Alexis, Author at GoFleet Tracking

Five Ways to Improve Fleet Management in the Logistics Industry

Posted on May 19, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

The logistics industry is a vast ecosystem of supply chains, software, and services that work in unison to deliver goods to customers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

From the ongoing demands of inventory management to data security and risk assessment, this industry demands constant vigilance. These struggles can be mitigated with efficient and effective fleet management. Below, we’ve listed the top five ways to improve fleet management in the logistics industry.

The World of Logistics: Current State

Currently, the logistics sector is growing at a rapid pace, making it a particularly attractive target for those looking to leverage their skills and enter the industry from a new angle.

The chief gap in logistics is a lack of quality data. At its most basic, the industry is made up of individual suppliers and businesses that come together to support business processes.

For fleet managers, an overflow of data sets (or not enough) makes it difficult for businesses to understand their supply chains and track the performance of their operations as a whole. Read on for five ways to improve fleet management in the logistics industry.

Utilize GPS and Telematics Devices for More Than Location Tracking

The telematics industry continues to create increasingly sophisticated apps that connect to fleet vehicles, allowing logistics companies to track the location of their fleet vehicles in real-time.

Of course, these apps are only as good as the data they receive. There are a number of benefits associated with incorporating GPS tracking devices in your fleet vehicles, including improved fuel efficiency, better driver safety, less vehicle maintenance, and reduced insurance costs due to liability or repairs.

Another option for improving fleet management is the use of telematics devices, which provide a variety of analytics, including fuel consumption and driving behaviour.

Fleet managers who use these devices not only know where their drivers are, but what kind of driving behaviour they’re engaged in.

These data sets can improve training and reduce accidents caused by risky driving activity such as fatigue or distraction.

Switch to Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports for Speed and Compliance

Electronic driver vehicle inspection reports for speed and compliance are the best way to optimize your fleet’s performance. These reports show a company’s progress over time, highlighting points where improvements can be made.

The electronic driver vehicle inspection report is an excellent metric for tracking business performance to boost productivity across the board.

You’ll also get access to customizable dashboards with metrics such as fuel efficiency and employee satisfaction so that you can see how your team members are performing, and where they can improve.

Of course, it’s not just about improving performance; these reports also offer security through monitoring drivers, vehicles, and companies across the supply chain.

With these reports, you’ll better understand how safe each link in your supply chain really is, and where privacy can improve.

Better Leverage Fuel and Maintenance Data with Integrations

Logistics companies that have a fleet management system typically have one of two options for integrating with logistics software.

First, they can use a web-based integration tool like API bridges, which is what most logistics companies do. This method is the simplest and most straightforward, but does not provide all the benefits that integration through a software platform offers.

The second option is to use third-party integrations, where logistics managers can better allocate resources across their supply chain and make more informed decisions about where they should place stockings and other materials.

Overall, integrating with a software platform provides logistical managers with more insight into their fleet’s performance and helps them improve it faster than ever before.

Track Expenses More Effectively

One of the biggest challenges in logistics is that it is a capital-intensive industry. An organization must spend a significant amount of money to maintain its operations.

With that said, it is also imperative that they can track expenses to keep tabs on overall performance.

For example, many logistics companies work with carriers who offer insurance and tracking services for their goods. These services do wonders for operational efficiency, but can be quite expensive.

The good news? A business can track these expenses by getting an invoice from the carrier and entering it on a spreadsheet, allowing them to monitor how much money they’re spending on these services over time.

This system does not only help a company see where their financial resources are being allocated, it also allows them to make more informed decisions about whether or not these investments are viable and sustainable.

Improve Fleet Management in the Logistics Industry with GoFleet

Without quality data, it’s difficult for companies to make informed decisions about their operations. One way to improve fleet management in your business is by using a customized solution with GoFleet.

We have a range of features that let you easily manage your fleet and keep track of the performance of every vehicle in your fleet.

With GoFleet, you can identify potential problems before they impact your bottom line. For example, if you notice that one of your vehicles is consistently late or experiencing mechanical issues, you’ll be able to rectify the problem before it becomes something more serious.

What is GoFleet?

We have premium fleet management solutions to meet the business needs of virtually every industry.

From telematics, work routing and dispatch, ELD, driver apps and asset monitoring, GoFleet offers countless hardware and software-based solutions to address all needs related to efficiency, maintenance and management in fleets.

Our fleet management software helps logistics companies across the globe improve fleet management and productivity. Our solutions are customizable, so you never have to worry about limitations or restrictions when it comes to business growth.

To learn more, contact us at GoFleet.com.

Top 8 Fleet Management Challenges in the Logistics Industry

Posted on May 13, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Commercial fleet managers face all the same problems as those in professional management—directing and coordinating people, talent and assets, while simultaneously trying to save money for the parent company. When your employees are on the road, there can be additional fleet management challenges in the logistics industry.

That’s a lot to juggle effectively; when your employees are most often on the road, crossing state lines and borders, logistics can get even trickier.

Fleet managers are often forced to solve a plethora of problems in real-time—vehicular accidents, personnel safety, package delivery issues, closed routes.

Often these fleet-management decisions are made within a shifting and sometimes volatile marketplace. One recent glaring example is the recent volatility in global gas prices.

When it comes to transit logistics and all the details involved in transport, there’s much that can go wrong in any single workday.

Recent digital innovations such as driver dash cams and integrated GPS communications have revolutionized logistics, allowing fleet managers to streamline information by automating a range of processes.

While the world prepares itself for the inevitable path towards automation, technology is causing seismic shifts across every industry. Businesses everywhere are upgrading, aware of the timeless maxim: adapt or perish.

For fleets, this usually means better fuel efficiency and improved onboard technology—car dashboard systems, wireless connections, vehicle sensors, telematics and more.

As the roll-out of innovative disruptions continue, smart technology is being instituted at an equal pace. However, with new tech come new challenges.

Logistics & Fleet Management

Fleet management is one of the industries most thoroughly impacted by recent technological innovations. Vehicles in particular have undergone massive changes in recent years, offering smarter navigation and driver-focused ‘infotainment’ centres.

Yet when it comes to logistics, most fleets are still struggling to manage their employees, stay on top of administrative paperwork, and adapt to each upgrade.

Here are the top eight most encountered fleet management challenges in the logistics industry, as well as how the digital revolution is currently addressing each challenge.

08. Excessive Administrative Tasks

TomTom, maker of car navigation systems, recently conducted a study of over 1,000 companies to determine the particular challenges most affecting fleet management. Most complaints revolved around inefficiencies in time management. Specifically, spending a majority of their time on rote tasks: a reported 42% said they spend too much time searching for the right employees, and 59% stated that reporting and management of staff work hours takes up the majority of their time.

