Author: Victoria Gole

unions, transportation, fleet,

Dash Cams and Unions: A Teamster Teaches Best Practices

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Dash Cams and Unions: A Teamster Teaches Best Practices

Creating a successful dash cam program within your fleet requires a few key ingredients. Optimal installation, platform integration, driver coaching, clear company policies and rewards programs are all important factors to consider. As we’ve mentioned in this post, getting your drivers’ buy-in is the lynch pin to any successful program; this is especially true for businesses that employ union drivers.

It’s understandable that unions will have questions and concerns on behalf of their members regarding tracking technology; how it works, but more so how it will be used. That’s why the most successful dash cam programs are those that put the needs, opinions and safety of their drivers first.

John Hamill, a Business Agent at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, began studying video-based safety back in 1994, when cameras were first being used in ambulances. Since then, Hamill has helped design strategic risk-management policies as part of successful collective bargaining agreements that advocate for video-based safety technology. 

As an expert in strategic planning for ambulance and passenger transit companies, Hamill brings more than 30 years of experience in transportation, training, and risk management. An expert on safety change management, Hamill knows how to craft responsible dash cam programs that work for companies, drivers and their unions.

Hamill offers recommends the following four best practices to implement a responsible and successful dash cam program for union drivers. 

 

Best Practice No. 1: Engage the Union, First

 

Driver and asset safety is the entire purpose for creating a dash cam program, and unions and fleet companies have the shared goal of keeping drivers safe. For these reasons, companies are advised to value and build on their union partnerships by engaging the union prior to any rollout. 

“My biggest tip to companies with union drivers is this: before going to your drivers, get the union to buy in first,” Hamill says. “Not going to the union first can lead to so many issues down the line. If, for example, the union hears about an issue first, they may want to shut down the initiative entirely. That can set a precedent that’s hard to overcome.” When unions help in crafting the policies and rollout, future misunderstandings are avoided, and everyone wins.

When beginning the dialogue with unions, Hamill recommends that companies communicate the many benefits of video-based safety for drivers. To fully articulate such benefits, says Hamill, “use data and proof points from other companies to really show the value of cameras.” This means expressing, with evidence, such benefits as: 

  •  Annual decreases in the frequency of preventable accidents as a result of video-based driver coaching and alerts.
  •  Number of drivers exonerated from road accidents because of dash cam evidence.
  •  Increase in driver retention and decrease in turnover after implementation of video-based driver recognition and driver rewards programs.

Many companies employ a mix of union and non-union drivers, often after negotiating annual contracts. However, notes Hamill, even in cases where the contract has already been negotiated and the dash cam program is not part of the collective bargaining agreement, companies can still utilize a side letter or a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Side letters or MOUs “are the best way to implement cameras before the next contract,” Hamill states.

 

Best Practice No. 2: Survey Your Drivers to Alleviate Anxiety 

 

After starting a dialogue with the union, open the lines of communication with your drivers. Hamill recommends that you survey your drivers, introduce the topic, and ask for their opinions.  Then, says Hamill, “you can build policies to alleviate their anxieties and really help create that trust.”

Hamill suggests using initial surveys that allow for broad questions and free responses, such as How do you feel about dashboard cameras as they pertain to safety? “That will give you an overall sense of sentiment. You might be surprised what the answers reveal about their specific concerns or experiences,” says Hamill. “Doing a survey can really help inform what your policy should address.”

These surveys will highlight key concerns from your team. One recurring fear of drivers is the belief that dash cams will be used to ‘spy’ on them and watch their every move. This is a common misconception that can be addressed early on. “Before you install a single camera or even build out your policy, transparent communication about the technology is key,” Hamill states. 

Communicating how the technology works and what types of road events will be recorded will help build trust and transparency. Be sure to identify the following:

  •  What are the specific dash cam capabilities
  •  What types of events will trigger footage to be recorded and uploaded
  •  Whether audio is being captured
  •  What other dash cam features may be activated or deactivated
  •  Whether in-cab coaching and safety alerts will be turned on.

“Communication will help combat fear and anxiety—which are so dangerous not only to your safety program and the culture of your company, but actually to the drivers themselves,” Hamill notes. Instead, drivers should feel comfortable and secure, with their focus safely on the road.

 

Best Practice No. 3: Create & Follow Clear Safety Policies

 

Hamill states that the key to successful fleet operations lies in designing thorough safety policies so your company’s expectations and driver requirements are clear, and following those policies. 

While every company will have different needs and safety requirements, he recommends articulating the basic rules required by law—such as DOT standards—and then building out company policy from there. Safety policies may include: 

  • A ‘zero tolerance’ policy for dangerous or illicit activities, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • A tiered system of discipline based on the seriousness of an infraction, such as distractions or texting while driving. 
  • A strike (or point) system for infractions such as speeding, close following distance or not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Coaching drivers and explaining clearly in advance which behaviours will result in training or coaching, and which behaviours will result in progressive discipline.

Both drivers and their union representatives should be provided with written documentation of your company’s safety and coaching policies, guidelines for coaching, and a clearly outlined process for any disciplinary actions. You can also use GoFleet’s driver coaching tools to ensure follow-through and accountability, and provide benchmarks such as driver scorecards and compliance reports. 

 

Best Practice No. 4: Make Good Driving Rewarding & Fun

 

“It’s so important to make safety fun,” Hamill says, “and reward the people who are driving safely.” The ‘gamification’ of any activity—be it taking the stairs or good driving, has been proven effective by countless studies. When an activity is made more fun or rewarding, people are far more likely to do it.

Hamill notes that as a safety manager for MV Transportation, they offered a $200 bonus to drivers who went without incident for a year. This created genuine excitement and excellence from drivers.   “If you don’t offer that positive incentive, you’re not encouraging people to strive for excellence,” Hamill says. “By default, you’re rewarding complacency.”

GoFleet helps incentivize driver performance through KPI metrics and driver rankings. We recommend creating a Driver Safety Rewards Program to encourage and reward safe drivers; we can also help you start a Safe Driver Contest to reinforce good practices. Our telematics devices allow you to rank driver safety so you can reward safe drivers and help ensure driver retention. 

Hamill notes that while the initial perception of dash cameras can be challenging, the long-term benefits in fleet safety and efficiency make all the difference with regards to a company’s safety culture and success. Certainly, the same holds true for the safety and success of its drivers. 

