Smart Connect: Technology for temperature-controlled transport
The refrigerated transport sector faces major challenges: vehicle maintenance costs, optimised driving behaviour, regulatory compliance, cold chain control, … With telematics solutions, it is now possible to collect and analyse vehicle data in real time to improve efficiency and profitability, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Why is on-board telematics essential today?
At a time when transport companies are facing ever-increasing demands, Smart Connect, Petit Forestier's telematics solution, is an essential tool for meeting the challenges of performance, profitability and regulatory compliance.
One of the major challenges facing the sector is to reduce carbon emissions and optimise energy costs. With tighter environmental regulations, it is imperative that fleet managers limit their fuel consumption and encourage the use of more fuel-efficient vehicles. Thanks to Smart Connect, it is now possible to analyse driving behaviour in real time, identify the factors that lead to over-consumption and implement personalised eco-driving strategies. The intuitive Smart Connect interface gives managers instant access to drivers' driving scores, detects sudden braking and speeding and suggests appropriate training sessions, available via the Petit Forestier Training offer. The result: a significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
In addition to energy management, Smart Connect guarantees strict compliance with the cold chain, an imperative for companies specialising in the transport of perishable goods. The fleet manager is instantly alerted to any variation in temperature, and can take swift action to prevent any break in the cold chain. The Smart Connect offer includes EN12830-certified temperature probes, guaranteeing optimum traceability and compliance with current health regulations.
Route optimisation is also a key competitive advantage. A poor choice of route results in unnecessary mileage, higher fuel consumption and increased logistics costs. Smart Connect incorporates advanced route optimisation technology, which takes into account real-time traffic data, weather forecasts and delivery constraints to suggest the fastest and most economical routes. Thanks to its dynamic recalibration system, Smart Connect automatically adjusts routes in the event of unforeseen circumstances, reducing transport times and improving customer satisfaction.
Finally, keeping drivers and goods safe is a priority for the transport sector. The increase in cargo theft and road incidents means that fleet managers need to equip themselves with high-performance monitoring systems. Smart Connect offers enhanced security by enabling vehicles to be accurately geolocated in real time, monitoring driving behaviour and triggering alerts if they leave a predefined area outside their route times (Geofencing). Combined with door opening and cargo sensors, this technology guarantees complete traceability of goods and reduces the risk of loss or misappropriation of cargo.
Smart Connect is not just a telematics solution, it's a truly global management tool for refrigerated fleets, designed to optimise operational efficiency, reduce costs and ensure high standards of compliance at all times. Its integration not only improves the performance of transport companies, but also ensures more intelligent, sustainable and secure management of temperature-controlled goods.
What is telematics and how does it work?
Definition of vehicle telematics
Vehicle telematics brings together a range of advanced technologies that enable vehicle data to be collected, stored and analysed in real time. By integrating GPS systems and IoT sensors connected to an analytics platform, fleet managers can monitor the status and performance of their vehicles to improve operational efficiency and optimise running costs.
At the heart of telematics is the collection and processing of data essential to the smooth running of a vehicle. One of the main uses of telematics is real-time geolocation, which enables transport companies to know the precise location of each vehicle at all times. This technology facilitates route planning, improves management of delivery times and enhances security in the event of theft or incident.
How does the telematics system work?
- A telematics box and on-board sensors collect data on fuel consumption, speed, driving behaviour and temperature.
- This data is transmitted via a secure network to an analysis platform.
- Fleet managers use these telematics solutions to track vehicles, analyse driving behaviour and reduce maintenance costs.
Example in practice: A refrigerated transport company has reduced its maintenance costs by 25% by detecting mechanical anomalies before they cause breakdowns.
Why adopt telematics for fleet management?
Telematics solutions offer many advantages to companies using professional vehicles.
1. Reduced vehicle maintenance costs
One of the major problems facing fleet managers is vehicle maintenance. A poorly maintained vehicle leads to costly repairs, excessive fuel consumption and unexpected breakdowns.
How does telematics reduce maintenance costs?
- Predictive maintenance: built-in sensors detect any anomalies in the refrigeration unit and prevent breakdowns before they occur.
- Real-time alert: Telematics immediately signals warning lights and mechanical anomalies, enabling rapid intervention
2. Improving driving behaviour
Bad driving habits are responsible for 40% of extra fuel costs and premature wear and tear on vehicles. Thanks to telematics solutions, it is now possible to analyse and improve driver behaviour and reduce the number of accidents.
How can telematics help to correct driving behaviour?
- Analysis of acceleration, hard braking and tight bends to identify at-risk drivers.
- Personalised driving score assigned to each driver, encouraging eco-driving and accountability.
- Alerts in the event of speeding, aggressive driving or driver fatigue.
