Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Don’t miss our final session with MyWebinars, Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Efficient Fleet, on September 14, 2011 at 3pm EST. Fleet safety is a top issue facing fleet managers. This webinar will show you strategies that can be put to use to make fleets and drivers safer, while improving efficiency.
Learn more about:
- The cost of driver distraction and liability
- Keeping Lone and remote workers safe
- Electronic On-board Recorders (EOBRs) and Hours of Service (HOS) requirements
- Managing poor driver behaviors
Start improving fleet and driver safety today, click here to register now.
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
We’ve teamed up with MyWebinars to present three educational, expert-led fleet management webinars. The first webinar addresses the many challenges faced by fleet managers.
Join us on August 16th at 3pm EST for Strategies for Resolving Key Mobile Workforce and Fleet Management Challenges. Learn from experts how to deal with issues such as:
- Data management
- Inefficient communication
- Asset tracking
- Driver behavior
- Operator safety
You’ll also hear real-life examples of strategies similar companies have used to improve their bottom lines. You won’t want to miss out on this informative session, register now.
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Mentor Engineering and MyWebinars are partnering to present three expert-led, fleet management webinars in August and September. These educational programs will inform attendees about best practices, current issues and recent trends in the fleet industry. The webinars will cover topics such as mobile workforce management, vehicle telematics technology and fleet safety strategies. Detailed descriptions and session times follow below:
Top 10 Strategies for Resolving Key Mobile Workforce and Fleet Management Challenges
August 16, 2011, 3PM EST
This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of how the right technology solution can help organizations tackle common mobile workforce and fleet management challenges such as inefficient data management, poor communication, lone worker safety, and wasteful driving habits. Attendees will learn new ways to better manage these common challenges while increasing revenue and reducing costs at the same time. Get solutions to key industry issues and find out how similar companies have improved their bottom lines.
Vehicle Telematics 101: How the Right Solution Can Impact Your Bottom Line
August 24, 2011, 3PM EST
This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of how a vehicle telematics solution can increase efficiency, scheduling flexibility, customer service, and fleet transparency while saving your organization money. The speaker will discuss telematics topics such as monitoring speed and idling, instances of hard braking and rapid acceleration, as well as engine diagnostics, vehicle maintenance, route optimization, vehicle location and minimizing unauthorized use. Attendees will learn how these technologies combine to help fleets reduce empty mileage, minimize fuel consumption, and optimize vehicle use to save money.
Strategies for Managing a Safer, More Efficient Fleet
September 14, 2011, 3PM EST
This webinar will provide essential information on strategies that can be put to use to make fleets and drivers safer, while improving efficiency. The speaker will discuss major fleet safety issues including the cost of driver distraction and corporate liability in the event of an accident, strategies for keeping lone or remote workers safe, new legislation requirements pertaining to EOBRs (Electronic On-Board Recorders) and Hours of Service (HOS) compliance as well as how to manage unsafe driver behaviors in an effective manner.
To get more information about the MyWebinars complete fleet management series, visit the MyWebinars website. To learn more about Mentor Engingeering, click here.
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
In November 2010, Fleet Owner magazine put out an interesting article on a recent Frost & Sullivan study about what fleet managers in the trucking industry want out of their technology investment – and the results might surprise you.
We might often assume that reducing fuel consumption is the most important driving motivation behind acquiring a technological solution, but according to Sandeep Kar, global program manager – commercial vehicle research for Frost & Sullivan, “Reduced vehicle downtime for maintenance tops the list, followed by fuel economy improvements. That says that fleets are becoming more and more interested in total cost of ownership, and not just upfront cost or fuel economy benefits.”
The study also identified an interesting inclination among fleet managers in that they are willing to invest in something that reduces operational expenses, no matter the type of operation they work in. This opens the door for mobile workforce management solutions. This type of solution gives companies with mobile workforces the tools and technology to manage the work, the people and the assets in the field, while increasing revenue and decreasing costs. A mobile workforce management solution is extremely flexible, in that it can be tailored to any business environment. As the article indicates, fleet managers are willing to invest in technology that increases the efficiency of their operation, while minimizing expenses and the most effective way to achieve this is with a mobile workforce management solution.
Here is a great video that explains specifically how to overcome key efficiency issues with mobile workforce management technology.
If you want to read the entire Fleet Owner article, click here.
Friday, January 29th, 2010
In a continued effort to battle distracted driving practices, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced a federal ban on texting while driving by drivers of commercial vehicles, like buses and large trucks. This move is part of a larger DOT campaign to put an end to distracted driving.
But how does this affect transit agencies or fleet-based businesses already using in-vehicle mobile devices with integrated SMS, or texting, technology? Is it possible to continue using these devices without violating the new DOT measures?
It is possible to reach a middle ground between using in-vehicle mobile devices, which make your jobs more efficient, and following safe driving practices. Here is a white paper dedicated to the issue of selecting mobile computing technology which minimizes driver distraction and can increase safety. It’s free for you to read.
