Royal Mail is rolling out telemetry technology across its van fleet to further reduce CO2 emissions and to enhance road safety.

Trimble telematics tech will be installed in an additional 11,000 small Royal Mail vans by the end of March

Telematics was first introduced into Royal Mail’s fleet in 2015, when around 13,000 large vehicles were equipped with the technology.

In the latest project, Trimble telematics technology will be installed in an additional 11,000 small Royal Mail vans by the end of March. And all new Royal Mail collection and delivery vans purchased moving forward will contain some form of telematics.

The technology gives feedback to drivers, encouraging more fuel-efficient and safer driving styles.

Since 2019, the system has already saved Royal Mail approximately 177,000 litres of fuel, leading to a 459-tonne reduction in CO2.

The technology encourages more fuel-efficient and safer driving styles by monitoring the driver’s acceleration, speed, turning and braking patterns, and giving them positive feedback.

In the Trimble telemetry system, real-time feedback is provided to the driver on all of these points. This information is used to compile regular reports, which are then used for the basis of positive, tailored coaching for drivers in each Royal Mail Delivery Office involved.

The expansion of Royal Mail’s telematics tech will help inform its long-term environmental strategy, and to meet its goals of delivering a cleaner future, and will run alongside its various recently announced low-emission vehicle trials. These include its trials of LEVC’s range-extender electric vans announced in 2020 while earlier last year, it deployed its latest EVs, all featuring new green branding to denote their eco status and part of Royal Mail’s involvement in the Ofgem-funded Optimise Prime project.

James Baker, chief engineer and fleet director at Royal Mail, said: “As a company, we are committed to making changes to our operations that reduce our environmental impact. The wide-scale expansion of telemetry in our fleet enables us to ensure our drivers are given positive feedback and training on how to drive in the safest and most environmentally-conscious way possible, while allowing us to continue to deliver letters and parcels safely, efficiently and responsibly.”

Rob Painter, Trimble president and CEO, said: “Sustainability is one of the defining issues of our generation. By expanding the use of Trimble’s integrated fleet, driver and mapping solutions across its fleet, Royal Mail will have the real-time telemetry tools needed to reach its long-term operational sustainability goals. Trimble is excited to be part of Royal Mail’s journey to help reduce its environmental impact while delivering first-rate service.”