After having established itself as a control tool, telematics is now opening up to new uses. Initially driven by their ability to locate vehicles live or recorded and to retrace their route, these technologies are now helping fleet managers collect information to reduce operating costs, prevent road risks and promote eco-driving.
1. Locate vehicles
Real-time geolocation is the first functionality offered by telematics solutions. Its interest? Locate each vehicle and consult their status (on the road or stopped). This information is useful for controlling the use of LCVs.
2. Monitor activity
The data collected is rich in information (start times, number of stops, downtime, etc.). “If the aspects related to driver checks are still taboo in France, they are nonetheless an incentive for employers who want to know whether their employees are at work or at the beach,” adds Donato Quagliariello. The geofencing functionalities (study of behavior according to location) can, if necessary, give an alert when the vehicle leaves its usual traffic zone. The employee can nevertheless maintain his privacy.
3. Promote eco-driving and optimize expenses
Telematics solutions on the market offer an eco-driving assistant that can be installed on the dashboard of the LCV. To help the driver improve his or her driving behavior. For example, TomTom Telematics’ Optidrive 360 displays real-time driving advice adapted to the route to enable the driver to anticipate the road ahead and drive more ecologically, while preserving safety.
4. Strengthen protection against theft.
“It is possible to add one or two SOS alert buttons to the device, allowing the driver to warn the fleet manager in the event that his cargo is stolen,” says Donato Quagliariello. For the rest, the beacon under the dashboard allows investigators to locate the vehicle in case of theft.
