1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204 
FI N ER 1:111 1•111
Page 54
Page 55
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Volvo has upgraded its Dynafleet telematics package with an online version and an option to integrate it with a top-end sat nav system. Robin Meczes takes a closer look.
QWhy are five million individual sperm needed to fertilise a single 111 egg?
A• Because men just won't ask for the • way.
OK. it's an old joke,but it's also Volvo's reason for integrating a top-end satnay system into the latest version of its Dynafleet telematics offering.
Dynafleet dates back to 1994 but its latest incarnation, Dynafleet Online, was launched last June to enhance what was already a pretty capable package.
The system,as you'd expect, comprises a GPS-enabled 'black box' which collects location and performance information from the truck.and from the driver about his working hours and identity. It sends via SMS (text messages) to a central computer, making it available to fleet managers via a website.
The amount of data that can be collected is impressive.As well as vehicle position, speed and heading, it includes fuel consumption, distance driven, time spent idling, average speed, time spent in top gear and the green band, load temperature, gross vehicle weight and individual axle loadings.
Dynafleet Online is also able to gather driver-specific information with a driver card system which logs working time with a breakdown of how that time has been spent. The system will even warn drivers if they are about to break the hours rules.
Fleet managers can use the website to call up a range of reports about vehicle and driver activity as well as checking each vehicle's position and service and maintenance records, and sending or receiving SMS messages.
Not every user will want all these functions, however, so Dynafleet Online is available in three forms: • A comprehensive package with all equipment and services • A reports package that includes just the basic onboard 'Logger Tool' black box unit and provides the range of online reports and servicing planning function without vehicle or driver performance information or messaging; • A messaging-only package that simply allows the office to communicate via SMS With drivers in non-Dynafleet-equipped vShicles.
Sat-nay gizmos The new sat-nay system uses a range of inputs to work out its position and provide r6uite guidance including GPS. an inbuilt gyroscope and the vehicle's own speed signals. It's available in standalone form or integrated with Dynafleet,The latter shares O. .40 two components with Dynafleet: the GPS aerial and pop-up dashboard-mounted screen. Street-level maps for 19 European countries are already available, including the Czech Relpublic, Slovakia and Poland. Maps for Tuiikey, Portugal and Russia will be added during the year.says Per-Anders GI-6A eld, marketing manager for Dynafleet at Volvo. The system can also he supplied with a TMC receiver to connect to RDS-TMS traffic information services.
MOpping
The maps in the VDO system are standard third-party motoring maps. They don't contain any truck-specific information such as low bridges or weight restrictions. No map supplier today has these truck features," says Grosfjeld. But route recalculation is swift, in case the driver needs to make a U-turn due to avoid a low bridge etc, and the maps do include petrol stations, restaurants, ports and hospitals.
Volvo reckons that the sat-nay system will help cut fuel consumption by up to 8%. Grosfjeld explains:"The working environment is more stress-free, which makes the driver safer in traffic.
"Drivers also avoid going the wrong way, saving time and fuel.This cuts hauliers' costs and the customer will be satisfied when goods arrive on time."
He reports that Dynafleet Online can be retrofitted to all makes of truck; a number of Volvoless operators have already bought it. •