and the ELD mandate will cause the trucking business to develop while telematics technology usage rises.
By giving fleet managers clients information on truck driving patterns, fuel purchasing alternatives, travel patterns, and maintenance requirements, fleet management solutions assist fleet managers in reducing expenses by enabling them to make significant fuel savings.
“Additionally, cutting down on unnecessary idle time is a simple approach to reducing fuel use. Integrating fuel card data also improves fleet efficiency and can shield companies from fraud”, according to experienced experts in the trucking industry.
We took this video from Commercial Carrier Journal YouTube Channel.
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