Details

MAN TeleMatics relies on T-Systems to provide a full array of services for its new telematics system, from delivery of the hardware and operation of the maintenance information portal and servers through to the SIM cards and the mobile communications network.

To be sure of success in the long term, freight forwarders need to operate economically and cost-effectively as well as to offer their customers an attractive service by delivering goods reliably and on time. With ever more customers now demanding just-in-time delivery, it is becoming increasingly difficult to square this circle. This is where the MAN Tele-Matics solution comes in. It gives forwarders four applications in one: fleet control, fleet management, vehicle deployment analysis and a maintenance portal. Freight forwarders simply click their mouse at any time to locate vehicles and retrieve all important data, and they do so not only in Germany but throughout the whole of Europe.

The customer

The solution

MAN TeleMatics comprises modules for fleet management, fleet control, vehicle deployment analysis and a maintenance concept. Forwarders use the fleet management module to locate their vehicles whenever necessary on a digital map on their computer. Trucks automatically send status messages via GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) to, and receive new messages from, the forwarding companies. In this way, schedulers can assign new orders to drivers on the road and optimize utilization of vehicle capacities by changing routes at short notice. The system initially checks the accuracy of the given address, thereby helping to avoid detours and lost time. If a driver exceeds his remaining drive time, this is also displayed by the system. Drivers can therefore concentrate their full attention on the road. TeleMatics automatically coordinates communication with headquarters. Vehicle deployment analysis is another module in the telematics software. It supplies data on aspects such as fuel consumption, average speed or revolutions per minute. This information helps drivers to optimize their driving
style and thus reduce fuel consumption. In addition, vehicle deployment analysis creates a report on the status of wear-and-tear parts and consumables such as motor oil and brake pads. This data is fed into the maintenance information portal, which can now be accessed by both the forwarders and the MAN repair shops, thus enabling the latter to calculate the best time for the next vehicle inspection and reserve a suitable slot. This is another factor that helps reduce vehicle downtimes and increases their service life. Thanks to the maintenance concept, the forwarders also have a better overview of vehicles that are scheduled for maintenance at the repair shop. The portal solution displays the maintenance status of all vehicles in a specific color (green, yellow, red). This enables forwarders to control utilization of their fleet capacity in the long term and to deploy their trucks more efficiently.

Customer benefit

The telematics package enables forwarders to reduce their costs and travel the roads with greater cost-efficiency. Fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 20 percent simply by evaluating the results of vehicle deployment analysis and adjusting driving styles. Further savings can be achieved with optimal maintenance, which minimizes the risk of downtimes and increases vehicle lifespan. In addition, logistics staff deploy their vehicles more efficiently since they are now able to avoid costly empty runs and optimize their routes. If a driver gets stuck in a jam, the scheduler can inform the customer promptly about the anticipated length of the delay. All forwarders need in order to use the software is a computer with Internet access and the MAN control console software. All other data resides securely on a server. The roaming charges that were previously incurred for calls by cell phone to or from countries outside Germany are now no longer incurred.

At a glance