smart sensors, waste management, bin fill

Smart Waste Management: Implementing Smart Sensors For Cost Savings

Businesses working with fleets incur many challenges and aim to improve their performance in aspects like maintenance, safety, and efficiency. Though, like any business, they work with a budget, and should look into telematics to help reduce their costs. When cost saving strategies are discussed, Smart Sensors must be mentioned.

 

Cost Saving & A Rise In Efficiency, A Result Of Smart Sensors

Smart Sensors reduce costs by making fleet processes efficient. They digitally record data on physical environments and analyze the information prior to transmitting it to a software database. They are designed to provide waste management fleets with fill levels in bins with utmost measurement accuracy. 

 

How Do Smart Bins Work

Fleets, specifically in the waste management industry will now be able to monitor all sorts of waste types including mixed waste, paper, plastics, glass, clothing, bio waste, liquids, electronics, metal, and more in bins and containers of any size and type. 

Their features continue with being robust, water and shock resistant sensors, as well as are functional within a wide temperature range while being able to measure from 3 cm up to 400cm. 

Furthermore, they can provide a fast data transfer by connecting to several Internet of Things (IoT) networks or General Packet Radio Services (GPRS).

 

How It’s Beneficial On A Daily Basis

These sensors can be positioned to report 24 times a day, or even every minute so dispatch teams can monitor in real time. When bins are filled over their pre-set fill capacity, vehicles can be dispatched immediately. 

For example, the sensors can be set so when a garbage bin is between 80 – 100% full, the bin will be added to the next route for being emptied. This can save time and resources on a daily basis. 

 

What Is Smart Waste Management

Smart Sensors are designed to be leveraged in several processes, but it’s most popular amongst the waste management industry.  This is because of its ability to improve dispatching and vehicle utilization during routes, which allows fleets to make data-oriented decisions to improve operational efficiency.

The Smart Sensor technology depends on internal sensors monitoring, a key environmental factor, and the integrated element of the Internet of Things (IoT) to remain connected. Such technology will allow management to reduce inefficiency and save on resources.

 

How Implementing Smart Sensors Leads To Cost Savings

With the use of smart sensors, bin fill levels can now be monitored so fleets can keep an eye out on when bins need to actually be emptied. This will prevent unnecessary trips where trucks locate bins and empty them when they are barely filled. As a result, fleets will only prioritize and use resources when necessary. 

 

Early And Long Term ROI

When fleets will begin to use their resources properly, they will see higher productivity and better use of vehicles, resulting in lower costs, as well as better efficiency. Since this will affect fleet management on a daily level, a return on investment will be seen almost immediately depending on fleet size.

 

Improved Customer Satisfaction While Being Competitive

A return on investment would also be evident in fleets that work with private businesses that require them to dispose of their waste. Fleets will only dispatch vehicles to private businesses when bins are near full, resulting in the customer being billed only when necessary. This process will give fleets happier clients all while remaining competitive.

Smart Sensors are yet to be introduced to several fleets, and resellers should consider taking advantage of the ways to help vehicle-based businesses to improve their cost saving strategies. When addressing waste management fleets, smarter dispatching based on bin fill monitoring should be discussed. For more information on implementing Smart Sensor technology, and how bin fill monitoring can be utilized to save on resources, contact us today.

Waste Disposal Fleets

The Responsibilities Of Waste Disposal Fleets That Can’t Be Overlooked

Waste removal fleets are under constant pressure. If they miss a day in their schedule, the fleet could face setbacks and flak for days after. To help reduce adverse outcomes, having 360 telematics solutions to minimize physical, business and environmental risks. 

 

A 360 Solution In Action For Waste Disposal Fleets

We’ll discuss the top three responsibilities that waste removal fleets have from the moment they are deployed. We’ll also see how 360 solutions that leverage GPS tracking via engine monitoring, sensors, online learning platforms, and smart camera systems can be used to help ensure that a waste disposal fleet is always meeting their responsibilities. 

waste disposal, waste management, telematics, technology

 

A Fleet’s Responsibility To The Environment: GPS Tracking And Sensors

Waste disposal fleets have a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact. In 1999, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act was put forward to prevent acts that lead to pollution and harm to the environment. Specifically, the act focuses on businesses and organizations remaining sustainable by reducing emissions and stopping improper disposal of waste. After this act was in place, waste management fleets felt the need to use telematics to reduce their fleet operation’s environmental footprint. Fleets used this new focus on the environment as an encouragement to implement GPS tracking and sensors to not only make routing more efficient but improve driver behaviour. 

