Vehicle Telematics Software

Gain visibility into vehicles, drivers, and delivery performance with Descartes.

Fleet Telematics for Vehicle Tracking and Diagnostics

Monitor your vehicles and drivers, control costs and improve productivity using telematics that intelligently integrates with Descartes route scheduling and optimisation software.

Real-time accurate GPS tracking of vehicles

Vehicle diagnostics for improved vehicle maintenance

Monitor and improve driver behaviour with in-vehicle driver coaching

Collection of event data with alert notifications

The vehicle tracking device is easy to install

The device, which fits easily in the palm of your hand, has the latest 32-bit processor, memory and gyroscope. The unit is easily inserted into the vehicle's On-board Diagnostics (OBD) port.

Accurate Vehicle GPS Monitoring

Obtain detailed, precise information about the location, speed, engine idling, travel distance and time, along with other aspects of the vehicle. The GPS Unit starts recording as soon as you start driving, regardless of signal strength. The latest Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology provides improved location-data accuracy and quicker latch times.

In-cab Driver Coaching Improves Safety

Real-time driver behaviour monitoring will also help you improve driver safety. Tracking speeding, harsh acceleration, braking or cornering and use of a seatbelt.

Telematics with Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The telematics device is compatible with over 300 EV Models.
Identify;

• Status of EV Charging
• Charging logs to calculate costs
• Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that could be replaced with EVs

The Best Telematics Solution

GPS Tracking

• Turn-by-turn tracking, second by second if required
• Monitor asset usage on report dashboards
• Integrates with Routing and Scheduling software
• Cloud-based Software

Vehicle Diagnostics

• Notification of engine fault codes
• Description and explanation of fault codes
• Monitor additional parameters, e.g. trailer temperature
• Predictive maintenance for critical parts

Driver Behaviour

• In-cab driver coaching
• Instant notifications and alerts to driver & base of poor driving
• Safety dashboard for management of drivers in the fleet
• AI-powered predictive collision analytics

Collision Data Collection

• Immediate notification of collisions
• Data recorded for later investigation
• Possible integration with cameras
• Post-collision management tools

Vehicle Telematics

A brief overview of the benefits of Vehicle Telematics solutions.

The Benefits of Vehicle Telematics for Fleet Operators

Reduced Operating Costs

Overall improvements in fuel usage and increases in productivity will reduce overall operating costs.

Reduced Fuel Consumption

Reducing engine idling, the monitoring of routes and improvements in driving behaviour will improve fuel use and lower CO2 emissions.

Reduced Maintenance Costs

Improvements in driver behaviour will reduce wear and tear on vehicles.

Vehicles Off the Road Less

Vehicle engine notifications are automatically logged while the vehicle is on the road, so preventative maintenance can be scheduled and any parts ordered.

Improved Driver & Vehicle Safety

Implementing coaching or alerts for issues such as forgetting to fasten a seatbelt, can improve driver behaviour.

Lower Insurance Costs

Incident and collision data recording, plus automatic notifications, can be used as evidence in accidents.

Electric Vehicles Supported

Over 100 EV models from major manufacturers supported.

Eliminate Stranded Electronic Vehicles

Current status of electric vehicles with automatic notifications for low batteries and regular energy usage reports that show charging history.

Helpful Information

Telematics Integration

Receive live telematics data directly into your routing software. This can include Tachograph data.

Vehicle telematics features

• GPS Vehicle Tracking
  With the vehicle telematics device plugged into the OBD port and frequent updates the vehicle can be tracked turn-by-turn on a map in the route optimisation software.

Vehicle locations can be used to assign the nearest available vehicle to action new jobs, to improve service and fleet utilisation.

Vehicle location updates can also be used to help provide information to customers waiting for deliveries. If the location of the vehicle is known, then the time to its next stop can be easily calculated and communicated to the customer.

Specific locations can also be geofenced either to notify the controller that a vehicle has entered a zone it should not, or to notify when a vehicle returns to a depot.

