Fleetio + Fleetistics – Florida’s #1 Fleet Maintenance Team

by | Oct 27, 2023 | Business Intelligence, Data Integration, Fleet Management, Fleet Management Software

Fleetio Fleet Management, The Ultimate Maintenance Solution

Looking for an integrated maintenance solution? Integrated with Geotab, Fleetio Fleet Management empowers your team to manage vehicles, equipment, maintenance, total cost of ownership, fuel, and more with ease.

fleetio fleet management maintenance ticket

Geotab & Fleetio – A Perfect Match for Integration

  • Seamless navigation between systems
  • Automatic engine hour meter and milage updates
  • Ability to see a vehicle’s current location within Fleetio
  • Fault code and DVIR defect management
  • Fuel location exception reporting
  • Easy access to vehicle engine sensor data to expedite vehicle issue diagnosis
Fleetio

Track Every Detail

Easily monitor operational expense for both owned and leased vehicles with detailed womb to tomb service records. Effortlessly populate manufaturer recommended service schedules based on decoded VINs.

Make Better Decisions

With access to utilization data, acquisition costs, maintenance trends, and fuel economy all in one place, difficult decisions about how long to keep a vehicle and what new vehicles make sense are simplified.

Quicker Response Time = Less  Down Time

Integration with Geotab DVIR and inspection workflows keep management on top of it all. If a critical item fails, Fleetio can automatically generate an issue, place the vehicle out of service, and notify the fleet manager, so those concerns can get addressed promptly and return the vehicle to the road quickly. Integration with 85,000 maintenance shops with e-order approval streamlines getting the service done quickly and maintenance cost information and billing moves seamlessly into Fleetio.

Speak With a Consultant - 855.300.0527
Vehicle & Asset Telematics

GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Electronic Forms

Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Viewing

Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
DashCams

CrewChief T2 Dashcam Front and Rear Cameras

Collision Reconstruction Limits Heartbreak Over Collision Damage

by | Oct 17, 2023 | Fleet Management

You can’t always prevent collision damage,

but you can prevent the heartbreak. Thanks in part to Geotab’s Collision Reconstruction add on, there is a happy ending to what could have been a very sad story.

I think we all have a vision of our dream car from our youth. For me it was always a little red rag-top. A couple of years ago I found her. She was a Chili Red Mini Cooper with a blue denim convertible top. Her name, chosen by her previous owner, was Rosie.

Damage to Mini Cooper
She had a lot of life left in her when I was hit from behind in September of 2019. The impact pushed me into the vehicle in front of me, so I had collision damage both front and rear. As I dialed 911, I watched the other two very young drivers call their parents. Though the damage appeared superficial, my dream car was possibly going to be totaled, and ahead of me the negotiation with the insurance company loomed large.
Damage to Mini Cooper

Accessing the Collision Reconstruction Data

The first thing I did when I got home was fire up the the computer to pull the accident data. With the collision reconstruction add on, it took just a couple of minutes. The truth is often not exactly what we remember,and in this case, that was the case.

How could I have been so certain I was at a complete stop when I was hit from behind? The collision reconstruction data showed I was driving 6 mph and slowing to stop. I wondered in that moment if the other drivers had similar flaws in their memory of the event.

Also, the data indicated an initial accident level impact at the rear of my vehicle propelling me forward at 6:07:06 PM. Two more minor spikes on the graph indicate backward motion at about half the force of the initial impact. I suspect one of those may have been the force of my roll bar deploying.

Processing the Claim

Processing of the claim for the collision damage was somewhat slow. The insurance company had to reach all three drivers involved for their statements before they could make a determination of fault. I had advised the insurance company that I had the data and could prove exactly what happened, but they had to go through their process.

Apparently the crucial information they needed from the driver in front of me, was how many impacts he heard, relative to what he felt, to verify that the rear vehicle actually hit me before I hit him. I wondered if his memory was clear on that point, but was confident the data would back me up if it was not.

Collision reconstruction Speed
Had there been any question, the G force graph below and speed graphs above would tell the entire story. Had it ended up in litigation, the engineers at Geotab would have provided me with expert testimony in the form of a formal report explaining and validating the data from their collision reconstruction. Lucky for me, the insurance company just wrote a check to cover the collision damage.

Unfortunately,

The next day I received the dreaded call… after further review it was determined the frame was bent, and due to severe collision damage Rosie and I would not be seeing any more highway miles together. The insurance company settled, and I was off to find a new car.

Knowing that I had solid facts acquired through collision reconstruction, allowed me to negotiate from a position of power, rather than accepting whatever the insurance company decided. I had a nice fat down payment in my pocket, and my former loan was paid off.

Accelerometer Data

I promised a happy ending,

So here it is. Not quite 2 weeks from the collision event, I was driving my new car. I could not find another Chili Red one, but British Racing Green can grow on a person.

My new road pal is 2 years and 50K miles younger, has a turbo charger, and a far superior sound system. I am naming him Jack Hammer, after the salesman at the Mini dealer (I swear that is his real name).