Interested to learn more and talk to one of our dash camera specialists? Contact us today!

fleet tracking, gofleet, interview, fleet management, dashcam

Fleet Tracking: Insider Tips from GoFleet’s CEO

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Fleet Tracking: Insider Tips from GoFleet’s CEO

At its core, the fundamental goal of fleet management software is to ensure the proper utilization and protection of every driver and vehicle. Managers can leverage fleet tracking data to evaluate the demand for vehicles throughout all four seasons, predict growth, and track driver safety. Most important to effective fleet management? Choosing the right software to support their specific industries.

ACHR News recently sat down with Vishal Singh, CEO of GoFleet, a provider of industry-leading digital fleet tracking technology. They asked Singh for some pro tips on strategies for fleet management, and what to look for before you invest in fleet tracking software.

 

Fleet Management Responsibilities: 5 Key Areas

 

“Fleet management is about responsibility,” says Singh. While ensuring the safety of each driver and vehicle is the top priority, Singh believes any proactive focus should concentrate on:

  1. Safety: The primary responsibility; making sure drivers and vehicles are kept safe. 
  2. Productivity: Keeping fleet operations productive and on target. 
  3. Compliance: Assuring compliance, not just on the road but with regards to company policies.
  4. Maintenance: Being proactive instead of reactive and decreasing vehicular down time. 
  5. Sustainability & Growth: Making sure fleet scalability is integrated so it can expand as your business grows.

“When I’m looking at fleet management software, I’m thinking, ‘how can I best manage these five key areas?’” says Singh. “You need to think about what’s best for you and ask yourself ‘what suite of tools can best help me operate in my industry?’” 

 

Choosing Fleet Management Software

 

Digital fleet management software has expanded since general GPS tracking, first introduced two decades ago. “Today, we can track a lot more than dots on a map,” says Singh. Using two-way dashboard cameras, fleet managers can actually observe drivers and their driving habits and prevent emergencies before they happen. 

Collecting the right data is perhaps the most important criteria for choosing fleet management software, and the data you need will depend on the industry in which you operate. “If it’s for food delivery, I need something to monitor the temperature of the food,” Singh says. “If I’m in a high-risk area, where I’m delivering something of high value, I need cameras. I might also want to monitor and have video recordings, which can connect to the on-board devices for live-streaming.”  

For example, if you are an HVC contractor, Singh emphasizes having good maintenance routines and a proactive seasonal maintenance strategy. “With fleet management software you can set up maintenance reminders to service every vehicle,” he says. Singh also warns that failure to do regular checks means you might miss something, leading to costly repairs. 

 

The Advantages Of Fleet Management Software

 

Electronic tracking devices are essential tools for locating vehicles and monitoring road safety, but they can’t operate alone. When paired with fleet management software, companies can access a rich ecosystem of telematics data. “Fleet management software allows companies to monitor vehicle faults, making sure there are no issues with the vehicles,” says Singh. “We can also, depending on the software, have software that signs work orders for the vehicles.” This can simplify regular seasonal maintenance, routine inspections and more. 

Predictive maintenance is a major benefit of fleet management software. Plugging an electronic tracking device into a vehicle’s onboard diagnostics provides a holistic overview of that vehicle’s health. “We can measure how well they’re being maintained, or if there are faults on the vehicle,” Singh explains. “Understanding those faults can tell us if we need to troubleshoot.” 

What does tracking actually measure? “[Tracking allows me to] measure the actual behaviours that can help me in each of those key areas,” says Singh. This can include monitoring the temperature of goods being transported, the safety of your drivers, allocating resources — the list goes on. 

“With this technology you can create a way to engage keyless ignition, making it easier to pool vehicles,” Singh says. “People can share vehicles a lot easier if anyone can use their phone to start the vehicle.”

Also important, says Singh, is knowing exactly where the failure points are in fleet operations. For fleet managers, the benefits of streamlining records collections for rich, actionable data improves operational efficiency while making the best use of your fleet.

 

Managing Fleet Safety And Liability

 

Managing a fleet is about more than paying attention to the state of each vehicle, says Singh. It also means managing and coaching safe driving behaviours. 

Singh goes on to explain how an integrated system of dashboard cams, video recordings, sensors and management software can all work together to protect company liability and improve safety. “Vehicle tracking is one thing; tracking the behaviours, harsh breaking and all those conditions,” says Singh. “But having video evidence helps people be more accountable.”

How? “Having cameras onboard limits your risk,” said Singh. “If there’s an accident and you have video evidence, you’re going to avoid a potential lawsuit.” Having video footage of road incidents can also help exonerate your driver “so you don’t have to deal with investigations and claims. Now, if the driver was at fault, you can deal with the payout or settlement and then move on,” he adds. 

Moreover, this niche tech an help avoid accidents altogether. “When you have all this data —cameras, video — you don’t need to wait for the accident to happen. You can proactively know who your at-risk drivers are,” he says. “Then, you can work on coaching them and help them take the necessary steps to improve their driving habits.”  

 

Knowing When To Expand

 

To evaluate when it’s time to expand, he recommends first measuring vehicle utilization. “Generally, companies will set up a threshold where if the utilization is above a certain amount, it’s a trigger indication that they need more vehicles,” says Singh. 

“Using fleet management software, I can evaluate the demand of my vehicles through my seasons,” Singh says. “When you evaluate things like engine usage, or miles driven, you want to evaluate that against the total available hours you can drive these vehicles.” 

While utilization metrics will vary with each industry, Singh recommends the following: “If you feel that utilization is above, say, 80%  or whatever metric — you can then evaluate the utilization to determine how many more vehicles you need to purchase.” 

With the current supply chain challenges due to COVID-19, he notes it has become more difficult to acquire new vehicles, making it even more important to plan ahead. “If you see some vehicles are not well utilized, you can cut vehicles from the fleet by pooling them,” he advises. Singh also suggests leasing additional vehicles from pools to expand fleets in a cost-effective manner.

 

Sustainability & Beyond

 

While fleet managers look to the future, there has been a big move towards electric vehicles. Singh warns, however, that there are a lot of things to consider before plugging into the electric vehicle trend. “You have to consider installing electric chargers and charger sites. You have to consider how many miles or kilometers you are driving each day,” he says. If vehicles are traveling more than 200 to 300 miles, that might be more travel time than the range of the battery can offer. 

For those transitioning to electric vehicles, Singh recommends adding one vehicle at a time. Despite the initial investment, Singh says the cost savings on electric vehicles is impressive, including lowered fuel, vehicle usage and maintenance costs.

