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A new market research project by Berg Insight has found that the global installed base of active construction equipment (CE) OEM telematics systems reached over 2.0 million units in 2017. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2%, the active installed base is estimated to reach 4.9 million units worldwide in 2022. 

This includes all CE telematics systems marketed by construction equipment OEMs, either developed in-house or provided by the CE manufacturers in partnership with third-party telematics players. The European market accounted for almost 0.5 million active construction equipment OEM telematics systems at the end of 2017.

The North American market is estimated to be slightly larger than the European. The Rest of World represents more than half of the global installed base of CE telematics systems provided by construction equipment OEMs. Most major construction equipment manufacturers have introduced telematics offerings. OEM telematics systems are today commonly factory-installed as standard at least for heavier machines.

“Caterpillar and Komatsu are the leading construction equipment OEMs in terms of the number of telematics systems deployed worldwide”, said Rickard Andersson, Principal Analyst, Berg Insight, adding that while Caterpillar and Komatsu are clearly the leading construction equipment manufacturers by market share, they are also by far the top players when it comes to OEM telematics, together accounting for more than one million active CE telematics units.

“The remaining top-5 players are Hitachi Construction Machinery, JCB and Volvo CE which have all surpassed the milestone of 100,000 units”, he continued. Other notable OEMs include Deere & Company, Hyundai Construction Equipment, Doosan Infracore, Liebherr and CNH Industrial. “All of these players have installed tens of thousands of telematics units on various types of construction equipment, either independently or in collaboration with telematics partners”, concluded Andersson.


The report, The Global Construction Equipment OEM Telematics Market, can be downloaded here.

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Infradata deploys BroadForward’s Location Based Services (LBS) solution at Telenet, providing access to location information of devices across legacy and next generation mobile networks

Infradata and BroadForward announced today that they have been selected by Telenet to replace the existing legacy LBS system with the BroadForward Location Based Services solution. This allows Telenet, the largest provider of cable broadband services in Belgium who acquired mobile operator BASE in 2016, to expand their ability to provide location information. This is needed for a range of services, including emergency calls for police, firefighting, and ambulance services.

Telenet aims to become the leading converged connected entertainment and business solutions provider in Belgium. Telenet has a track record in delivering disruptive products to the market, specializing in the supply of broadband internet, fixed and mobile telephony services and cable television. Liberty Global, the world's largest international TV and broadband company, has a 56% stake in Telenet.

Infradata is the leading expert and certified reseller of the entire range of BroadForward products, which includes next generation products for routing, interworking, security and number portability. Infradata is selected by Telenet based on their extensive experience in design, implementation and support of BroadForward products.

BroadForward LBS is a software based, multi-protocol solution, designed to manage device location information across legacy and next generation mobile networks. The productized solution includes standardized functions such as GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location Centre), LRF (Location Retrieval Function) and Routing Determination Function (RDF). The solution will later also incorporate the 5G Gateway Mobile Location Centre.

Luk Bruynseels, VP Mobile Technology at Telenet, about selecting Infradata, “Approximately 70 to 80% of all emergency calls are made from a mobile device, and with the network location information we can provide additional information to emergency services so they know where to find people when it matters. As the leading expert in BroadForward products, Infradata successfully replaced the legacy system with BroadForward’s state-of-the-art Location Based Services solution that works in a multi-vendor environment and across network types”.

Infradata Managing Director Nico van Buitenen added: “Mobility continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Two-thirds of the world's population are already connected by mobile devices and IoT devices will grow to nearly 10 billion devices in just a few years from now. Due to the extensive knowledge and experience Infradata has internally on mobile networks, we are able to provide Telenet with a leading Location Based Services solution that works across legacy, current and future networks.”

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Verizon Connect, one of the leading suppliers of fleet management solutions, has been awarded official supplier accreditation by the Fleet Operator Recognition (FORS) scheme, demonstrating its commitment to improving the safety and productivity of fleets across the UK.FORS is a voluntary scheme for UK fleets which aims to raise safety standards and improve the quality of operations across fleet-based businesses. Through its array of resources, including classroom and eLearning courses and bespoke guides, it helps equip both drivers and fleet managers with the tools they need to meet its standard requirements and enhance the performance of commercial vehicles on Britain’s roads.

The scheme has three levels of recognition for organisations meeting its safety, efficiency and environmental criteria. Verizon Connect has been awarded supplier accreditation for its ability to help fleets operators in FORS’ Bronze, Silver and Gold categories improve road safety, increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and promote compliance.

