In freight forwarding companies, dispatchers work to make ideal use of all available vehicle resources. They have to fulfil customers' orders while reliably meeting performance commitments such as deadline services. At the same time, they have to plan the shortest routes with as few vehicles as possible. A task that requires fast and precise information as well as optimally maintained vehicles and a forward-looking driving style. That's why fleet management and logistics management must work closely together. They need:

• real-time status information
• expected times of arrival (ETA)
• current consumption data
• Error signals from the vehicle sensors
• scheduled maintenance times

With this data, they can precisely control the deployment of the vehicles. Logistics and fleet managers create optimal conditions for this when they use telematics solutions and mobile apps together.

Monitoring

Control logistics processes and fleet management

For the fleet managers of service providers, the use of telematics systems has long been part of the mandatory program. They have the task of using all vehicles at the lowest possible cost. To do this, they use software to monitor not only fuel consumption and driving style. They also look at the condition of all consumables and wear parts, such as engine oil, tire pressure, coolant and brake fluid, or brake pads. In addition to sensors, many other hardware components are installed in the trucks for this purpose, which transmit GPS position and vehicle data. In some vehicles, mobile apps for use in logistics processes are also available via the vehicle display. These can be used, for example, to control tours, display routes and document deliveries.

Coordination

Integrate maintenance into route planning

Logistics managers and fleet managers benefit equally from optimizing vehicle deployment times. They coordinate their collaboration with real-time data from the various sources. For example, when systems for predictive vehicle maintenance signal the need for action. The logistics planning data enables the fleet manager to analyse at which time the maintenance appointment can best be integrated into the processes. On long-distance journeys, for example, it may make sense to have minor work carried out by a workshop en route. In order to recognize this, the fleet management must know the data of the current order as well as the subsequent tours. Then, in coordination with dispatch, it can add a suitable service facility along the planned route as an additional stop on the tour.

Advantages

Combining logistics and fleet management

Mobile apps for logistics not only monitor the status of current tours. They also guide drivers and offer various ways of communicating with them with chats and instructions for action. These are primarily intended for controlling processes. However, they can also be used to alert drivers to damage risks via predictive maintenance systems, for example if the tire pressure is too low and damage is imminent, delaying further travel. Telematics systems and driver apps thus make it possible to coordinate logistics orders, resource deployment and operating costs and thus optimally link dispatching and the vehicle fleet.

Conclusion

Digital fleet management improves value creation

Fulfilling all customer orders in the best possible way with a fleet that can be deployed without disruption at any time: this is the ideal situation that all companies in the logistics industry want. With digital systems for fleet administration and logistics management, this wish can be fulfilled. When maintenance and repairs are coordinated with the dispatchers and drivers are informed in good time via mobile apps.