Monthly Archives: March 2021

Did you know 23,000 of New York City’s fleet vehicles are equipped with Geotab’s fleet tracking solution? Telematics has been instrumental in helping manage and optimize the city’s expansive fleet. It has also played an important role in helping the city reach their goals through the Vision Zero program, an action plan designed to make the city’s streets safer.

When the city installed Geotab GO devices into their vehicles, they gained access to a key feature: real-time tracking. Keith Kerman, Chief Fleet Officer at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, stated in a New York Daily News article that the technology cost roughly $3 million to deploy, but it has already paid for itself. He credited telematics for helping to reduce the fleet by nearly 1,000 vehicles based on better monitoring of vehicle usage.

For example; In January 2021, Geotab’s telematics solution was used to aid in the recovery of a stolen work truck, valued at $30,000, from the New York City Parks Department. Using the telematics device installed in the vehicle, authorities were able to track it from New York City to Virginia, where the thieves responsible were eventually arrested.

Notifications alert fleet managers to theft

Fleet managers are notified quickly through an alert called an “exception notification” if a theft occurs. The alert allowed them to track the vehicle’s progress as it traveled outside of the city limits and set into motion the cross-state search for the stolen vehicle.

Additional safety features for theft prevention

The solutions used to track and ultimately return the stolen vehicle in New York City are just a few of the safety features Geotab offers. Other solutions that could be useful in theft prevention include:

Geotab Keyless

Geotab Keyless is a scalable, digital key solution designed, in part, to protect fleet assets. The Keyless solution offers starter inhibit functionality which makes it much more difficult for vehicles to be stolen due to its advanced security features. Only pre-authorized users can access designated vehicles with a secure mobile digital key or near-field communication (NFC) tag.

Dash cams

Dashboard cameras are also a highly effective method of theft prevention. Having a dash cam in your vehicle allows you to record anything going on around your vehicle. It can also help you to potentially identify thiefs or spot landmarks to pinpoint a vehicle’s location.

How can you get your drivers to remember to plug in their EV when they return to the lot? How do you make sure a driver isn’t leaving the depot with insufficient charge? While these may seem like tough questions, they have simple answers: by utilizing MyGeotab rules for electric vehicles.

MyGeotab is an easy to learn, fleet management application that offers comprehensive solutions for collecting and managing data. For successful EV management, four new built-in electric vehicle (EV) rules have been added to the MyGeotab platform. These have been added to help manage EVs in the fleet, specifically related to charging activity. Here are the new rules and how they can help your fleet:

EV Low Charge

This rule helps you receive a notification to know when an EV has dropped below a specified charge percentage level and is at risk of not completing its daily routes. With this new custom trigger notification you’ll never have to worry about a vehicle not having sufficient charge to complete its route. Fleet managers can prevent EVs from getting stranded with insufficient charge, or forcing an unplanned charging stop during the day which would create a large productivity and time loss for the driver.

EVs Entering Zone with Low Charge

When an EV is returning to a depot or lot with sufficient low charge, it needs to be plugged in. This will provide drivers with a reminder that their EV needs to be charged. It can also help fleet managers identify which EVs need to be prioritized and charged first. Setting this rule to On via the built-in rule will enable it for all vehicles reporting values for Engine Measurement Generic state of charge, which will include PHEVs, BEVS, and some HEVs.

If you have PHEVs and HEVs in your database, we advise that you customize this rule, and use the Publish to groups option to only apply to a subset of the EVs in a Group, such as to a BEVs group.

EVs Leaving a Zone with Low Charge

This rule will trigger a notification when EVs leave a charging zone of the specified types while their battery charge is still below the configured value. This rule will be extremely useful for identifying EVs that are:

• Leaving an area which has a wider geographical safe zone with a low charge which will put their EV at risk of not having sufficient range to be able to return to a charging location.

• Leaving a lot or depot such as a city center without their vehicle not charged enough in order for them to successfully complete their route. This is useful in cases when EVs need a minimum charge to complete their expected route distance.

A fleet manager does what they can to ensure EVs are sufficiently charged before they start their day. Use this route to catch those exceptional times when your regular checks have failed.

EV Done Charging

This rule will trigger when an EV is charged to the configured value. This helps fleet managers prioritize charging schedules by knowing when an EV is done and fully charged so the next one can plug in. The battery charge takes into account the engine measurement generic state of charge. If your configured value is lower than 100%, change the default to whatever figure you would like to get the notification at.

