GreenFleet

The business case for adopting fleet management telematics has never been so compelling. The Return On Investment (ROI) for such a solution is proven for a number of different scenarios across a variety of industries. According to leading market research consultancy, Frost & Sullivan, companies who have successfully implemented a telematics solution had direct savings to their business communications costs of 69 per cent as well as fuel savings of 15 per cent.
    
Operational efficiency is another positive from implementing such a telematics system. Staff turnover is reduced by 27 per cent, with things like late arrival to appointments and meetings being minimised by 11 per cent and drivers getting lost reduced by 19 per cent.
    
A leading online supermarket with a fleet of 1,500 and just five per cent equipped so far has enjoyed 15-20 per cent overall savings, including increased customer service and more efficient working practices by drivers.
    
But it is not just financial savings and operational improvements to be gained. A telematics system can result in reduced driving distances, improved driver behaviour (such as harsh braking and acceleration) and therefore a reduction in emissions and overall carbon footprint.
    
Telematics providers are working hard to further improve on these statistics. This is achieved through both new technology and new services tailored to a particular customers’ needs. The following are some of the latest areas that are making their mark in the world of fleet telematics.

Driver profiling
Driver profiling uses telematics technology (e.g. GPS, accelerometers) to improve the standards of drivers. This helps to reduce the risk of accidents and cuts the costs associated with each driver.
    
Driver behaviour is one of the largest contributors to fluctuations in the fuel economy of a vehicle. By providing solutions highlighting high risk driving, fleet operators can reduce the number of incidents involving their vehicles and improve fuel economy.
    
Complex algorithms are used to analyse the driver behaviour. Drivers can be assessed on a number of manoeuvres, such as over acceleration, harsh braking, lane changing and speed handling. This data can be displayed in an online system for analysis by the driver and the fleet manager, and driver improvement programmes can ensure that all the fleet drivers adopt a “green band” driving approach. Many systems also allow visual indicators to be installed within the vehicles to inform drivers of their current driving behaviour.
    
This technology is frequently used in commercial fleets and is now seeing more interest from insurance companies.

Intelligent Speed Adaptation
Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is the limiting of vehicle speed based on the current road limit in force. Projects have been widely published in London and are now being trialled overseas allowing operators to improve safety as well as greater fuel efficiencies.  
    
As such, for organisations operating large fleets of vehicles this will not only reduce annual fuel costs but will also help with vehicle maintenance and repairs, as vehicles will be driven in a more efficient manner.
    
This technology has applications across many varied vehicle fleets. Large prime mover operators are able to increase the safety of their fleets, and public vehicle authorities, such as public buses, and school buses, are able to guarantee the speed of their vehicles giving peace of mind to the users and operators.
    
One system currently available works by restricting a vehicle’s speed depending on a predefined limit, in a predefined area. The system’s driver identification feature allows only authorised drivers to use certain vehicles and equipment. The telematics device controls all elements of the onboard system. A vehicle’s speed can be controlled using many different options including an electronic accelerator speed interrupt and an engine exhaust brake.
    
One such ISA system is currently on trial with an undisclosed transport authority with an initial roll out of 20,000 vehicles expected after the pilot. The ability to control speed also enhances a company’s ability to adhere to duty of care legislation. Directors and managers have added peace of mind that their vehicles will not be driven to excessive speeds and that the way in which they are driven will be monitored thus having a direct affect on the safety and security of employees.
    
The use of a black box in the airline industry is of course nothing new. However, using a similar concept in road vehicles is something that location-based solution leaders are now offering customers.
    
Providing high frequency data before and after a detected collision can now be added as part of a standard fleet management solution giving fleet operators the chance to reconstruct the in-vehicle situation before and after an accident – this can be invaluable when verifying insurance claims.

CANbus
CANbus has not yet really made the major breakthrough in the market it was tipped to, however it is something that can provide numerous benefits to fleet operators. It allows additional vehicle data that can be analysed to aid the driver profiling and improve fuel efficiency.
    
The data however is only as good as the manner in which it is displayed. Therefore for fleet operators to gain the maximum benefit, telematics providers work hard to display the data in a meaningful manner.  
    
CANbus data can be used to profile drivers in much more detail than before, with additional information provided on clutch usage, brake pressure and engine revs. Additional data regarding the fuel economy, oil temperature and engine alerts can all be provided to a fleet operator.

The future
ROI is progressive over a period of time. As the fleet develops a greater understanding for using telematics with their vehicles it becomes pretty clear very soon that such a solution has many benefits to companies. In some cases, the savings can actually pay for the system in less than a year.
    
But the financial savings are only part of the story. Many of the world’s leading telematics providers are continually working on new technology and features with an environmental leaning.
    
Fleet operators can expect to see greater integration of technology and data including things like tyre pressure sensors to bring further efficiencies. Telematics businesses must continue to work to provide an interface, which interprets complex data and makes it easy to use and justify the purchase of such a solution.

Mike Hemming biography
Mike Hemming has wide-ranging experience in the fields of satellite positioning, satellite communications, satellite imagery and associated complimentary technologies.  
    
Over the last eight years, Mike has managed and contributed to a large number of pan European projects involving satellite positioning and its application. The work involved many projects involving the Galileo satellite system and its application in the transport industry. He has also provided consultancy services to the European Union, European Space Agency, Government agencies and maritime authorities.  
    
Mike is Business Development Manager with The Astrata Group, a leader in location-based solutions. Mike is also Chairman of the Telematics Group at Intellect, the trade association for the UK technology sector. The Telematics Group monitors market opportunities created by telematics and aims to shape EU and UK policy and regulation in order to promote the growth of the technology in the UK.
    
Mike has a degree in Geography and holds an MSc in Engineering Surveying. He also has qualifications in high precision satellite positioning and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).