SITA UK
In March 2010, CMS SupaTrak first began working with SITA UK to explore the potential benefits of implementing a telematics system throughout their fleet.
Initially, CMS SupaTrak offered a trial of the award winning EcoTrak fuel saving technology on 12 municipal and recycling vehicles at the Warwick depot. EcoTrak is a telematics based system, which records driver behaviour in real time. It measures vehicle and driver performance against a number of key parameters including speed, idling time, harsh braking and accelerating, overrevving, PTO over revving and excessive throttle use.
By identifying how a driver is driving a vehicle, it is possible to determine instances of less efficient driving and using this information, remedial training and coaching can be delivered in order to promote more fuel and carbon efficient practices.
The key focus of the trial was to identify the achievable reductions in 2 main areas – fuel and carbon output. Paul Shipman, Fleet Manager at SITA UK explains that "we are always looking at ways in which we can improve our environmental performance and reduce our carbon footprint.”. In order to ascertain realistic and sustainable savings, CMS SupaTrak worked closely with SITA UK to implement a strict trial process, consisting of several measurable and reliable stages.
The first stage was the crucial “benchmarking” period, without which it would be impossible to ascertain how the drivers were actually driving the vehicles. This stage was covertly managed so that true data was gathered, without the drivers adjusting how they would usually perform. This benchmarking stage took place over a 2 week period, covering enough journeys to constitute a genuine driving cycle.
During this stage, data was gathered for each driver against each of the key driver behaviour management parameters and presented in a number of concise reports, including driver behaviour analyses, fuel saving reports and driver pointer reports, showing where improvements could be made.
Once this stage was completed, using the data collected during the benchmark period, driver training and coaching commenced. This training was delivered by trainers with industry experience and knowledge, able to work with the drivers to educate them and coach them towards achieving more fuel and carbon efficient driving styles.
After all drivers were trained, changes in fuel used and driving style were immediately apparent by running the same set of reports used in the benchmark period. For example, wasted fuel in areas such as unnecessary idling, which had been recorded during the benchmark period, was greatly reduced.
In addition to managing and ultimately improving driver behaviour, CMS SupaTrak also optimised the vehicles involved in the trial. Once this was done, CMS SupaTrak was able to provide SITA UK with both the improvement due to driver style and the total improvement in efficiency, including vehicle optimisation.
The total fuel cost saving calculated across the trial period was approximately 12 per cent and the forecasted carbon reduction per annum is 3,000 tonnes.
Pleased with the results of the trial, Paul Shipman commented that "EcoTrak has helped us to reduce our fuel costs, improve our environmental performance and promote safer driving".
Overall, the technology was accepted well by the organisation. SITA UK was transparent with their employees, keeping them informed about the technology and publicising the benefits. SITA UK and CMS SupaTrak worked closely with the drivers, providing them with feedback, in order to encourage improved and sustainable results.
Since the success of the initial trial, SITA UK has chosen to roll out EcoTrak technology in over 650 vehicles, across 32 sites and continues to see significant and sustained fuel cost savings and a reduction in carbon output. According to Paul Shipman, "after we successfully trialled EcoTrak and witnessed the achievable savings, the decision to roll it out across our fleet was simple".
The technology is compatible with all vehicle manufacturers and further developments are being explored including extensive developments with Dennis Eagle, providing body CANbus.
As a result of the success in the UK, CMS SupaTrak is currently in the process of replicating the trial across 5 European countries, providing a fully localised service, with a view to roll out across the SITA European fleet.
