Boosting safety for cargo and drivers

Need help in making informed and timely decisions regarding the performance of your fleet and the safety of your drivers and their cargoes? MiX Telematics offers solutions that will help you to manage your vehicles effectively and efficiently

As a fleet manager, it is crucial to your business to not only track your vehicles, but to have access to immediate, secure information about your fleet at all times. you need to know the location and status of vehicles and drivers.

Given South Africa’s current economic climate and the competitive nature of the transport industry, the use of a telematics system for fleet vehicles has proved to be an important tool in helping to drive down costs and improve efficiency.

Good telematics systems allow you to monitor your vehicles and drivers, and provide different types of data – such as fuel consumption and driving habits – which help to heighten your insights into how best to manage your fleet effectively.

According to a recent report by Frost and Sullivan – a research company that studies the impact of technology on business – fleet management data has been shown to increase productivity by up to 15 percent and reduce fuel expenditure by as much as 20 to 25 percent.

In this respect, one of the most encompassing telematics systems available in South Africa is MiX Fleet Manager Premium, a fully comprehensive fleet management solution designed by MiX Telematics to reduce operating costs and risk, increase profitability and improve customer service levels.

Gert Pretorius, managing director of MiX Telematics Africa, says the product offers fleet operators access to information about their vehicles and drivers, with a host of features, tools and reports to maximise return on investment, while increasing safety for both drivers and valuable cargo.

He describes MiX Fleet Manager Premium as the answer to real-time intelligence that can be applied proactively. “The system consists of a sophisticated on-board computer that collects and transmits valuable vehicle and driver data. The data is hosted in one of several top-tier data centres, with information accessible online or via a mobile app for Android or iOS.”

Pretorius adds that the company’s diverse range of international customers concur that, whatever the goal – be it to save fuel, improve safety, increase utilisation, or enhance customer service – the premium MiX Fleet Manager solution has been shown to bring about guaranteed and significant results.

“The MiX Fleet Manager software platform is completely secure and packed with features to help fleet operators make informed and timely decisions regarding the performance of their fleets,” he says.

According to Pretorius, the tracking module provides a real-time view of the position of a vehicle or asset – whether it’s stationary or on the move – and which driver is behind the steering wheel (if used in conjunction with driver identification). It also displays information relating to speed, driving direction, ignition status, driving violations, past trips and more.

“The solution’s robust reporting capability enables data to be reviewed and analysed in detail, as well as in dynamic and customisable formats. Information includes movement, location, trip and utilisation reports, as well as driver scoring, fuel, event violations and cost analysis reports,” Pretorius says.

He reiterates that the system is compatible with a flexible range of services, add-ons and accessories from MiX Telematics. “Depending on specific operational goals or regional requirements, customers can choose from video-recording systems to in-cab navigation and messaging devices, driver engagement tools, an hours-of-service solution, journey management and satellite communication, among other peripheral solutions and value added services.”

Further, Pretorius says the platform provides an ideal solution to combat the scourge of truck hijackings. “Real-time and historical tracking, stolen vehicle recovery and trailer tracking are our key security offerings, designed to enhance driver safety, as well as security for commercial fleets.”

Pretorius points out that when fleet operators are properly equipped with the right telematics data, the result is a guaranteed increase in profitability. “Our fleet customers rely heavily on our fleet management solutions to be as efficient as possible – especially in competitive markets where even the smallest amounts of time and money become critical issues in determining success,” he says.

On the safety front Pretorius says that identifying and correcting bad driver behaviour is the first step to reducing risk and increasing safety levels. Research indicates that human error is to blame for around 80 percent of vehicle collisions. As a result, fleet owners are under mounting pressure to identify risky behaviour, and to take corrective action to improve safety levels.

In his view, better, safer and more efficient fleet operations translate into increased profitability over time – and the MiX Fleet Manager platform represents an end-to-end solution designed to deliver just that!

“The platform gives fleet operators the tools they need to sustain a high-performing operation – one that’s running at optimum levels of efficiency and safety,” he says. “Since MiX Fleet Manager provides comprehensive visibility over a fleet, customer service is one more aspect that improves as a result.”