For many private or business-based waste disposal companies, GPS tracking solutions proves useful when optimizing the routes driven based on the fill levels of waste bins. Doing this helps to ensure that businesses do not produce extra and unnecessary emissions. This is made possible by installing bin fill sensors on waste bins to monitor the content fill level. After installation, when the sensor detects a fill level over 80%, the bin is automatically placed on a route so it can be emptied. Time and resources are no longer wasted on emptying bins that aren’t full yet. Likewise, using bin fill sensors can significantly reduce litter resulting from overfilled bins. These sensors are often used in waste disposal bins in public places like parks or residential areas where it may be hard to visually monitor when a bin needs to be emptied.

For public or residential waste pickup services, GPS tracking solutions can also help correct bad driving behaviour. Need a clearer picture? Government vehicles can idle for up to 4 hours a day to result in up to 27 million gallons of excess fuel each year. By using a GPS tracking and engine monitoring system in a vehicle, the device can monitor the engine activity. The device can alert the driver when the vehicle is idling to correct their errors and stop unnecessary fuel wastage. When a solution like this is in place, idling can be reduced by up to 20% to lower greenhouse gas emissions and even help the fleet save fuel by reducing consumption. 

 

A Fleet’s Responsibility To Conducting Proper Driver Training: Smart Camera Systems 

Another responsibility that waste disposal fleets have addressed with telematics solutions is driver training. Specifically the implementation of dash and full-vehicle camera systems to monitor driver behaviour – or the responsibility to properly conduct driver training to maintain safety on roadways.

When used alone, camera solutions can monitor how well drivers absorb training. This applies to new hires who must absorb new material and veteran drivers who may develop bad driving habits over time. However, it should be noted that the main way that camera solutions have evolved is through the learning process. Specifically how previous footage of driving incidents can be used in future training material to teach drivers how to maneuver unique situations. 

Currently, camera systems are being used by fleets for safety training by visually showing drivers how to approach unique situations. For example, when pedestrians or cars are blocking curbside bins, videos of drivers properly encountering this in the past can be shown—essentially allowing previous drivers who are operating safely to be used as an example to fellow drivers.

For training, camera solutions work best when paired with an online training platform like ZenduLearn. ZenduLearn allows for managers to assign and track the training of all drivers easily. This ensures that they receive refresher courses on basic driving skills and that drivers receive specific training regarding the types of waste they are transporting or unique scenarios they may encounter. Depending on the nature of a waste removal fleet, a solution like this may become essential to quickly and efficiently educate new team members. 

ZenduLearn Train certificate

 

A Fleet’s Responsibility To Remain Accountable: Smart Camera System And Sensors

The third responsibility that waste disposal fleets have on the road is the responsibility of remaining accountable to driving events or incidents. Specifically driver accountability. While we previously discussed some aspects of maintaining accountability with camera solutions and training, this thought continues when fleets use the camera footage for driving incident reconstruction. A good example is reviewing footage to manage complaints or concerns, so appropriate actions such as additional training or driver suspension can happen.

When camera solutions are installed, the devices are able to capture everything that is happening within its view. Cameras on waste disposal fleets have a view of the driver, the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. When these areas are recorded, any complaints about drivers on mobile devices or reckless driving can be later reviewed. In fact, these cameras help drivers protect themselves from false complaints from residents. Specifically, residential complaints of unemptied curbside waste bins that were blocked by a vehicle (making it unsafe to approach and service) as the driver can take a snapshot of the unsafe scenario.

In addition to helping fleets better service bins and maintain efficiency on routes, sensors can help fleets remain accountable. When sensors are placed on moving vehicle parts such as arms or packer panels, teams can know precisely when movable parts of the vehicle are in motion. So if there is a complaint about arms moving and causing damage to buildings, or packer panel doors not opening in time to cause garbage to become litter, the occurrence will be recorded.

When waste disposal teams take advantage of 360 telematics solutions, they are able to improve their service. When it comes to a fleet’s responsibility to the environment, training or remaining accountable, there is no room for shortcuts or errors. If you’re interested to learn more about a 360 solution that is unique to your business needs, contact us today to speak to one of our consultants. 

Taking Your Fleet Telematics to the Next Level

With basic telematics implemented into your fleet, you are now able to track the location, movement and speed of all of your vehicles, which helps your organization increase efficiencies, and effectively, reduce wasted time and improve costs.

So, what comes next?

Advanced Fleet Tracking
Once you have the basics in place, you can start to dive deeper into telematics technology in order to really fine tune and optimize your fleet operation.

Check out these major benefits your company can gain by implementing advanced fleet telematics solutions.