Commenting on securing accreditation, Derek Bryan, VP EMEA at Verizon Connect, said: “Verizon Connect prides itself on helping to improve the safety, productivity and efficiency of fleets, while lowering operational costs so we’re proud to have been awarded supplier accreditation by the FORS. Many companies rely on our platform to promote best practice across their business. Lots of businesses are considering ways to not only manage their vehicles and employees, but also track the performance of other valuable equipment across the supply chain, and we look forward to working closely with FORS to help them drive efficiencies and promote safe operations.”

You can find out more information about the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) via its website, which you can see here. Further information about Verizon Connect can also be found here.

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Nearly two-third (60 per cent) of van drivers believe they are made a scapegoat for perceived poor driving standards on UK roads, new research has revealed.

According to a study¹ by TomTom Telematics, fewer than one in ten van drivers (nine per cent) have been involved in a road traffic collision in the last 12 months.

In addition, more than half (54 per cent) have their driving performance monitored by their employer and more than a third (34 per cent) receive driver training.

The findings challenge the views of British motorists revealed in a study earlier this year, in which van drivers finished bottom of the list when it came to which road users are considered the safest or most careful.

“The traditional ‘white van man’ stereotype may no longer be a fair one with a great deal having been achieved over recent years to help raise driving standards among LCV operators,” said Jeremy Gould, VP Sales Europe, TomTom Telematics.

“Developments in telematics technology, such as our advanced WEBFLEET fleet management solution, have enabled drivers and managers to work more closely, empowering them with actionable insights and performance feedback for continuous driving improvement.”

 

Gould’s view is supported by Freight Transport Association (FTA) Head of Vans, Mark Cartwright, who added: “Van drivers are often unfairly maligned and, in some quarters, continue to shoulder an undeserved reputation. Initiatives such as the FTA Van Excellence scheme have been embraced by the industry, demonstrating its commitment to improving standards and increasing best practice awareness.”

According to the research, truck drivers were considered the safest road users², with a third of van drivers (33 per cent) voting them top. Thirty-three per cent meanwhile considered cyclists to be the least safe³.

More than half (59 per cent) believed in-cab technology solutions that provide audible and visual alerts offer the best approach to improving driving standards, followed closely by 49 per cent that voted for driver training courses.

 

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¹ The research was conducted by TomTom Telematics among 100 LCV drivers. In order to qualify for the research, respondents had to be mobile workers operating as part of a company van fleet.

Driver tables

²Road users that van drivers consider the safest (selected from the following finite list):

1. Truck drivers 33%
2. Van drivers 26%
3. Motorcyclists 18%
4. Car drivers 13%
5. Bus and coach drivers 7%
6. Cyclists 3%

³Road users that van drivers consider the least safe (selected from the following finite list):

1. Cyclists 33%
2. Motorcyclists 21%
3. Car drivers 20%
4. Truck drivers 13%
5. Bus and coach drivers 12%
6. Van drivers 1%

 

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Arden Wood Shavings, an animal beddings specialist, has renewed its fleet compliance and security systems contract with TruTac and sees improved vehicle safety ahead as TruChecks, the mobile driver inspection app, is added to the suite.

Arden has over 30 years’ experience of supplying wood shavings and sawdust bedding for a wide range of applications, including the poultry and equestrian sectors, dairy farming and for miscellaneous industrial businesses. Today, the company is one of the largest suppliers of its kind in the UK.

“With such an extensive product range and customers throughout the country,” explains Transport Manager Lee Parker, “our vehicle fleet is relied upon to deliver on-time while remaining efficient, safe and 100% compliant. To this end, TruTac’s unique software systems work in unison to enable close management and control of our transport assets and personnel.”

Available on Android, Apple and Windows operating systems, the app features a configurable check list which is easily used by the driver

Accordingly, TruChecks allows drivers to complete daily vehicle inspections quickly, accurately and without the need for manual form-filling. Available on Android, Apple and Windows operating systems, the app features a configurable check list which is easily used by the driver and automatically emailed to the office for data storage or remedial action if required.

 

“Thereafter,” adds Lee, “the checklists can be easily referenced for workshop maintenance and inspections at a later date. Really, it couldn’t be simpler.”

TruChecks also features enhanced graphics with easy-to-manage functions and the device captures all of the information required by VOSA inspectors.

Arden also use TruTac’s TruControl and TruTime systems. These provide automated digital tachograph analysis and fail-safe clocking of all drivers and employees. Data and reports for attendance and drivers’ hours are all web-based, and can be accessed via any internet connected device. All TruTac systems have user defined security access with encrypted passwords, automated reports and seamless integration to reduce administration.

