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How telematic data can help your fleet performance
Commercial transport is becoming increasingly sophisticated with businesses utilising advanced technologies and driver training to get the most out of their fleet. Similarly, the level of data collected has become increasingly detailed and with the right analysis, should be the first point in a business’s journey to improve their fleet. It can detect issues, provide tools to resolve identified weaknesses, improve efficiency, and create benchmarks for drivers to measurably improve their performance.
Driving data is a key learning tool
The latest model trucks feature in-built fatigue tracking, lane keeping, GPS and sensors designed to help keep drivers safe. They also tell fleet managers just how well their trucks and drivers are performing. Excess speed, for example, translates to higher wear and tear, increased fuel costs and poor road safety.
Of course, telematics and GPS technology aren’t new. But with so much data from a multitude of providers, the problem for many fleet managers is what to do with it all. “New Zealand has quite an aged heavy vehicle fleet - averaging around 18 years old - so many trucks have third party telematics installed,” explains Michael Stirk, Fleet Risk Manager for NZI. “For a large fleet operator, this can mean data coming in from multiple systems and they often don’t have the time to analyse all that information.”
With decreasing margins, the focus for fleet managers is efficiency; keeping trucks on the road and making sure they are where they need to be. Data that helps achieve these goals is the most frequently used. “The numbers show a much bigger picture,” says Stirk, who sees wider opportunities. “They tell us how we drive, how we perform, how fatigued we are – and actually who are your best drivers.”
A ranking system to reward drivers
Stirk believes there’s potential to use data to identify top drivers, with their on-road performance measured by an online ranking system – a practice that could be good for company safety culture.
CCS Logistics General Manager, Gareth Balfour, believes data is gold for an operator. CCS Logistics specialises in arranging all the data from various systems into reports for fleet managers - including gamification through FLEETScore, which benchmarks fleet performance against industry best practice.
Trust and communication are key to helping drivers improve
Trusting and acting on the data in the right way is the key to success, and in Balfour’s view the human touch is often the missing link. “Engaging in dialogue with drivers is an important part of the equation. We’re unbiased, so we have a fair approach to individual improvement backed up by metrics. We can create benchmarks across fleets, regardless of what system is in the cab, and then produce independent report cards that highlight where drivers are doing well, and if needed, provide relevant insights to help them improve.”
Blair Inglis, Compliance and Fleet Manager at Foodstuffs, knows all too well the difficulties of getting telematic data into a shape that’s beneficial to both Foodstuffs and his drivers. “We’ve got good data coming in from our telematic systems,” Inglis says, “but we actually need it brought together into a meaningful and easy to consume report. That’s what CCS Logistics does, and we trust it – because it’s totally unbiased. It helps drive competition between fleets, which has enabled us to have positive conversations with our drivers to support our safety and wellbeing culture.”
"We can create benchmarks across fleets, regardless of what system is in the cab, and then produce independent report cards that highlight where drivers are doing well, and if needed, provide relevant insights to help them improve
Gareth Balfour - General Manager, CCS Logistics
“Big Brother” isn’t really watching
While some drivers may find the “Big Brother” notion of telematics a bit off-putting at first, they soon see the benefits – especially when they see their driving performance and on-road risk reduce and get fair recognition for their efforts.
To see what data can uncover for your business, talk to your NZI Fleet Risk Manager or your broker about NZI’s Fleet Fit package.
