Telematics helps Bibby Distribution improve fuel economy by 10%

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Bibby Distribution’s use of telematics to create tailored driver training has improved its fuel economy by 10% and cut its CO2 emissions by 11%.
The company’s use of Microlise technology means 79% of its drivers now operate in the top two levels of performance, meaning they maximise safe and fuel-efficient driving.

David Morley, Bibby Distribution’s continuous improvement manager, said: “The data we get from our telematics system is incredibly powerful and we have been able to use it to create tailored training programmes, delivering bespoke training aligned to business strategy which improves driver skills and customer experience.
“That means we can give customers every confidence they will benefit from lower carbon emissions in their supply chain and more cost-effective delivery.”
Nadeem Raza, chief executive officer at Microlise, added: “Bibby Distribution’s use of telematics data is highly intelligent. Instead of just using it to track general trends, the training team has taken that information and is proactively helping drivers improve their skills.”

Bibby Distribution’s training strategy contributes towards its long-term Road to Zero strategy, aimed at achieving zero harm, zero waste and zero environmental impact from its operations.

Author: Commercial Fleet

May Offer – 10% Off

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From today and for the rest of May, we are offering you 10% off ALL orders placed by the end of May 2017! So, whether you are looking to update your existing camera systems, thinking about getting vehicle CCTV for the first time or want to know more about what we can offer you, get in touch with our expert team who will be able to point you in the right direction.

‘Vehicle Security Solutions are independent specialist suppliers of vehicle CCTV systems to the transport industry, bringing together a host of progressive vehicle CCTV solutions to cater for all your operational needs.’

Our vehicle CCTV solutions include mobile digital video recorders (MDVR), which are fast becoming the most popular system for fleet operators in both the PSV and Commercial vehicle markets. Installing vehicle CCTV solutions helps improve passenger and driver safety, prevents against fraudulent accident claims and can ultimately help reduce your insurance premiums.

‘On average, fleets with vehicle CCTV and driver training have experienced a 40% reduction in accidents.’

Vehicle CCTV also promotes better driving behaviours which ultimately leads to lowering your company’s carbon emissions through careful driving.

Why Switch from Analogue to AHD?

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AHD (Analogue High Definition) CCTV is the latest advancement in mobile CCTV equipment and was released back in 2015 as the modern replacement for Analogue video. As you may know, traditional analogue CCTV equipment works on TV Lines (TVL) to determine the capture and output resolution, up to a maximum of 960×576 pixels. However, the newer AHD format allows much greater resolutions of up to full HD at 1920×1080 pixels or 2.4MP.

The upper limits of AHD have yet to be fully revealed, but for now up to 720p is a significant improvement over the original analogue format. In a nutshell, changing from Analogue to AHD means you will get a much better picture quality on your video recordings.

AHD chipset and software is applied in video recorders and video cameras in the majority of manufacturers of video surveillance systems. This is a good indication of a wider expansion of AHD technology in years to come and accordingly, suggests that AHD technology will become the most popular on the market of video surveillance systems. We at Vehicle Security Solutions have taken the decision to offer AHD systems to both our new and existing customers and are proud to be one of the first companies in our industry to do this.

Is AHD compatible with analogue equipment?
Yes it is! The beauty of this advancement in CCTV technology is that AHD cameras are compatible with analogue DVRs and vice-versa. Also, AHD still uses cables with BNC connectors for video transmission or 4 PIN Aviation connectors; whether you have coaxial or a CAT5e cable set up currently, the new cameras will easily replace those older cameras without any issues.

Does AHD have universal application?
AHD video cameras can easily be integrated into an existing analogue CCTV system. AHD systems also work with Cloud services and CMS systems providing remote control management, perfect for the use in fleet vehicles where you may have more than one vehicle out on the road at once to monitor. This simple integration means you won’t have delays or disruption in transferring from one system to another, maximising your speed of modernisation.

Advantages of AHD Systems
1) AHD systems cost very little more than the old analogue video but is about twice the resolution in 720p.
2) AHD systems have ready made plug and play extension cable kits available as well.
3)  Compatible with older analogue mobile CCTV equipment.
4) Very easy to install

Today’s security camera systems are smaller, less expensive, more sophisticated, and are packed full of features. This is great for you as the consumer as you have more high quality options at your fingertips than ever before! However, there are a ton of options and it can be very confusing telling the difference between two particular products, especially if this is your first time dealing with mobile CCTV systems.

At VSS, we offer four and eight channel AHD mobile digital video recorders and a vast range of AHD cameras to suite all vehicle types. Contact us on 01562 544108 or complete the online enquiry form.