Common rote tasks include sorting through spreadsheets and databases for up-to-date transit information, or updating printed lists of information that become obsolete immediately after printing.

Replacing paper-based systems with automation can help save businesses enormous time and considerable money over the long term. Automating administrative tasks can free managers from outdated practices that monopolize their precious time.

07. Rising Fuel & Maintenance Costs

Since 2019, the cost for fuel has risen. Not coincidentally, fuel and maintenance are often the largest expenses for fleets, with soaring costs significantly impacting fleet management.

As more cars move toward greater fuel-efficiency, including hybrids and electric vehicles, some drivers still prefer the more powerful gas guzzlers.

Telematic fleet management software can automatically track your fuel consumption and many other factors such as speeding, idling, harsh breaking and other driver behaviours.

Telematics can also inform you of vehicle servicing dates and schedule maintenance reminders, as well as provide engine information and sensor alerts. These features in turn help fleets avoid or reduce larger maintenance costs.

06. Data Privacy & Control

Today’s world is teeming with data vulnerabilities and privacy concerns. As TomTom writes, “It’s common for new companies to be overwhelmed by the selection of tools and APIs when creating proprietary software to manage fleet operations, making it easy to overlook potential data privacy vulnerabilities.”

Many apps sell driver location information to third parties, which add cookies, trackers and even sales ads on top of GPS navigation screens.

GoFleet engineers work to streamline fleet operation processes. Our intuitive software solutions assist with data management, assuring that fleet managers do not drown in data.

We build scalable web and mobile solutions that integrate different platforms and device tracking types. This gives fleets control of their operations while seamlessly protecting wireless transmissions and data privacy.

05. Effective Fleet Communication

When drivers are on the road, it’s not always easy (or safe) to communicate using regular means such as calling, text or email.

Drivers must keep both hands on the wheel, yet successful fleet operations depend on open communication and regular updates. If a delivery suddenly changes, or a significant change in road conditions will affect ETA, all parties need to be made aware.

Our integrated devices and telematics support help simplify order workflow through automated messaging.

Both management and drivers can send automated messages, providing regular status updates and relaying key information: schedules, calendar and other regular communication through navigation devices, visual updates, and customized dashboard solutions.

04. Coordinating Geographic Diversity

Commercial fleets, whether coast-to-coast or across international borders, have quite a few logistical and travel hurdles to manage on a daily basis.

Large, active fleets are not always easy to track with accuracy. For example, coordinating communications providers across long distances can make remote fleet management very difficult, and changing road conditions can disrupt scheduled arrival times.

GoFleet telematics software and GPS tracking solutions let fleets of all sizes effectively integrate their communications systems and their customer service.

Locate drivers, track operations and communicate with your team more intuitively, anywhere on Earth. We help fleets maintain visibility across all terrain, with real-time data on all major moving assets.

Managing these fleet management challenges in the logistic industry amidst geographic complexity is what keeps drivers and fleets ahead of the game.

03. Asset Authorization & Utilization

Remote entry, keyless entry, facial recognition, and other asset authorization technologies have revolutionized fleet industries—from rental vehicle exchanges, to expanded ride sharing enterprises.

Automated authorization and chain-of-command GPS tracking help assure that assets stay in authorized hands and in designated areas.

Along with delivery deadlines and accurate ETAs, fleet management software can track all types of driver and vehicle behaviour. Such dashboard reporting systems can warn of aggressive driving behaviour, or if vehicles are operating outside authorized work hours.

Accurate metrics allow for a finely-tuned fleet-force, able to generate continuous cost savings and an optimal ROI.

Integrated fleet management services also include ZenduWork, which coordinates dispatching, work order tools and vehicles. This helps fleets keep utilization high, logistics efficient and people productive.

02. Integrated Data & Accuracy

It can be difficult to integrate apps, platforms and software operating systems at the same time and expect them to work as a streamlined whole. Especially when all of communication, onboard navigation and data transmission rely on a patchwork of cellular service providers.

Data integration means being able to support your drivers in real-time with alerts, status updates and responses. Well-integrated data lets fleets and delivery teams meet ETAs and send automated updates to waiting clients when backups occur.

These improvements in real-time road visibility and flexible support help fleet managers navigate unexpected events and avoid catastrophes.

01. Driver Safety & Productivity

For fleets, road safety and security are a must. Creating a driver safety program, educating and encouraging your drivers on good driving habits are essential.

Safe driving, paired with automated reminders for regular vehicle maintenance and servicing alerts, means that fleets today have every possible advantage when it comes to driver safety and accident prevention.

Not only does this save lives, but it also significantly reduces unexpected costs such as downtime, liability and insurance premiums.

Driver education and real-time driver coaching have come a long way. Features such as voice-activated technology, geofencing, ZenduMaps and other customizable navigation tools greatly bolster fleet productivity, accuracy and timeliness.

Next-generation safety solutions include the gamification of driver coaching, two-way dash cams and real-time safety alerts for distracted, drowsy or aggressive driving.

GoFleet: Rising to Fleet Management Challenges in the Logistics Industry

Telematics software and fleet management solutions have come a long way. In these past 20 years, customizable platforms and AI-equipped dash cam solutions have simplified transportation, streamlined data collection, and protected drivers.

Around the globe, vast fleet challenges are consistently being met by superior IT solutions.

At GoFleet and around the world, improvements in automation continue to make fleets safer and more efficient, with improved ROIs and a satisfied workforce. Contact your GoFleet representative for a free demonstration.

Fuel Management Systems: How to Get Ahead

Posted on April 14, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Like it or not, fuel is the biggest expenditure for efficient fleet management. A custom fuel management system is the perfect solution to understand gas consumption within your fleet.

Many fleet managers are incorporating fuel management systems into their daily operations. Leveraging telematics technology offers valuable insights into fuel usage and allows you to optimize this valuable asset across the board.

A fuel management system enables fleet managers to track fuel usage patterns across their fleet. A typical automated fuel management system includes onboard hardware such as vehicle telematics units, data loggers, sensors, and cameras, as well as an in-office analytics dashboard and fuel management software.

Extra integrations and mobile apps are also popular features of these systems.

Without a fuel management system in place, managers often find themselves overspending on fuel and repairs, and drivers may run out of fuel as the result of a misgauged fuel meter or taking trips without optimized routes.

What Are the Benefits of a Fuel Management System?

Fleet management is comprised of a number of factors outside of vehicles; there are operating systems, assets and expenditures to take into account.

A fuel management system allows fleet managers to monitor asset usage for gasoline, diesel, truck repairs and maintenance services. These systems also generate compliance reports, limit operational risks, provide real-time fuel consumption data, and optimize fuel allocation, giving managers a truly holistic overview of their fleet.

