Combining satellite vehicle tracking, environmental management tools and fuel card integration, Patient First uses the new system from Masternaut to provide high quality non-emergency transport. The system provides real-time vehicle intelligence and historic data to the operations team, helping them to ensure safe, fuel efficient and eco-friendly driving by all the ambulance drivers.

“Masternaut gives transparency of our fleet, both in real time and with its detailed vehicle activity reports. It is a powerful management system. We can use it to track vehicle speed and routes and the live view provides added safety as we know exactly where each vehicle is and who is driving it. We use the system to improve our service through helping with driver training and re-education when necessary,” says Nathan Wynne, operations manager, Patient First.

Each ambulance is equipped with a Masternaut MCU (mobile collection unit) linked to a driver ID key. The MCU logs vehicle activity and transmits the information to the web-based Masternaut service enabling the Patient First operations team to monitor the fleet live on screen. The system also uses Masternaut GreenerFleet to provide detail on driving behavior such as speeding and idling.

Although a non-emergency ambulance service, there are times when drivers have to switch on their blue light and sirens. A specially developed feature alerts the operation team each time the blue light is activated and this provides a log for checking that the driver had been authorised to respond to an emergency by a nurse or doctor.

“We look at vehicle idling as part of the drivers’ quality control reviews and we look closely at speeding, as in some circumstances it will have been authorised. This is also useful evidence when refuting speeding fines as blue light driving is exempt. We produce a monthly driving report through GreenerFleet and the drivers are always keen to see who has performed the best. The system also helps us to maintain accurate driver working hours records,” says Wynne.

“We can also use the system to review each journey. We then use this information to ensure that drivers are using the best routes and we are maximising the use of our fleet. This also helps us to get more MPG and reduce CO2 emissions,” he adds.