Transport and logistics solution launched

Trimble Navigation has launched its Transport and Logistics solution at Future Logistics Living Lab, alongside SAP and NICTA.

The fleet management system, FleetWorks, is designed to deliver improved driver safety and operational efficiency, cost savings and enhanced customer satisfaction for the Australian transport industry.

The Trimble FleetWorks telematics solution, designed for road trucking fleet operators, is a positioning solution for fleet management combined with onboard computers and a back-office system. The solution monitors and reports on driving performance in real time, assisting fleets to operate more efficiently, safely and with less impact on the environment.

Tom Scahill, Business Area Director, ANZ, Transport and Logistics Division, Trimble Navigation, said the solution would help transport operators overcome a range of critical business challenges.

“FleetWorks has demonstrated significant operational performance improvements across Europe while advancing driver safety standards. We believe the FleetWorks solution is the most sophisticated transport solution designed specifically for trucks available in Australia,” Scahill said.

“Typically, a fleet will see a return on their investment in FleetWorks after six months through cost savings achieved from a reduction in fuel usage and an increase in driver productivity. Fleets can also expect to see savings from lowered maintenance costs and fewer insurance payouts to repair vehicle damage and workers compensation.”

The onboard computer can locate individual vehicles in real time as well as offering a wide range of additional functions, including logging of driving and vehicle data, navigation assistance, two-way communication and transmission of transport orders from the InterLAN shipping application.

The solution has been designed to integrate seamlessly with existing applications and the onboard touch-screen computer includes two-way messaging, navigation and a driving style assistant that provides instant feedback to the driver to help them adopt and maintain an ecologically responsible driving style.

A trial of the FleetWorks solution is currently underway, with a fleet of prime movers fitted with onboard computers reporting back to a centralised office so far achieving very positive results.

Trimble demonstrated the solution at the Future Logistics Living Lab at NICTA’s Australian Technology Park offices in Sydney. Trimble has signed up to become a participant of the Future Logistics Living Lab network, an initiative of SAP, NICTA and Fraunhofer to encourage technology innovation in the logistics industry.

Speaking on behalf of NICTA, Dr Glenn Geers, Technology Director, Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics, said, “In the Future Logistics Living Lab, NICTA is working with 27 industry participants to make transport and logistics operations more efficient. Trimble is a perfect fit - it’s great to have them on board.”