Benefits for Fleet Managers

According to a recent study, aggressive driving increases fuel costs by up to 30%. The study also notes that unsafe or aggressive driving behaviours in urban areas drive air pollutant emissions up by 40%, regardless of the road grade.

With a well-developed fuel management system, fleet managers can track data like fuel usage, road grade, operational risks, real-time trip statistics, fuel consumption data, fuel allocation, and much more.

This data can also help them improve route planning and asset utilization, develop more effective vehicle maintenance schedules, and gain holistic insights into fuel economy.

Benefits for Drivers

Drivers benefit from data sets provided by fuel management systems as well. For example, refueling alerts, streamlined receipt/expense management and route optimization all offer drivers a safer, more efficient trip.

Fuel theft and unauthorized use of fuel continues to be a persistent issue, so ensuring that each and every fleet vehicle has a monitoring system in place can save your drivers from suspicion.

No matter what your fleet does, what products or services they deliver, or how many vehicles are involved, fleet management is an important tool that can help optimize assets and minimize expenses.

Why are Fuel Management Systems Important?

Small issues can become serious ones if not repaired in a timely manner. According to Intellias:

Flat or under-inflated tires can reduce mileage by up to 30%
Engine problems reduce mileage by 4% on average
Faulty oxygen sensors cut up to 40% off mileage
Brake drag can also affect driver safety and fuel consumption.

A fuel tracking system can track anomalies in your fleet’s fuel consumption, which can be either indicative of potential maintenance issues or the result of driving behaviour.

With detailed and real-time data on fuel usage and expenditures, a fleet manager can ensure that assets are properly distributed, repairs are managed as needed, and that drivers are supported and well-prepared to do their jobs.

Many mechanical issues can impact fuel consumption, including the amount of fuel used, mileage, the quality and safety rating of your engines, the cost of fuel, and repair services.

Having a properly developed fuel management system can help mitigate these risks and expenses not only by giving you a window into your fleet’s performance, but by protecting your drivers and overall fleet performance.

The more advanced these systems become, the more predictive they can be, which means you can identify the best scheduling sequence for vehicle repairs.

Fuel management systems can mitigate logistical issues, and in many cases can prevent them from happening in the first place.

How Can I Create a Fuel Management System?

Developing and installing a custom fuel management system is no easy feat, but the professionals at GoFleet can help you build a regulatory monitoring system designed for your fleet’s specific needs.

Whether you need to measure fuel levels in real-time, identify fuel consumption patterns per vehicle or detect fueling locations, a fuel management system will enable you to do just that.

The priorities for any fuel management system are convenience and control. If you’re looking to install a fleet management system for your team’s vehicles, contact us at GoFleet for a consultation today.

A Beginner’s Guide to Fleet Management

Posted on April 7, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Effective fleet management provides organizations with real-time visibility into their logistic operations and increases efficiency through vehicle routing and accurate reporting. Fleet management software paired with vehicle telematics can help support your day-to-day transportation needs while providing an overview of your business. Below is a beginner’s guide to fleet management.

What Is Fleet Management?

Fleet management has gained popularity over the past few years based on its reputation for guaranteeing efficient performance, optimum fleet maintenance and helping organizations run smoothly.

Fleet management refers to all actions allowing a fleet to run on time, efficiently, and within a given budget.

Similarly, it can be defined as the process by which fleet managers monitor the fleet’s activities by applying asset management, vehicle dispatch, and routing to make informed decisions.

Benefits of Fleet Management

You can maximize the efficiency of your fleet using fleet management software or by hiring reliable fleet managers.

Here are the major benefits of fleet management, and how they can improve your bottom line.

Ability to Manage Fleets Remotely

With all the various components that require coordination and organization, managing a fleet of any size can be difficult.

Luckily, fleet management software allows you to track all components remotely, thus simplifying coordination. Features such as vehicle tracking, and vehicle routing allow you to monitor the current location of your vehicles and find the easiest route.

Increase in Vehicle Lifespan

The GPS feature on vehicles allows easy monitoring of performance and identifies possible vehicle damage. It is easier to detect potential maintenance issues when you have access to logistics such as mileage and tire wear.

Being well informed allows you to carry out and perform timely maintenance, thus improving the lifespan of your vehicle.

Improved Safety

Fleet management software allows managers to trace the location of a vehicle and keep up with the driver’s behaviour. Most fleet management software has a video recording feature to help monitor driving behaviour while on the road.

This prevents dangerous behaviours such as drowsy or distracted driving, thus improving the vehicle’s safety and consignment.

Reduced Costs

Fleet management software comes with built-in tools such as GPS tracking to help with vehicle routing, which can help you determine the shortest route when making deliveries and eliminate costly lead times.

Fleet management software also provides accurate reports on your vehicles’ performance and total costs incurred during deliveries. These features all play an important role in cost reduction.

Central Data Management

It is a lot easier to organize and coordinate your fleet when all your data is centrally located. Fleet management software provides valuable data sets on demand, from a central (often cloud-based) location.

Improved Customer Service

Customers look forward to working with businesses whose feedback reflects accurate, reliable deliveries.

With fleet management software, you improve customer satisfaction by ensuring all the information you share with them is up to date. Additionally, the software will aid in tracking the current location of consignments.

Preventing Fraud

As a fleet manager, you have trust in your drivers. However, driver fraud does happen and requires even the most well-intentioned managers to stay vigilant.

Drivers who use their fuel card for reasons other than fueling company vehicles or falsely claiming card misplacement are both well-documented examples of driver fraud. Other examples include drivers using their own credentials to allow non-approved drivers to operate company vehicles.

An AI-powered fleet management system prevents fraud and helps promote transparency among your drivers.

Maintain Communication

Fleet management software equips your fleet with a built-in communication tool that allows you to make contact with your drivers directly.

As a result, drivers can communicate in real-time while on the road, without compromising safety or missing deliveries.

Vehicle Routing

Planning the day’s business in advance helps everything work seamlessly. A fleet management system can help you effectively assign vehicles, routes and drivers.

6 Tips For Effective Fleet Management

What are some of the fleet management steps can you incorporate into your operations, and where should you begin? Below, we offer some suggestions for managing your fleet more effectively.

1. Set Your Goals

If you want to be successful at managing your fleet, establish your business goals and monitor your progress from time to time.

Your goals should be specific, well defined and adequately aligned to the success of your business. Have a common objective to keep your team united and avoid the need for micromanagement.

2. Track Everything

Data is crucial in helping make sound business decisions. Having all necessary data on how your vehicles and drivers perform on a daily basis is essential.

Maintain a track record of how much fuel your vehicles consume, driver performance, and when deliveries are made. Keeping detailed records helps predict future outcomes and keeps your operations predictable.

