There is no question that fleet telematics has become one of the most valuable assets for improving the efficiency of logistics operations. The typical fleet may involve dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of vehicles that may be on the road at any given time. Telematics combines telecommunications with informatics to give fleet managers a complete view of safety, transportation, maintenance, and operational data.
To better understand telematics and its impact on the logistics industry, we’ll review the major components of a telematics setup, why they are important, and how this technology can be used to improve fleet efficiency. Telematics has become a requirement for many operators after government regulations created a requirement for electronic logging devices (ELDs). After studying how a telematics system works, a company can choose a setup that best matches the needs of their business.
Telematics is a combination of hardware and software that provides real-time data about fleet status. This is especially helpful for fleet managers who are working to coordinate shipments across geographic areas that may even include state or country borders. Telematics increases the amount of vehicle and fleet data that can be collected and analyzed.
The primary hardware component of a telematics system is a tracking device with onboard GPS. GPS connectivity is used to provide real-time location data regardless of where the unit is physically located anywhere in the world. The telematics device typically connects to the vehicle through an onboard diagnostic (OBD II) or CAN-BUS port. In some cases, it may also be possible to use a remote device that sits in the truck cabin or have the device hard-wired to another part of the truck or vehicle. Hardware sensors can also be installed on trailers or other transportation hardware for additional data collection.
A central software system is another requirement for a complete telematics setup. Fleet management software collects all the necessary information including location data, orders, and maintenance records. Accessible through a convenient user interface, fleet managers and other staff can view a map in real-time and better plan their delivery schedules and other work.
A large amount of data can be transmitted from telematics hardware to the fleet management system. Each company must choose which data is most relevant for their own needs but there are several useful measurements to choose from. Some of the most common are:
Each of these data points can provide important insights to drivers and fleet managers. Ultimately, fleet efficiency can be improved by carefully planning fleet routes, performing regular maintenance, and monitoring driver behavior.
Telematics fills an important role in fleet management by enabling the collection of additional data that may be useful for logistics planning. These are a couple of the primary benefits that telematics can bring to fleet operations.
As you can see, telematics plays a crucial role in fleet and logistics management today. Improvements in both hardware and software have made these systems cheaper and easier to install than ever before. The GPS data is reliable with a high degree of location accuracy, making these systems very important for fleet planning.
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