Increased Safety
By monitoring driver behaviour – things such as how fast your driver is driving and how aggressive their driving may be – you can use technology that allows you to talk to the driver and coach them through safer driving practices, thereby increasing safety for them and for your vehicle.

It has been shown that drivers who are aware that their driving habits are being monitored, are more apt to perform safer behaviour which not only increases their safety, but also reduces accidents and damage to vehicles and freight.

Increased Efficiencies
By using real time communication as an add-on to your basic telematics, and adding in some routing apps, you can manage driver routes more efficiently – if there is an accident, you would be able to re-route the driver and eliminate wasted time having them stuck in traffic with high priority loads on the vehicle.

By using some of these type of add-ons to your basic telematics, adding a few minutes more to your driver’s HOS (Hours of Service) can really increase your fleet efficiency and delivery rate.

Reduce Operating Costs
In being able to track even the smallest things, such as idling time and minimizing it, a fleet can increase savings by reducing fuel costs. Other things that can be looked at are tracking at a more granular level, such as live movements on a map, maps routing, stopping vehicles, accidents and who’s responsible, which allows for increased productivity thereby reducing costs.

Optimize Vehicle Performance
With advanced telematics, sensors can send out alerts about engine issues and other diagnostic problems. Further to that, the data can be used in a predictive manner to determine when service should happen on a vehicle and allow for advanced planning in order to ensure as much uptime for the fleet as possible and manage the expenses related to repairs.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint
It’s a hot topic these days more and more companies realize that not only is this good for business, it’s good for the planet as well. By reducing your fleet’s idling time and decreasing speeding (thereby reducing the amount of exhaust and CO2), not only are you increasing the safety of your fleet and drivers, increasing your efficiencies and reducing your costs, you are also helping to do your part in reducing emissions in the air for our future generation.

Streamline Compliance
With the Canadian ELD mandated for June 21st, 2020, it is imperative that fleets ensure they are compliant and implementing advanced telematics not only ensures this but provides many other benefits previously mentioned. In addition to the benefits, the cost of not being compliant is expensive and can be avoided with the correct telematics solutions in place.

Do you need to upgrade your telematics plan for advanced fleet tracking?
Some features are already built into your tracking device that collects the data and some solutions require you to step up to the next level of offered services and products.

In order to get the most out of your fleet telematics so that you can save your company time, money and increase efficiencies and safety, give GoFleet a call. We are here to help create a customized and fully integrated telematics solution that is specific to your needs and lets you get the most value for your money.

Advanced fleet tracking is much more than GPS services and with the telematics of the future, there are and will be so much more you can do in order to continually create the best fleet management company you can envision.

GoFleet – Connected Technology. Smarter Solutions.
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Waste Management Solutions Optimize Routes & Increase Safety

Waste Management is an area that is ripe for improvement through telematics. Garbage trucks run similar routes day after day, and any time that can be shaved off the route is saving the company money. It’s not like a bus route that must keep to a schedule. We offer a comprehensive telematics package that can drastically improve your waste management operations.

A Complete System

Our Waste Management Solutions offer several components that when combined, provide the biggest benefits. The heart of our waste management solutions is our GO7 device, the most popular telematics device in the world. It fits in the palm of your hand and easily connects to most vehicles, allowing it to collect GPS data plus information from the engine and other onboard sensors. This data is all relayed back to fleet managers through a variety of methods and with the latest encryption technology.

Another key piece of technology is a packer control monitoring sensor. This device automatically tracks how full a vehicle’s storage is, allowing a fleet manager to adjust plans as necessary. Next comes ZenduCam, with a driver bookmark feature that provides a view into the receptacle of the truck. Finally, complete waste management systems incorporate “arms up” sensors to record whenever a load is lifted and bin tag beacons to keep track of each deployed bin.

Data For Managers and Customers

These devices allow fleet managers to scrutinize the time spent in each step of the process. This includes visibility into how long each stop takes. Fleet managers may notice that certain stops take a long time to complete and they may need to take steps to improve accessibility to trash receptacles at those sites. Power take off diagnostics allow fleet managers to see the frequency and duration of each waste bin lift. Data can also be provided back to customers. Most notably, our comprehensive waste management solutions allow fleet managers to provide verifiable proof of service to their customers. The packer control monitor also provides some visibility into how much waste is coming from a particular route or location.

Limitless Additional Features

If you choose our waste management solutions, you also have the option to add numerous additional features. For example, we can pair your system with fuel card integration that tracks how much fuel is going into the vehicle. Fuel transactions can be compared with other data such as route planning and idle times to minimize fuel costs. We have a comprehensive route dispatching system that is delivered via one of the latest Garmin GPS systems. These can provide turn-by-turn assistance, hours of service tracking, and personalized messages to drivers. Our systems can also monitor and improve driver safety with long-term driver reports that can be used to reward good drivers and redirect those that need improvement. Our GO7 device provides immediate, in-vehicle feedback to drivers. For example, drivers can be given an audible warning for speeding, revving the engine, swerving, cornering, harsh braking, and much more.