3. Choose the Right Fleet Vehicles

Before purchasing or leasing any fleet vehicles, it is essential to assess your business needs. The vehicles you acquire should meet the size and scope of your operations, both in current and future states.

Purchasing too many vehicles up front could mean that several of them remain unused. Acquire too few, and your drivers – and trucks – could burn out.

4. Think About your Drivers

The credentials of your drivers ensure the safety of your fleet and consignment.

Having certified drivers with the right skillsets translates to better business performance, significantly reducing unnecessary costs and repairs.

5. Spend Wisely

As a fleet manager, you should consider all costs incurred through vehicles and equipment that are purchased, leased, or rented.

Spending your capital effectively depends on your knowledge base of strategies that help you meet return-on-investment goals. You should also consider available resources, flexible strategies, and any maintenance costs that change your business’s operational needs.

6. Invest in Fleet Management Software

Investing in technology-based systems such as fleet management software will help you utilize fleet intelligence, improve operational efficiency and properly manage your business.

Fleet management software continually improves the efficiency and productivity of your business by lowering costs and enhancing both customer and employee satisfaction, eventually leading to revenue growth and profitability.

What is Fleet Management Software?

Your fleet likely runs on data. Fleet management software acts as the “brain” behind your operations. The right fleet management solution will continually play a vital role in ensuring that fleet management activities are well coordinated and properly executed.

In addition, fleet management software records vehicle operations in real-time, allowing you to stay on top of maintenance and avoid potential breakdowns.

How Fleet Management Software Can Improve Fleet Safety

Fleet management is a data-driven process. It requires the involvement of multiple moving parts to function effectively.

It can help improve safety in several ways:

Real-time audio and visual feedback.
24/7 access to safety-related analytics, which can prevent accidents.
Driver performance applications keep your drivers safe and accountable.
Accurately records footage before, during, and after a reported incident. Footage can help prevent future accidents, assign liability and potentially exonerate your drivers.

A successful fleet management program tracks, analyzes, and optimizes your fleet. For more information, contact a GoFleet representative, and see how our fleet management solutions can benefit your business.

Telematics Can Help Your Fleet Reduce Fuel Costs

Posted on March 31, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Given today’s fractured economic climate, one could easily add the skyrocketing cost of fuel to that list.

In the transportation industry, fleet managers are challenged to mitigate rising fuel costs without compromising other aspects of their business. Many companies have chosen to add electric vehicles to their fleet. While these vehicles definitely save on fuel costs, they can be cost prohibitive.

So how can one maintain fuel efficiency across their fleet without impacting their budget? Telematics might just hold the answer.

Using telematics to reduce fuel costs

Telematics combines telecommunications and informatics. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) automatically record hours-of-service (HOS) and driving time data.

Through the use of GPS and communication technologies, telematics provides fleet managers with data about vehicle location, vehicle use, kilometres driven, idle time, fuel economy, driver behaviour, and engine maintenance.

Within the transportation industry, telematics can track all aspects of the vehicle, from electrical, mechanical engineering to software engineering.

In the context of saving fuel costs, telematics controls and monitors vehicles on the move; it acts as a single monitor for all the different sensory and electrical features of your vehicles, including fuel efficiency, all the while providing data on-demand and in real-time.

Here are just a few of the ways that telematics can help you reduce fuel costs.

Improving driving habits

Everyone develops bad habits over time, and commercial drivers are no exception. Idling, aggressive driving and sudden acceleration can all add up to large fuel costs.

With telematics data, fleet managers can receive alerts in real-time, allowing them to coach the driver to prevent future incidents. Many of these telematics systems are paired with powerful software packages to help track vehicle activity and manage fuel consumption.

Telematics can also help you keep scorecards for your drivers, allowing them to challenge each other, and themselves, to improve their performance on the road.

Deterring fuel theft

Telematics solutions in your vehicles can be accessed remotely to help you keep track of fuel usage. Instant alerts let you know if there is any suspicious behaviour around fuel consumption.

Monitoring and maintaining diesel fuel levels

A poorly maintained diesel exhaust fuel (DEF) level can have an adverse effect on your vehicles’ mechanics, resulting in inefficient use of fuel, and an unfavourable impact on the environment.

Telematics ensures that DEF maintenance is optimal. These solutions send real-time data alerts when diesel exhaust levels are not on par with the emission regulation threshold.

Providing proactive maintenance schedule alerts

Regardless of the telematics solution you choose for your fleet, running full-time diagnostics should always be a priority, especially if fuel conservation is a pain point.

If the device senses that something isn’t running as it’s supposed to, it proactively sends an alert to the driver, while simultaneously alerting the repair centre.

Maintenance alerts slow down the gradual wear and tear on your vehicles and helps prevent future breakdowns, all of which help you save on fuel costs.

Optimizing existing routes and finding new ones

The data collected by GPS integration (common in most telematics systems) can be used to find better, safer routes, which can reduce not only the overall travel time, but the amount of fuel it takes to reach your destination.

GPS can also provide real-time traffic or route status; in the event of heavy traffic, this feature can help you find an alternative route and avoid idling.

General tips on reducing fuel costs

The alerts provided by telematics give you a holistic overview of your fleet. Most of these alerts have a direct impact on fuel consumption and acting on them can create big savings with minimal effort.

Here are a few of the diagnostics that telematics can track and alert you to in order to save fuel:

Keeping tires properly inflated. You can increase your gas mileage by up to 3% by keeping tires inflated to the correct pressure.
Reducing the use of air conditioners and heaters, or keeping them at optimal levels.
Staying on top of alignments and other scheduled maintenance work. Regular maintenance not only improves fuel efficiency, it also minimizes the risk of accidents.
Telematics can identify if the vehicle’s payload is too heavy, which can cause damage to your fleet and exponential gas consumption.
You can improve gas mileage by using the vehicle’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the packaging can also support your fuel-saving efforts with friction-reducing additives.

Conclusion

Whether you choose a telematics solution that gives you real-time feedback on fuel consumption or provides data to help you make informed decisions about maintenance and vehicle replacement, the fact remains that telematics can improve the status of your vehicles while having a positive impact on your bottom line.

The benefits of telematics during the labour shortage

Posted on March 23, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

When it comes to transportation of goods and services, truck drivers are the adhesive that holds the supply chain together. Given their importance, finding, hiring, and retaining truck drivers has proven to be more difficult than ever.

Once thought of solely as a system for improving operational efficiency, there is now opportunity to leverage telematics for driver retention.

By the end of this article, you will gain insight into the present trucking industry, and how the use of telematics can make a big difference with the current labour shortage.

What is ‘telematics’?

In broad terms, telematics is a field that combines telecommunications and informatics. Informatics involves the working of computer systems – the science involved in the processing of information, its storage, and retrieval.