Whether you have a few vehicles or an entire fleet, electric tracking devices paired with fleet management software provides your business with benefits that are scalable, cost-effective and safe. The real beauty of fleet tracking, Singh explains, is that “when you’re evaluating this data on a monthly basis, you’re going to be ahead of the curve.”

vehicle tracking devices, fleet, gofleet, go9, gps,

Vehicle Tracking Devices 101: What They Are, And Why Your Fleet Needs Them

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Vehicle Tracking Devices 101: What They Are, And Why Your Fleet Needs Them

Running your commercial fleet requires more than simply sending vehicles from point A to point B. The success of your drivers and your business depends heavily on optimizing the things you can’t see once a vehicle leaves your warehouse. Vehicle Tracking Devices can optimize your fleet by providing real-time GPS updates, collision notifications, and even engine fault detection.

In this post, we’ll break down what Vehicle Tracking Devices are, the latest generation of tracking devices currently available, and how your business can benefit from this advanced fleet protection.

 

What Are Vehicle Tracking Devices?

 

A vehicle tracking device is like the black box of an airplane; it receives GPS signals, collecting and sending navigation data and other critical vehicle information. This small piece of hardware can be as small as a matchbox, or as large as a shoebox.

Most tracking devices come equipped with a SIM-card slot and an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) plug to connect to your vehicle. Once connected, it receives GPS signals and sends vehicle information — such as vehicle location or driver speed — using the internet, satellite networks or cellular services. Tracking devices differ with regards to the data collected, how they attach to the vehicle, and their respective power source. Types of devices include:

  • Factory-fitted Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) devices
  • Plug-In devices
  • Hardwired after-market devices
  • Smartphones or tablets enabled with real-time GPS tracking

 

Installing tracking units can be as simple as plugging into a vehicle’s OBD-II port, or may require a qualified technician to connect the tracking device to the wiring harness of the vehicle. Most light commercial vehicles purchased since 1996 already have an internal OBD-II port, often found behind the panel below the steering wheel.

Once connected, GoFleet’s specialized tracking software can collect GPS and vehicle data. It then transmits the data in real-time to a wide variety of pre-programmed devices, such as a cell phone or a computer IP address.

 

Internal Data-Protection Safety Features

 

Each of our vehicle tracking devices has a unique code, known as the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This allows GoFleet’s patented tracking software to match the unique code of each vehicle, preventing confusion and maintaining fleet management integrity.

The information collected and sent from GoFleet’s tracking devices also has a range of security features that prevent third-party penetration. These cryptographic features include:

  • Data encryption
  • Authenticated end-to-end telematic security
  • Verification of message integrity and unique IMEI tracker codes
  • Non-static security keys, which impede faking a device’s unique identity
  • Firmware with digitally-signed pre-programming to verify the source of updates
  • Validation of technology by independent third-party experts

 

What Type of Data is Collected?

 

GoFleet’s vehicle tracking devices collect and transmit a rich array of information. Even when the vehicle is parked underground or indoors, the telematic tracking unit begins recording the moment the key turns in the ignition.

Using AI and the enhanced data security features, some of the telematic information collected by GoFleet’s tracking devices include:

  • Precise Vehicle Tracking: This includes vehicle location, driving speed, engine idling, trip distance, time markers, driver ETA and more.
  • Fleet Health Assessments: Our software extracts and collects essential vehicular information such as engine faults, odometer readings, service maintenance needs, vehicle VIN, even risky driving habits such as acceleration, fast cornering or harsh braking.
  • Advanced Telematics Capture: Our trackers receive data from a variety of internal vehicular sources, such as the engine, instrument clusters, drivetrain, diagnostics and other subsystems. This allows for methodical and data-driven dashboard reports.
  • Collision Notifications: If a collision is detected, GoFleet’s superior tracking devices use AI and patented algorithms to collect and send detailed forensic data. This allows for forensic reconstruction of road events, including in-vehicle reverse collisions. This data is automatically uploaded from the tracking device, and collision notifications are sent in real-time via email or desktop alerts.
  • Driver Coaching: By providing your drivers with immediate feedback, you can improve fleet integrity and security, reduce risk to your drivers, and encourage immediate corrective action. Visible or audible alerts, as well as spoken guidance, can be given in cases of speeding, excessive idling, or unsafe driver behaviour.

 

GoFleet’s Advanced Vehicle Tracking Devices

 

Below are the latest and best vehicle tracking units available on the global market. They also come equipped for IOX expansion. This means that your tracking system and third-party integration management can expand with your fleet, allowing for scalable telematics solutions and greater fleet flexibility. IOX add-ons include: satellite tracking, driver ID, temperature tracking, hours of service (HOS), dash cam systems and more.

 

GoFleet’s GO9+

 

Welcome to the future of vehicle tracking devices. The GO9+ is the most advanced telematics device on the planet, providing industry-leading insights on the health of your fleet vehicles, as well as trip details, driver safety and much more. The GO9+ provides everything needed for advanced telematic capture and transmission, all in a tiny, compact package.

Best of all, the GO9+ brings its own Wi-Fi hotspot on-board, allowing your vehicle to stay connected to high-speed Internet without siphoning data from individual plans. In addition to reliable Wi-Fi wherever your drivers go, GoFleet’s GO9+ offers the following state-of-the-art features:

  • Unparalleled GPS tracking technology
  • G-force monitoring
  • LTE connectivity and secured communications capability
  • Intelligent in-vehicle driver coaching and alerts
  • Advanced collision detection and notification
  • Expandability of the external device via IOX Technology
  • Built-in gyrometer and auto-calibrating accelerometer
  • Instant vehicle data, including engine and battery health assessments
  • Accelerated GPS acquisition time via Almanac OTA support
  • GPS+GLONASS support and connectivity
  • Advanced native support for a variety of vehicle protocols
  • End-to-end cybersecurity measures, including non-static security keys
  • Easy installation

Recommended for: Small businesses, heavy-truck fleets, corporate vehicles and ride sharing.

 

GoFleet’s GO9 RUGGED

 

If you need a vehicle tracker built for harsh environments, meet the GO9 RUGGED. This device is designed to withstand external installation, protecting against elements such as dust, water, dirt and other solids. 

