ZF launches telematics-based fleet management solutions for LCVs

ZF has expanded its range of fleet management solutions to include LCVs, enabling operators to manage all their commercial vehicles and drivers from one platform.

The company claims its suite of solutions are specifically developed to improve the operational performance, safety and customer service levels of LCV operations.

“Light Commercial Vehicles fulfill 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,” he added.

The new LCV solutions portfolio includes ZF’s Vehicle Tracking Solutions allowing fleet managers and vehicle operators to accurately track the location of each LCV and inform their customers of cargo arrival times. Additionally, dispatchers can assign the next job to the most appropriate driver based on factors such as the shortest travel times. This helps reduce mileage and fuel costs and helps ensure drivers arrive on time as well as improving customer response times.

At the heart of the front-end platform is 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 any other details that may be relevant to a specific delivery or collection.

ZF says real-time visibility of fuel costs, enabled via the system, can help fleet operators optimise their fuelling strategies as a result of clear data on fuel consumption rates.

A ranking system, which includes driver performance, highlights the distances they have covered, and the fuel consumed by their vehicle to determine the fuel efficiency per vehicle. A “fuel drop” module can also detect and specify fuel level anomalies giving fleet managers peace of mind and greater control over how fuel is used.

There is also a safety performance overview, including real-time safety alerts to rapidly highlight driving style anomalies. Drivers are provided with a safety panic alarm hidden in the cabin and an immobiliser solution prevents the vehicle from starting, unless the driver has correctly logged on to the system.