Fleet management

It is the management of:

 Commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks, specialist vehicles (such as mobile
construction machinery), and trailers
 Private vehicles used for work purposes (the grey fleet)
 Aviation machinery such as aircraft (planes and helicopters)
 Rail cars.

Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle
maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, speed
management, fuel management and health and safety management. Fleet Management is a
function which allows companies which rely on transportation in business to remove or
minimize the risks associated with vehicle investment, improving efficiency, productivity and
reducing their overall transportation and staff costs.

Vehicle tracking:

The most basic functions in all fleet management systems, is the vehicle tracking component.
This component is usually GPS-based, but sometimes it can be based on GLONASS or
a cellular triangulation platform. Once vehicle location, direction and speed are determined
from the GPS components, additional tracking capabilities transmit this information to a fleet
management software application. Methods for data transmission include both terrestrial and
satellite. Satellite tracking communications, while more expensive, are critical if vehicle tracking
is to work in remote environments without interruption. Users can see actual, real-time
locations of their fleet on a map. This is often used to quickly respond on events in the field.

Mechanical diagnostics

An advanced fleet management systems (FMS) can connect to the vehicle's onboard computer,
and gather data for the user. Data such as mileage and fuel consumption are gathered into a
global statistics scheme.
Driver behavior

Highly developed fleet management and vehicle telematics systems collect a full range of data
in real-time and for transport and fleet managers. By combining received data from the vehicle
tracking system and the on-board computer, it is possible to form a profile for any
given driver (average speed, frequency of detours, breaks, severity of manoeuvres, choice of
gears, etc.).

Fleet security and control

Recent advances in fleet management allow for the addition of over-the-air(OTA) security and
control of fleet vehicles. Fleet Security and Control includes security of the vehicle while
stopped or not in operation and the ability to safely disable a vehicle while in operation. This
allows the fleet manager to recover stolen or rogue vehicles while reducing the chance of lost
or stolen cargo.

Remote vehicle disabling systems

Remote vehicle disabling systems provide users at remote locations the ability to prevent an
engine from starting, prevent movement of a vehicle, and to stop or slow an operating vehicle.
Remote disabling allows a dispatcher or other authorized personnel to gradually decelerate a
vehicle by downshifting, limiting the throttle capability, or bleeding air from the braking system
from a remote location. Some of these systems provide advance notification to the driver that
the vehicle disabling is about to occur. After stopping a vehicle, some systems will lock the
vehicle's brakes or will not allow the vehicle's engine to be restarted within a certain time-
frame.

In an emergency, a driver can send an emergency alert by pressing a panic button on the
dashboard, or by using a key-fob panic button if the driver is within close proximity of the truck.
Then, the carrier or other approved organization can be remotely alerted to allow a dispatcher
or other authorized personnel to evaluate the situation, communicate with the driver, and/or
potentially disable the vehicle.
Advanced public transportation systems
Advanced public transportation systems (APTS) seek to apply transportation management and
information technologies to public transit systems to increase their efficiency of operation and
improve the safety of public transportation riders. Examples of APTS applications include real-
time passenger information systems, automatic vehicle location systems, bus arrival notification
systems, and systems providing priority of passage to buses at signalized intersections.

Significance of Advanced Public Transportation Systems in Public Transportation

One application implemented in APTS area in BRTS is GPS vehicle tracking system in public
transport buses (Bangalore, Chennai, Indore) to monitor vehicle routing and frequency so that
passengers do not have to wait long hours for a bus. The objective is to provide Global
Positioning System based passenger information system to help passengers utilize their waiting
time at bus stops more efficiently as well as to reduce the uncertainty and associated
frustrations. Display boards with high quality light emitting diode in wide-view angle are
provided at bus stops so that passengers can read the information. It displays the number and
destination of the approaching bus, expected time of arrival, and messages of public interest.

Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS)

MAIN FEATURES OF BRTS

 Dedicated (bus-only) running ways (preferably, physically separated from other traffic)
 Accessible, safe, secure and attractive stations.
 Easy-to-board, attractive and environmentally friendly vehicles.
 Efficient (preferably off-board) fare collection.
 Its applications to provide real-time passenger information, signal priority and service
command/control.
 Frequent, all-day service.
  At-grade bus lanes preferred for increasing commuter access, operational flexibility and
reducing costs.
 Priority for buses at intersections.
 Urban / low floor buses.
 Properly designed bus shelters for efficient and safe boarding / alighting
 Pedestrian facilities for ‘along' and ‘across' movements.
 Inter-modal integration through single ticketing for seamless travel.

PRINCIPLES OF BRTS

 Move people as effectively as rail at a potentially lower initial capital cost

 Fully utilize existing roadways, rights-of-way, and station sites
 Take advantage of available technology (e.g., automatic vehicle location, passenger
information, signal priority, and “Smart Card” type fare collection)
 Apply incremental system development, based on demand and funding
 Maximize operating flexibility
 Change the mindset for bus transit – from conventional bus fleet operations to state-of-
the-art transit systems that are convenient, reliable, attractive, and comfortable.

COMPONENTS OF BRTS

A BRT system combines flexible service and new technologies to improve customer
convenience and reduce delays. While specific BRT applications vary, the components may
include:

 Running ways
 Vehicles
 Stations
 Route structure and schedule
 Fare collection
 Advanced Technology
Advantages of BRTS

 Grade separated will provide highest travel time saving, level of safety, and
reliability of all types of running ways.
 Bus traffic doesn't interfere with mixed traffic at all.
 Mixed flow traffic lanes have minimal capital costs since major physical modification
are not necessary
 Converted HOV lanes allow buses to operate faster, more reliably and more safely
than buses in mixed flow lanes.
 Improvement BRT travel times can be attained in designated curbside bus- only
lanes, making buses in these lanes more competitive with the automobile.

Disadvantages of BRTS

 Grade separated transit way have the highest capital cost of any BRT option.
 An appropriate right-of-way throughout the corridor may be unattainable.
 Bus operations are impacted by traffic conditions.

Commercial Vehicle operations

CVO comprises assemblage of satellite navigation system, a small computer and a digital radio,
which can be used in commercial vehicles such as trucks, vans, and taxes. This system affords
constant monitoring of truck operations by the office and provides traceability and safety.

The aim is to improve the efficiency and safety of cvo. This involves following services:

1. CV electronic clearance

2. Automated road side safety inspection

3. On-board safety monitoring

4. Administrative process

5. Hazardous material incident response

6. Freight Mobility
1.Commercial Vehicle Electronic Clearance

This service allows enforcement personnel to electronically check safety status, vehicle’s
credentials, and size and weight data for the commercial vehicles before they reach an
inspection site. The authorities send the illegal or potentially unsafe vehicles only for inspection
and bypass safe and legal carriers to travel without stopping for compliance checks at weigh
stations and other inspection sites.

2. Automated Roadside Safety Inspection

At inspection station the safety requirements are checked more quickly and more accurately

during a safety inspection using automated inspection capabilities. Advanced equipments are

used to check brake, steering and suspension performance and also the driver’s performance

pertaining to driver alertness and fitness for duty.

3. On-board Safety Monitoring

This service monitors the driver, vehicle, and cargo and notify the driver, carrier, and, also

to the enforcement personnel, if an unsafe situation arises during operation of the vehicle.

This is user service also assures freight container, trailer, and commercial vehicle integrity by

monitoring on-board sensors for a breach or tamper event.

4. Commercial Vehicle Administrative Processes

This service allows carriers to purchase credentials such as fuel use taxes, trip permits, over-

weight permit, or hazardous material permits automatically. The mileage and fuel reporting

and auditing components are provided to the carriers automatically which reduce significant

amount of time and paperwork.

5. Hazardous Materials Incident Response

This user service provides immediate information regarding the types and quantities of
hazardous materials present at incident location to the emergency personnel in order to
facilitate a quick and appropriate response. The emergency personnel are informed regarding
shipment of any sensitive hazardous materials so that timely action could be taken in case of
accidents.

6. Freight Mobility

This service provides information to the drivers, dispatchers, and inter-modal transportation

providers, enabling carriers to take advantage of real-time traffic information, as well as vehicle

and load location information, to increase productivity.