• Vehicle Diagnostics
  The vehicle's telematic device will transmit vehicle diagnostic information relating not only for the engine, but any item on the vehicle that would produce a dashboard warning.

The transmission and interpretation of the vehicle diagnostic codes will reduce the time a vehicle is off the road. Knowing a fault exists prior to the vehicle visiting a workshop enables new parts to be ordered in advance.

• Driver Behaviour
  Harsh driving can not only be dangerous but will also increase wear and tear on the vehicle. The telematics device within the vehicle contains accelerometers and a gyroscope allowing acceleration, speed, braking, cornering speed and seatbelt usage to be monitored and reported upon.

• Collision Data collection
  Decreasing the chances of a collision is the priority, but unfortunately collisions do occur, it is then important to notify fleet controllers immediately so actions can be taken.

Cameras such as dash and surround cameras can also be integrated with the telematics device and footage recorded just before and during a collision.

• Features of the Telematics Devices used by Descartes
  • Simple installation utilising the vehicles OBD port.
  • Compact, durable device with very low rate of failures.
  • Compatible with diverse range of vehicle types.
  • State-of-the-art GPS technology for second-by-second tracking if required
  • G-force monitoring.
  • End-to-end data protection.
  • Ultra accurate engine diagnostics with manufacturers codes translated to understandable messages.
  • Optional in-vehicle driver coaching function.
  • Expansion is possible to include trailers and additional equipment, such as temperature monitoring in refrigerated trailers.

Descartes solutions meet the needs of organisations, regardless of size or complexity. Our offering is unique in the marketplace in that it can provide fully-integrated telematics and compliance functionality with Descartes SmartAnalysis, for tachograph data analysis.

Telematics FAQs

• What is vehicle telematics or fleet telematics?
  The term "telematics" describes a system that collects, sends, and evaluates data from commercial vehicles via the on-board diagnostics (OBD) port, including sensors, GPS/location, and onboard diagnostics. Diagnostics, operational insights, and fleet vehicle tracking are made possible by this data.

• How do telematics systems work?
  Fleet managers can view details and location of their fleet on a dashboard thanks to a plug-in device that gathers sensor and GPS data and transfers it to the central management platform via satellite or mobile phone networks.

• What are the benefits of telematics for fleets?
  Benefits of telematics solutions include;

  • Real-time location tracking
  • Monitoring and improvement of driver behaviour (speeding, acceleration, harsh braking, idling)
  • Reduction in fuel consumption and improved engine diagnostics for maintenance planning
  • Predictive alerts to reduce downtime and maintenance costs
  • Collection of data should a collision occur

• What key features should I look for in a telematics system?
  Essential features include;

  • Accurate and frequent GPS tracking and geofencing data
  • Driver behaviour monitoring and scoring
  • Integration with external and internal cameras
  • Vehicle diagnostics (engine, fuel, tire data)
  • Vehicle fault code translation
  • Intuitive dashboards and mobile apps
  • Integration with other platforms e.g. route optimisation and tachograph analysis

• What challenges are involved in implementing telematics?
  Common concerns include;

  • Data privacy, security, and cybersecurity risks
  • Integration with legacy or mixed-vehicle systems
  • Lack of standardisation across manufacturers and device types
  • Hardware reliability and network connectivity issues

• Can telematics support predictive maintenance?
  Yes - by continuously monitoring sensor data (e.g. engine temperature, mileage, fault codes), telematics solutions can predict maintenance needs before failures occur, driving down costs and reducing downtime.

• Do I need a minimum fleet size to benefit from telematics?
  While available for any sized fleet, telematics tends to deliver clear ROI when deployed across three or more vehicles. However, even single-vehicle operators can benefit from fuel savings and safety improvements.

• How does driver behaviour monitoring work and how is it used?
  Systems track metrics like speeding, harsh braking, idle times, and rapid acceleration. These feed into driver scorecards and alerts, enabling feedback, coaching, and safer driving practices.