When you apply this combination to vehicles, telematics becomes a highly sophisticated computing system that can track all aspects of the vehicle, from electrical, mechanical engineering to software engineering.

The use of telematics in the context of vehicle use often involves the following:

Using telecommunications to send, receive and store information to help control remote objects.
The combined use of telecommunications, and informatics to control and monitor vehicles that are on the move.
The use of GPS to help with the navigation and live tracking of vehicles.

Telematics acts as a single monitor for all the different sensory and electrical features of your vehicle, all the while providing instant information on a single vehicle, or an entire fleet, on demand and in real-time.

The trucking industry’s labour shortage

According to a recent report from the American Trucking Association (ATA), the shortage in truck drivers hit an all-time high of over 80,000 drivers in 2021.

The most prevalent causes were:

Demographics – The average age of current drivers is above 50, leading to more retirees and fewer hires year over year.
Fewer female drivers – According to the same ATA report, women only make up 7% of the overall existing drivers.
Lack of new drivers – The availability of potential drivers on par with a truck carrier’s hiring standard is extremely low.
Lifestyle –The lifestyle of the average truck driver is another important factor that deters people from choosing truck driving as a profession. Long hours, irregular meals and sleeping patterns all contribute to the decline.
The pandemic – Among the many people that were temporarily laid off due to COVID, most did not come back.

This labour shortage will be acutely felt for a long time and may persist until the trucking industry increases its bandwidth to allow younger drivers into the fold and/or improves its hiring and training practices.

Mitigating the labour shortage

There are two parts to managing the labour shortage. The first and most self-evident is to make the driving profession more lucrative and attractive to potential drivers, including:

Offering fair wages with extra benefits, including solid health insurance and pension plans.
An increase in freight rates.
A refresh in the truck industry’s branding, making it an appealing and viable career path.
Better work schedules and route assignment for improved work/life balance.

The second solution would be the adoption of technology. Telematics has massive potential to help your workforce mitigate the labour shortage while providing attractive solutions that make everyone’s job easier in the short and long-term.

How telematics can help

Telematics has the power to improve the working conditions of your existing and future drivers in a very significant way.

The benefits of telematics from a business perspective

Improves productivity and efficiency: The data collected by integrated GPS found in most telematics systems can be used to optimize routes, which reduces the overall time spent on the road, reduces delivery times, and improves fuel usage.
Reduces operation costs: All the improvements listed in the previous statement help reduce operational costs. Moreover, since telematics tracks and keeps records of virtually everything that has to do with the vehicle, there are opportunities to identify potential issues within your vehicles before they happen, thus improving operational costs and maximizing fleet efficiency.
Automates payroll management: With the time and distance data provided by telematics, it becomes easier to manage payroll without having to worry about clerical errors.
Streamlines telecommunications: Telematics systems help you seamlessly streamline all forms of end-to-end communication within your business operations, from customers to drivers.
Offers proactive maintenance and repair alerts: The diagnostics data provided by telematics can help you maintain your fleet and keep everything in working order. Issues can be flagged to your driver while also alerting your repair centre, preventing break downs before they happen.
Attracts and retains drivers: This is the most important benefit given the subject of this article. Vehicles fitted with telematics technology will always prove to be more attractive, and the many features that the tech offers, especially in them being engaged, and not disconnected over miles of long lonely road, will certainly help in their retention.

The benefits of telematics from a driver’s perspective

Improves safety and compliance: The built-in driver monitoring software encourages drivers to comply with all regulatory driving standards. This goes a long way in avoiding, and preventing accidents, ensuring the overall health, and safety of the drivers.
Opportunities for real-time coaching: Virtually everyone develops bad driving habits over time. Whether it’s harsh braking, frequent acceleration or failing to use a turn signal, telematics can identify these occurrences and alert both you and your driver to these behaviours as soon as they happen, giving you an opportunity to correct and coach in real-time.
Increases job safety: Contrary to popular belief, telematics isn’t the digital, overbearing “Big Brother” that everyone thinks. There are lots of ways to introduce telematics to your drivers that frame it as a benefit; less in-cab surveillance and more of an insurance policy that helps prevent accidents, exonerate your drivers and keep them safe.

Conclusion

While there is no singular solution to fix the entire trucking industry, an organized business that leverages telematics data not only lures prospective employees, but it can also help your organization use your existing drivers and vehicles more efficiently while keeping them safe on the road.

For more information, contact your GoFleet consultant and ask us how we can keep you and your staff in the driver’s seat.

The Top10 KPIs that drive efficient fleet maintenance

Posted on March 17, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Maintaining an efficient fleet management system is key to keeping your vehicles on the road and your business running smoothly. From fuel efficiency to vehicle wear and tear, there are so many variables to consider that the maintenance of your fleet can seem daunting.

However, by regularly monitoring the metrics offered by key performance indicators (KPI), you can quickly identify and address issues before they become major problems. Here are the top 10 KPIs for managing your fleet maintenance more efficiently.

Reduce Fuel Costs and Emissions

Fleet managers face a constant challenge to reduce fuel costs and emissions while maintaining a safe and reliable fleet. A key performance indicator for driving more efficient fleet maintenance management is reducing the amount of fuel used by your fleet. There are many ways to achieve this goal, but some methods are more effective than others.

One way to reduce fuel costs and emissions is to keep your fleet in a state of good repair. This means fixing any broken or malfunctioning parts as soon as possible. A well-maintained fleet uses less fuel, which reduces emissions. Regular maintenance also helps prevent breakdowns, which can cause costly delays and have a negative impact on your business’ performance.

Another way to reduce fuel costs and emissions is to choose the right vehicles for your fleet. Consider the types of trips your vehicles will be performing and select the fleet that is suited to those tasks.

Finally, fleet managers can also reduce fuel costs and emissions by using smart driving techniques, including consolidating trips, avoiding excessive idling, and using the right gear for road conditions.

Improve Driver Safety

One major key performance indicator for more efficient fleet maintenance management is improving driver safety. By reducing the number of accidents and incidents on the road, companies can save money on repairs, insurance and downtime for their vehicles.

Some ways to improve driver safety and, in turn, fleet maintenance management include:

Training drivers on safe driving practices. This can include how to handle a vehicle in different types of weather conditions or how to respond to unexpected situations on the road.
Installing safety features in vehicles, such as collision avoidance systems or lane departure warnings.
Encouraging drivers to take breaks regularly and get enough sleep. This will help them stay alert while behind the wheel and reduce the risk of getting into an accident.
Monitoring driver behaviour and providing feedback. This can help identify issues early on before they lead to accidents.

Enhance Customer Service

Average response time measures the amount of time it takes for a service technician to respond to a customer request. Reducing the average response time can help improve customer satisfaction levels and instill faith in your business.

