Using Telematics to Improve Logistics Sustainability
There are many reasons why you should choose a quality fleet management system. When one considers the fact that more than 80% of all freight moved by land in southern Africa is done so by truck, and that more than 1000 truck drivers are involved in fatal road accidents every year, a grim spectre emerges showing a crippled economy and a society living on the breadline. These statistics notwithstanding, it is clear that much needs to be done in the road freight industry to ensure that on-road risk is mitigated as proactively as possible, through ongoing interventions that help make truck drivers safer and more efficient.
The evolution of Telematics, the technology that combines vehicle electronics with satellite, cellular and web-based communications platforms, has made it possible for fleet managers to maintain constant and comprehensive vigilance of their mobile assets from a desktop computer or a mobile phone. With a premium truck and trailer rig costing approximately R2 million, many fleet owners consider it to be the primary asset, but a vehicle can only generate profit if it is driven efficiently – which puts the driver firmly in the hot seat.
It is commonly accepted that the greatest challenge facing South Africa’s road freight industry right now is the acute shortage of skilled drivers and thus, fleet operators need to do everything in their power to upskill and retain those drivers currently in their employ.
Telematics vehicle tracking systems are being adopted by the transport industry at large to directly address the issue of driver skills development because they pinpoint risky driving behaviours as they occur, allowing fleet managers to implement corrective driver coaching in a timely fashion, before disaster strikes.
Telematics fleet management systems and services are at the forefront of the fleet management industry today. They are configured to report ‘by exception’, effectively ‘distilling’ the multifarious data generated by the on-board Telematics Control Unit (TCU). This allows fleet managers to receive real-time notification of vehicle and driver status that is directly relevant to the operating policies, procedures and benchmarks of that particular fleet.
Apart from their ability to help prevent accidents via immediate alert mechanisms (be they in-vehicle buzzers warning drivers of potential dangers, or SMS alerts and email reports to management of any on-road transgressions), Telematics vehicle tracking systems are also designed to enhance fleet efficiency through optimum vehicle scheduling and routing, while curtailing fuel consumption, harmful exhaust gas emissions and general vehicle wear and tear. Furthermore, vehicles equipped with a Telematics system are deemed less of a risk by most insurance companies and qualify for discounted premiums because they enable safer driving and swift stolen vehicle recovery.
Assuming commercial fleets conduct their business using the best vehicles available, their management focus in order to enhance overall operational efficiency should concentrate on improving the quality of their drivers. A best-of-breed Telematics system will enable this by identifying and immediately reporting risky and costly driving behaviours as they occur. These include harsh braking, harsh acceleration, speeding, over revving, excessive idling, incorrect route selection and excessive starting and stopping. Such a system should also have the ability to alert management to potential driver fatigue based on reports of untoward driving behaviours and excessive driving hours.
Fleet owners should insist on a driver-behaviour scoring module integral to the Telematics fleet management system that pinpoints where individual drivers need coaching, and which can serve as an objective and unbiased platform for driver performance incentives and reward programmes.
Comprehensive consultation between the Telematics vendor and the fleet owner, coupled with thorough training of the Telematics system end-user, is crucial if the full potential of the system is to be realised. Fleet owners should also opt for a Telematics provider that offers a modular and customisable system to suit their specific requirements, delivering a quantifiable return-on-investment.
They may seem somewhat impersonal, but Telematics systems are essentially about managing the way people use machinery, with an emphasis on mitigating human error. By swiftly correcting risky driving behaviour through hands-on training and positively motivating efficient and safe driving via reward structures, fleet operators will improve their driver-retention rate. A decent fleet management system will also lower fleet operating costs and vehicle abuse, ultimately improving their bottom-line performance, sustainability and reputation in the industry.