“Basically,” concludes Lee, “the TruTac package allows us to keep tabs on each one of our 20 drivers and vehicles without the need to push paper and with very little margin for human error. As a former driver myself, I know what it used to be like. Now we can cover hours, analyse tacho information, debrief drivers and monitor infringements at the click of a button. That saves time, keeps us legal and above all, keeps our delivery fleet on the move!”

 

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More than 33% of transport industry professionals do not believe autonomous vehicles will work, according to findings published recently in the Microlise Transport Conference post event report.  

The statistics, covered in full in the dossier which has been released today, were captured during interactive voting on questions at what is now the largest road transport conference in Europe, attended by more than 1,000 delegates.

The report goes further than last year, by providing an in depth view of the road transport industry in 2016 on a range of key issues, with responses broken down by sector, age, job position and gender.

“We compile this report each year with the aim of delivering the most accurate reflection of the sentiment in the transport industry right now, across the key issues,” said Nadeem Raza, Chief Executive Officer, Microlise.

 

“The findings tell us that the industry is still not sold on the potential of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles – despite many experts predicting them on our roads in the not too distant future. It’s also interesting to note that industry support for leaving the EU aligns with last week’s referendum result.”

Despite a majority giving their support for a leave vote, when questioned about the EU, 43% said that they felt leaving would have a negative effect on the haulage industry.

Alongside a lack of faith in the EU and autonomous vehicles, the statistics also show that 84% believe the Government’s support for the transport industry is unchanged since the Conservatives came to power. More than 58% of delegates feel the situation in Calais has gotten worse in the last year.

“Standing at the podium I was struck by an audience defined by its reasonable views, moderate politics, inclusive attitudes and tenacious work ethic,” Conference Chair Quentin Willson commented as part of his foreword which is published in full in the report.

The date of next year’s Microlise Transport Conference has been announced as 17 May and it will again be held at The Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

To download the 2016 post conference report, which includes a recap of each session; statistics from the answers to questions put to delegates and analysis on the trends behind the numbers go to www.microlise.com/mtc2016report.  

 

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Almost four in ten business drivers have been given points on their license from work-related driving offences, according to research from telematics provider Masternaut...

In total, 39% of business drivers said that they had received points on their license for work-related driving misdemeanours. Almost two-thirds (62%) of those with points on their license were from speeding offences.

Other offences committed by business drivers include driving without reasonable consideration for other road users (15%), driving without due care or attention (14%), traffic light-related offences (14%) and dangerous driving (10%).

Masternaut surveyed 2,000 UK employees who drive as part of their job, to examine the effect of employee penalty points amassed when driving for work. Business drivers with points on their license, on average, have accrued seven points from work-related offences.

This follows UK accident data released in June 2015 by the Department of Transport, reporting an overall increase of 6% in road casualties in 2014, the first increase since 1997. HGVs, LCVs and vans saw an increase of 10% in casualties.

 

Telematics is shown to improve driver behaviour and safety, providing businesses with the technology and tool kits for keeping staff safe on the road. Both instant and ongoing coaching, driven by telematics data, alert drivers to poor driving reducing the risk for drivers and other road user

 

Despite more than a third of business drivers getting penalty points on their license from work offences, almost three quarters say that they are confident they would pass their driving test again. Meanwhile, seven in ten business drivers are confident that they know all the laws of the road.

However, this confidence might be misplaced as more than half (50%) of business drivers said that driving training would make them better and safer drivers. Previous research from Masternaut revealed that 70% of business drivers aren’t offered driver training by their employers.

Telematics is shown to improve driver behaviour and safety, providing businesses with the technology and tool kits for keeping staff safe on the road. Both instant and ongoing coaching, driven by telematics data, alert drivers to poor driving reducing the risk for drivers and other road users. Arriva Transport Solutions reduced negative driving events by 92% using telematics data provided by Masternaut Connect.

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, commented: “There’s a worrying number of business drivers on our roads who are driving in a manner that is serious enough for them to have points put on their license. Telematics provides broader social benefits beyond simple vehicle tracking and can help towards reducing the number of points accrued by drivers on the job. Not only can it provide fleets with the information to pinpoint offenders, the technology can provide ongoing driver feedback to improve drivers’ behaviour when they’re at work. By providing coaching and instant in-cab feedback, telematics can go a long way to reducing the number of points accumulated by drivers on the road, making them safer drivers in the process.”

Telematics technology from Masternaut has evolved so that driver-centric training programmes using data and insight from an intelligent telematics system can be delivered without the traditional map-based services protecting driver privacy.

