Travis Perkins extends fleet management system

Builders merchant Travis Perkins is rolling out the Masternaut fleet management system to a further 1,000 vehicles.

The expanded use of the system follows last year’s acquisition by Travis Perkins’ of plumbing and heating rival BSS Group and takes the total number of TP group vehicles with the system to 3,000.

Graham Bellman, group head of transport, Travis Perkins said: “We have selected the latest mobile collection units and contactless interfaces to link each vehicle’s onboard systems to Masternaut.

“This will provide accurate monitoring, and highly detailed Business Analyser Optimark reports on vehicle use and activity, enhancing the quality of information we get from the live vehicle tracking system.

Real-time vehicle tracking is part of Travis Perkins’ integrated transport solution. The real-time data feeds into the company’s Paragon routing and scheduling optimisation system, allowing planners to compare live activity against the plan. It also links to the company’s in-house developed PDA-based delivery management system.

“We are now able to see how driving styles affect vehicle efficiency so we can proactively manage driver safety as the system shows driving behaviour, even down to whether a seat belt is being worn,” Bellman said.

“The reports show in fine detail a wide range of important information such as heavy braking, accelerating, speeding and excessive idling. With this additional investment we shall be able to extend the Travis Perkins Driver of the Year programme to other commercial vehicle drivers within the group; the system is a key tool in identifying the best driver in the fleet.”