Gulf Construction Online - FleetBoard helps vehicle management

Germany & the Mideast

FleetBoard ... ensures efficient operation of KBRC’s fleet.

FleetBoard helps vehicle management

01 March 2006

The Kuwaiti British Readymix Company (KBRC), owned by the M A Sharafi Group, is relying on a telematic system developed by DaimlerChrysler to ensure the efficient operation of its 100-strong fleet of Mercedes-Benz trucks which are in operation round the clock seven days a week, delivering readymixed concrete from the plant to a myriad of construction sites in Kuwait.

The telematics solution, which gives KBRC a complete overview of the technical parameters of its fleet as well as tracking and locating its vehicles, wherever they may be, is divided into two main services – the FleetBoard Vehicle Management and FleetBoard Logistics.
Danny Reynolds, general manager of KBRC in Kuwait, says: “Given that we are producing and delivering time-sensitive critical goods such as concrete in such a tough environment as we have here in Kuwait, with temperatures rising up to over 50 deg C during the day, it is very important for us to know where our trucks are and that they will reach the construction site on time.”
“KBRC and FleetBoard are ideal partners. Sustaining the information out of the vehicles and displaying them over the internet shows the benefit from using modern technologies in an established business,” he adds.
The FleetBoard system incorporates many innovative modules, such as FleetBoard Mapping, Service and Driver Evaluation.
FleetBoard Mapping displays the actual location of every truck at any preset time or during a pre-defined time frame. Besides the location, one can also display the actual speed of the vehicles and the estimated time of arrival. Possible delays can be indicated and the client informed about it and the company can take necessary action to overcome the problem, says a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler Services FleetBoard.

FleetBoard Service
As the trucks ply 24 hours between five plants and the various customer delivery addresses in Kuwait, they are seldom at their base. However, the need for downtime is minimised because the FleetBoard service of maintenance and repair shows all the relevant technical data about the truck.
Details such as when the next service is due, the condition of the brakes, correct oil level and other such factors can be easily accessed through this system, and there is no longer a need to have the trucks physically in the base, says the spokesman.
“With FleetBoard, I have the actual status of all of our vehicles at the click of a mouse,” says Mohammad Amjad Mirza, workshop manager at KBRC. “If there are any malfunctions, they will be detected by the vehicle’s on-board system and then displayed in the FleetBoard screen. With this detailed information, I can decide whether the truck is able to reach the nearest workshop or needs immediate support on the road. I can even see which part shows a malfunction and can prepare the workshop with the necessary information to order the spare parts in time.”

Driver evaluation
Since last November, KBRC has also been making use of the FleetBoard Driver Evaluation, which rates each driver’s ability to drive his truck economically. This evaluation is helpful for future driver training to reduce the fleet’s overall fuel consumption and maintenance, the spokesman explains.
KBRC, which has been present in the Gulf for more than 25 years, is recognised as one of the largest and most competent high-quality cement producers in Kuwait. Equipped with computerised batch systems, the company has accomplished projects requiring from 2 cu m to over 200,000 cu m of concrete and can produce more than 300 cu m of concrete per working hour. The largest single continuous concrete pour completed by KBRC was 3,700 cu m.
KBRC, whose office management system is certified to ISO 9001-2000 standards, has a fleet of nearly 100 modern delivery vehicles, mainly Mercedes-Benz Actros.
FleetBoard, the DaimlerChrysler developed telematics system for commercial vehicles, was introduced to the market in 1999. Since then, more than 20,000 trucks and over 800 clients have been equipped with the FleetBoard Vehicle and Logistics Management System mainly in Europe, and many more are coming on the international market. The services are available for Mercedes-Benz trucks as well as for trucks from other manufacturers.
FleetBoard was certified to ISO EN 9001-2000 standards in 2004.