Data nowadays plays a part in nearly every aspect of our lives and the coach and bus industry is no different in this regard. When it comes to a variety of tasks such as timetabling and route-planning, having access to data and being able to manage it correctly is essential for every successful operator.
Here, we focus on four suppliers that are using data which is particularly useful in the areas of compliance, security and passenger statistics.
Timespace Technology’s LANLink platform provides fleet operators with comprehensive data on CCTV system health, along with GPS vehicle tracking and controller-area network (CAN) engineering data – all essential for managing fleets efficiently.
LANLink shows camera snapshots, identification of disconnected or obscured cameras, and email alerts. This system information is vital to fleet operators making any necessary repairs to ensure CCTV systems are operating correctly.
“When bus companies need the vehicle CCTV for an accident investigation, or to counteract a fraudulent claim, it is essential that the footage is reliably available,” says Karen Heylen, Timespace Head of Communications. “We have many examples of where our LANLink platform has helped operators to gain maximum benefit from their vehicle CCTV.”
Vehicle CAN engineering data is also available on the LANLink platform, via Timespace’s CANLink device, which is also available as a standalone device. LANLink shows graphical trends and warning levels for engineering data, with thresholds configured per vehicle.
“We know how valuable time is for fleet operators,” says Henry Heylen, Timespace’s Commercial Director. “LANLink allows fleet managers to identify problems quickly from the CAN data. This allows proactive maintenance to ensure efficient vehicle operation, and to minimise time off-road.”
Via LANLink, CCTV analysts can preview recorded footage, download video and view live camera streams over mobile networks. Footage can, therefore, be viewed, obtained and shared without waiting for the vehicle to return to the depot. Operators can select recorded footage based on the date, geographical area or alarm triggers, and respond to CCTV requests from police or insurance companies.
CheckedSafe: Ensuring compliance
For many drivers, the daily walk-round requirement is a cumbersome process that they would prefer to do without. For many fleet managers, there’s a constant worry that drivers might just be sitting in their cab, ticking every box without a real inspection.
Despite the clear legal requirements for drivers to verify the condition of their vehicles, traditionally, there was no foolproof way to guarantee these inspections were done accurately — or, in some cases, done at all.
Thanks to modern technology, this doesn’t need to be the case. When fleet operators make use of digital solutions that date, timestamp, and geolocate their driver’s activities, they can be certain that everything is reported, recorded, and compliant.
Not only does this protect your operations legally from a compliance perspective, but it increases real-life road safety by making sure potential issues are caught and addressed before they can lead to further issues and potential road accidents.
Benefits of digital compliance solutions include: Improved accountability among drivers, managers and company owners; risk mitigation if used correctly; allowing for pre-planning of vehicle maintenance; better allocation of resources; and peace of mind that you are compliant with legislation.
Solutions such as those offered by CheckedSafe, one of the UK’s leading fleet management specialists, make it easier for everyone involved. By centralising driver walk-round checks and defect data and eradicating the need for multiple systems, applications and paperwork, they play a crucial role in keeping our roads safe and making everyone’s jobs a little easier.
Road Tech: Seamless integration
Road Tech’s suite of systems demonstrate how invaluable having the right data is for coach and bus operators. Tachomaster, PreDrive, DOT Remote Tachograph Downloads, DOT Tracking and Checkmaster offer seamless integration, to give operators complete control over their two most expensive assets — their vehicles and their drivers.
Tachomaster, which offers instant tachograph analysis, was launched in 2006. By mid-2023, the Tachomaster servers showed the system had analysed more than 250 million driver cards, charts, and vehicle downloads.
DOT Remote Tachograph Download System can also be a dynamic vehicle tracking and telematics system. DOT gives you the option to use it just as a remote tachograph download device or as a vehicle tracking and/or telematics system.
PreDrive is a more efficient way of performing your driver’s daily walk-round vehicle checks. It is an app that eliminates paperwork, streamlines operations, records and tracks vehicle checks. PreDrive helps to minimise downtime, as it will inform your workshop or third-party maintenance provider that a vehicle requires maintenance. PreDrive has a maintenance function, offering a complete audit trail through to rectification.
Checkmaster is an authorised DVLA driver licence checking system, which informs you of a driver’s licence status, endorsement points, and level of driving entitlement. Checks can be scheduled and the system is easy to use.
Road Tech Director Adrian Barrett says: “Road Tech’s main strength is that all of our software products seamlessly integrate. Our data-driven approach harnesses real-time information to improve operational efficiency and compliance. Our software systems empower businesses to make informed decisions and drive success.”
ShuttleId: Tracking passengers
Without the use of technology, closed-door services such as school buses and staff shuttles often lack tangible data. Typically, this means missing out on valuable information, such as who is actually travelling and when. As customer expectations shift, operators are now finding that absence of data is quickly becoming a deal-breaker, risking competition from operators and transport brokers.
ShuttleID recognised the need for data and developed game-changing technology designed for use in closed-door environments. ShuttleID’s platform is a single system that offers mobile tickets, payments, reporting, service alerts, parent boarding notifications and live vehicle tracking.
Rather than using an ETM, passes are scanned with an app on a phone or tablet device, meaning it’s both portable and cost-effective. Using this driver-friendly system, operators can access crucial data, including who has boarded and when. Importantly, the system highlights how many passengers actually travelled as opposed to the number of passengers anticipated.
This previously uncollected data helps operators become more efficient. By understanding the travel patterns of passengers, unused passes are identified faster, routes are continually optimised, the correct sized vehicle can be utilised for each journey and additional passes can be issued to fill spare seats.
Data helps improve communication through features such as vehicle tracking and service alerts to keep users informed at all times. Passenger safety is also enhanced by accurately ensuring only valid pass-holders can board and preventing overcrowding with prebooked journeys. Parents are given further reassurance their child has boarded the bus safely with automatic boarding notifications.
By embracing data, operators can protect their existing routes from competitors and unlock new opportunities.
