Have you invested in a telematics solution? Consider this. Telematics systems provides a wealth of benefits and has the power to transform mobile businesses of all shapes and sizes. There are reasons why trucking companies of all shapes and sizes are investing in telematics solutions.
For the longest time telematics systems were grouped under the umbrella of GPS tracking devices. The things is, that simple description does not begin even begin to cover the full range of activities that can be addressed using a telematics solution. The technology has evolved over the years, and trucking companies now have far more at their disposal than they did even 10 years ago.
Aside from simply tracking vehicle location, a robust web-based solution offers customizable reports, real-time vehicle and driver alerts, dashboards, custom map overlays, the ability to geofence and other tools to help companies manage and optimize fleet operations. Fleets use telematics solutions to increase efficiency and address issues that they would have a hard time addressing without them.
Let’s take a closer look at just how a trucking company – no matter the size – can use an advanced telematics system to their benefit.
Addressing Issues One-by-One
A comprehensive telematics solution empowers businesses to monitor and understand a broad range of operational factors. Very often solutions like these are not catch-all solutions. Fortunately, most telematics solutions are. You can manage a wide range of factors using a telematics solution, starting with the amount of fuel you use.
Telematics solutions can be used to create better route planning, avoid hang ups or traffic, and even reduce idling or other riving factors that use too much fuel. Truck drivers also appreciate using systems that give them a better window into how to drive their big rig. Implementing advanced solutions across the fleet increases truck driver satisfaction and engagement.
Vehicle maintenance and overall fleet utilization can also be managed using advanced telematics systems. Predictive maintenance can be interwoven with other back office systems. Imagine being able to send technical write-ups and parts procurement reports directly to accounting. Eliminate paper and time spent running information back-and-forth by using telematics systems.
There are so many ways that today’s mobile workforce can evolve its operations and improve key operating factors using an advanced telematics solution. What should be the goal? Empowering decision makers with actionable information that allows them to run a more intelligent business – and lower the bottom line in the process.
Addressing Fuel Use
What is one of the largest expenses fleets deal with on a regular basis? Fuel. Fuel is one of the largest fleet operating expenses, so finding new ways to reduce fuel-use provides immediate benefits to any company’s total cost of operation. With an advanced telematics solution, fleet managers gain detailed insight and visibility into several key areas that have a big impact on fuel use.
- Speeding: If you look at data provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, every 5 mph driven over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon of fuel. That adds up quickly when you multiply that by any size fleet over the course of the year. Telematics solutions help you get control of those kinds of numbers.
- Idling: When your truck drivers spend too much time idling, fuel use will suffer. According to most estimates, excessive idling will waste one gallon of fuel per hour. Imagine that kind of a number stretched out across a large fleet. You can see where the fuel money will flow right out of the tank.
- Tire Pressure: Have you heard? Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop. And this is across an average of all tires. If your tired are properly inflated, not only do they last longer, but you can expect safer operation out of your rigs.
- Unauthorized Vehicle Use: Unauthorized vehicle use is a problem for fleets. Consider this: unauthorized vehicle use equates to unauthorized fuel use. Corporate fuel cards can also be tied to specific vehicles via telematics to identify if a fuel card has been used without an accompanying work vehicle. Many fleets have moved to using corporate fuel cards provided by dependable vendors. Has yours?
- Utilization: Do you know what your truck drivers are doing? Understanding how much of a vehicle’s time is engaged in productive work provides critical insight, which allows trucking companies to perform the same work in the same amount of time with fewer vehicles on the road. What does this equate to? Lower fuel consumption.
The fact is this, fuel consumption accounts for a huge portion of a fleet’s expenses. Even more, this is a controllable expense. If you can invest in a system that helps you control said expense, why would you not?
Finding the Safety Edge
According to a National Highway Safety Administration Agency study, speeding is a factor in nearly twenty-three percent of all at-fault large truck crashes. The same agency also reports that a tire only twenty-five percent below its recommended pressure is three times as likely to be involved in a crash.
And here is the most important consideration. Any company that has a fleet of mobile workers should consider the safety of their drivers, and the public, a top priority. Does your fleet? Fleet vehicle accidents are expensive on many levels. From injury claims to repairs, employee morale, loss of productivity, company reputation and DOT interference, just to name a few – these things can wreak havoc on both your reputation and your bottom line.
What are the biggest causes? Two big contributors to accidents are truck driving behaviors and maintenance issues. After all, is it not your truck drivers, fleet technicians, and trucks themselves that form the backbone of your fleet? If you are not paying close attention to these factors, safety will suffer.
A telematics solution can provide real-time alerts on both vehicle maintenance issues as well as driving behaviors. Alerts help ensure that a vehicle is safe and roadworthy. And they provide fleet owners and managers with actionable data on truck driver performance. The end result? The data helps them better coach that driver to be safer on the road.
The simple act of knowing where your assets are at any given moment improves safety. If a truck and its driver don’t return when expected, their location can be identified and it can be determined if that person may be in need of assistance. These kinds of technologies were unheard a decade ago, but they are heard of today. Are you taking advantage of them?
Better Productivity and a Better Fleet
Almost everything an advanced telematics solution accomplishes points back to productivity. These devices are designed to help trucking companies get the most out of their employees and assets. The vendors operating in this space spent a lot of time figuring out what trucking companies want in one of these solutions, and it’s obvious.
One of the first things a fleet manager will understand is the percentage of an employee’s day that is productive. Is the employee getting the most out of their day? Are there inefficiencies in their day that can be improved upon? Perhaps their routes could be better planned? Is there a reason the vehicle spends a lot of time parked or idling? Telematics identifies symptoms that can be used to diagnose and correct a problem. It provides a bird’s eye view that you would not otherwise have.
For trucking companies that have large, decentralized mobile operations, whether service and/ or delivery based or not, a telematics solution can take the entire fleet and plot out optimized routes that cut down on miles driven, wear and tear on a truck, fuel use and most importantly time. Imagine all these disparate elements working together to allow a fleet to accomplish more for a lot less than they may otherwise be used to.
The fact is, there are companies out there that develop and market cloud-based mobile enterprise management software platforms for companies. Their clients require dynamic routing, commercial navigation, advanced telematics and mobile apps to keep their truck drivers safer, manage compliance and more.
There are simply too many solutions out here for modern trucking companies to not use them to their advantage. With proper due diligence, it is not difficult to land on a vendor who can provide you with a telematics solution that fits your fleet. When you are trying to cut costs and improve productivity, these kinds of solutions are too good to be passed up. Just make sure your trucking company is not one passing up on them.