When you manage an entire fleet of equipment within a warehouse or distribution center, forklift fleet telematics provide you with real-time information that can dramatically improve how your business functions. These connected devices feature advanced software that allows you to keep track of lift truck operators, manage forklift access, optimize routes, and comply with safety regulations. Telematics can help you manage risks, stay ahead of maintenance and productivity issues before they arise, and create a safer operation for all of your employees. Here are a few things to know about equipment fleet telematics and the benefits they offer your business.
What Does a Heavy Equipment Telematics Device Do?
Equipment telematics help warehouse supervisors manage daily checklists, control lift truck access, and monitor the impact of any accidents. They also track data concerning the usage and health of each machine in a warehouse's forklift fleet. The many pieces of information that telematics can track include specific locations of vehicles via GPS trackers, in-cab video monitors, fuel usage, engine health and performance, idling time, driving behavior and other vital systems and diagnostics. All forklift data is gathered, stored, and sent back to the fleet computer system, which can be easily reviewed.
Fleet telematics are especially beneficial if you have a large fleet of vehicles or forklifts, as they condense and synthesize large amounts of data and enable you to make strategic decisions and better manage your equipment and employees.
The Benefits of Telematics
A forklift fleet management system empowers you to have more control over your equipment. Whether you have one forklift or several, it is critical to monitor the usage and health of your equipment before an issue develops. Here are a few benefits to consider.
Forklift Operator & Pedestrian Safety
At any job site, the number one concern is safety. Sending your team to safety training classes and ensuring they have the right equipment on the job is important, but telematics devices can boost the safety of everyone in your distribution center or warehouse. First and foremost, telematics prevent unauthorized access to lift trucks using tools such as key cards, so that only those certified to operate equipment are able to do so.
Telematics also provide detailed impact monitoring, alerting you anytime an accident occurs and providing important information such as who was driving, when and where the impact occurred, and how hard it was. More advanced telematics systems can provide additional data such as the operators’ speeds and if they are constantly braking too hard. By monitoring how your drivers operate their equipment, you can determine if they need more training, if the facility layout should be adjusted, or if you need to change protocols within the facility.
Monitoring worker behavior with telematics can reduce accidents, meaning fewer personal injuries and less property damage. Plus, insurance companies love to see businesses actively managing risks in their workplace, and they often reward them with lower premiums and discounts.
OSHA Compliance
When you need to keep track of data for regulators and ensure certain safety steps are followed, telematics can help immensely. At the start of each shift, operators can be required to complete an equipment checklist for safety and maintenance. Telematics systems allow operators to quickly record data electronically and then store all completed checklists in a single, easy to manage database. Telematics also create an electronic paper trail that outlines when maintenance was completed or if you made repairs to the forklift, which helps you eliminate the need to keep physical files for each truck.
Better Fleet Management
Some warehouse operations leaders still track the maintenance and performance of their forklift fleet with a spreadsheet which gives you an incomplete view of the health of your industrial vehicles. A telematics system is easy to manage, updated automatically in real-time, and presents information in an actionable format. Anyone permitted access will be able to check on the status and health of the company's equipment.
You can also use this data to compare your equipment fleet across multiple locations, helping you determine where to make improvements. Proper management will allow you to reduce operational costs, minimize equipment damage, and influence the behavior of your forklift operators. You may even be able to see when you need to replace some heavy-wear components, such as tires and brakes.
Greater Productivity
A benefit to more advanced usage of telematics is increased productivity. You can quickly check on the idling time or location of equipment, allowing you to easily see if any vehicle in your fleet is not moving when it should be. Telematics helps you monitor your employees without completely limiting their autonomy. You can tell how quickly they are completing tasks, and by analyzing the telematics data, you may find new ways to make the most of the resources in your fleet.
How Do These Devices Work?
Many telematics systems are simple to set up, and you can have them tracking your equipment in a matter of minutes. The system collects data from various sensors on the lift trucks including GPS, accelerometers, and other sensors. As information is collected, these devices transmit the data wirelessly to a centralized server where it can be analyzed and processed to provide insights into the performance of the equipment and the operators. With this information, warehouse managers can make data-driven decisions about how to optimize their forklift fleet.
Need More Information on Fleet Management Telematics?
Telematics systems enable you to control access to equipment, ensure proper safety procedures, and analyze data to improve the productivity of your forklift operators. If you are ready to modernize your fleet monitoring and management system, the Equipment Depot team is ready to help. Call 888.EQDEPOT today to talk with one of our sales consultants, and learn how telematics can take your operation to the next level.
