South Africa’s road freight transport sector is said to account for about 85% of all goods transported in the country and its contribution continues to grow rapidly. Rising costs as well as the increased risk of violent attacks, have led to fleet operators turning to the use of  technology to address a range of challenges, says Webfleet’s Justin Manson.

Fleet telematics systems help transporters to monitor fuel consumption in real-time, to reduce the cost of operations and ease the impact on the total cost of production. Telematics systems can also be used to flag crime hotspots or areas of anticipated social unrest along a regular route and redirect fleets to avoid any potential damage to assets or injury to drivers.

Commercial-grade telematics systems can be used to help fleet operators keep up to date with maintenance schedules and provide reminders of upcoming scheduled maintenance for each vehicle. The systems also monitor mechanical components in real-time to flag required repairs.

Ageing and unmaintained road networks can lead to congestion or tyre damage, and telematics can be used to notify drivers and dispatchers of sites where road works are taking place. This notifies drivers of where to exercise extreme caution or reroute entirely, depending on the severity of the damage or disruption.

Powered by artificial intelligence, telematics systems draw from an exponentially growing repository of data on such factors as historical car crashes, driver behaviour and other risks. The systems also monitor driver biometrics and behaviour, reminding them to take regular breaks and advising on correcting poor driving habits, such as over- or under-taking, driving around corners too fast, speeding or excessive revving.

Webfleet, Bridgestone's fleet management solution provider, says that advanced telematics systems help transport operators and customers gain control and visibility of fleets and valuable assets, which helps reduce cost pressures on consumers, ensures safer roads for drivers and facilitates the effective transport of goods across the country.