The GO9 RUGGED builds on the GO Rugged family, providing even more speed, reliability, security features and telematic power. That’s because the GO9 RUGGED is powered by a 32-bit processor, offering 4 times the memory and 5 times the RAM of its predecessor, the GO8 RUGGED. Using GoFleet’s AI algorithms and tracking platform, the GO9 RUGGED can accurately recreate vehicle trips, analyze incidents, provide in-vehicle alerts to notify drivers of infractions in real-time, and provide end-to-end data encryption. Features include:

  • State-of-the-art GPS technology
  • G-force monitoring
  • Simple and sturdy design for covert installations
  • Smart, live in-vehicle driver coaching capacity
  • Industry-leading collision detection and notification
  • Instant vehicle data, including engine and battery health assessments
  • On-board auto-calibrating accelerometer and gyrometer
  • Accelerated GPS acquisition time via Almanac OTA support
  • GPS+GLONASS support and connectivity
  • LTE connectivity and secured communications capability
  • End-to-end cybersecurity, including authentication, encryption, message integrity verification, and non-static security keys
  • Advanced native support for a variety of vehicle protocols
  • Expandability of external device via IOX Technology
  • FIPS 140-2 validated by the NIST
  • IP68 & IP69K certified for protection from water, dust, sprays and other external pressures
  • Does not require a dash-mounted antenna or wire splicing for installation

Recommended for: Fleets using heavy equipment, farm machinery, powered trailers, yellow iron and other major assets.

 

Main Benefits of Fleet Vehicle Tracking

 

GoFleet’s tracking devices provide businesses with the hard data required to ensure smooth operations and peace of mind. Our software works seamlessly with vehicle tracking units to integrate command centre visibility into your fleet operations.

We recommend using tracking devices for businesses that manage fleets of any size, including cars, trucks, limousines, ride-sharing, pickup trucks, trailers, farm equipment, plumbing, roofing or construction vehicles. Our devices are scalable and can connect you to your vehicles, whether you have one or 100.

Among the most prominent benefits to using vehicle tracking devices are improved fleet management and maintenance, enhanced driver safety, lower labour costs, reduced fuel costs and superior theft deterrence. Additional benefits include:

  • Precision GPS technology, eliminating guesswork
  • Live updates and visibility, providing regular updates as often as every 2 seconds
  • An integrated, user-friendly fleet command dashboard; giving you access to your fleet with just a few swipes
  • Individualized regular servicing dashboard with service records for your vehicles
  • The ability to capture and view telematics data such as vehicle speed, direction, and fault codes
  • Asset monitoring, such as temperature data and asset location
  • Immediate 24/7 support for fleet owners

 

Integrated Software and Dispatch Performance

 

GoFleet’s tracking units let you view your entire fleet simultaneously, regardless of their location. Our devices work synergistically with individualized driver management software, letting you streamline and fine tune your fleet’s performance to ensure peak performance and compliance.

Our integrated software monitoring system allows businesses to capture when the driver’s workday starts and ends, displays routes in real-time, and records driver stops — both scheduled and unscheduled. Our data captures also record idle periods, fuel consumption, driving speeds, mileage, and even provides alerts on lost drivers or thefts.

The benefits of our integrated platform command centre to monitor dispatch performance include:

  • Ensuring drivers are on schedule and automatically sharing ETAs with customers
  • Confirming driver HOS & PTO availability, which reduces check-in calls
  • Recording Driver Scorecards and 365-day performance history
  • Alerting to acceleration, harsh breaks and collision detection
  • Streamlining routing options and dispatch management
  • Recording miles-by-state for IFT
  • Assuring FMCSA 395.15 compliance
  • Locating lost drivers and aiding the recovery of stolen property.

 

Ready to Protect Your Assets?

 

With all of the benefits of vehicle tracking devices, can your business afford not to invest in a telematics solution that saves you time, money and resources? Our experts can help you determine which asset tracker best suits your fleet’s needs. Schedule your free consultation and demonstration today. 

Weigh Station Bypass, drivewyze, gofleet, transportation

Bypass Basics: Your Guide To Introducing A Weigh Station Bypass Program To Your Fleet

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Bypass Basics: Your Guide To Introducing A Weigh Station Bypass Program To Your Fleet

Time is of the essence for fleets and a lot of time is wasted in weigh station line ups. For some fleets, the hidden costs of waiting in long lines can add up to thousands of dollars each year in idling or longer than expected route completions. As a result, bypass programs are becoming increasingly popular, and new software-based bypass programs offer easy over-the-air installation and fast ROI.

 

Real Expectations From Using Transponder-Less Bypass Services

As previously mentioned, the cost savings is one of the main reasons fleets are looking into implementing a bypass program. However, it’s important to note that there are several other benefits as well:

  • Fast ROI so the monthly solution is paid off when one or two bypasses happen each month
  • Streamlined workflows in relation to driver delivery times and expectations
  • Increased driver retention as carriers address delays and on-the-road stress
  • Smaller carbon footprints as idling is reduced

 

How Bypass Programs Work

Bypass programs maximize existing tech stacks. Meaning the program uses already in place cellular networks and in-cab hardware, like the GO9 device to boost route completion performance. By using the GPS location of vehicles, cellular networks and strategically placed motion scales in highways, the bypass system will automatically screen the details of the fleet in relation to the weigh station requirements and whether the weigh station (regardless of if it is a fixed or mobile inspection site) is participating in the bypass program. Before the truck reaches the station, the bypass program transmits for the vehicle’s US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number, which is used to locate the fleet’s ISS (Inspection Selection System) score in the federal system. The software then employs imaging, sensor information, and authoritative data sources to give law enforcement a detailed snapshot of that vehicle and its carrier.  . If digitally approved, the driver will be prompted through their already in-use GPS device to bypass the weigh station, or pull in.

A great ISS score will typically result in more bypasses; a truck with an outstanding score could receive bypasses up to98% of the time.

If you want to learn more about how you can leverage telematics and connected networks already in place check out: Maximizing Your Existing Tech Stack

 

What Is Required By The Carrier

The ease of a bypass program is heightened as the solution works over the air and requires no additional hardware. As previously mentioned, the program leverages data from already existing GPS tracking devices that carriers are already using for ELD compliance and fleet management purposes. All of which means the software is already integrated into your GO9 device and simply flipping a switch on the back end will activate the software over-the-air.

 

Where To Begin

In April 2020, GoFleet partnered with Drivewyze, North America’s largest weigh station bypass network. With the program being available at over 840 vehicle inspection sites across 45 US states and 2 Canadian provinces, it is a game changer for long haul transportation carriers.

To start a free trial of Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass for your fleet, contact us today! With over-the-air implementation, the ability to test the bypass program to measure your own results is faster than most solutions. Meaning you can start to improve efficiency and save faster!

fleet, electronic logging device, eld mandate

What You Need to Know Before Purchasing an Electronic Logging Device

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on What You Need to Know Before Purchasing an Electronic Logging Device

Fleet management may look like an easy process at first glance. However, individuals who are working in this industry can testify that it is much more complex than it may seem. Fleet management systems are composed of information about all the aspects of an entire fleet within one specialized database system. The same goes for documents for meeting with fleet compliance. Fortunately, electronic logging solutions can ease this complexity. 

