United Rentals has more than 335,000 pieces of equipment outfitted with telematics technology in its rental fleet. Based on its experience using machine data in helping customers manage equipment, it suggest four ways that such data can help improve operations.
“Businesses face ever-increasing pressure to improve productivity and safety on job sites,” said Tony Leopold, SVP, strategy and digital, in a statement. “If they don’t have visibility to equipment operating on their sites, they could face cost or schedule overruns, as well as safety risks. Telematics technology generates valuable insights for our customers into the condition, utilization, location, and performance of their rented and owned fleets”
Telematics data helps optimize fleet strategies and can help fleets work toward sustainability goals, according to United Rentals.
Four ways telematics can improve job sites
- Improve equipment uptime. Telematics provides diagnostic information such as fluid, fuel, and battery levels; meter hours; and other operating parameters. This information can ensure that equipment is available for daily use and can also be used to manage longer-cycle performance requirements, including regular preventive maintenance schedules, to keep equipment reliable. Real-time alerts such as emergency stop events, power load, and diesel exhaust fluid levels help supervisors identify and respond to potential issues quickly, reducing downtime.
- Optimize equipment utilization. Tracking utilization of equipment ensures that availability is properly balanced with overall project costs. Telematics technology can alert management if a machine is sitting idle for an extended period and incurring needless costs, while visibility into highly utilized assets can help keep workers productive by ensuring equipment is available for use when needed. Benchmarking reports can also provide visibility into how equipment efficiency compares to peers. By aggregating this information, telematics provides access to these insights in the office or on the job site.
- Improve worksite safety and security. On large and complex job sites, telematics data can be used to manage access to equipment. Equipment access can be limited to authorized operators that have the required certifications and training. Location data, coupled with geofence technology and alerts, can help locate equipment quickly to lessen downtime and limit lost or stolen assets.
- Advance sustainability strategies. Telematics-enabled equipment generates data on engine usage, fuel type, and more. This data can be used by worksite management software to evaluate the environmental footprint of equipment. The insights can inform decision-making, helping management determine the optimal fleet and utilization tradeoffs to decrease overall equipment emissions, advancing sustainability efforts.
Source: United Rentals