Thanks Jack!

Thanks Geotab!

2014 Mini Cooper S
Vehicle & Asset Telematics

GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Electronic Forms

Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Viewing

Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
DashCams

CrewChief T2 Dashcam Front and Rear Cameras

Driver Improvement Through Targeted Driver Training

by | Oct 16, 2023 | Fleet Management, Fleet Management Software, Training

Ongoing driver improvement through targeted driver training is one of the hottest trends in fleet management today.

Targeted driver training

When based on actual driving history, targeted driver training is an effective tool for driver improvement. A recent article in Commercial Carrier Journal mentions the need for more targeted driver training. The article warns that in cab alerts are distracting to the driver. Classroom trainings like those endorsed by the National Safety Council are great, and have been the standard for many years, but it takes advance planning and time off the job for drivers to attend. Business requires something that is readily available when needed.

Over the past couple of years, 2 primary models of targeted driver self-improvement have emerged. Not surprisingly, they are simple merit models and demerit models.

Merit vs Demerit

Examples of merit models are game apps. Driving data is converted into a score and drivers compete for recognition. Competition is the primary motivation because it is fun, and because nobody wants to be a loser. Adding a reward, like a cash bonus for the most improved driver, maintains interest. Clearly, competition will promote driver improvement, but is still not targeted driver training.

Demerit models look for problems and assign targeted driver training. Specific behavior, for example speeding, results in lessons assigned to the driver on how speed can be dangerous. This achieves driver improvement in two ways.

  1. The driver learns how speed can be a danger to himself and others through the lessons assigned.
  2. The driver doesn’t want another course assignment that he has to complete after work hours, so he changes his behavior.

The goal is to provide a custom training course based on need. Each driver is assigned lessons based on their driving deficiencies. A program like this is often administered by the Safety Department in larger companies, but in small and medium size businesses, who is going to do all that? Many businesses would like to implement targeted driver training, but only if it is a “hands off” approach.

Predictive Coach course modules

The Keys to Automating Driver Training

To automate the process your GPS tracking system provides the data directly to the training app. Training content on a variety of subjects is organized into courses and lessons. When thresholds for unwanted behavior are met, the app assigns the appropriate training to the driver via email. Drivers access the training from their personal devices, and no supervision is needed.

Training is easy to use, interesting, and focused on driver improvement. Managers only need to be notified when drivers fail to complete the assigned courses, but they can review lessons assigned and completed if they want. This hands off approach simplifies the managers role in the process.

Predictive Coach meets all of the criteria.

  1. Improves driver behaviors with a data driven training program
  2. Eases the burden of safety monitoring through automation
  3. Eliminates willful negligence around driver discipline
  4. Integrates seamlessly with your Geotab tracking solution
  5. Proven to produce results through targeted driver training

Predictive Coach automated driver training has been evaluated by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is proven to reduce dangerous driver behavior.

How it Works

Individual Predictive Coach courses contain 3 to 7 individual lessons. The lessons are automatically assigned to drivers when exceptions to rules occur. The driving rules used are the ones you configure with tolerances you set. Managers are notified when assigned lessons have not been completed, and they appreciate the compact dashboards and reports that are available for reviewing and comparing drivers. Drivers can complete the courses on laptop, phone or tablet from virtually anywhere.

That fits our definition – automated driver improvement through targeted driver training.

Vehicle & Asset Telematics

GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Electronic Forms

Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Viewing

Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
DashCams

CrewChief T2 Dashcam Front and Rear Cameras

Vehicle Cameras for Fleet Management

by | Sep 11, 2023 | DashCams, Fleet Management, GPS Tracking, Risk and Safety

Vehicle cameras are becoming more popular as a fleet management tool.

Vehicle cameras are becoming more popular as a fleet management tool.

As with any new tool, it takes time to understand the best ways to leverage camera use on your fleet vehicles. When selecting and setting up your vehicle camera system, managing consumption to avoid data overage needs to be considered. Ask yourself some questions when you begin.

What information will be most beneficial to you in video format?

How do you plan to use it?

Who will be responsible for reviewing it?

There are several different types of camera systems, designed for different purposes, and it is important to select the system that will record and deliver the specific type of video record you need. No longer are dashcams just a risk management measure to have a record in case of an accident. Forward-facing dashcams monitor the road and potential hazards in front of the vehicle. They can stand alone or be used with peripheral cameras.

Vehicle Cameras - CrewChief T2 Dashcam For Fleets

Some systems also have an interior view of the cab to record what the driver is doing. Adding side, rear, and cargo area cameras can provide valuable information as well as security. Full-featured camera systems integrate with the Geotab tracking platform for even more functionality.

 

Automatic Event Recording

Vehicle cameras designed to record events are primarily used to document the conditions an event occurs. Events may be predefined by the camera system or you can define them yourself when integrated with your vehicle tracking system. Being selective about how many of your rules generate email notifications helps to limit unnecessary email overload. In the same way, be selective about the rules you choose to trigger video downloads to avoid data overage.