- Driver training: the data collected can be used to adapt training courses and raise awareness of good driving practices.
3. Optimising routes and tracking deliveries
On average, fuel accounts for 30% of the operating costs of a fleet of vehicles. With telematics, fuel consumption can be reduced considerably through optimised management.
How can telematics help you save fuel?
- Optimise journeys: Plan the shortest and least congested routes using GPS and real-time traffic data.
- Improving engine efficiency: Controlling excessive fuel consumption thanks to precise monitoring of vehicle performance.
4. Securing vehicles and goods
Telematics plays a crucial role in protecting vehicles and the freight they carry. It helps to combat theft and improve the traceability of goods.
How does telematics protect your fleet?
- Real-time geolocation: Precise vehicle tracking and trip history.
- Remote immobilisation: Engine immobilisation in the event of theft or unauthorised use.
- Door opening detection: Prevents theft and breaks the cold chain thanks to connected sensors.
- Zone exit alerts: Immediate notification when a vehicle leaves a defined perimeter (geo-referencing).
5. Regulatory compliance and administrative time savings
Fleet managers must ensure compliance with road transport regulations, particularly in terms of driving times and food safety to ensure the cold chain is respected.
How does telematics make compliance easier?
- Automatic downloading of tachograph data: no need to manually retrieve driver cards.
- Temperature monitoring of refrigerated lorries to ensure compliance with health standards (HACCP, EN12830)
- Automated activity reports: less paperwork, greater visibility of fleet performance.
Everything you need to know about telematics and vehicle management
- What is an on-board telematics box?
A telematics box is an electronic device installed in a vehicle to collect and transmit data in real time.
- What is the role of telematics?
Telematics makes it possible to monitor, analyse and optimise vehicle use.
- Optimisation of journeys and maintenance costs
- Improved driver safety
- Reduced fuel consumption
- How does telematics work?
Telematics works in three stages:
- Data collection via a telematics device installed on the vehicle
- Transmission of information to a cloud platform
- Analysis and reporting to optimise fleet management.
- Is telematics compatible with all types of vehicle?
Yes, telematics is a versatile solution that can be installed on different types of vehicle: trucks and refrigerated semi-trailers, vans and light vehicles, HGVs.
Telematics solutions are suitable for any fleet, whatever its size or sector of activity. - What are the concrete benefits of a telematics solution for SMEs?
Contrary to popular belief, telematics is not just for large companies. SMEs can benefit in a number of ways:
- Reducing fuel costs by optimising journeys and eco-driving.
- Vehicle security with anti-theft alerts and real-time geolocation
- Automation of administrative tasks (activity reports, regulatory compliance).
- Improving customer satisfaction by guaranteeing punctual and transparent deliveries.
- How long does it take to install a telematics system on a vehicle?
The installation of a telematics box is quick and can be carried out in less than an hour per vehicle. Petit Forestier staff carry out the installation in one of our 12 UK depots. The on-board computer, temperature sensors and refrigeration unit are connected and communicate via Bluetooth.
Petit Forestier also offers a support and training service to help you integrate telematics into your fleet management. - How can telematics help improve customer satisfaction?
Optimised vehicle management improves the quality of service provided to customers. Telematics makes it possible to :
- Guarantee precise delivery times thanks to real-time tracking.
- Provide customers with notifications of the imminent arrival of their goods.
- React quickly to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. route changes in the event of traffic jams)..
- Improve traceability of deliveries with detailed reports on the transport of goods.
- What are the customisation options for a telematics solution?
As each company has its own specific needs, telematics solutions can be adapted with different options:
- Temperature monitoring for refrigerated transport (with alerts in the event of deviations).
- Management of driving times to comply with road transport regulations.
- Customised reports on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
- Remote engine immobilisation to prevent theft.
- Door opening sensors for cargo safety.
Companies can therefore choose a solution tailored to their priorities (savings, security, compliance, productivity).
- Is telematics secure? How is vehicle data protected?
Data security is an absolute priority in telematics solutions. All information collected is encrypted and stored on secure servers, guaranteeing its confidentiality.
Data protection measures :- Advanced encryption of transmissions to prevent interception.
- Storage on secure servers that meet cybersecurity standards.
- Restricted access to information via identifiers and authorisation levels.
- Regular software updates to prevent cyber-attacks.
Petit Forestier guarantees a high level of data protection, ensuring that data is used securely and in compliance with current regulations (GDPR, ISO standards).
Switch to Smart Connect today to optimise your refrigeration fleet:
- Comprehensive, high-performance telematics solution
- Optimised journeys and driving behaviour
- Reduced vehicle maintenance costs
- Compliance with refrigerated transport standards