BSM Technologies : You Can Have Your Fleet and Make it Green, Too

We're guessing most of you reading this post don't typically associate saving the environment with managing a large fleet of gas-burning vehicles. And for the most part, you're right - large fleets produce a lot of CO2. But what if we told you that implementing a telematics solution can help mitigate the impact of your fleet on the environment and your bottom line?

Now that we have your attention let's get down to three ways telematics contributes to lowering the amount of greenhouse gases in our air, while simultaneously saving you money.

1. Emissions

Federally mandated greenhouse emission levels, government incentives for switching to hybrid vehicles (i.e. rebate programs), carbon emission trading programs - these are but a few of the programs aimed at creating cleaner, greener fleets.

A telematics solution will provide you with the insights your fleet needs to ensure that you are compliant with these mandates. By monitoring and analyzing your vehicle's utilisation data, a fleet will be in a better position to right-size their fleet and retire poorly performing vehicles that contribute the most to a fleet's carbon footprint.

1. Idling

While idling is tied to our previous example of emissions, where we want to focus here is the ability telematics provides you to track the idling hours for each vehicle. Idling is a large contributor to pollution, and an unnecessary cost. How much? The U.S. trucking industry spent $63.4 billion in 2015 due to traffic congestion alone!

Telematics data enables fleets to identify where excessive idling occurs. This can be an effective way to control cash flow because fleet managers can use this data to assign alternative routes that will save fuel and time.

1. Driver Coaching

A telematics solutions can help you improve driving habits across your fleet. Speeding, rapid acceleration, and severe braking will cost you money (and harm the environment). The Ministry of Natural Resources Canada estimates that varying your speed up and down between 75 and 85 km per hour every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20%, leading to greater emissions. BSM's solution will provide you with near real-time information to help monitor drivers, allowing you to reward good driving habits and provide drivers in need of more training with in-cab driver coaching.

All of these improvements can have a big impact on your operating costs and the environment. While there are up-front costs to implementing a telematics solution, the positive ROI your organization can realize is very compelling.

Bottom line: telematics empower fleet managers to make a positive change on the environment and reduce costs.