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Take-up is slow in FTA top firms
Page 17
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le Recent figures from the Freight Transport Association (FA} reveal that 93% of the country's top goads vehicle operators have yet to start using tracking systems and 75% of them don't even bother to analyse readily-available vehicle engine data.
The figures come from a recent survey conducted by the association which polled its top 1,200 members by fleet size.
Other findings from the survey are that 24% of firms don't even have mobile phone contact with all of their vehicles; 760/ri don't use routeing and scheduling software of any kind; and Just 5% use both tracking and routeing and scheduling systems.
Start-up costs are one of the major reasons for these results, it seems, with 30% of respondents saying they remain unconvinced that the benefits of telematics systems are worth the cost.
A further 16% said they find the whole business too confusing, and 15% said they were happy using mobile phones to keep tabs on drivers.
Don Armour, manager for telematics at the FTA, agrees the results are somewhat surprising, given that the nation's largest and most professional fleets were polled, but adds that the issue about start-up costs is a big one. "If you're going to have to pay out £25,000-130,000 to set up a big tracking system... well, you can buy a lot of phone calls for that kind of money," he comments.
s A new guide to the telematics sector has just been published oy the FTA. The guide outlines the types of system currently available, looks at the benefits and pitfalls for commercial fleets, lists key suppliers and analyses imminent and future developments like road tolling and the new European Galileo satellite system. The guide costs 110, and can be obtained by calling the FTA on 01892 526171.