Moreover, purchasing an Electronic Logging Device or ELD solution is an imperative decision. Not only that it will help your fleet be FMCSA compliant but it also offers different features to make your operations easier. On top of that, it will allow business to maximize profits. 

However, there are so many ELD providers that you can find right now, making it difficult to choose the right one. That said, it is important for you to first understand the aspects that an excellent ELD provider must possess.

 

The Things You Need to Know Before Purchasing an ELD Solution

An Electronic Logging Device is a digital solution that allows commercial motor carriers and professional truck drivers to track the HOS or Hours of Service compliance. It is attached into the onboard diagnostics (OBD) port of the vehicle. This way, the device can record the vehicle’s data. That includes the speed, location, number of miles driven, and more. 

There are basically two ELD types. The first one is a fixed unit or one that stays in the fleet. Meanwhile, the second one is called BYODs – short for Bring Your Own device. 

The latter can be a simple app installed in the driver’s phone. Moreover, a fixed ELD should be installed by a professional as it is hard wired. 

Moreover, the main benefit of a fixed ELD is that the user is less likely to lose or damage it. Additionally, hard wired systems provides better control over the users’ data. They are also more straightforward in terms of maintenance since they are homogenous. 

On the other hand, a BYOD ELD is a system that lets user bring their own device and install the ELD system app there. It works by connected the device, a smartphone, for instance, to the Electronic Control Module or ECM via a dongle through the cab’s onboard diagnostic port. The dongle will be responsible for connecting and transmitting data to the smartphone using Bluetooth. There are also BYOD ELDs that rely on the phone’s data plan in order to work. 

Furthermore, regardless of the ELD type you will choose, one thing that you need to ensure is its certification on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA’s list of ELDs. 

 

The ELD Mandate

ELDs work by recording data about a vehicle’s operation and its driver’s activity. The recorded information about the driver is mostly about the hours of service. HOS consist of a permanent record of driving hours, rest time, and on-duty hours within the entire trip. Notably, on-duty hours is the time the driver is working but not driving.

Recording this data is important because commercial drivers have a maximum time restriction in the number of hours that they can drive between rest periods. 

In 1937, the federal law mandated commercial drivers to keep their service logbooks. Back then, they mainly used logbooks and information were manually written. This method was then replaced by the ELD mandate. This regulation specifies that commercial drivers need to use electronic logging devices. 

Moreover, the usage of ELDs for trucks in Canada is set to become a requirement for professional drivers by the 12th of June 2021. Doing this will improve the driver’s road safety as well as save the trucking companies’ time and resources. 

The main reason why ELDs are required to be fitted to all commercial trucks in Canada is to ensure that both the drivers and the transportation companies are abiding by the Federal laws. This new law is an assurance that logging devices are meeting the uniform technical standards for the information below:

  • Data sharing to make sure that all ELD systems are using standardized format
  • Logbook edits that will allow drivers to certify the Record of Duty Status or RODS and make necessary edits.
  • Collection of data as a way to provide information such as engine data, motion status, and location.
  • Drive duty status to permit special driving conditions.
  • Drive alerts that will notify drivers when it is time to pull out so they can avoid violating the HOS rules.

That being said, companies that are planning to purchase ELDs should make sure that their chosen system is complying with the FMCSA. This way, they can ease themselves by knowing that they are not violating the ELD law. 

 

Who Will be Affected By The Canadian ELD Mandate?

The Canadian ELD Mandate will affect trucks, tractors, trailers or any combination of the three that has a registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 4,500 kg or a bus that is designed and constructed to have a designated seating capacity of more than 10 persons, including the driver. 

This mandate will impact fleets in all industries. For a complete list of who is required to comply, fleets are recommended to review Transport Canada or the Ministry of Transportation requirements available online. 

 

Canada’s ELD Mandate is Near – What are the Next Steps?

Since Canada’s ELD Mandate is quickly approaching, there are 3 important steps to take before June 12th.

1. How will your fleet be impacted?

You must review the regulations outlined in the Canadian ELD Mandate to not only confirm whether your operations will be impacted, but how your operations will need to prepare. This can be done by reviewing information released by Transport Canada or the Ministry of Transportation about the requirements. 

 

2. Ensure that you are subjected to the Mandate by verifying that the right hardware and software solutions are installed.

While much of the hardware and software components required to remain compliant to the upcoming mandate is likely already in place for most fleets, teams should confirm and verify this. Installations or testing can often fall through the cracks and leave teams at risk. If solutions are already in place, each driver should confirm that their device is properly configured and is collecting the right data related to their assigned routes.

 

3. Confirm that your team is properly trained on the regulation changes. 

Checking the hardware and software setup of electronic logging devices also requires team members to be trained on the materials. Whether this is how to display hours-of-service while on the road understanding new rules or time off requirements – proper research on regulation changes should never be overlooked. Fleets are recommended to review Transport Canada or the Ministry of Transportation requirements available online. 

If your fleet is impacted by the Canadian ELD Mandate and you require electronic logging devices or solutions to help remain compliant, contact us today. Our team is trained to help carriers in all industries abide to regulations.

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The 2021 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on The 2021 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck

Every year the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) organizes an International Roadcheck in North America to conduct compliance, enforcement and education initiatives. This year, the roadcheck is set to occur over a 72-hour period from Tuesday May 4, 2021 until Thursday May 6, 2021. With the International Roadcheck quickly approaching, it’s critical for carriers to ensure that their fleets are prepared. 

 

CVSA’s International RoadCheck Details

The quickly approaching roachcheck is promoted as a reminder to motor carriers and drivers of sometimes forgotten vehicle and driving practices, in addition to raising awareness of the North American Standard Inspection Program. By dedicating 72 hours where roadchecks will happen more often to check the vehicle and driver, it is aimed to help show the importance of proactive vehicle maintenance and driver readiness to keep roads safe.

It is important to note that this year’s International Roadcheck will also focus on checking the operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, seat belt usage and alcohol or drug impairment. 

 

What Drivers Can Expect 

From May 4-6, 2021, drivers can expect to see an increased number of roadcheck inspections while on route. These inspections will focus on standard checks to ensure that vehicles are safe to drive in addition to the driver abiding to driving regulations. These inspections will be conducted by CVSA-certified inspectors and will target various elements of motor carrier, vehicle and driver safety. 