How we can help

These rules above, plus the others available in MyGeotab, allow fleet managers to proactively manage their EVs to prevent issues and proactively measure performance. At Advantage Asset Tracking, we believe in “management by measurement,” and that is exactly what these rules are created for. As a fleet manager, you will be alerted when something is going wrong or about to go wrong, so problems can be solved quickly and more efficiently.

Contact us to see how you can take advantage of MyGeotab for optimizing your electric fleet.

One of the most daunting tasks a fleet manager can take on is the implementation of new technology that will alter the way a fleet is currently managed. At Advantage Asset Tracking our fleet experts will help guide you into a smooth rollout. Here are the 11 steps for successfully completing a large, automated vehicle location implementation:

1. Know the project size and shape

2. Review the solution

3. Appoint project managers

4. Establish and maintain a communication rhythm

5. Develop a statement of work

6. Develop field best practices

7. Create a job aid

8. Plan the whole project and keep it updated

9. Review as you go

10. Never stop retrofitting

11. Leverage OEM technology

1. Know the size and shape of the project

It sounds like an oversimplification, but taking the time to document a complete vehicle list, home location for each vehicle, its availability and the existing installation is key to the rest of this list. Be sure to remove any vehicles from the list that will be decommissioned before the end of the upgrade window and plan for new additions that will be coming in during the same time.

2. Review your solution

Take a hard look at the data and insights you are receiving from your solution so that you can take advantage of additional functionality you may not have needed during the initial installation. For example, has driver behavior proven harder to coach than anticipated, triggering the need to add camera technology? Would you gain market share by adding temperature sensors to your refrigerated trucks? Now is the time to make those changes.

3. Appoint a project manager at every partner organization

This is an often overlooked step that can prevent problems from occurring in the future. The end customers and any other interested parties like third-party installers should each set a project manager for the retrofit. By having an individual that knows they are responsible for this project, it is likely that it will run more smoothly.

4. Establish and keep a communication rhythm

Weekly meetings with all project managers and other stakeholders provide the assurance that no more than a few business days will go by before everyone can discuss an issue. Even if there is very little to discuss, keep the schedule going. Some of these meetings will be five minutes long, and some will be an hour. It will all depend on the nature of what is going on that week but constant communication is very important.

5. Develop a statement of work, and keep it updated

One of the project managers should take the lead and develop a project plan or statement of work that outlines who does what, key deliverables and deadlines. By agreeing to these specific goals in advance, and making the inevitable changes together, the working group can avoid confusion and hold each other accountable.

6. Develop field best practices

Before undertaking dozens or hundreds of vehicles at a time, the team should develop a step-by-step description to remove the old device, install the new one and any new Geotab IOX Add-Ons, document the installation and update the portal. Existing documentation can serve as a starting point, but specifics will need to be discussed. Using an assembly line approach to removing the old device, installing the new one, confirming communication, securing the installation and finalizing the install can be sorted out as well.

7. Create a job aid

By documenting the best practices developed above, the project management team can turn any employee with basic mechanical skills into an installer. When a small number of vehicles cannot practically be brought into a central location or a third-party must be hired, a thorough job aid can provide training before the installation and accountability after. Setting good expectations for the final product is always a good idea.

8. Plan the whole project, and update it often

After establishing procedure and a job aid, but before fully diving into the installation or retrofit project, the project management team should update the statement of work to include estimated installation timelines for each site and vehicle type. This plan should be examined at least two weeks in advance of any planned activity to ensure any needed hardware can arrive on time and there are no last minute surprises.

9. Review as you go

Do not wait until the last installation to review deliverables. One member of the project management team should be responsible for confirming that no mistakes have been made in naming vehicles by comparing vehicle name, VIN and device serial number to confirm they are all showing up as expected.

10. Never stop retrofitting

Each time a device is reinstalled into a new vehicle, it should be evaluated to confirm that the cellular network technology is viable for the projected life of that vehicle. Additionally, evaluate whether it supports any potential Add-Ons or changes and is in good working order. The more devices you upgrade ahead of time, the more risk you can mitigate.

11. Leverage OEM technology

Geotab has valuable partnerships with vehicle manufacturers like Ford and General Motors. Take the time to work with your provider to understand the data that comes from these OEM telematics units so that you are ready to leverage the insights. If your project is delayed due to extreme weather, pandemic response or other factors, knowing which vehicles can leverage OEM telematics will empower you to use them and reallocate your installation resources to those that cannot. Fleet managers can use OEM technology on new deliveries of vehicles to quickly deploy them, and then replace with a more robust implementation as resources allow

By following these 11 steps for an automated vehicle location implementation, your fleet can prepare for a smooth process. To make it easier for your fleet, create a checklist of these steps and start your large scale AVL implementation today.

