August 21, 2020 Meet Eco Goals in Construction With Vehicle Tracking

Construction companies can use vehicle tracking to help meet their eco goals and improve the performance of their commercial fleet.

Taking the most efficient routes, rather than predicted fastest can reduce fuel usage.

As construction companies expand to meet the ever-growing need for new housing and other social building projects, their environmental impact continues to grow. This, therefore, creates a growing issue when it comes to construction companies increasing their environmental impact. Without taking into consideration the impact of the building process, the amount of CO2 and other harmful gasses which are released into the atmosphere from a construction companies’ commercial fleet can be significant.

Environmental plans should now be a key part of any construction companies planning for the year. These plans help to set out environmental target’s that companies want to achieve and for they can be particularly useful in helping inform decisions which can reduce waste and also manage fuel use. It is important to remember that these plans should be seen as long-term goals, so any company operating one should not expect to see results overnight.

Understanding data

So, how can vehicle tracking help construction companies meet the ego goals set out in their environmental plans? The first key point to understand is that by using vehicle tracking, construction companies, and other companies operating a commercial fleet, have access to significantly more data about their vehicles. For a fleet manager, this is really important, as it allows them to have a far greater understanding of their fleet and its performance.

When it comes to environmental goals, having more data about how a commercial fleet is operating is key. By using vehicle tracking technology, fleet managers have access to data showing a range of areas for each individual driver. These include how often a driver has been speeding, how long they have left the engine idling each day, if they are accelerating and braking harshly, all of which are known to contribute to high fuel usage. By seeing this data, fleet managers can identify drivers who may benefit from training to reinforce more environmentally friendly driving.

Driver feedback

The second way in which fleet tracking can help construction companies meet their eco goal is through instant driver feedback. By installing vehicle tracking technology which includes an in-cab coaching system, construction companies can provide their drivers with audio and visual feedback on their driving. These systems provide drivers with alerts when they are driving in a way which could be using a higher than the necessary amount of fuel or be dangerous to themselves and other road users. Drivers are alerted to the same actions mentioned above, which contribute to high fuel usage, along with harsh cornering, which could be dangerous in large commercial vehicles.

A study carried out by Masternaut found a significant reduction in actions which contribute to heavy fuel use when drivers were receiving feedback. Over a longer period of time and as part of an eco-plan, these reductions can play a significant role in reducing the environmental impact of a commercial fleet, and also save a company money when it comes to fuel costs.

Routes

The routes which drivers take between construction sites can have a notable impact on the amount of fuel they are using. One of the significant benefits of using vehicle tracking technology is that after it has been installed, it will store the historical data from all the journeys that have been tracked. This allows fleet managers to analyse this data and identify routes which may not be environmentally friendly. These are routes which may appear shorter when initially planned, but turned out to be longer due to reasons such as traffic or road works. The longer vehicles spend on the road, the higher their emissions and fuel usage will be.

Simple factors like traffic or roadworks can have a significant impact on the time it takes for a vehicle to complete a journey. This is crucial in the construction industry, not only for their eco goals but also from a business point of view. If construction materials are late arriving at a site, this can lead to delays on the project and ultimately additional financial costs which were unexpected.

Vehicle tracking has already proven its worth in a variety of industries. As data and technology become more important in our everyday lives, it makes sense that an industry like construction, which has seen many advancements over the years should also embrace this technology. The areas highlighted above show how vehicle tracking technology can help a company meet their eco goals in a variety of ways, and as the technology continues to advance there will likely be others in the future.

Elodie Mescam

About the Author
Elodie Mescam is Digital Strategy Manager at Masternaut. She has a passion for sustainable mobility and is always happy to share what she has learned with customers and team members. Masternaut is a leading provider for fleet management services and solutions. They work with businesses in a range of sectors to help them operate their commercial fleets more efficiently and answer their business challenges.

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