Digital Logbook: How Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) can daily help Fleet Managers?
26 July 2024 - Humanitarian & Key accounts, News
26 July 2024 - Humanitarian & Key accounts, News
In humanitarian missions, efficient and accurate vehicle tracking is essential. Traditionally, drivers filled out their logbooks by hand, recording details like mileage, trip purpose, vehicle type, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs.
This paper-based system, however, comes with problems such as errors, incomplete information, and the risk of losing or damaging the logbooks. CLS is solving these issues with its new Digital Logbook feature, transforming vehicle tracking for humanitarian missions.
CLS uses the Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) data to automate and digitize vehicle journey logging. By installing VTS in humanitarian vehicles, CLS ensures that vital information are collected automatically.
The system starts recording data as soon as the vehicle’s ignition is turned on. The VTS terminal sends various critical data points including start & stop locations & mileage of the trip. Data are continuously updated and transmitted even when the vehicle stops, ensuring a complete and accurate log of each journey. All trip information is collected in real-time and aggregated in a database, which is then displayed on a fleet management platform.
For each trip, the Digital Logbook information displayed includes the timestamp, start and end locations, vehicle details, driver identity, and trip nature. Street and city names are displayed; if the vehicle has been in a predefined zone, zone name is also displayed. Additional trip information such as kilometers driven, driving and idling duration, and trip costs are also recorded and all this data is fed automatically by the vehicle, without human intervention. Trip nature can be automatically or manually qualified, allowing for accurate analysis.
This digitalization provides significant benefits for fleet managers. It offers a comprehensive and reliable overview of all Driver Logbooks, with all trips automatically recorded. This neutral and accurate trip data serves as a solid basis for discussions with drivers about the importance of maintaining accurate logbooks. The system saves time by making it fast and easy to check Driver Logbook information. Additionally, the exportable logbooks file can be used as a basis for consolidating Driver Logbooks, simplifying data management and ensuring consistency across the fleet.
Automated data collection ensures precise and comprehensive entries, freeing drivers to focus on their mission rather than manual data entry. Digital records are more secure, less likely to be lost or damaged compared to paper logs, and provide better resource management through accurate data that helps plan and optimize vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption.
Fleet cost calculation becomes possible, based on cost per kilometer and cost per hour configured, improving budget management. The system minimizes errors by eliminating manual input from drivers, ensuring data integrity. Detailed time and mileage analysis helps fleet managers gain deeper insights into vehicle usage and operational efficiency.
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Future enhancements will include the possibility to add manual comments on the trip purpose, such as field missions or airport pick-ups for example, for better tracking and reporting. Fuel consumption & CO2 emissions for each trip would be displayed, either based on theoretical consumptions of the vehicle, either automatically calculated by a fuel sensor. Trips can be allocated to a dedicated project budget through a project code, facilitating precise cost allocation.
These enhancements will provide even greater control over vehicle management, helping humanitarian organizations optimize their operations and resource allocation.
CLS is transforming how humanitarian vehicles are tracked and managed. By embracing automation and digital technology, we are improving current practices and paving the way for future innovations that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian missions worldwide.