Vehicles will undergo inspections to check for vehicle inspection item violations and will include the following, as listed by the CVSA’s “International Roadcheck Set for May 4-6 with Emphasis on Lighting and Hours of Service” update: 

“Inspectors will ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims, hubs and windshield wipers are compliant with regulations. Inspections of motorcoaches, passenger vans and other passenger-carrying vehicles also include emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments, and seating.”

If violations are found, inspectors are able to place vehicles out-of-service as outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If this happens, the vehicle cannot be placed back in service until the out-of-service conditions have been corrected.

If no violations are found and the inspection is passed successfully, a CVSA decal will be provided. By obtaining a CVSA decal, the vehicle will not be required to be re-inspected for three months for which the decal is valid.

 

How To Prepare 

In the days leading up to the International Roadcheck, it’s important for carriers to prepare their team. In addition to notifying drivers of the event and the high possibility of a roadcheck while on route, it is critical for the following to happen: 

  • Ensure that drivers are conducting DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Report) checks properly and thoroughly 
  • Ensure that drivers know how to record and display HOS (hours-of-service) information as per their fleets’ regulation requirements (paper logs or electronic logging devices)
  • Share the North American Standard Roadside Inspection Vehicle Cheat Sheet as provided by the CVSA for drivers to review 

If you would like to learn how GoFleet can help your fleet pass roadside inspections with advanced telematics solutions, contact us today! With a variety of solutions available that are designed to help drivers remain safe by following rules and regulations on the road, we’re confident we have something that can help your fleet.

shipping times, semi conductors, gofleet

Global Semiconductor Shortage: Impact To Shipping Times

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Global Semiconductor Shortage: Impact To Shipping Times

Due to a global shortage of semiconductor production, many businesses are feeling the effects. Not only are car manufacturers hit by this, but fleet management organizations as well. Which as a result, could impact numerous fleets around the world.

A Deeper Look Into What Caused The Shortage 

In recent news, a semiconductor or computer chip shortage was noted. While there is no definite cause for this, many are accounting the shortage to be a result of various factors which include the following: 

  • Factory shutdowns that happened as stay-at-home orders were put into effect 
  • An increased need of technology required for work-from-home orders
  • A surge in cryptocurrency 
  • The 3G network shutdown prompting fleets to upgrade hardware 

All of these play together to result in there not being enough computer chips for the new development of certain products. While it’s easy to assume the impacts to the production of computers or other computer-chip dominated items, other sectors are feeling the impacts.

 

How Fleets Will Be Impacted 

It is important that fleets in all industries pay attention to these events as it could impact their operations. If there is certain hardware which requires semiconductors, it could mean that fulfillment will be delayed on a global scale.

 

What The Shortage Means For GoFleet Customers

GoFleet customers should keep in mind that Go Devices use semiconductors with the hardware. The computer chip is the core of the device to allow data to be collected and transmitted to the various solutions fleets are leveraging in MyGeotab. Without the chip, the devices would not be able to display real-time information or be interconnected with your fleet.

 


What You Can Do

We are urging our customers to review their yearly plan and factor is the global shipping delays for new hardware. Some delays will be upwards of 60 days and depending on the hardware requirement, it means that fleets will need to put in purchasing orders earlier. 

If your fleet is thinking of purchasing specific hardware for compliance or network updates in regard to the Canadian ELD Mandate or the 3G network shutdown, the global shortage must be taken into consideration.

If you would like to learn more about how the shortage in semiconductors may impact plans for your fleet in 2021, please contact our Success Team today. We will work with you so you can put a plan in place to ensure your organization feels the least amount of disruption.

maintenance tracking, cmms, Computer Maintenance Management Systems, fleet

How CMMS Stands Up Against Old Fashion Maintenance Tracking Methods

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on How CMMS Stands Up Against Old Fashion Maintenance Tracking Methods

How CMMS Stands Up Against Old Fashion Maintenance Tracking Methods

Fleets are trying to gain more profits and they try to do so by all means, especially when it comes to increasing efficiency. But efficiency is also impacted by the level of proper maintenance taking place. If improper maintenance takes place, efficiency is reduced and costs increase.

Even though improper maintenance only has negative impacts, why do fleets not ensure proper maintenance takes place? It is because having a proper maintenance procedure requires a great amount of effort and with human errors happening, several mistakes occur making it impractical. 

However, with technology evolving, there are software and solutions that are able to automate this whole process, so fleets can easily keep up with the work while being assured that there are no mistakes. 


Pen and Paper vs Computer Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) – The Showdown

Proper maintenance leads to less downtime, resulting in lower costs, better labour efficiency, reduced backlog and greater asset reliability. Switching from pen and paper to maintenance software is one way to achieve these benefits. But taking a deep dive into comparing both methods will give fleets a better look at what steps they should take moving forward.

 

1. Filling Work Orders 

With pen and paper, a technician, operator or manager fills out a paperwork order form by hand, whether it’s for preventive maintenance or an unplanned breakdown. The work order is then delivered to the technician in an emergency. If a work order comes from outside the maintenance team, they use the software’s work request portal to submit a request and it then gets forwarded to the maintenance team via the CMMS. 

With a maintenance software in place, work orders for unplanned repairs are done remotely through mobile CMMS software. In cases of preventive maintenance, work orders are triggered automatically through maintenance software. Using CMMS, the time taken to create work orders and submitting them is reduced and it helps to set mandatory fields on work request forms to prevent any back and forth in clarifying the request. By reducing the process by 5-10 minutes for each work order, the fleet can gain hundreds of hours of extra production every year. 

 

2. Assigning Work Orders

With outdated tracking methods, either the technician needs to be found if the work order is an emergency or the technician regularly checks the office, sorts through work orders and figures out which ones to prioritize.

With maintenance software, technicians are assigned work orders and alerted to their duties through their mobile devices. Technicians can see which work orders are outstanding, their priority levels and their status. Clearly with a digital platform, there is less time between work orders being submitted and a technician being alerted. Being able to see the status of a work order also allows technicians to check or repair assets that are most important to production. 

 

3. Finding Data For The Work Order

With non-digital reporting, technicians make several visits to the asset, stock room, office and colleagues to assess the task, check the availability of parts, access manuals and discuss the asset’s repair history. They can then lay out a strategy for working on the asset. 

