Government Fleet, November 2020

PHOTO UNSPLASH SILVAN ARNET GLENN CARSTENS PETERS There are multiple ways telematics can be combined with other fleet data to enhance fleet maintenance Advanced telematics systems can connect Driver Vehicle Inspection Report DVIR defects directly to customer maintenance systems by auto generating a repair order which minimizes potential downtime by getting critical repairs taken care of immediately Telematics can also track preventative maintenance schedules more accurately based on not just time but leveraging data like miles driven or actual engine hours Cross referencing fuel card data with fleet management systems provides more accurate insights into fuel expenses and driver efficiencies By integrating fuel card transactional data with telematics and operational data fleet managers have a more holistic view of fuel costs and KPIs across their entire fleet Telematics platforms can also be used to provide SMS and email alerts when engine fault codes are detected so your mechanics can prepare necessary tools and parts before vehicles arrive at their shops This helps to reduce maintenance downtime Rushil Goel VP and GM fleet management Samsara In addition to managing and monitoring vehicle maintenance GPS enabled fleet tracking can be used to optimize routes for fuel and mileage savings while also increasing customer satisfaction Operators can use the data to dispatch the closest driver in case of an emergency or change in plans reroute drivers to help stay on schedule and meet appointment windows and respond faster to customers Telematics can also be used to monitor certain auxiliary vehicle function Power Take Off PTO activation on heavy vehicles and light and alarm activation on safety vehicles to know when and how often these features are used Kimberly Green Kerr senior vice president enterprise sales and operations UScellular Telematics data can be used to more accurately assess vehicle residual value based on how the car has been driven and health over time Discrete risk events such as harsh braking tight cornering and speeding are detectable through telematics Therefore poor driving behavior overall or an abundance of a specific type of risk event can be a trigger to offer safe driving tips and suggest an unplanned vehicle health check due to the potential of a higher rate of wear and tear The data can also measure fuel consumption more precisely and contribute to fraud reduction Nicola Veratelli CEO OCTO Telematics GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TELEMATICS SYSTEMS Swapping out a battery is typically a very quick job but it can take much longer if a vehicles battery suddenly dies on the side of the road resulting in increased and unexpected downtime Telematics can be used as a combined tool for both predictive and preventive maintenance In this case it can help a fleet manager identify that a battery may fail within the next two or three months and in turn signal to a fleet manager that during next months scheduled maintenance a part replacement may need to be considered This proactive maintenance approach not only helps to reduce downtime but can support a healthier vehicle and a safer driver To get to this point however it is vital fleet managers work with their telematics providers to understand the rich amount of data their systems collect Having this type of vehicle data is only beneficial if it is both accessible and actionable Daniel Lewis senior data scientist R D specialist Geotab Video telematics enable fleet managers to see the full picture of their fleet including data and insights needed to identify habits or issues that may affect the maintenance of their vehicles These insights include the number of miles driven by vehicle and driver to flag when proactive maintenance is needed and to identify and address risky driving behaviors that can increase wear and tear on the vehicle such as accelerating too quickly hard braking speeding or hitting curbs By utilizing video to reduce these types of behaviors fleets can increase the longevity of their brakes transmissions engine life tires and suspension parts Rob Donahue government fleet leader Lytx Many fleet organizations do not make decisions in a silo Often fleet managers will aggregate telematics diagnostic maintenance frequency and cost data along with original vehicle cost to determine the true total cost of ownership This ultimately gives them a clear picture they can use to make informed decisions on vehicle lifecycles and even which particular vehicle make or model fits their organization the best A primary focus for fleet managers is staying within budget while still providing affordable services to all internal constituents A GPS fleet tracking system provides the engine diagnostics data needed to help develop the discipline required to streamline maintenance process and control costs Safety has a ripple effect when a driver operates safely their vehicles experience less damage which means vehicles stay on the road longer servicing customers and bringing in revenue By using a telematics solution youre able to create a detailed tread analysis of harsh drivers sorted by locale vehicle type and even time of day or year All of this information will then help your organization make informed actions to correct these habits and ultimately impact your budget Amin Amini associate director global solution engineering Verizon Connect NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2020 GOVERNMENT FLEET COM 13