Introduction

In recent years, fleet management companies have been exploring telematics to improve reliability, customer service, and profitability. Fleet track telematics solutions usually work hand in hand with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to gather critical data that fleet operators can analyse and use to improve their fleet management system.

In such industries, market leaders must utilise innovative telematics technologies and solutions. For example, the trucking industry has developed beyond mere asset tracking into an enhanced vehicle and driver performance and maintenance management system. Yet that's simply the tip of the iceberg. 

As telematics-related technologies continue to advance, we see enhancements in the emerging field of the Internet of Things that Move (IoTtM), enabling more efficient resourcing, routing, and scheduling. For example, GPS tracking allows fleet managers to keep track of their fleet assets in real-time, giving them a comprehensive picture of the resources at their disposal. 

However, businesses must not reduce telematics systems to mere tracker devices. There are endless possibilities and complexities involved in emerging telematics solutions.

New technologies in this field are capable of accessing key information about the vehicle and goods contained therein:

• Receive accurate tracking of the vehicle location at any time using reliable GPS fleet management technology. 
• Develop a geofence and create a panic alert when the vehicle crosses this boundary. 
• Access dashboard camera footage to monitor driver behaviour and provide a record of incidents. 
• Trigger alerts for vehicle incidents like harsh braking.
• Monitor vehicle speed.

Future of Telematics

Autonomous and self-driving trucks are the latest trends in the commercial fleet trucking industry. They have gained much traction following the roll-out and localisation of technologies like the 5G network, GPS tracking, and the IoT. Fleets becoming connected by these technologies is inevitable. There will soon be a virtual cloud that will facilitate data sharing and real-time communication. 

Cloud-connected trucks will soon be able to proactively detect, point out, and self-diagnose issues that may compromise efficiency and safety. This will enormously reduce the number of accidents, primarily due to human errors. Engineers are also working round the clock to devise autonomous algorithms to monitor fleet vehicles overall state and predict future maintenance requirements before a potential breakdown.

Importance of Fleet Management For Trucking Companies

Fleet management systems play a critical role in gathering and analysing data that provide a standard interface for checking factors such as real-time location and vehicle speed. Below are a few reasons why trucking companies need to implement comprehensive fleet management solutions.

1. Fleet Management Enhances Uptime

The time trucks spend on the road transporting assets and making deliveries is extremely important. As such, unprecedented breakdowns could cause a massive loss in revenue and clients. Companies can avoid such consequences by implementing fleet management telematics solutions that feature preventive maintenance and regular check-ups to eliminate or reduce potential breakdowns ahead of time. 

2. Fleet Management Saves Costs

Your businesses financial resources are precious and should go towards preventative measures rather than post-crisis solutions. The importance of fleet management is evident here. With predictive maintenance, vehicle fleet management helps save on costs that would have otherwise been incurred in expensive repairs or lost revenues due to truck delays. A top-class fleet management system will proactively detect potential crises and correct them before any damage occurs. 

3. Fleet Management Keeps Up with Customer Demands

The rapid digital transformation rate among customers should motivate fleet companies to optimise their fleet management processes. Customers are increasingly looking for companies that have implemented and utilised effective transport management systems (TMS). A reliable and innovative TMS allows many clients to keep track of their cargo and digitally connect with fleet operators in real-time. 

4. Fleet Management Improves Safety and Minimises Risks

One of fleet management functions is to ensure the safety of drivers and cargo. This is achieved by reducing risks by closely monitoring driving habits and providing higher-ups with essential analytics. Those in management positions are more aware of driver habits, recurring vehicle hazards, and points of danger along the routes. They can develop personal safety and responsibility among drivers to protect all people on the road.

Company With Established Fleet Management Solutions

At PCI Limited, we are known for our expertise in the design and manufacturing of ruggedised products used for asset management. Whether you're looking for agricultural, construction, or industrial equipment, our experienced team can help you develop quality products. We enable our partners with enhanced fleet track telematics solutions that meet Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandates. 

Our specialised Electronic-On-Board Recorder (EOBR) helps us work with partners to develop fleet management systems that feature accurate fleet tracking and incorporate preventative maintenance. The resulting telematics fleet management system allows companies to improve productivity, reduce costs and improve overall safety, amongst many other benefits.

Our Telematics Solutions

With the flexibility and speed of a collaborative design team and our years of experience as a top manufacturing partner, our telematics solutions and know-how include: 

• Antenna design 
• Cellular technology – 5G, LTE, 3G, 2G 
• Bluetooth 
• Wi-Fi 
• GNSS – GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou 
• V2X 
• RF simulation 
• Vehicle communication – J1708, J1939 CAN 
• Multi-region regulatory compliance 

PCI Limited can work closely with your telematics design team to aid in systems design tasks, design for testability, and application development. We can ensure your RF antenna design will be manufacturable with high yield and help you make the transition through proof-of-concept to prototype and full-scale production. 

Choose An Experienced EMS to Complement Your OEM

OEMs that want to bring their vehicle telematics solutions to market should partner with an experienced EMS provider that understands the automotive electronics landscape. 

We have more than 30 years of EMS experience focused on consumer goods, industrial, automotive, and medical devices, as well as in Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) and box builds. Our Lean Six Sigma manufacturing expertise enables us to customise our manufacturing line to meet our 'partners' requirements. 

We can provide our partners with high-quality products at lower manufacturing costs with shorter change-over time and leaner material control. If needed, we also offer our customers the flexibility needed to scale production as needs arise quickly. Contact PCI Limited today to learn more about fleet management systems and their various benefits.