With maintenance software, the technician can review the work order, work history, root cause analysis and standard failure codes of the asset through the mobile interface. Using the available data, the technician then lays out a strategy for working on the asset. Multiple trips around the facility, missing parts and lengthy searches for information could add up to hours of extra downtime, if not days, without using maintenance software. Such a solution groups all asset information in one, remote accessible place. 

 

4. Working On The Work Order

With pen and paper, the technician troubleshoots the problem using information from manuals, standard operating procedure (SOPs), conversations with colleagues and/or memory. The technician can complete PMs from memory or from a written checklist. They then visit the office again to sign off on the work order. 

With maintenance software, the technician repairs the problem using root cause analysis, standard failure codes and/or corresponding checklists and manuals, all accessible through the digital platform. Predictive maintenance is completed using predetermined checklists. The work order is then signed and closed in the software and the users are notified. CMMS clearly wins when it comes to addressing unplanned downtime. It gives technicians a much clearer path to a solution than pen and paper troubleshooting and results in less downtime.

 

5. Work Order Aftermath

When CMMS is overlooking for maintenance tracking, predictive maintenance tasks are put into a paper calendar based on a review of SOPs, production schedules and going through past schedules and asset history to determine how often equipment should be maintained. 

With maintenance software, reports are created based on asset history and SOPs. This data is then used to determine preventive maintenance triggers, which are then added to the software’s calendar. Production schedules are also added to the calendar, and this gives maintenance software a clear advantage over pen and paper methods. 


CMMS Software – Why ZenduMaintenance Should Be Considered

With all the benefits that come with a CMMS solution, fleets who haven’t already implemented a solution to address maintenance procedures should start looking into. A CMMS solution to start looking at is ZenduMaintenance or otherwise referred to as ZenduMA. ZenduMA makes maintenance management easy and lowers repair costs. 

Using ZenduMA helps reduce equipment failure by reducing downtime and increasing equipment availability to boost production, quality, safety and cost efficiency. It also boosts productivity by managing all the workers more effectively and helps fleets in rapidly finding parts, tools and information they need to save time and get the job done right the first time. 

This CMMS solution provides technicians with detailed work instructions created from standard job lists. It manages suppliers and requests quotes quickly and easily. It also manages all the MRO inventory with the ability to quickly add missing technical data, pricing and supplier information to assets and supplies records. 

ZenduMaintenance will help fleets follow the best practices in maintenance, improve performance in organizations and save money by solving problems before they get worse. With tools to help recognize failure codes and track part and vehicle inventory, ZenduMA will streamline a fleet’s entire maintenance process. 

Pen and paper methods have become an old school method and there are several better alternatives to it that raise standards in efficiency and productivity such as CMMS software. Fleets need to start moving forward with the changes in technology as it will help them in the long run and keep them competitive. To learn more about how your fleet can start making use of ZenduMA, contact us now.

preventative maintenance, repair, vehicle, upkeep, gofleet

Addressing Vehicle Lifespan: A Preventive Maintenance Guide For Fleets

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Addressing Vehicle Lifespan: A Preventive Maintenance Guide For Fleets

Addressing Vehicle Lifespan – A Preventive Maintenance Guide

With rising populations, technologies and more, fleets are taking their game to the next level to meet never-ending demands. Fleets are taking this opportunity and starting to look at improving their fleet in every way that will result in short term or instant benefits. However, this rush of improving businesses makes it easy to look over the solutions and practices that help fleets in the long run, specifically preventive maintenance.

Missing out on preventive maintenance will result in major problems in the long run. All the small checks and fixes that take place in a preventive maintenance check keep the vehicle in tip top condition and actually improves the overall lifespan of the vehicle. Avoiding preventive maintenance will negatively affect the vehicle’s lifespan, and here are some of the common maintenance practices that would cause issues if neglected.

    • Neglecting Regular Cleaning

One would think that a car’s appearance does not affect its operation and life. Dirt, dust and grime can bring about wear and tear on your vehicle fast. Keeping your vehicles clean allows you to make the right assessment on the condition of your vehicle. This way, you can quickly spot damages to the interior or exterior of the vehicle and repair them promptly.

Prolonged intervals of cleaning can harden dirt and require more abrasive cleaning, which can damage the paint. In many cases, it can even cause rust formation.

    • Avoiding Inspection

Just like humans routinely visit the doctor to remain healthy, vehicles also need to be inspected regularly. At least once in 4 to 6 months, a qualified car mechanic should thoroughly inspect the vehicle. The inspection covers various aspects, including the condition of the car parts and is typically done at a service center. Furthermore, the vehicle’s oil, fluid levels and tire pressure should be personally checked by the fleet every few weeks. 

    • Ignoring Symptoms

It is not usual to hear rattles or squeaks when driving. Although they may sound like minor issues, they could also indicate something serious, and it would be best to get it checked out at an auto repair shop. The earlier a problem is detected, the easier and cheaper is its solution. Ignoring warning lights on the vehicle’s dashboard or the engine lights can prove to be lethal. Car maintenance involves many steps and light indicators will help to point problems out.  

    • Neglecting Wear And Tear

Automakers build cars to last many years. Time and normal usage, however, will take their toll on a vehicle. A worn part can affect several other components, so a fleet has to be keen on which parts need immediate attention. For instance, worn-out threads on your tires can strain the suspension system of your vehicle and other elements involved in braking. Promptly addressing this issue can prevent major problems from occurring. 

Common preventive maintenance tasks for trucks and fleets must be customized to fit the individual vehicle and its usage pattern. Preventative maintenance checklists allow fleet managers to schedule maintenance tasks in advance. Strong preventative maintenance programs ensure teams complete work orders without spending extra time, labor and money.

Preventative maintenance is essential for any fleet company to succeed. 

 

Example Story

It’s 9:45 am on Wednesday and one of the drivers calls saying his vehicle has been making a loud, squealing noise recently and now he’s on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. He calls again 90 minutes later with news that the technician at the go-to maintenance shop is fully booked but will try to squeeze his vehicle in, but as time passes, it’s not looked at until 3 pm.

By 4 pm, the problems found include a damaged alternator because of a busted driver belt. The costs totaled $700 for the tow truck and repair, along with an entire day of deliveries postponed while the driver sat at the shop. 

In this scenario, many parts of this situation could have been avoided. To begin with, the driver could have alerted the fleet about the squealing noise. As a result, the damaged drive belt could have been fixed for $75 when the oil was changed with other scheduled preventive maintenance and the alternator would not have needed to be replaced.

