Teletrac Navman is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider leveraging location-based technology and services for managing mobile assets. Its fleet and asset management technology offers significant value in the world of on-airport GSE, as Teletrac Navman’s enterprise bid manager, Kate Cummins, explains…
Can you tell us a little bit about Teletrac Navman and its history, especially as regards your involvement in the aviation industry?
Teletrac Navman is a veteran telematics company leveraging 25 years of experience to help boost fleets’ revenue and lower their operating costs. We equip businesses with advanced data tools for location tracking, fuel monitoring, reporting, safety and compliance – all via one powerful, user-friendly platform.
We’re devoted to providing accurate and precise data secured by the strongest protection and controls. These tools and methods improve businesses’ bottom line and help them stay competitive.
Teletrac Navman currently tracks nearly 500,000 vehicles owned by over 40,000 organisations on six continents, making it one of the world’s largest fleet management providers. The company, headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, has offices in the US, Mexico, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
What, in particular, do you offer in terms of GSE fleet management?
Our clients have unlimited access to the DIRECTOR platform which can be accessed via desktop, mobile devices, laptop and tablet devices. Functionalities of DIRECTOR normally utilised by an organisation operating airside and landside are as follows:
- 24-hour access to the live locations and tracking functionality on Google Maps, including satellite imagery via Google Maps
- Unlimited access to live and scheduled historic reporting, including but not limited to: fleet and asset utilisation, driver behaviour league tables, fuel usage, timesheets, mileage, engine hours, collision/safety analytics analysis, route replay, speeding, harsh performance (braking, accelerating and cornering), driver and vehicle-based performance, maintenance status and log, location of assets for allocation, executive summary, site and Geofence reporting, job site utilisation and excessive idling
- Intuitive and customisable dashboards, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and fleet metrics to drive improvements
- Live on-screen and e-mail alerting, including but not limited to: excessive speeding, stolen vehicle, Geofencing, excessive engine idling, site/Geofence exit and entry, excessive speeding within a designated site/area, vehicle collision/impact, vehicle maintenance warning and reminders
- Security alerting, including: external power removed, SIM card removed, tamper cover open, vehicle moved, GPS aerial removed, unauthorised move and site/Geofence exit
- The ability to set specific speed limits on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis within designated areas (particularly airside) is imperative. Users have the ability to customise bespoke sites within their airside operating parameters and can set up live e-mail alerting and scheduled reporting to ensure vehicles are not exceeding the imposed speed limits
- Location summary reporting allows users to instantly identify a vehicle and all associated behaviour when an incident or instance of poor driver behaviour is reported. For example, if there is a report of a vehicle that has been involved in a near miss or an incident, clients can interrogate the system to identify the vehicle in question simply by drawing a location on the map through location summary reporting
- Scheduled progressive scorecard reports are also imperative for clients to evidence the monitoring and improvement of driver behaviour
- High definition (HD) data provides granular route replay beyond the industry standard, detailing exact locations on a second-by-second basis. HD data allows clients to monitor exact driver behaviour without minute-by-minute gaps in data
- Safety analytics uses HD second-by-second data to overlay exact locations, speeds and G-force on the Google Mapping facility, which in the event of a road traffic accident can help identify the cause and severity of the collision. This information also proves extremely effective in improving driver behaviour when used to coach drivers around specific events of harsh braking, speeding and harsh cornering
- The impact detection facility will generate an e-mail alert to multiple employees to alert them in the event of a collision. E-mail alerts can also be sent to third parties (for example the security office) who do not need to have access to the DIRECTOR platform. This proactive approach replaces the norm of transport managers being notified of an incident by the driver – or indeed third parties – sometimes hours after the event has occurred
What additional functionalities might also be available?
There are multiple driver identification options including Dallas key fobs, RFID cards and PINPAD ID. Driver identification assists clients in improving specific driver behaviour regardless of the vehicles being used and importantly allows clients to identify the individual driver of a vehicle involved in a reported incident.
In addition to driver ID, our clients have the option to inhibit a vehicle from starting without an authorised PIN or key fob being presented (immobilisation). This ensures that only authorised drivers can use vehicles airside. From a health and safety perspective, this functionality will also ensure that only drivers with relevant licence classes can drive vehicles within their remit.
In-cab devices can be supplied including the MNAV950. This includes PIN driver ID, vehicle safety checks and bespoke job forms, unlimited two-way messaging, driver performance feedback, satellite navigation and lifetime mapping. The MNAV950 can also alert drivers to speeding offences within designated areas. For example; the device will present a pop-up and beep at a driver if they are exceeding the agreed speed limit airside within a pre-determined area.
In-cab devices can be hardwired to ensure they do not have to be removed when crossing from landside to airside. This will limit damage and potential loss/theft of devices as they will not have to be removed and re-installed every time the vehicle crosses over.
An audible in-cab buzzer can be installed to improve driver behaviour and ensure continuous improvement. When a driver breaks a behaviour threshold such as speeding or undertakes harsh braking, harsh acceleration or harsh cornering, an in-cab alert will be generated to coach drivers to gradually improve and maintain safer driving styles. The audible alert will sound shortly after the event has occurred to ensure drivers are not distracted by lights or any other visual prompt.
For lone workers in isolated locations, a panic button can be installed to offer peace of mind and added protection. The Teletrac Navman solution links the panic button to the vehicle’s tracking unit. When the panic button is used, an e-mail alert is generated and sent to specified users/managers, alerting them that a driver is in urgent need of assistance.
Our Qube50 (OBDII) plug and play device can be supplied for short-term/spot hire vehicles to offer accurate vehicle tracking and driver performance monitoring.
Qtanium100 or Qtanium200 devices can be supplied for both powered and non-powered assets requiring a tracking device. Clients may have certain assets such as airfield sweepers or tractors that may require a robust IP66 or IP67-rated device.
Power take off (PTO) monitoring can be provided for vehicles that require an output to be monitored. Examples may include airfield sweepers. Users are able to report exactly when and for how long the sweepers were used for and can offer evidence with second-by-second tracking data.
Integrated camera technology is another possibility, to support near miss and accident investigation.
On what sorts of GSE is your technology best installed and used?
Typically, on all support vehicles, but non-powered equipment from trailers to lifting gear can also benefit.
And what are the primary benefits it offers in terms of airport operations?
Mapping specific areas of airfield such that alerts can be raised in real time on entry and exit, and allowing activity within these areas to be monitored. As a result, the user benefits from:
- Improved driver behaviour
- Reduced penalties and fines for speeding
- Improved driver safety and proactive management of incidents
- Reduced fuel spend
- Reduction in carbon footprint
- Improved visibility and accountability
- Improved customer service
Do you have many of your fleet management systems installed with on-airport operators?
We cannot share some client information; however, we provide services to OCS, amongst others. The OCS Group is an international supplier of essential services to facilities and premises around the world. As part of its offering, OCS Group provides support services to airports, and has been a trusted specialist in the sector for more than 50 years.
