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Telematics gives Aussie truck industry the power of prediction

(Sponsored) Dust, heat and distance make the Australian environment an unforgiving place to break down.

So it’s not surprising that telematics technology has been widely adopted by the trucking industry, improving driver safety, protecting vehicles and enhancing business performance. But not all systems are created equal. Only one offers the ability to predict future mechanical faults and breakdowns before they occur.

20 years ago, owners and drivers had to pick through spreadsheets, log books and white boards to gain insights into vehicle performance, and relied solely on mechanics to understand the cause of breakdowns and engine wear.

Today the picture is different thanks to telematics. But solutions vary greatly, and so does return on investment, so it’s important to choose the system that’s right for your business. 

‘First generation’

These GPS-based systems allow for basic ‘track and trace’ of your fleet. They also indicate vehicle location in near real-time, with some geo-fencing and basic reporting.

‘Second generation’

These provide all the location-based information of their predecessors, plus safety event feedback such as speeding, cornering and aggressive braking. They generally offer more detailed reporting and alerting capabilities.

‘Third generation’ – Caltex Telematics

As a proudly Australian-owned company, Caltex has worked hard to create a telematics solution to suit the Australian trucking industry.

Caltex Telematics, powered by Traffilog, is the most advanced system currently available. It’s the first to move beyond traditional GPS-based features, to provide real-time alerts on engine diagnostics and driver behaviour. In-cab feedback allows drivers to make instant adjustments, while weekly driver-skills reports collated from on-board data, create further opportunities for improvement.

But perhaps more importantly given the demands of the Australian environment, Caltex Telematics gives companies the power to predict future mechanical faults. Maintenance and diagnostic alerts buy you time to take action, reducing mechanical failure and breakdowns, and associated costs.

Prediction in action

Caltex Telematics is used across the entire Caltex fleet and the company has seen the predictive benefits first hand.

Early in the pilot phase, Caltex discovered that certain vehicles weren’t being used for the projects they were designed for, placing undue stress on components such as turbo chargers which cost around $5,000 each.

Caltex quickly began to specify which vehicles were used for which tasks, bringing considerable cost and performance benefits.  

The telematics verdict

Head of Caltex Telematics, Jacques Lepron, says businesses who aren’t seeing return on investment from telematics either don’t have the right system or don’t have the right supplier.

“To maximise return on your telematics investment, you need proper training and ongoing support from your supplier. Don’t settle for a standard set of reports. We work with you to get the data to work for you and drive real business improvements.”

“As the nation’s leading fuel supplier, Caltex understands the needs of Australian transport and logistics companies. We’re excited to offer a proven telematics system to help you achieve significant performance and safety enhancements.”

Find out what Caltex Telematics could do for your business. Call 1300 624 106 or email us at sales.telematics@caltex.com.au

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