 

The Average Vehicle Lifespan

Back in the day, the average age for class 4-8 vehicles was 12.5 years in 2007 and now it stands near 14.7 years. The subset of class 6 vehicles is averaging 20.9 years, which takes the highest position amongst vehicles. Whereas the average class 5 is just 11.9 years, which takes the youngest position amongst vehicles. This information is important to keep in mind for fleets who have several vehicles because they need to be ready to expect when a vehicle will break down. However, it would be much easier for a fleet to continue their operations if they have a maintenance system to rely on. 

 

ZenduMA – Keeping Preventive Maintenance In Check

Diagnostics and maintenance management has the power to make and break jobs because fleet managers are measured on their fleet’s productivity. Downtime increases business costs and if left unchecked, can cost a fleet manager their job. This is why solutions like ZenduMA can be beneficial for fleet management. It generates work orders automatically when a vehicle fault or regularly scheduled maintenance is detected. This saves money and reduces downtime. 

With day-to-day data entry to long term trend analysis, ZenduMA delivers powerful functionality without compromising on a simple UI. Companies around the globe use ZenduMA to control maintenance costs, proactively avoid vehicle breakdowns, vastly extend asset life span, increase vehicles availability and most importantly improve the safety of their fleets.

Preventive truck maintenance can be the difference between replacing a $10 part in your shop and paying hundreds more to tow a broken-down tractor to another shop to pay someone else to replace the same part. Preventive maintenance can save fleets money thanks to technology advances that let you know of potential problems before they become costly problems. Capitalizing on volumes of data, predictive maintenance algorithms keep tractors and trailers rolling smoothly between regularly scheduled shop visits and avoid pending part and system failures.

With so much on the line, it’s important for fleets to always keep preventative maintenance top of mind. Choosing to ignore the continuous upkeep of your vehicles could cost you more financially in the long run not only in terms of repairs, but productivity if breakdowns halt work. Contact our team today to learn how you can easily implement a maintenance strategy and why ZenduMaintenance can help.

satellite tracking, gps, fleet, smartone, global star

The SmartONE C: Satellite Tracking To Work Outside Cellular Coverage

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on The SmartONE C: Satellite Tracking To Work Outside Cellular Coverage

The period of implementing asset trackers has come and all fleets have started to recognize the true potential of telematics. With the aid of asset trackers fleets have seen a rise in revenue, productivity and safety, while a decrease in variable costs such as fuel, maintenance and hours of service (HOS). 

More fleets are trying to join in on the trend of implementing telematic solutions but are surprised with the plethora of resources available. This is quite overwhelming, and as a result, fleets are starting to equip their fleet with solutions without first knowing their needs. 

Every fleet has their own needs. It could be to prioritize temperature monitoring, making use of solar energy or even working outside of cellular coverage with satellite tracking. Without learning your needs, the wrong solution could get implemented which could prove to be fatal both in terms of productivity and finances. 

 

Working Outside Of Cellular Coverage With Satellite Tracking

Fleets working outside of cellular coverage must ensure they’re implementing a satellite tracking solution. Most asset trackers are designed to be operated within cellular bounds. Asset trackers are used to transmit data to the main system for the fleet to make use of and if it’s not within cellular range, it will no longer transmit data. This results in the fleet not having connection or sight over the asset. This is why fleets who are working outside of cellular coverage where batteries are difficult to maintain, must ensure they use a solution like the Global Star SmartONE C tracker.

 

The SmartONE C – Tracking Beyond Coverage

 The SmartONE C is the satellite tracking solution offered by GoFleet to track assets beyond coverage. Offering global satellite coverage, it’s a practical solution for a multitude of operations including 12 different reporting times, interval or 24 hour operation mode, alternate reporting schedule, low battery messaging, motion sensor or vibration parameter and scheduling, contact closure parameters as well as diagnostic messages. 

 

The SmartONE C – Features

The SmartONE C uses motion sensors, comparative GPS positions and custom configured sensors to gather and transmit asset status information about safety, maintenance procedures and driver analytics. Each SmartONE C is configured to track its asset’s specific needs and provide intermediate and emergency alerts by email or text. 

The SmartONE C can be line powered, and that’s when the user has maximum flexibility in messaging frequency allowing for regular monitoring of asset location. In the absence or interruption of external power, the SmartONE C can automatically switch to battery backup. The asset tracking device is powered by four “off the shell” AA 1.5V lithium batteries providing 3+ years of battery life and eliminating the need to purchase expensive proprietary batteries for replacement.  

 

A Case Study – Satellite Tracking For Winter Fleet Management

In 2019, a storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city and made some neighborhoods impossible to access. Streets that would normally be cleared with a standard plow vehicle were unmanageable because of the compaction and weight of the snow. There was a need for a specific kind of grader to bore through, but without proper data, there was no indication ahead of time that this special equipment was necessary. Plowing crews only found out about the conditions when the normal snowplow arrived and could not clear the street.

Every year, over 1,300 deaths and 116,800 injuries occur from vehicle crashes due to snowy conditions on roadways. Snow removal, sanding and salting roads helps these conditions, but few trucks are available to perform the work. Accurately knowing where the heaviest snow has fallen will enable dispatchers to deploy the correct equipment to clear the dangerous areas first.

The fleet needed to know the speed of snow accumulation in near real time, new snow depth by the hour as well as total depth for the day, month and season in multiple areas at once. Simply measuring the snow with a stick was not an option, as they needed to monitor several miles of land, some of it in remote areas out of cellular range. What they needed was a digital solution that was affordable, flexible, easy to install and ideally could serve other purposes after the snow was gone.

To tackle this challenge, the SmartONE C solution was implemented. As a result, all the snow data was placed into one easy-to-use web-based user interface. The SmartONE C gave managers the power to view the location, behavior and other telematics data collected by assets in their organization’s technology ecosystem. It was possible to group and sort assets, customize interfaces and user permissions and automate alerts or reports to suit the fleet’s needs.

Implementing the SmartONE C allowed the fleet to watch snow levels as they grew in multiple locations at once, allowing them to estimate the hourly accumulation to help them determine their removal plan. The fleet was also able to track the plows’ locations and behavior on the same user interface as the snow depth. In addition, they could manage the consumption of salt being used on the road and supply the drivers with valuable emergency communication capabilities out of the treacherous roads.

Satellite tracking solved the challenges that winter fleets were facing and simplified their management process. If you’re fleet works outside of cellular coverage or operate in places where the connection isn’t strong, the SmartONE C would be the best choice for your fleet. It will allow you to operate and track fleet data almost anywhere globally and help take your fleet to the next level. Contact us now for deep insight about the SmartONE C and how your fleet can implement it.