Let us help you

No matter the size of your fleet, our team of experts that can guide you through the process of telematics implementation and make sure your telematics needs are identified from the beginning. Contact us for a demo.

Video telematics — telematics augmented by video data — is one of the fastest growing segments in the aftermarket telematics space due to the expanding needs of today’s fleet operations. More specifically, dash cams are becoming more prevalent and, in some circumstances, indispensable to commercial vehicles of all kinds and sizes. Given a dash cam’s real-time visibility and ability to offer valuable insights into overall performance, it can really help fleets increase their safety and bottom line. As camara options continue to grow, it is essential to keep certain criteria in mind when selecting the right solution for your fleet’s needs.

Here are some key points to consider when selecting a video telematics solution:

• Reliability — it goes without saying that your camera solution needs to work when you need it to. There are numerous low cost options in the market today that can eventually become a liability for fleets if these cease to function within a year or two. The last thing fleet managers need is to deal with a faulty dash camera after they’ve come to rely on it more and more in their operations.

• Vendor Reputation & Longevity — there are numerous telematics startups with video solutions that have gone out of business or lost market share because they provide a low quality product. When looking for a video telematics solution, look for providers with longevity in the market and solid customer reviews. Companies that have not yet proven themselves, even with amazing marketing, could end up being a gamble for its customers.

• Data Privacy & Ownership — this is a big criteria to look out for as not many customers are aware that some video telematics providers reserve the right to sell their data at any given time. Fleet operators need to make sure they are working with a provider that would never sell their camera data under any circumstance. They can ensure their data is secure and not sold or used elsewhere by looking into the provider’s privacy policy.

• Expandability —it is crucial for today’s fleets to work with a video telematics system that can expand with their changing needs over time. While you may not necessarily need an AI solution right now for your fleet, your business needs may change with time and require a camera solution that has expandable functionality. For that reason, you will want to look for an enterprise platform that offers a technology roadmap that is robust with expansive integration options.

Lastly, selecting a video telematics solution does not need to be an undertaking you do on your own. When speaking to different vendors that meet the above criteria, you will want to work with someone who is serving as a true consultant and not just a sales representative. A truly effective consultant will think of your relationship as a partnership and pay close attention to your current needs as well as keep an eye on what may lay ahead for you down the road.

On the surface, a sustainable fleet strategy may not seem cost-effective. However, it turns out, greening your fleet not only reduces your fleet’s carbon footprint and helps you meet emissions targets – it can also result in meaningful cost savings.

We certainly don’t want to overwhelm you. Here are four major areas of focus when it comes to greening your fleet, regardless of fleet size.

1. Fuel efficiency

While the importance of fuel efficiency is well known, it can be difficult to identify what steps need to be taken in order to improve it. To start, you must have a clear understanding of how much fuel you’re using and why – after all, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

Telematics can help you better understand not only how much your fleet is consuming fuel, but also why. With that information in hand, fleet operators can implement effective measures to help improve fuel efficiency, like monitoring tire inflation and providing real-time driver feedback to curb unwanted behaviors that contribute to inefficiency (and dangerous conditions.)

2. Vehicle utilization

While it may be tempting to keep underutilized vehicles in your fleet, ensuring you’re operating a right-sized fleet can provide cost savings, which in turn can be reinvested in the procurement of better-suited vehicles – including EVs.

On the other hand, it’s also important to ensure the vehicles you do have are being used to their full potential. Proper fleet asset utilization can help you identify vehicles that could be repurposed, rotate vehicles to manage downtime and see how conditions impact trips to inform how shifts could be adjusted.

3. Route planning

Better route planning plays a major role when it comes to ensuring fleet efficiency. With efficient route planning, fleets can benefit from a decrease in fuel consumption, and reduced stress for drivers resulting in safer driving practices. The reduced mileage that comes with efficient route planning can also save labor costs associated with dead time between deliveries.

Also, make sure heavily used vehicles are the most efficient available. As different makes, models, and sizes of EVs become increasingly available, fleet operators have more options at their disposal to ensure they choose the best vehicle for the job.

4. Driver behavior

Improving driving practices contributes greatly to the efficiency of your fleet. Monitoring common issues like harsh braking and cornering, as well as acceleration and speeding can help fleet operators understand the areas to focus on for improvement. Supporting a more environmentally friendly driving style not only helps fleets become greener, it also boosts efficiency resulting in cost savings.

Paired with the capabilities of the Green Fleet Dashboard, these four key factors can help fleet operators take the first steps toward greening their fleets. Contact our team to learn more about sustainability solutions from Geotab at Info@advtracking.net