Uses of ITS in CVO

ITS is used in commercial vehicle operations to help improve the commercial vehicle safety and

regulatory processes and enhance the efficiency by continuously reassessing and adjusting the

operations, both of the motor carrier industry and the state run motor carrier agencies. ITS
applied to commercial vehicle operations include the following:

1. Safety Information Exchange Systems, to facilitate the collection, distribution and retrieval of
motor carrier safety information at the roadside.

2. Electronic Screening Systems, which allow commercial vehicles with good safety and legal
status to bypass roadside inspection and weigh stations.

3. Electronic Credentialing Systems for electronic submission, processing, approval, invoicing,

payment and issuance of credentials; electronic tax filing and auditing; and participation in
clearing houses for electronic accounting and distribution of registration fee payments, fuel
taxes etc. among states. The infrastructure, framework and guidelines that links these
information systems is known as Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks, or
CVISN

Intermodal freight consists of products and raw materials that are transported by container by
a variety of vehicles.
Electronic Toll Collection(ETC)

Electronic Toll Collection is a generally mature technology that allows for electronic payment of
highway tolls. It takes advantage of vehicle-to-roadside communication technologies to
perform an electronic monetary transaction between a vehicle passing through a toll station
and the toll agency. This project is implemented using the innovative technology of Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID). Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses
communication via electromagnetic waves to exchange data between a terminal and an
electronic tag attached to an object, for the purpose of identification and tracking. An RFID
system consists of a reader and transponders. Transponders are attached to the items to be
identified. They are often called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) involves contact less
reading and writing of data into an RFID tags non-volatile memory through an RF signal. The
reader emits an RF signal and data is exchanged when the tag comes in proximity to the reader
signal. The RFID tag derives its power from the RF reader signal and does not require a battery
or external power source.

Benefits of using FASTag:

1. Ease of payment – No need to carry cash for the toll transactions, saves time

2. Near non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost.

3. Online Recharge – FASTag can be recharged online through Credit Card / Debit Card / NEFT/
RTGS or Net banking

4. SMS alerts for toll transactions, low balance, etc.

5. Online Portal for customers

6. Validity of 5 Years

7. Incentive: cashback of 10% on all Toll payments using FASTag in 2016-17

8. Other benefits are:

(a)Environmental benefit:

• Reduced air pollution,

• Reduced use of paper

(b)Social benefit :

• Reduced toll payment hassles,

• Analytics for better highway management

(c) Economic benefit:

• Reduced effort in management at toll plaza,

• Reduced effort in monitoring centrally.

Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS)

Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS) are tools and concepts that enhance the driver’s
control of the vehicle to make travel safer and more efficient. For example, in vehicle collision
warning systems alert the driver to a possible imminent collision. In more advanced AVCS
applications, the vehicle could automatically break or steer away from a collision, based on
input from sensors on the vehicle. Both systems are autonomous to the vehicle and can provide
substantial benefits by improving safety and reducing accident induced congestion. The
installation of high tech gadgets and processors in vehicles allow incorporation of software
applications and artificial intelligence systems that control internal operations, ubiquitous
computing, and other programs designed to be integrated into a greater transportation system.
Advanced Rural Transportation Systems(ARTS)
Advanced Rural Transportation Systems(ARTS) provide information about remote road and
other transportation systems. Examples include automated road and weather conditions
reporting and directional information. This type of information is valuable to motorists
travelling to remote or rural areas. This has been widely implemented in the United States and
will be a valuable asset to countries like India, where rural areas are widely distributed.

Dedicated Short-Range Communications

Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) provide communications between the vehicle

and the roadside in specific locations (for example toll plazas). DSRC operate on radio
frequencies in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band and comprise Road Side Units
(RSUs) and the On Board Units (OBUs) with transceivers and transponders. Wireless
Communications Systems dedicated to Intelligent Transport Systems and Road Transport and
Traffic Telematics provide network connectivity to vehicles. Continuous Air interface Long and
Medium range (CALM) provides continuous communications between a vehicle and the
roadside using a variety of communication media, including cellular, 5 GHz, 63 GHz and infra-
red links.