ZF has introduced a new suite of telematics solutions developed specifically to enhance the efficiency and safety of light commercial vehicle fleets in Europe.

The new solutions – intended to help fleets become leaner, greener and safer – provide a portfolio of technologies to manage vehicles and drivers from a single all-in-one back office platform

The new solutions – intended to help fleets become leaner, greener and safer – provide a portfolio of technologies to manage vehicles and drivers from a single all-in-one back office platform.

This includes ZF’s Vehicle Tracking Solutions, which enable fleet managers and vehicle operators to accurately track the location of each LCV and inform their customers of cargo arrival times. The technology also ensures dispatchers can assign the next job to the most appropriate driver based on factors such as the shortest travel times – cutting mileage and fuel costs and helping ensure drivers arrive on time, improving customer response times and satisfaction as a result.

The front-end platform includes the Transics-branded TX-Flex driver app, which can manage all elements of each individual delivery, including electronic signatures, photographs of delivered or damaged goods, barcode scans and other relevant details, allowing fleet managers and fleet drivers alike to further improve operational efficiency and customer service.

To help fleets manage fuel, ZF also offers comprehensive, real-time visibility of fuel costs. This uses a simple ranking system which includes driver performance, the distances they have covered, and the fuel consumed by their vehicle to determine the fuel efficiency per vehicle. A special ‘fuel drop’ module can also detect and specify fuel level anomalies.

ZF’s work also includes a safety focus, providing fleet operators with a safety performance overview including real-time safety alerts to rapidly highlight driving style anomalies and providing drivers with a panic alarm hidden in the cabin.

Security is also taken care of through ZF’s immobiliser solution, which prevents the vehicle from starting, unless the driver has correctly logged on to the system.

“Light commercial vehicles fulfil a vitally important role within the logistics and transportation industry and our pioneering suite of LCV solutions is specifically designed to address growing demand from this key sector,” said Peter Bal, business leader, digital customer services EMEA with ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems.

“Further demonstrating ZF’s differentiating solutions for commercial fleets of all sizes and vehicle types, this important launch reflects our unwavering determination to help operators and fleets achieve ever greater levels of safety, operational efficiency and customer service.”