Vehicle Data Can Amplify Fleet Performance - Copy

Fleet managers who are able to maximize the potential of their entire operation typically hold a certain advantage: A complete understanding of how their fleet is functioning from a day-to-day and long-term perspective.

And one of the best ways to get this information is through integrating a vehicle’s electronic bus data – via a standard J-Bus or OBD-II connection – with the company’s overall fleet operations.

Fleet managers who utilize this data are using this information to monitor and correct many common problem areas that fleets typically face, according to a recent study by C.J. Driscoll & Associates.

Driscoll, which has over 20 years of experience in custom research including analysis of market status, trends and competitive environment, recently completed its study, which was conducted June through August 2013, based on a telephone survey of 508 fleet managers in a broad range of categories including service, trucking, utility, government fleets, and others.

Fleets that used this electronic bus data are able to find a wealth of savings in a number of areas such as improving fleet fuel efficiency, reducing idle time, monitoring safety analytics and through vehicle diagnostic reporting.

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    Image courtesy of Driscoll Report

The survey found that fleet managers who used electronic bus data did so in the following areas:

Fuel Consumption

Fleet managers are able to significantly improve the fuel economy of all their vehicles through software that monitors fuel consumption. Teletrac offers software has fuel efficiency in its DNA, focusing on lessening the percentage of idling engine time, decreasing harsh braking, jettisoning out of route miles and sidestepping traffic buildups.

Idle Time

While eliminating idle time saves on fuel costs, the benefits don’t end there. An idling vehicle can consume up to 1.5 gallons of fuel per hour. According to the American Trucking Association, one hour of idling per day over the course of one year results in the equivalent of 64,000 miles in engine wear when adding up all the contributing factors. Fleet managers who reduce idle time are likely to see the following benefits:

• Reduced engine maintenance costs
• Extended engine life
• Getting around anti-idling laws
• Fewer greenhouse emissions
• Decreased dependency on oil imports

Safety

Through this data, fleet managers are able to receive insight into vehicle safety based on key performance metrics and recorded events, such as speeding and harsh braking. This feature identifies any safety violations or inefficiencies for an entire fleet or a single vehicle. Fleet managers are then able to monitor unsafe driving behavior and prevent any further vehicle abuse.

Vehicle Diagnostics

Through the electronic data bus, fleet managers have direct visibility into engine performance – including major statistics and fault codes.

This feature helps fleet managers ensure the safety and longevity of their vehicles. Once the data is received, a platform such as Fleet Director is able to create comprehensive, diagnostics reports, including easy-to-use, data-filled dashboards with charts and graphs, allowing fleet managers to note potential risks and improve overall efficiency and performance.