Systems such as Masternaut Connect have been shown to improve driver behaviour, reducing instances of speeding as well as harsh braking, acceleration and cornering. UK businesses and fleet managers can easily implement a driver training programme using data and insight gained from Masternaut Connect. By collating information on driver behaviour, Connect can give an in-depth look at how businesses can improve driving standards within the workforce, helping to reduce the amount of penalty points and fines given to drivers.

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Marathon Data Systems, a leading provider of cloud-based field service management and fleet management solutions, announced today that it acquired Foxtrax GPS, a cloud-based leader in fleet tracking technology. The company also announced it is changing its name to WorkWave™  to reflect its transformation into a leading solution provider for businesses with significant mobile workforces and to reinforce the tight integration of its cloud-based platforms for marketing, office management and fleet management. 

“The Foxtrax products, customer base and team round out WorkWave’s mobile-first portfolio,” said Chris Sullens, CEO and president of WorkWave, formerly Marathon Data Systems.

“Foxtrax is well known for its excellent service and functionality. By integrating Foxtrax’s cloud-based solution with Viamente, our leading cloud-based route planning and optimization solution, and our proprietary smartphone apps, we can now provide our 7,000+ clients in the field service and ‘last mile’ delivery verticals the most powerful, intuitive and cost-efficient solution available in the marketplace. Everything our clients need to gain full visibility into their field operations will be conveniently available in one place.”

 

In conjunction with this acquisition, Marathon Data Systems has changed its name to WorkWave, reinforcing the tight integration of its cloud-based platforms in marketing, field service management, route planning, and optimization and GPS. “This is a huge step in our corporate evolution,” added Sullens. “Unifying our messaging and product portfolio under the WorkWave brand reinforces how our product offerings connect every aspect of our clients’ businesses, providing an unprecedented level of insight into their office and field operations, enabling them to truly delight their clients and supercharge their business performance.”

WorkWave offers an integrated suite of cloud-based business management and fleet management solutions for the field service and “last mile” delivery verticals, including:

WorkWave Fleet, formerly Viamente, is a comprehensive cloud-based route planning and optimization platform that leverages a proprietary optimization algorithm, an intuitive user interface and a robust set of APIs to provide ”last mile” delivery companies a simple, dynamic and powerful solution for planning, tracking and analyzing their delivery routes.

WorkWave GPS, formerly Foxtrax GPS, is a cloud-based telematics platform that offers real-time vehicle tracking, comprehensive driver behavior alerting and tracking, and satellite-based asset tracking for companies in the field service, ”last mile” delivery and other fleet-based industries.

WorkWave Marketing, formerly Marathon Marketing Services, offers a full suite of website and lead generation services for the field service, automotive and other industries. This rapidly evolving, integrated marketing platform allows companies of all sizes to cost-effectively enhance their brand and drive leads into their businesses by leveraging WorkWave Marketing’s in-house website design, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media and reputation management offerings.

WorkWave also offers industry-leading solutions for the pest management industry, the general field service industry and the lawn and landscape industry through its PestPac, ServiceCEO and QXPress brands respectively.

 

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Getting company vehicle drivers on board with the implementation of a new GPS fleet tracking system is not always a smooth ride...

That’s why Fleetmatics, a global provider of fleet management solutions for commercial fleet vehicles delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), has launched a new e-book which breaks down the introduction process into five easy steps.

Freely available online at www.fleetmatics.co.uk/ebooks-library, the e-book explains how sharing your plans with the employees can be key to successfully introducing the new system. Initial resistance by the workforce towards the new system can be driven by misconceptions as some employees can be unfamiliar with the technology and its purpose.

As suggested in the guide on How to Manage Change by the UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS),¹ careful communication can facilitate the introduction process. Once staff understands how the implemented change can help support a successful and sustainable future for the company and for them, they can be more likely to support it, according to ACAS.

 

The GPS tracking system enables organisations to gain a more accurate insight into the movements of their fleets and this information can be used to improve workforce management, gain greater efficiency, reduce environmental impact, increase productivity and use resources more effectively. Some of these benefits are directly transferable to staff. For example, after the installation of the monitoring system, many Fleetmatics customers report that their employees benefit from a reduced amount of paperwork, more evenly shared workload and fewer delays with less unwanted overtime.

Richard Brooks, Fleetmatics Marketing Director for Europe, explained, “Openness and honesty can help cement the mutual understanding required to reap the full benefits of the system. With the support of the guidelines provided in this e-book, managers can help employees understand the benefits of the new system and encourage them to see the installation as an improvement, not an obstacle.”