Being a fleet handler is not an easy job.
Fleet managers are solely responsible for tracking and managing all the trucks that are on road transporting the goods for their companies’ clients. They have to keep an eye on different parameters that may affect the delivery of the articles being shipped.
While there are many software and IoT fleet management systems that operators use to administer their fleet trucks, they are still required to stay in front of a computer 24*7. There isn’t any amenity for these people to chill out a bit and do their jobs a little leniently.
Well, now they do have it. With the technology of Internet of Things making ripples in different industrial segments, it was quite obvious for the emergence of a solution that fleet operators can enjoy as well. Let us have a look at how IoT reduces the workload of fleet operators.
IoT for Fleet Management:
Internet of Things is a modern-day disruptive technology that allow the creation of an interconnected network of various devices. By using this technology, industries that are strongly dependent on their fleet can remotely track their trucks and manage them in real-time. By using sensors embedded on the trucks, fleet managers can track parameters that may result in delayed delivery of the cargo.
The feature of IoT that is really beneficial for fleet handlers is the real-time alert/notification system. Fleet handlers can set thresholds and tolerances and gain alerts whenever the useful parameters or variables crosses these limits. This will give fleet managers the visibility they require to track fleets and allow them to focus more on other crucial tasks.
The alerts are directly sent to the fleet management dashboard as pop-up notifications which allow them to instantly respond to it and take necessary actions.
Some alerts that a fleet handler can gain from IoT network of trucks are:
1) Speed Alerts:
Fleet managers are also accountable to make sure that the truckers are safe and are complying with the traffic rules and standards. Hence, through the help of IoT sensors, fleet operators can track the speed, acceleration, and other driving habits of the truckers. Real-time speed alerts will help handlers instantly communicate with the truckers and ask them to refrain from bad driving habits which can result in severe accidents. Additionally, they can also ensure that the cargo isn’t damaged from rash driving and that driver doesn’t get stopped by traffic police.
2) Geolocation and Geofence Alerts:
The path that truck use can dramatically change the expected time of delivery. Hence, in order to ensure that the truck driver is using the prescribed path by the company, the fleet handlers can use GPS and geofencing techniques. By quickly responding to a location-based alert, a fleet handler can ask the trucker to stick to the original path and complete the delivery on time. Furthermore, a fleet handler can also gain alert related to the truck arrival and departure from the destination.
3) Maintenance Alerts:
By wirelessly connecting with the on-board diagnostics of the trucks, fleet handlers can also have visibility into the condition and performance of their vehicles. They can gain alerts about diagnostic trouble codes, low battery, DVIR issues, and engine performance of the truck remotely. Hence, by receiving details about truck conditions, fleet operators can predict sudden breakdowns and malfunctions. Hence, fleet handlers can communicate about probable issues in the trucks’ performance that may affect the timely delivery of the trucks.
4) Temperature/RH Alerts:
Cold chain transportation refers to the shipment of environment-dependent goods. Generally, products from food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical industry are transported in a controlled environment, so that their consistency and quality is maintained in the entire supply chain.
Since these products are also transported in trucks, a controlled environment is created for them so that they don’t rot during transportation. Fleet managers can hence use alerts from temperature and humidity sensors installed in the tankers of the trucks to ensure that they are being transported in a controlled environment.
5) Ignition and Idling Alerts:
Real-time alert systems can also be used to monitor the time interval for which the truck was on. This means that the moment the ignition switch is turned on, the exact moment the fleet handler will receive an alert about it. Same is the case when the engine is turned off. This will help fleet handlers calculate the amount of time the engine was on, revealing the amount of time the driver spends moving the shipment.
Moreover, people can also track the amount of time the truck was in idle condition and the activity after hours of the trucker. Thus, fleet managers can reduce fuel consumption by suggesting the driver turn off the engine when it’s not in use and make sure that the driver doesn’t strain himself by working hastily without taking any breaks.
6) Weather Alerts:
An IoT fleet system can also be integrated with a local weather station to gain alerts about an unexpected change in weather conditions that may result in delayed delivery of the goods. For example, fleet managers can gain alerts about an incoming storm. Furthermore, along with geolocation tools and GPS systems, they can also identify routes that will remain unaffected from the storm and hence advise truckers to take those particular routes to complete the delivery.
CONCLUSION:
Without the advent of IoT solutions, it would have been quite difficult for fleet handlers to manage fleets. The real-time alert system of IoT can help these folks a lot in monitoring various variables that may affect cargo delivery. Moreover, industries like logistics and transportation, which strongly depend on their fleet trucks can use this system to ease the load from their managers and indulge them in other productive tasks. This will help them to boost the efficiency of their employees and garner greater returns.
