Capital Equipment News July 2018

FLEET MANAGEMENT

As truck owners in southern Africa seek to take control of their fleets and get the most out of their businesses, there is a growing reliance on fleet management systems. To reiterate the significance of fleet details in today’s operating environment, every new vehicle that has rolled off Scania South Africa’s production line since the last quarter of 2014 has come out standard with the OEM’s telematics portal, Fleet Management System, which is part of Scania’s comprehensive connected services solutions, writes Munesu Shoko. Details matter

T here is a big misconception when it comes to what fleet management entails. The general understanding is that a fleet management solution is just a tracking device. According to Theunes van der Westhuizen, GM Retail at Scania South Africa, tracking is only one part of it; fleet management includes many other functions like vehicle maintenance, driver management, fuel management and safety management, driver coaching, among others. With these functions, fleet management is considered as one of the most important functions in any fleet-driven business. Managing a fleet is a huge challenge, to say the least, but the incorporation of a fleet management system can make the entire process very simple and efficient. With that in mind, every new vehicle from Scania South Africa’s assembly plant comes out fitted standard with the truck maker’s telematics portal. Fleet Management System (FMS). The FMS portal is part of Scania’s comprehensive connected services solutions. Scania’s FMS is a set of services that connects fleet owners with their vehicles and drivers while they are out in the field.

They will be able to get all the vehicle data, fleet position and reviews of driving performance, among other key parameters. The system helps fleet owners identify and use the key details to increase the productivity of fleets and maximise their total operating economy. Van der Westhuizen explains that Scania’s FMS is available locally in two packages, Monitoring Package and Control Package. “All new vehicles are activated with the Monitoring Package on initiation of warranty, and this is standard. The Control Package is an extra and is linked to a contract and monthly premium,” he says. Van der Westhuizen tells Capital Equipment News that there is an increased demand for FMS in southern Africa. “We have very mature customers in our market with regards to fleet management,” he says. “The more we are able to prove to them the value our system offers when it comes to increasing uptime and reducing operating costs, the greater the uptake. We are currently looking at further educating our customers about how FMS can add value to their businesses.”

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