Fleet Tracking
Additional Add-on Services
Dec 14, 2022
As the UK’s number one vehicle tracking system and app, here at Fleetsmart we’re experts in using technology to improve vehicle productivity and boost industry performance.
In this blog we’re going to be exploring the potential benefits of the passenger transport industry utilising fleet tracking technology.
In this country the majority of passenger transport vehicles will be fitted with an entry level AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) device. This baseline type of vehicle tracker is used primarily in the event law enforcement needs to track or locate a stolen or misused public transport vehicle.
Up to 98% of the 32,000 local service buses are fitted with this type of basic fleet tracking device, and while it offers safety features as mentioned above, the passenger transport industry is limiting itself to what can be achieved via the potential of a more advanced Telematics system.
Telematics technology is the use of telecommunications and informatics to monitor an asset, in this case a fleet passenger transport vehicle's location, safety metrics and engine diagnostics in real time.
Telematics systems gather GPS tracking and vehicle specific data to transfer via means including- cellular network, satellite communication, mobile data, and GPRS to a central server. The data collated is then analysed and transcribed into specific metrics for the fleet manager to interpret via our Fleetsmart app or website.
Fleetsmart premium telematics can have a positive impact upon the passenger transport industry in a plethora of ways, including -
Telematics help improve general road safety by tracking hazardous metrics for retrospective analysis such as harsh braking and speeding, crucial when carrying passengers on any length of journey.
This not only helps prevent future accidents but dash cam journey replay can also provide video evidence of any disputed incidents that do occur, cutting down investigation time and false claims. These valuable insights not only help improve safety and reduce accident costs, but also cut costs of any legal proceedings for your business.
Any injury to the public or an employee involving your vehicle, even if due to their own negligence regarding safety, could further impact your business via a reduced workforce and an increase in insurance costs.
Implementing Telematics can help save fuel by allowing more effective journey planning and rapid alternative route selection, all contributing to a greater fuel economy.
Also sub-optimal driving habits, such as wasteful MPG behaviour can be easily identified and eradicated via driver education.
Passenger Transport companies could be rewarded for taking the proactive preventive measure of vehicle tracking by insurance providers. Many insurers see asset tracking as a means of theft prevention and an asset recovery tool.
In the event of fleet vehicle theft, Telematics technology provides the real time location of the vehicle, accurate to within a few metres. This information can be easily passed on to the police to give you the best possible chance of recovering the vehicle.
Geo-fencing works by using GPS, RFID or cellular technology to trigger a pre-set programmed action, such as sending an alert notification when a device tag on a tracked asset enters or leaves a pre-curated virtual perimeter or ‘fence’. Geo-fence notifications are said to be ten times more effective than traditional push notifications).
Telematics can also gauge potential fleet maintenance needs and allow for repair time to be allocated in advance rather than cut into operational hours.
Early detection of issues can lead to preventative maintenance, saving time and money as well as meeting crucial public passenger vehicle safety compliance requirements.
Business owners can choose to receive email and SMS alerts that provide daily reports and analysis regarding their tracked asset. Email and SMS alerts give you an easy way to stay connected with your businesses when they do not have access to online tracking software.
Due to the smart data storage abilities of Telematics technology, previously monotonous tasks of manual information recording via paperwork and filing are now redundant.
It’s proven that Telematics can help boost productivity, employee efficiency and fleet operations as a whole; all the while reducing idling, hazardous driver behaviour, fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs.
Fleetsmart offer a range of the latest Telematics technology at extremely cost effective prices with scalable options starting from just £6.95 per vehicle per month. With a clear multitude of performance enhancing and money saving reasons to implement telematics to your vehicles, now might be the time to upgrade your fleet.