New telematics technology will help fleet managers

Rapid advances in new technology should help fleet managers to meet growing demands to prioritise safety - as well as to tackle insurance and green issues.

Delegates at a recent industry conference heard that real-time management of drivers’ fuel consumption and purchase trends, for example, will be made easier with the advent of new swipe proximity technology for credit cards.

MasterCard is reportedly trialling PayPass credit cards - which are swiped on readers from a distance, speeding up payment – with a number of fleets.

Transaction details can then be uploaded in real-time, allowing fleet managers to check driver ID and performance and compare local fuel prices.

However, Steve Perham, CEO of telematics group Airmax, told the conference that the same technology could be used for other applications such as remote tyre pressure monitoring.

He said telematics is now at the point where it could have a genuine impact on the CO2 output of cars.

If data shows that a vehicle needs servicing, has a mechanical problem or even that the driver has a heavy right foot, then the system can alert the fleet manager, often also explaining what the problem is through monitoring of vehicle diagnostics.