 

Learn More About Our Waste Management Solutions

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Fleet Management GPS Tracking- The Waste & Recycling Industry

Fleet Management GPS Tracking- The Waste & Recycling Industry

When you manage a waste or recycling company, you might not be aware that the routes your drivers take can mean the difference between making a profit or a loss. Using fleet management GPS tracking, you can equip your drivers with the best available maps and efficient driving routes to help your team thrive. In addition, you will be able to monitor your assets to prevent unproductive driving and asset theft.

In order to be truly successful and profitable in the waste and recycling business, the first thing you must do is provide your drivers with the proper tools to seamlessly handle service calls. The second thing you need is to be able to proactively and effectively manage your drivers and fleet. Routes must be planned efficiently so drivers are not wasting time or gas getting from point-to-point. The third thing you need to do is to secure your fleet so it does not get tampered with or stolen. Each of these items can drastically affect your company’s bottom line. The good news is GoFleet’s fleet management tracking system can take care of all three areas, allowing you to become more successful.



In the waste and recycling industry, you have a job to get done regardless of surrounding environmental conditions or extreme weather. That is why GoFleet’s real-time GPS devices are durably built with a sturdy weather and water resistant exterior. A fleet management GPS tracking system can be easy installed in your fleet of waste and recycling trucks.



When you implement fleet management GPS tracking, you will be able to manage your drivers and your fleet from any location. If drivers go out of the authorized area, excessively idle or speed, your fleet manager will be notified by SMS text message or email. This allows you the opportunity to contact the driver to correct the issue immediately. Fleet management GPS tracking also provides many valuable reports, such as hours-of-use, at a touch of a button.

Waste Management Industry Clean Up With GPS Technology

GPS Technology and the Waste Management Industry

The importance of the waste management industry cannot be understated. That trash piled up in your lunch room or office space has to go somewhere, and we are certainly glad to see it leave when the familiar sound of a trash truck rumbles down the street. Getting rid of annoying daily trash, however, isn’t the only service this industry provides. Waste management companies provide environmental services that eliminate hazardous materials that come in the form of liquid and solid wastes. They collect these wastes from businesses and residential locations so that our environment can remain safe. With this kind of burden on the shoulders of businesses in this industry, it’s important to be assured that trash trucks are completing their routes on time, and correctly cleaning up the neighborhoods. It is also important to make sure that drivers are safely executing their work, and hitting every stop on their route.

New Ways to Clean

GPS tracking technology has infiltrated this industry in a grand way, letting companies manage risk, maintain efficiency, and even lower spending. With the installation of a simple device, the waste management industry has found a brand new way to clean up the earth. With GoFleet’s Geotab GO GPS tracking device, GoFleet is helping these companies implement cost-savings, safer drivers, and more efficient measures to assist in their daily routines. With the ability to track fleet vehicle locations, GoFleet is able to provide our waste management clients with significant amounts of useful data. Companies can utilize this service to ensure efficient routes are being taken. This not only saves time and billable hours by identifying more efficient routes, but also saves on fuel costs. With the reporting features of the latest GPS tracking devices, vehicle maintenance needs can be identified ahead of time, instead of costly towing services being called once the vehicle breaks down.

The Benefits Just Keep on Coming…

Saving money is a great motivator, but reducing liability combined with the ability to track and train drivers is better! GoFleet’s GPS vehicle tracking devices show theft protection measures, as well as protection measures that include accident re-creation. These lead to lowered insurance costs for your company, but with an added benefit of reducing your liability. Fleet Managers are consistently searching for ways to keep their drivers safe, as well as ways to make sure their drivers are keeping other drivers safe. Our Audible Driver Coaching GPS Trackers offer just one of the ways to help this issue. By providing an accelerometer built into the system, the tracker can provide feedback on how drivers are taking care of their vehicles. Hard braking and harsh acceleration are two of the types of information this feature tracks. By observing these types of behaviours, waste management companies can ensure their drivers are completing their work in an appropriate manner, keeping them, the vehicle, and the surrounding public safe. In addition, compliance issues can be significantly reduced with the utilization of this technology. Hours of Service, as well as Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports are easily created and maintained, never leaving the paperwork to collect uncompleted on a desk.

With so many unique features and benefits available with GPS technology at GoFleet, why wait to try it out? Check out a demo and try the program free for 30 days!