Logistics and Transport Management

Logistics & Transport Management
Session 3.10

Using Telematics Systems
Module 3 – Transport Management
LTM 3.10 1
Operational Fleet Management
LTM 3.10 2
 Fleet management is the management of a
company's transportation fleet.
 Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such
as cars, ships, vans and trucks, as well as rail cars.
 Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions,
such as vehicle financing, vehicle maintenance,
vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver
management, speed management, fuel management and
health and safety management.
 These functions can be dealt with by either an in-house fleet-
management department or an outsourced fleet-management
provider – a 3PL.
Operational Fleet Management
LTM 3.10 3
 The development of Telematics has greatly improved the
visibility of operations and facilitated the Transport
Manager‟s job;
 The term „telematics‟ covers many different systems;
however, it generally refers to remote devices that help
road freight operators by combining information
technology (IT) and modern telecommunications to
control or monitor vehicles, drivers, trailers and other
mobile assets.
 Some of these systems can monitor the location of
vehicles and their activity at any given time as well as
driver performance and personal security

Advantages of Telematics
4
 Modern telematics systems are more sophisticated and, in many cases, easier to
use and more affordable than ever, which means they can help operations of all
sizes. These systems give you the ability to:

 Monitor your operation in real time
 Help drivers locate delivery points and avoid congestion and traffic
incidents
 Communicate better with your drivers, resulting in improvements to your
operation and better customer service
 Help verify insurance claims, as historical records determine where a
vehicle has been and at what time and at what speed. Such measures
can be used to support risk management strategies
 Manage vehicle maintenance costs by identifying opportunities to improve
driving practices
 Target driver training towards those who will benefit most from using an
appropriate telematics system
 Automatically provide much of the information required for compliance
with legislation such as the Working Time Directive, while other features
can help significantly in terms of lone worker issues

Telematics System
LTM 3.10 5
•
A typical system operates by the
on-board computer controlling the
process.
•
Once appropriate information is
relayed back to the office-based
computer, an operator can see the
vehicle‟s exact position on a
computerised map.
•
Other information can also be sent
back as part of this process such
as driver and vehicle messages.

Types of Telematics Systems
LTM 3.10 6
 Basically there are 5 types of systems which can be used
together (integrated) or in distinct modules;
 They are:

1. Telematics for Vehicle and Driver (Parametric) Data
2. Paperless Manifest and Proof of Delivery (POD)
3. On-Board Satellite Navigation (Sat-Nav)
4. Traffic Information Systems
5. Safety and Security Systems

1. Vehicle & Driver - Tracking
LTM 3.10 7
 The most basic function in all fleet management systems, is
the vehicle tracking component.
 This component is usually GPS-based, but sometimes it
can be based on a cellular triangulation platform.
 Once vehicle location, direction and speed are determined
from the GPS components, additional tracking capabilities
transmit this information to a fleet management software
application.
1. Vehicle & Driver - Tracking
LTM 3.10 8
 Methods for data transmission include both terrestrial and
satellite.
 Satellite tracking communications, while more expensive,
are critical if vehicle tracking is to work in remote
environments without interruption.
 Users can see actual, real-time locations of their fleet on
a map.
 Trailers and tractors can be tagged and tracked
separately;
 A common application is “Geo Fencing”;
Geo-Fencing
LTM 3.10 9
 Geo-fences are lines and shapes that an operator can draw on the map
that create virtual boundaries for the vehicles being monitored.
 These then trigger an alert should a vehicle cross that boundary. There
are many types of geo-fence provided by different suppliers:

 Operating area - alerts base once a vehicle goes out of its operating area.
This can be used for security purposes or identifying unauthorised use of the
vehicle
 Exclusion zone - alerts base if the vehicle enters an area prohibited by the
operator
 Locations - typically distribution depots and customer locations. These are
used to provide alerts as vehicles approach or enter premises. Messages can
also be sent to customers advising on vehicle arrival times, so that warehouse
staff are ready to receive the delivery. This data can also be used historically
to produce and support key performance indicators (KPIs)
Typical Mapping Screenshot
LTM 3.10 10
Vehicle Tracking
LTM 3.10 11
 Vehicle tracking systems are commonly used by fleet
operators for fleet management functions such as

 fleet tracking,
 routing,
 dispatching,
 on-board information
 Monitoring schedule adherence and
 Security.

Vehicle Tracking
12
 Along with commercial fleet operators, bus companies
use the technology for a number of purposes, including

 monitoring schedule adherence of buses in service,
 triggering changes of buses' destination sign displays at the
end of the line (or other set location along a bus route), and
 triggering pre-recorded announcements for passengers.

Vehicle Routing
LTM 3.10 13
 Vehicle routing provides drivers with a visual
representation of their progress and is a powerful tool to
help them navigate the remainder of their journey.
 This can help drivers to make the best use of valuable
time and fuel when locating a delivery point.
 Routing and mapping software can also contain other
useful information such as real-time traffic information, or
the location of fuel stations, restrictions, accommodation
and lorry parking areas.

Vehicle Routing
LTM 3.10 14
Maintenance Diagnostics
LTM 3.10 15
 Advanced fleet management systems can connect to the
vehicle's onboard computer, and gather data for the user.
 Details such as mileage and fuel consumption are
gathered into a global statistics scheme.
 Remote alarms can indicate that a vehicle will require a
mechanic upon return to base or sooner;
 Refrigeration compartment temperatures can be tracked
and automatically uploaded ensuring the the food safety
chain is preserved;