TRANSPORT - 03.06.2010

Track your vehicles and save fuel

How does vehicle tracking work?

Vehicle tracking is a technology that allows you to see your vehicles’ locations on a computer screen along with information on where they have been, what time they were turned on/off, how fast they were going, as well as a whole host of other features (see The next step). This is all made possible by using a combination of GPS technology, the mobile phone network, the Internet, digital mapping and specialised tracking software. Every few minutes the tracking system sends the location and event information back to a remote server at a secure location which you can access. There are a number of ways in which a tracking system will improve your green credentials and save money into the bargain.

Fuel savings

With fuel representing, on average, 30% of total operating costs, improving your fleet’s performance is obviously extremely important both in terms of the environment and your bottom line. Better utilisation of your fleet can save up to 600 litres of fuel per year per vehicle, depending on mileage. So based on a fuel price of £1.20 a litre, the savings per vehicle could equate to £720 a year.

How is this achieved?

First and foremost, using these systems should reduce total mileage travelled. How? One of the benefits is that you can identify where vehicles are at any time. So if you need to send a vehicle to a customer or warehouse, you can check the location of your fleet and send the closest one. Of course, you could achieve this manually, i.e. by contacting the drivers to find out where they are, but this system is more reliable and much quicker to use.

Monitoring

In addition, the systems give real-time information on how the vehicle is being driven. Each system monitors different things, but most analyse:

• Speeds. This can identify if vehicles are being driven too quickly. Apart from helping you to ensure your drivers aren’t breaking the law, keeping their speeds in check improves fuel efficiency.

• Idling time. This will identify if the vehicle is being left with the engine idling for prolonged periods. Again, doing so wastes fuel.

• Engine revs. Some systems identify how the vehicle is being driven, i.e. at what revs the driver is changing gear. Not only will this identify if fuel is being wasted, but also whether the engine is potentially being damaged.

Tip. Apart from the facts and figures you’ll obtain, having such a system should change your drivers’ habits. For example, because they know you could be watching them, they’re less likely to speed etc.

How much?

Systems range from a few hundred pounds to thousands - the price you’ll pay will vary depending on the level of reporting required, the number of vehicles it’s fitted to etc.

For further information on vehicle tracking systems, visit http://environment.indicator.co.uk (EN 05.01.07).