Telematics is a technical term used in the logistics industry that is made up of the words telecommunications and IT.
Telematics systems in vehicles combine GPS technology with on-board diagnostics and are thus used for seamless monitoring and analysis of vehicles or goods.
If a special vehicle is equipped with telematics, it collects and stores all relevant data continuously and in real time during its use. This includes not only the current location, but also average speed, distance traveled, fuel consumption, driving style (braking and acceleration) and engine measurement data, to name but a few. All this data is collected on a SIM card and imported into software for analysis.
Haulage companies are equipping their trucks with telematics, for example to determine whether the use of electric vehicles is worthwhile. Fuel consumption can be reduced if drivers are coached to drive in a certain way. Driving times and break times are logged electronically. Faster routes can be developed to improve the service. Telematics systems support the optimization of vehicle maintenance through predictive measurement analysis.
Special vehicles that use telematics contribute efficiently to the profitability of the company by cutting costs, optimizing processes and reducing CO2 emissions.
But telematics systems are not only of interest to haulage and logistics companies. Police and emergency services, waste disposal companies, coaches and cabs, car rental companies and even car insurance companies, for example, also benefit from them.