Another measurement is customer satisfaction rate, which identifies the percentage of customers who are satisfied with the service they receive. Improving the customer satisfaction rate can help improve retention and generate revenue.

By tracking and measuring these KPIs, organizations can identify areas where they need to make improvements and take the necessary steps to improve their fleet maintenance management process.

Optimize Fleet Maintenance Schedules

There are a number of KPIs that you can use to optimize your fleet maintenance schedules. One of the most important is vehicle uptime. By ensuring that your vehicles are in service as much as possible, you can improve overall fleet efficiency.

By optimizing your maintenance schedules, you can improve vehicle uptime and reliability, while reducing the overall cost of ownership for your fleet.

Finally, by ensuring that your vehicles are reliable, you can minimize the number of unexpected breakdowns and keep your fleet running smoothly.

Minimize Vehicle Downtime

The best way to manage fleet maintenance is by minimizing vehicle downtime. This can be done by tracking key performance indicators such as mean time to repair (MTTR). This measures the average time it takes to repair a vehicle after it has gone down. The lower the number, the more efficient your fleet maintenance management is.

Other KPIs that can help you manage fleet maintenance include vehicle availability and vehicle utilization. Vehicle availability measures the percentage of time a vehicle is available for use, while vehicle utilization measures how often a vehicle is used.

Reduce Inventory Costs

One way to reduce inventory costs is to drive more efficient fleet maintenance management. By taking a proactive approach to fleet maintenance, businesses can avoid unnecessary repairs, keep vehicles on the road longer, and save on inventory costs.

Lower Vehicle Maintenance Costs

There are a number of ways that you can lower your vehicle maintenance costs and drive more efficient fleet maintenance management. One key way is to track your vehicle maintenance KPI. Some of the most important KPIs to track include:

For example, vehicle repair costs measures how much money you are spending on vehicle repairs. The lower the amount, the more efficient your fleet maintenance management is.

Technician Productivity

Fleet managers must track technician productivity in order to ensure that vehicles are being maintained efficiently and cost-effectively. Productivity tracking can help identify inefficiencies and areas where technicians could improve their efficiency.

Some of the more common KPIs to measure technician productivity include:

Number of vehicles serviced per technician per day
Percentage of vehicles serviced within the manufacturer’s recommended time frame
Number of work orders completed per technician per day
Percentage of work orders completed on time

Enhance Driver Productivity

By tracking driver productivity, you can reduce wear and tear on vehicles and improve the overall safety of your drivers. Some important KPIs to track in fleet maintenance management include:

Driver productivity, measured in terms of miles driven per hour, or number of deliveries made
Vehicle uptime, or the percentage of time that vehicles are in use compared to the total time they could be used
Maintenance costs, including both routine and unexpected repairs
Fuel efficiency, measured in terms of miles per gallon or liters per kilometer
Number of accidents or incidents, measured through safety reports and insurance claims

Overall Equipment Effectiveness

It’s important to track the effectiveness of your fleet maintenance management system with an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) KPI.

OEE measures how effectively your fleet maintenance management system is operating. It takes into account the availability, performance, and quality of your vehicles. By tracking OEE, you can identify areas where your fleet maintenance management system needs improvement and make changes that will improve its overall effectiveness.

There are a number of factors that can impact OEE. Some of the most important include:

The availability of vehicles
The performance of vehicles
The quality of vehicles

All of these should be considered when tracking OEE. By doing so, you can get an accurate picture of how well your fleet maintenance management system is performing and make the necessary changes to improve its efficiency.

By understanding the key performance indicators that are most important to fleet management, you can focus your time and resources on improving those areas. This will help you achieve better results for your business and improve your bottom line.

How ZenduCAM’s Multi-Camera Solution Will Improve Your Fleet

Posted on March 3, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

Today, most fleet managers understand the value of including a camera (or two) on every vehicle. Fleet cameras assist with driver supervision, improve performance, and can lower legal liabilities.

One study found that simply including cameras was enough to lower insurance costs for 58% of respondents. And organizations that actively integrate advanced fleet cameras into operations see even more advantages.

JTI-Macdonald used smart fleet monitoring to lower preventable accidents by 64% and reduce its average cost per claim by 64%. Operators are always looking to increase efficiency and cut costs, so it makes perfect sense that fleet camera use is steadily on the rise.

Integrating a vehicle monitoring system is always a smart choice. If you’re a manager, the question is this – what fleet camera solution is right for your organization?

Are standalone dash cams good enough? Or will your organization benefit from using a more advanced multi-camera system?

Why Every Fleet Manager Needs a Smart Multi-Cam Solution

Fleet management can be tricky, especially when it comes to supervising drivers in the field. You need a way to know what’s going on without riding with every driver.

In the past, managers had to rely on indirect methods like driver self-supervision, trip recorders, or MVR monitoring services. Monitoring services are great for ensuring route adherence, catching driving violations, and spotting license-related red flags. But these technologies don’t actually show how employees are driving.

Not having direct fleet visibility makes it difficult to analyze performance, monitor driver activities, and make safety assessments. It’s also harder to defend the organization in case of accidents, insurance claims, or any legal disputes.

Fleet cameras represent the only practical way for managers to always have an eye on drivers. However, not all camera options deliver the same management advantages.

A single dashcam will provide forward-facing visibility but miss side or rear views
Not all cameras assess driving speed or driving safety
Not all cameras include geographic information
Some camera footage archives can’t be effectively searched by managers or supervisors

Rather than generic dash cameras, choose a fleet camera solution developed with management in mind. ZenduCAM is a smart, multi-camera solution built to make your work more efficient and extend your capabilities. It enhances driver visibility, facilitates remote supervision, and assists with training and performance improvement.

1. Get Complete Driver and Fleet Visibility

Unlike other fleet camera options, ZenduCAM’s multi-camera system shows everything that happens inside the cab and around its periphery. Having a complete view of the driving environment is essential for legal record keeping, performance reviews, and improving safety training.

It’s difficult to understand how well a driver is doing or determine what caused an incident without seeing the driver and what’s around them. A single dashcam doesn’t provide this and neither does a dual camera system where one camera points forwards while the other looks in at the driver.

ZenduCAM doesn’t rely on one or two views. You can have up to four cameras set up on any vehicle. Choose from:

a driver-facing camera
a forward-facing wide-angle camera
a forward-facing driver distraction camera
a rearview camera
a sideview camera

This fleet camera setup provides a complete 360-degree view of the cab’s interior and exterior. You can view the driver’s actions while understanding what road conditions they are responding to. The footage recorded gives complete context on driver behavior, performance, road conditions, and road safety.

