Page 19 - Logistics News - November December 2022

TELEMATI CS

businesses a chance to play their part in fighting Gathering this data are vast numbers of connected
climate change, while also improving the efficiency of precision-measurement devices, which are part of
their enterprises. the Internet of Things (IoT). These include digital
thermometers, tyre pressure monitoring systems,
Telematics uses a combination of technologies vibration sensors and weight sensors. CO sensors are
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– GPS communications, sensors and data analysis now available that can measure engine carbon dioxide
– to measure vehicle and fleet performance and to emissions in real-time.
then make safety and efficiency recommendations.
Drivers can be incentivised to make telematics-driven The suite of sensors a fleet owner requires can be
performance adjustments, such as reducing speed, tailored to their business needs. Data is then gathered
minimising hard acceleration and cornering, braking and applied to ensure loads are optimised, delivery
carefully and following optimal routes and travel trips are minimised and vehicles are run as efficiently
schedules. These kinds of interventions can have a as possible.
massive effect on fuel consumption as well as carbon
emissions. As fleets begin the transition to electric vehicles,
telematics will also be used to ensure that trucks are
A Frost & Sullivan study has indicated that always adequately charged and that their charging
installed telematics can lower total mileage by up to schedules and locations are mapped for optimal
10 percent, decrease idling by up to 30 percent and efficiency.
reduce fuel expenses by up to 25 percent, thereby
reducing vehicle CO emissions. The efficiency advantages of telematics come in
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addition to the greatest priority of all – protecting
Cutting CO emissions is a commitment most human lives. Businesses have a duty of care to their
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countries have made as part of the Paris Climate staff and their contract workers. In the event of an
Accords, which aims to combat climate change by accident or a roadside breakdown, telematics allows
limiting global warming to substantially below 2°C enterprises to receive alerts, track their location and
and ideally 1.5°C by 2050. ensure help arrives quickly.

It is therefore also part of our patriotic While the climate benefits of fleet telematics
commitment and our responsibility to ensure a solutions are significant, they will have limited
liveable planet for our children that we deploy appeal unless there is a business case for using them.
our all the technological resources at our disposal Fortunately, those business benefits are becoming
to meet these commitments – our survival clear.
depends on it. It is also likely that government
will soon start making policy changes to encourage Fleet intelligence offerings such as Netstar’s give
the move towards fleets with fewer carbon fleet managers the technology and services to keep
emissions. their employees and their assets safer, to save costs
and to get a better return on their human and capital
How telematics can help achieve emissions goals investments. The technology delivers all of these
Telematics can help us achieve these emissions benefits, while also ensuring a lower carbon impact
goals through the power of data, measuring driver and supporting the long-term sustainability of the L O GI S T I CS NEWS
performance, scheduling preventative maintenance, business, the industry and society at large. It’s a
mapping effective routes and encouraging efficient technology that all fleet managers should investigate
driver behaviour. as part of their business model. •

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