Innovative fleet-tracking system helps cut costs

©Paul Vasarhelyi via 123RF

Fleet is remotely monitored through the use of GPS and GPRS when it is on the road. When vehicles enter remote areas where there is no mobile network coverage, the tracking automatically switches over to Satellite tracking and sends live updates to the company's web-based monitoring centre, Webtrack. Globaltrack CEO, Pieter Smits said the company's satellite-based system ensures that the hardware installed in the vehicles remains live at all times to provide accurate data even in areas that do not have cell phone coverage.

"All data gathered from our hardware and communicated through the GPRS or Satellite transmissions is stored and communicated through in Webtrack in real time, with clients having access to Webtrack from a variety of devices including personal computers, tablets and even smartphones."

Curbing fuel theft and fraud

"Through Webtrack, the location of the client's vehicle can then be viewed at any given time regardless of the area it is in," he said. The system is also linked to a fuel-levels monitoring device called Fuel Probe a sensor device that transmits fuel levels in a fleet at any given time. Fuel Probe has helped organisations monitor driver behaviour, curb fuel theft and increase efficiency of cost management.

"It has been a common practice that at times, drivers drain fuel from the tank and sell it for profit, only to replace it with cheap fuel that can be harmful to the vehicle.

"Fuel Probe will report a rapid decrease in fuel levels even when our client's vehicle is standing still, as well as an abnormal increase in fuel levels at a location other than an authorised fuel station. "Our fuel solutions ensures that organisations avoid wasteful fuel costs arising from fuel theft and fuel fraud from some of the fuel stations," he said.

Driver behaviour and vehicle maintenance

This integrated fleet-tracking solution also helps with the transmission of crucial data on driver behaviour and vehicle maintenance, among other things.
The integration of the tracking system into Webtrack allows customers to customise data and information through reports to be generated on interval periods to provide a view of their fleet while not in sight.

The system also alerts fleet managers to upcoming maintenance like oil change, tyre change based on kilometres travelled, or driver behaviour, such as harsh acceleration and braking, which leads to increased unscheduled maintenance. "Our product/service gives the client a piece of mind through our cost-effective approach and this ensures that the money that is spent on fuel gives them the mileage they should be getting.

Companies from around the world have had to increase the price of freight due to the fact that fleet management is expensive. This cost is usually passed on to the consumer, which impacts the food basket. Through these cost-effective solutions, the client saves, and the price of goods, including food, drops.