2. Monitor Everyone’s Location

Fleet managers need to see what drivers are doing and know their locations at all times. That’s why all our fleet cameras come with location monitoring technology. You can either use our built-in GPS or integrate the system with a 3^rd party telematics device, like Geotab.

This is real-time GPS tracking designed for active fleet management. You get complete fleet visibility, along with tracking control and geographic-based record keeping.

You can track the assets you want – when and where you need to – by setting up a few geofencing rules. Then sit back and watch the entire fleet on a single dashboard.

3. Preserve Driving Footage

ZenduCAM is the easiest way to amass a significant driving footage archive for training purposes and internal use or managing insurance claims, compliance verification, and providing legal backup.

Our fleet cameras automatically upload recorded footage to the cloud with complete location and driver information. In addition, any footage around an accident, dangerous driving, or other event is also stored in a separate library.

Want to use physical storage as well? Each device can store anywhere from 3 to 30 days of footage.

The archive is easy to sort through and can be filtered by time, area, driver, or type of incident. ZenduCAM was designed to streamline the claims management process and improve fraud prevention.

4. Screen For Dangerous Driving

Unless you plan to stay glued to the screen, you need a fleet camera system that can supervise drivers for you. ZenduCAM does this with AI, facial recognition, and night vision technology. It watches for unsafe conditions, driver errors, and road incidents.

The AI algorithms identify dangerous driving patterns like sudden accelerations, turns, swerving, or braking. We paired this with facial recognition technology to identify distracted or fatigued drivers.

When abnormal driving is detected, ZenduCAM gives drivers instant feedback, logs the event, and sends management alerts.

5. Customize Driver Training

Organizations are always looking to improve driver performance and safety. You can leverage ZenduCAM’s real-time driving analytics and camera footage archives into a customized internal training program with a few steps.

Find preventable driving errors and incidents
Use the insights to understand what caused them
Check the footage to see how drivers could have prevented errors
Train or retrain drivers as necessary.

This is similar to how JTI-Macdonald dropped its preventable accident rate. The organization used smart telematics to identify problematic drivers and then developed a targeted retraining program.

You can jumpstart any safety training program by checking ZenduCAM for the most common errors or drivers with the worst performance levels.

6. Customize Alert and Recording Triggers

Whenever a driving rule is broken, ZenduCAM sends alerts via email, text message, or the app. These alerts include video footage, location information, and incident descriptions.

You can customize ZenduCAM’s triggers to control what alerts you get and what driving events it should single out.

Most fleet managers use this to get instant notifications on accidents. But you can also use it to follow new drivers more closely or set alerts for repeated safety violations.

7. See and Manage Everything On-The-Go

Fleet management can’t be confined to office environments and desktop computers. Does the fleet you manage run according to your personal schedule? Do drivers stop working whenever you need to go on break? Probably not.

If your fleet is always on the go, you need a way to manage them on the go. With ZenduCAM’s mobile and tablet apps, you can always keep an eye on drivers and vehicles assets – no matter where you are or what device is available.

The apps are robust enough for full mobile fleet management. You can view live fleet camera footage, check on individual drivers, watch recordings, and see all your alerts.

Get The Fleet Camera Solution You Need

At GoFleet, we leverage advanced and emerging technologies to build world-class fleet cameras and monitoring solutions.

ZenduCAM is an innovative fleet camera system with an array of smart technologies. Ready to improve your management capabilities? Contact us today for your free demonstration.

digitalized image representing adas system

The Top 8 Ways ADAS Improves Vehicle Safety

Posted on February 25, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

With an estimated 3,700 people killed in car accidents every day, it’s little wonder that vehicle safety features are such a hot-button topic for car manufacturers and consumers alike.

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are quickly becoming the gold standard in new vehicles, and the features that come with them can drastically improve driver and vehicle safety.

Let’s look at the top eight ways ADAS improve vehicle safety.

1) Blind Spot Detection

Blind spot detection uses sensors to detect vehicles in areas of the road just outside of the driver’s field of vision that can’t be easily viewed in the rear-view mirrors or windows. In these instances, ADAS would warn you through lights and sounds when another vehicle is present but not necessarily visible.

The system also warns you when there are pedestrians or cyclists near your car so that you can avoid an accident.

2) Lane Departure Warning

A lane departure warning system (LDWS) is an active safety technology designed to warn a driver if they inadvertently veer out of their lane on the road. The system uses cameras or other sensors to track a vehicle’s position; if it senses that the car is crossing a line, an alert is triggered.

LDWS systems are considered an “active” safety feature, which means they take immediate action in some way when required, versus passive systems such as airbags, which only deploy when triggered by a crash.

Because LDWS is classified as an active safety feature, it can provide drivers with potentially life-saving alerts when traveling at high speeds on busy roads.

3) Advanced Cruise Control

Vehicles equipped with an advanced cruise control system will ensure your drivers maintain a safe distance from other cars on the road.

The best ADAS systems aren’t just meant for highway driving. They should also be employed when navigating through stop-and-go traffic to heighten awareness of upcoming stop signs and traffic lights, as well as cars around you when pulling out into an intersection or turning at an intersection.

4) Pedestrian Protection Systems

Injuries sustained by pedestrians account for almost half of all traffic-related deaths worldwide. For this reason, many manufacturers are outfitting their vehicles with pedestrian protection systems to reduce the risk of injury if a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, or help avoid accidents altogether.

The system works as soon as a sensor detects an imminent collision and initiates an automatic braking command to minimize or prevent any impact between car and pedestrian.

The system also works in reverse. In the event of a potential rear impact, it will trigger another sequence of events – warning lights and sounds alerting the driver to upcoming impact – potentially avoiding rear-end collisions altogether.

5) Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

AEB prevents or mitigates front-to-rear impact by stopping a vehicle if an imminent collision is detected. AEB systems can be activated via Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

It’s also common for AEB to work with adaptive cruise control, which automatically slows a vehicle down when another car is detected. Some advanced versions of AEB can steer vehicles out of danger autonomously.

6) Parking Assistance Systems

Parking assistance systems are among the most basic forms of ADAS. They include automatic sensors that help guide a vehicle into a parking spot, and cameras that automatically detect other vehicles or obstacles while parking.

These features can help prevent driver error when parking- one of the most common causes for collisions. These systems sometimes come with sensor warnings when approaching objects in front or on both sides of your vehicle.

7) Driver Drowsiness Monitoring System (DDMS)

Many vehicles already have or are developing systems that monitor drivers’ eyes to help detect drowsiness.

The system uses infrared lights positioned on, near, or in front of a car’s rearview mirror(s) and camera(s) to analyze blinking, eye position, and driver response to determine whether they are tired.

If it looks like a driver needs some rest, the vehicle produces visual and/or audio triggers until the driver regained alertness.

