Teletrac: tachograph’s power ‘realised in Covid era’
Fleet management systems provider Teletrac Navman has highlighted the increased potential of tachograph technology and data during the exceptional circumstances caused by Covid-19.
“During the national lockdown, as demand for goods shot up, the government extended the amount of time drivers could operate their vehicles to ensure medical supplies, food, and essential non-food items could reach their destinations to meet the increased demand,” said Barney Goffer, product manager at Teletrac Navman.
Now, he says, fears of a return to panic buying as the UK falls victim to a second wave of the virus could be potentially putting drivers under more pressure to overwork and ensure much-needed deliveries happen.
“This coupled with a rising shortage of drivers, could put operators in a challenging situation when it comes to keeping Britain moving,” said Barney.
“Tachograph technology can go some way towards easing the situation.”
In addition to ensuring drivers’ hours are not exceeded and rest periods taken, tachograph data can also help identify those drivers who are not being fully utilised and therefore have spare capacity, points out Barney.
“Its ability to track distance covered and speed travelled can also facilitate the planning of efficient, shorter, and therefore safer routes across a fleet. What’s more… digital or ‘smart’ tachographs have the ability to automatically store all data on the driver and the vehicle allowing operators to retrieve it remotely – thus supporting social distancing restrictions. In addition, the time saved by the operator not having to manually retrieve data from cabs is significant.”
He concluded: “Ultimately, the purpose of a tachograph remains to protect drivers and reduce the risk of them being involved in accidents due to tiredness – and it’s during such unprecedented times when drivers have been on the frontline of logistics, that the technology has played such an important role, ensuring everything and everyone gets from A to B – safely.”
