Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. announced that it will offer Fleet Director, the telematics system from Teletrac Inc., as an option in its 2011 and 2012 model year N-Series trucks. Fleet Director is a fully integrated Web-based solution designed to allow fleet managers and dispatchers to track vehicle usage in real time by sending detailed vehicle and driver performance reports that are accessible from any Internet-connected personal computer.
The system, backed by a three-year/unlimited-mileage limited warranty, will be offered for 2011 and 2012 NPR-HD, NQR and NRR models beginning in May. It will be available as either a port- or dealer-installed option. Availability for 2011 and 2012 NPR ECO-MAX and 2012 N-Gas models will be announced at a later date.
“Low cost of operation has always been Isuzu’s strongest suit,” says Shaun Skinner, executive vice president and general manager of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “Teletrac’s Fleet Director telematics system will make Isuzu trucks an even smarter, more economical choice for fleet owners and operators.”
Fleet managers can view analytics – for their entire fleet of Fleet Director-equipped trucks, for any group of trucks the user selects, or even for a single vehicle and driver – on customizable dashboard-style screen views that allow the user to summarize monitoring of various areas on a single screen. Critical performance indicators include speeding miles, harsh braking and acceleration, poor cornering and catastrophic events.
In addition, Fleet Director’s history playback feature provides fleet managers with an onscreen display of every equipped vehicle’s activities and route so that driver productivity and efficiency can be assessed. The system also generates up to 18 management reports that document vehicle location, operational status, mileage, speed, idle time and more.
Teletrac says its customers have reported that Fleet Director has helped their fleets achieve fuel savings, labor savings, overtime reductions, productivity increases, reductions in unauthorized vehicle use, fewer traffic violations and improved safety. An optional onboard navigation system, available later in the 2012 model year, will employ advanced satellite mapping technology, 2D and 3D conventional road maps and live real-time traffic information.
Teletrac says comprehensive vehicle diagnostics lets users measure and manage the wellness of fleets – almost like having a “virtual mechanic” in-cab. Teletrac says the ability to monitor and report on a multitude of vehicle and engine operating data using standard diagnostic trouble codes offers Isuzu N-Series truck customers accurate vehicle performance and monitoring.
“Safety is no longer just a cost center and compliance issue,” says Drew Hamilton, Teletrac executive vice president. “For many fleets, it’s now a strategic business priority to help trim costs and boost efficiency. We are extremely proud to have been selected by Isuzu to help their fleet customers increase bottom-line safety performance and improve fleet operations overall.”