Many manufacturers now offer hands-free features for their infotainment systems, enabling drivers to always keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

8) Traffic Sign Recognition System

If you’re driving in an unfamiliar city, traffic sign recognition systems can be a lifesaver. These systems automatically detect speed limit signs and display that information in your instrument cluster.

Illustration and photo of a autonomous self-driving cars driving on a highway. The cars are connected through wireless technology and artificial intelligence which enables them to drive on the road safely.

Other Benefits of ADAS

As impressive as these benefits are, it’s important to remember that there are many other ways that ADAS technologies improve vehicle safety. Here’s a quick rundown of some additional features and benefits of these systems:

Traction control-equipped vehicles are more efficient on slippery roads. While you may think that traction control is only helpful in poor weather conditions, like snow and ice, it’s a valuable feature even on ordinary days in slick terrain.Traction control delegates optimal power to each wheel to keep your vehicle as stable as possible while driving at high speeds in slippery conditions. Additionally, traction-control technology can help drivers avoid swerving, which prevents accidents and maintains safety while driving on typical roadways.
Tire pressure monitoring systems are essential to improve safety on both new and old vehicles. Drivers with older vehicles without these systems often have incorrect tire pressure, leading to poor vehicle handling and poor fuel efficiency.With these devices installed in your car, you can make sure that your tires are properly inflated at all times.
Mapping solutions help drivers get to their destinations efficiently and safely. Mapping systems always provide your location, allowing you to make informed decisions about your route and keeping you on track towards your destination.Some advanced navigation devices will even re-route you if there’s an accident along your route, ensuring that safety is always a priority on the road.

The Bottom Line

As technology continues to advance, so will vehicle safety. From automatic emergency brakes to collision-avoidance systems and more, there are plenty of features available on vehicles today that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago.

While we have come a long way in terms of road safety over time, there is still room for improvement when considering driver and passenger protection. Contact your GoFleet consultant for a full list of our ADAS features, and let us help you make your fleet safer for your drivers and your business.

What is ADAS?

Posted on February 18, 2022 | by Alexis | Leave a Comment

If you’ve driven a car manufactured in the last five years, you’ve likely used advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) without even knowing it.

We’ve all had moments on the road where we’ve felt unsafe; either we’ve forgotten to check our blind spot, the car in front of us brakes suddenly, or a pedestrian appears seemingly out of nowhere. ADAS can help you and your drivers avoid dangerous driving scenarios and much more.

At GoFleet, safety is our priority, and we’re confident that we have the best fleet management solutions for your business needs. If you’re looking to explore ADAS for your fleet, read on.

What is ADAS?

Advanced driver-assistance systems are vehicle-embedded technology programs that use sensors to warn drivers of potential hazards on the road or within the vehicle. Sensors include radar and cameras that create a virtual map of the vehicle’s environment, and either provides data directly to the driver or takes action automatically.

Types of information detected by these systems include:

Pedestrian detection and avoidance
Lane departure warning and correction
Traffic sign recognition
Automatic emergency braking
Blind spot detection.

While on the surface ADAS might appear by some to be automation that relieves the driver from taking responsibility for his own driving behaviour, we understand that most vehicle accidents are the result of human error; ADAS actually mitigates the risks associated with driving.

Not only do these programs detect and alert drivers to crucial safety information, recent programs actually assist the driver in making safety decisions – what the industry has coined an “active safety system.” This means that sensors communicate with the braking and steering systems to create a collaborative driving experience that is safer and more responsive than ever before.

How Does ADAS Work?

As mentioned above, ADAS programs employ several advanced technologies to make driving safer, including automated sensors like cameras and radar that are linked to the vehicle to deliver warnings to the driver and take control if circumstances require.

For example, the technology embedded in self-driving vehicles makes it possible for the “brain” of the system to “gain 360-degree vision, both near (in the vehicle’s immediate vicinity) and far,” according to Synopsys.

ADAS features like parking assistants and surround view are supported by cameras on each side of the vehicle. Parking assist cameras collaborate with radar systems to provide blind spot detection warnings, rear collision warnings, cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking.

For detection immediately surrounding the vehicle’s bumpers, assistive driving systems use ultrasound technology. In short, ADAS applications use “embedded vision” to reduce the occurrence of accidents and occupant injuries, keeping everyone on the road safer and aware

ADAS Applications

Some of the more common applications of ADAS extend beyond safety to making the driving experience more relaxing and automated. The features you select for your vehicle will depend on your budget and what is most important to you as a driver.

If you’re a fleet manager, asset tracking, driver safety and fleet management would likely be top of mind. Fleets equipped with ADAS can monitor blind spots, detect driver drowsiness or distraction. Ultrasound technology can keep tabs on what’s going on directly outside the vehicle while sensors keep an eye on your driver’s head movements to make sure his eyes are on the road.

The newest ADAS features allow vehicles to communicate with other vehicles or pedestrians. This is called V2X and it uses reliable 5G networks to help solve issues caused by delays in human functioning, generally referred to in the industry as “latency”.

One of the most familiar and recognizable features of advanced driver-assistance systems is navigation programs. These applications give drivers on-screen instructions and vocal reminders to help them follow routes while focusing on the road ahead.

According to the AAA, ADAS features can prevent up to 63,000 truck collisions annually. In addition, ADAS works with video telematics to monitor your drivers’ behaviour when on the road.

The integration captures data and video signals based on your ADAS and automotive sensors. As a result, you can easily identify new or risky driving behaviours. You can use the data to coach your drivers and help them improve.

ADAS can also prevent collisions, or at the very least reduce their severity. You can use the integrated data to improve your CSA scores, enhance compliance and exonerate drivers from expensive insurance claims.

For fleets that drive long distances, adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an extremely helpful feature. ACC can automatically accelerate, slow down, and even stop the vehicle. Many vehicles also include adaptive light control, another ADAS feature, to best match the vehicle’s headlights with the lighting conditions surrounding it.

These systems use light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, combining the power of cameras and sensors to create “computer vision that transform outputs into 3D, with the capability to discern between static and moving objects for added layers of blind-spot or bad-lighting situations,” as described by Car and Driver.

Why is ADAS Necessary?

With the ever-increasing number of distractions on the road, on our devices and in the world at large, it’s becoming more important than ever to have advanced driver-assistance programs that aid us in keeping ourselves and others safe.

These programs are designed not only for safety, but have adaptive and automated features to improve the driving experience as well as the quality of driving across the world.

What’s Next for ADAS?

ADAS is an important step towards safer roads and safer drivers. New features are brought to market almost daily, aimed at keeping our roads safer than ever before. For fleet managers, ADAS has the power to transform the driving experience, coach drivers and eliminate dangerous driving habits.

Contact our professionals at GoFleet to see if implementing ADAS into your fleet is the right fit for you!