Speeding is a common rule that you may want to trigger a video download, but if you have several speed rules, choose carefully the one that triggers the video. A rule like 5 mph over the posted speed limit can trigger often and use up your data plan in a hurry.

Cameras with AI

Some vehicle camera systems use artificial intelligence to identify events. They can identify speeding, lane drift, following too closely, even road obstructions. Combined with a smartphone app, these systems give feedback to the driver to avoid potential hazards. With an in-cab view, cameras with AI can also identify and record cell phone use and smoking events.

Dv6 Dashcam from Rosco - Advanced Dashcam Technology

You can see examples of video from a variety of cameras as well as installation tips on our YouTube channel.

Live Feed

Certain business models such as the Security Industry may benefit from live feed capability from vehicle cameras. Supervisors can view live video to consult with and advise the field employee. Managers can view job site progress and several jobs without leaving the office. Live feeds need to be used responsibly. If you forget to turn off the feed and leave for lunch, extreme data overage is the likely result.

Monitor your Data Consumption

If your system offers a feature to monitor how much data you have used, check weekly to see that you are within your data plan limits. Becoming familiar with how much data you are using will allow you to get the most out of your vehicle camera system without incurring costly overages.

 

data consumption

 

GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Fleet Weather Service

Support Cases Made Easy

by | Sep 1, 2023 | Customer Service, Fleet Management, Training

Support Cases Just Got Easier!

The thought of opening a support case can be frustrating. We have all had a bad experience dealing with a support issue online at some point. Fleetistics is determined to simplify and streamline the support process.

Benefits Of Opening A Support Case

  • Avoid Hold. Don’t waste valuable time calling. We are glad to talk to you but we service many customers. Entering a case simply avoids hold time and phone tag.
  • Easy Access. The support system resides within MyFleetistics. It is connected to your database so you don’t have to look up serial numbers and device details. When a case is opened from the Device Status Table, vehicle information is automatically entered in the support ticket. Current and historical cases can be reviewed.
  • Fire and forget. The case allows you to walk away while we do our research. You can go about your day. No phone tag. No being on hold.
  • Accountability. Cases are time and date stamped. Both parties are held accountable for a timely response.
  • Communication. Information is shared and documented in one place for a single issue.
  • Notification. When a case is updated by Fleetistics or you, notification is provided to the other party.
  • Self Help. We are working to provide quick, easy to follow instructions for the most common issues so you can potentially address an issue immediately and move on with your day. View troubleshooting steps click here.
Open A Support Case Now
Opening a Support Case

Accessing the Device Support System

 

After logging into MyFleetistics, click Analytics, then Dashboard Device Status. A list of your devices populates, color coded to identify devices that may have issues. First, find the device that you want to open a case for, and click the flag to the right of the device information.

 

Opening a Support Case

Next, Complete the Brief Support Case Form

Not a vehicle or device issue?

If your support case is not about a device issue, simply click the cross icon in the top right corner of the window or navigate to Help Center > Support and select “Open Support Case” to open the form without specific device information.

Alternate path to open case

Select the category of the issue from the pre-populated list.

Open a support case

Now, Add Your Case Comments

In the comments section tell us what you have done to identify or resolve the issue. Clearly, we must go through a series of troubleshooting steps. Knowing what you have already done moves us past those steps.

The basic troubleshooting steps for Geotab devices can be found at Frequently Asked Questions – Troubleshooting Geotab OBD Device (myfleetistics.com)

A screen shot or image of an unusual occurrence is always helpful. Don’t forget to attach the file.

Finally, be sure to verify your email address and add the best phone number best time to call if we need to speak with you.

Open a support case

You have successfully opened a support case.

Support Case is now open

Case Confirmation Email

Once a case has been opened you will receive an email confirmation as in the image below. The email contains a link to your case. Each time a case is updated, you will receive another email notification so you know it is time to view and respond.

Inside the case you can add additional details, upload images, and respond to questions the Support Reps ask through the linked form. Replying to the email will record your text reply in the case, but if it is not a simple text reply, it is best to use the link in the email to add your response directly to the case with any images or documents that may be helpful. All of the history is then recorded in the case. You can also check on the status of a case at any time by navigating to Help Center > Cases .

Case Acknowledgement Email

Example of the Support Case in MyFleetistics

Typical Support Case Documentation

In the example below, Support requests the client’s agreement to the RMA terms prior to returning the device for testing. The pdf RMA terms document link is in the email and in the case itself. It contains the details on where to send the device, what happens next, and has some helpful links to other documents as well. After reading the document it is time to acknowledge it in the Support Case system. Working from the email, it looks like this.

Support Case agreement

The Response to the Case is now logged and time/date stamped.

As more action is taken, everything is documented while the problem is being solved. Here is the case after a few more entries. There is no question about who is doing what, or if we are making progress.

Support case progress
GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Fleet Weather Service