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Investing in a mobile computing solution is an important step for fleet-based operations. Your objectives in implementing such a solution most likely include greater operational efficiency, lower fuel use, a safer driving environment, and happier customers, to name a few. But what are the key features to look for in a mobile computer that will help you achieve these objectives? While it’s tempting to look only at the sticker price, it’s critical to look at other factors that lead to a device’s total cost of ownership, or TCO, over the product’s life span. Here’s a guide to other important considerations:
Durability
Durability is key given that: “on average, 4 percent of rugged mobile computers installed to support enterprise mobility applications in “harsh” environments fail per year. Conversely, the annual failure rate for commercial grade devices in similar harsh conditions rockets to 36 percent.”(i) When you factor in device replacement rates (12 to 18 months for commercial devices versus 7 plus years for quality rugged devices) and downtime costs, the price of commercial grade devices can far exceed their initial price.
Look for rugged computers that meet MIL-STD 810-F and IP54 standards to ensure that they can handle vibration, shock, dust, and water exposure, as well as temperature fluctuations, all things very present in the vehicle environment.
Support, Training and Upgrades
Because commercial-grade devices, like smartphones, are geared towards the consumer, their support programs may not account for the urgency of mission-critical situations. Rugged devices are more likely to be backed by fleet-focused companies who understand real-time needs, with 24/7 support plans and comprehensive training.
Also consider how upgradable the mobile computer is in order to protect your initial investment and keep your organization current. “Rugged units are typically designed to offer users an upgrade path. Because non-rugged units are primarily targeted at the consumer and white-collar markets, industry-specific upgrade paths are far less compelling.” (ii)
Information Accuracy
With mobile computers such as smartphones, you rely on the driver to charge it, turn it on, and keep it with them. There is the potential for drivers to cut off GPS reception by putting the computer in a foil bag or deactivating the tracking software. There have also been cases where the driver gives the computer to a colleague and takes the day off, thereby giving the impression that they are still at work.
A computer installed in the vehicle is turned on with the ignition and is much more difficult to tamper with. Integrated with the vehicle, rugged devices let you track OBDII data, which includes odometer monitoring, problem codes, fuel consumption, RPM, and oil temperatures. With this real-time data managers can address unnecessary idling and excessive speeding, automate maintenance and safety checks, and warn drivers about safety concerns, such as loose equipment.
Data Security
When compared to mobile computers that remain with the driver, in-vehicle rugged computers are much less likely to be lost, stolen, broken or tampered with. Plus, the information captured by the devices is sent to head office in real time. You maintain control of the device and information being sent or received on it, versus the driver having control, so company-sensitive data is protected.
Hardware/Software Integration
Though the initial cost of a commercial device is often less, the cost quickly rises when you start to integrate it with things like card swipes, lights, sirens, PTO and RFID readers. By choosing a rugged device that connects to these you can create a complete mobile solution without spending additional time and money on integration.
As well, choose a rugged device manufacturer who has multiple software applications and can tailor a solution to you. These companies are also more likely to have relationships with back-office software suppliers so integration is simplified.
Message Transmission Rates
According to a study by VDC: “Wireless transmission failure is almost three times as much for non-rugged notebooks when compared to rugged notebooks. Each failed transmission leads to 5 to 10 minutes in lost productivity and as a result can significantly add to TCO, not to mention employee frustration.” (iii)
Remote Programming Capabilities
Selecting a rugged in-vehicle computer that lets you program and update software programs from the office versus going to each vehicle individually or having to collect devices from each driver saves considerable time and money and minimizes downtime.
Safety Concerns
Commercial-grade devices, such as smartphones, are difficult and dangerous to view while driving, and managers have no control over how or when drivers are using them. That’s alarming when you consider that text messaging while driving increases the risk of collision by more than 23 times. (iv) Instead, by choosing in-vehicle computers that let you set parameters around their use, you can better manage fleet/passenger safety. These computers can be programmed so the screen is only visible when the vehicle isn’t in motion, or to only offer very limited functionality when in motion. As well, the driver’s messaging capability can be suspended while driving.
Ease of Use
Look for rugged fixed-mount computers that take into account limited in-vehicle real-estate, while still being large enough for easy viewing in any lighting condition and provide easy data entry with canned messages. Easy to use computers are more likely to be utilized to their full potential by drivers. Commercial devices, such as smartphones have a small keypad and screen, making it difficult to quickly send messages or view navigational maps without excessive scrolling.
Customer Satisfaction
Delays in service due to failed computers can negatively impact your customer’s experience, leading to poor customer satisfaction rates and lost business. A rugged device with integrated GPS capabilities lets your dispatchers deliver accurate vehicle location information to customers, improving their experience with your organization.
Ultimately, you want to think about your objectives in implementing a mobile computing solution, and then determine the best computer to meet those objectives. This shouldn’t simply be based on the devices’ upfront cost, but on the overall value they will bring to your organization. A mobile computing solution has the potential to streamline operations, and take your organization to a whole new level of productivity so it’s important to pick the right device for your needs.
________________________________________________________________________________
i.“Enterprise Mobility TCO—When Rugged Makes Sense.” by David Krebs. In Insight, Pg. 42, 2005.
ii.“Are Rugged Computers More Expensive?” by Ed Hess. In Integrated Solutions, September 2004.
iii. “TCO Insights on Rugged Mobile Computers” Market Analysis By: VDC, Pg. 5
iv.“Text Messaging While Driving can be Deadly.” by Faiza Elmasry. In VOA News, August 2009.
