2018’s Biggest Fleet Technology Changes

The ‘internet of things’ and cloud connectivity have the potential to make big changes to the safety aspect of fleet management. Drivers can quickly be alerted to hazards on the road, or even just around the corner.

But that’s not all. Self-driving vehicle technology has the potential to massively enhance safety. Advanced driver assistance systems can, for example, automatically begin breaking when they sense a hazard in the road ahead, research shows that this can reduce rear collisions by 38%.

By combining vehicle autonomy and connectivity, fleet managers can do even better than that. Vehicles can be fed intelligence from down the road and automatically respond appropriately to dangers such as poor visibility or slick surfaces. This sort of technology can save thousands of lives in the UK each year.

Another potentially game-changer is ECall – a European Commission project that will automatically call the nearest emergency centre if the vehicle is involved in an incident.

Vehicle connectivity means that fleet managers can automatically be fed information about wear and tear, and have problems diagnosed before they cause damage. Vehicles can even automatically check on garage availability in the local area if repairs are required.

The upshot that is a vehicle will identify problems before a breakdown, saving fleet managers £100s every year on rescues and repairs. Data such as battery condition, engine management and electrics is tracked and reported, with responses automatically generated if necessary. This sort of technology is already being trialed and rolled out, and organisations are seeing significant returns.

Telematics are already an increasingly common part of the modern fleet manager’s arsenal, but they are constantly evolving and there are still fleet managers who haven’t invested, or have struggled to convince financial decision makers in their organisation to invest.

The data produced by telematics systems is invaluable. Fuel consumption, breaking habits, average and top speeds – all of this data helps a fleet manager control driver behaviour and maximise the efficiency of the fleet.

Connected technology will mean that traffic can much more easily be kept moving, and therefore fuel usage and emissions reduced. ‘Platooning’, where automated vehicles follow each other very closely at a consistent speed, effectively eliminates traffic jams.

Even for vehicles with human drivers, computer breaking assistance and speed control can reduce the human error that leads to traffic jams, as one vehicle slows down and the rest over-compensate.

If you’d like to know more about how technology can help you manage the challenges facing you today, get in touch to find out about our range of state-of-the-art telematics products.