The ever-increasing fuel price continues to put pressure on road transport – especially in the slow-moving heavy-lift sector.For freight businesses that operate f leets, driving less is not an option, making it imperative that they find ways to use vehicles more efficiently.According to Hein Jordt, chief executive officer of CTrack Africa, this has led the company to launch a fully customisable platform to monitor fuel usage and efficient driving easily."The way vehicles are used can have a significant impact on the running costs of a business, and equipping customers with the tools to easily and efficiently monitor a variety of factors that have a direct impact on fuel consumption is the aim,” said Jordt.The company has launched Crystal, a fully customisable platform that combines all the existing functionality and a variety of new features into a new cloud-based platform that is easy to use and allows f leet managers to react more effectively. A new driver app launched alongside it features a comprehensive host of intuitive functionality, including the ability to monitor fuel usage and efficient driving.Using these tools f leet operators can monitor speed and reduce speed violations, positively impacting f leet and driver safety, and reducing fuel consumption significantly. Further measures can be implemented by adding speed limiters that can prevent drivers from speeding entirely or according to predetermined geo zones. It further assists with smooth driving techniques through monitoring and reporting, allowing for drivers to be coached on factors such as avoiding speeding up between intersections and excessively revving a vehicle. Another element that the platform assists with is tyre maintenance. “Underinf lated tyres are a huge contributor to unnecessary fuel consumption. Tyres should be checked regularly and inf lated according to the manufacturer's specifications for the load being carried. This practice can be included in the pre-trip inspection functionality that forms part of the driver app,” said Jordt. “It also includes functionalities for better route planning. The driver app includes a built-in navigation system that will ensure that vehicles are always travelling on the optimal route while incorporating multiple stops in the most efficient manner.”