Cycle South Africa raises over £220,000 for Transaid

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“Completing the ride was an unbelievable achievement and I am incredibly proud to have been part of a group of like-minded individuals all pulling together, digging deep and raising money for such a worthwhile cause.” Joan Aitken, Traffic Commissioner for Scotland

On Friday 10th March, 40 people from across the transport and logistics industry flew to Cape Town, South Africa, to take on the Transaid Cycle South Africa Challenge. Many of those taking part had been in training for the challenge for over a year, battling the British winter to ensure they were ready to take on the roads of South Africa.

The 40 strong team took on dirt tracks, mountain passes, strong winds and numerous other tests as they cycled their way from De Doorns, Western Cape, to the most Southern tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas.

Several of the team took on the additional challenge of blogging while they were there. Follow the below links to read full accounts of what the challenge was really like:

The Transaid blog, written by Transaid’s Events Officer Harry Wells and Head of Fundraising Florence Bearman

The SHD blog, written by SHD Editor Peter MacLeod

The Renault Truck blog, written by the Renault Truck Team (Nigel Butler, Tony Owen and Pete Murray)

And finally, a four minute film of the challenge can be found here. A big thank you to Rob Butchart at LDH (La Doria) Ltd for putting this together.

With money still coming in, the current total raised by the 40 strong team stands at an incredible £220,000. This breaks all previous Transaid records, and we would like to say a huge thank you to all the cyclists, their companies and everyone else who helped them smash their targets. The money raised will make a huge difference to Transaid’s projects.

The next African Cycle Challenge will be Cycle Zambia 2018 – Lusaka to the Victoria Falls. To register your interest for this challenge please contact Harry – harry@transaid.org or on 020 7387 8136.

Telematics In the Bus & Coach Industry

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Bus and coach operators can have complete visibility of their fleets in order to reduce costs, increase resource utilisation and enhance duty of care. In particular, the simple and easy access of both real-time and historical information means it’s possible to monitor the safety of the drivers and of their passengers, check that vehicles are on schedule and ensure a fleet is operating as efficiently as possible.

Features include:

  • Driver behaviour monitoring
  • Routing and scheduling adherence
  • Panic buttons
  • Connected navigation

Benefits include:

  • Reduce costs including fuel
  • Minimise vehicle idling
  • Improve driver behaviour
  • Enhance duty of care

With bus and coach operators providing local, national and international coverage on behalf of public and private sectors, your vehicles can be spread across a wide geographic area making it harder to know what is going on with each one. Our tracking and telematics systems help to keep track of what is happening at all times to provide you with complete visibility and control when your vehicles and drivers are out on the roads. It delivers live data regarding location and status including arrivals, departures and other points of interest.

‘According to Statista, a multinational research and statistical analysis firm based in Hamburg, the total annual value of the global commercial vehicle telematics market will grow by
no less than 22% year-on-year to £26.5 billionby 2017.’

Elements such as leaving the vehicle running in a lay-by, service station, parking area or transport yard is responsible for significant and unnecessary fuel wastage and something that can be tracked by our telematics systems to save you money on fuel and wastage. We can help minimise consumption using live vehicle tracking and automatic alerts to identify and address excessive engine idling.

Our driver behaviour solutions can also improve the way your employees drive to reduce costs such as fuel expenditure, insurance and wear & tear, whilst enhancing levels of operational efficiency, environmental responsibility and duty of care. However, more importantly, positive driving behaviour can help achieve a better public perception of your business and prevent costly damage to its corporate image.

British Bus and Coach operators are now beginning to demand more detailed and sophisticated reporting from telematics systems to maximise fleet efficiencies, something we are able to provide your vehicles with here at Vehicle Security Solutions. Truck manufacturers have reported a rapidly accelerating uptake by UK fleets of various telematics systems such as Scania vehicles that have been fitted with telematics hardware since 2011. The number of Scania vehicles in service in the UK with tracking and telematics systems is now at more than 21,000 along with MAN Truck & Bus UK who have been offering fleet management tracking and telematics systems since 2006 and is now said to have more than 10,000 vehicles on the roads with these advanced systems.

Why Reversing Cameras Are So Important

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On average, Fleet Insurance companies have seen a whopping 40% reduction in accidents involving commercial vehicles that have been fitted with vehicle CCTV to include reversing cameras. This type of camera can also improve driver best practice, efficiencies, productivity and safety.

The location of your reversing camera is essential and all depends on your vehicle type. For commercial vehicles your camera should be low down and as close to the centre as possible and can be integrated with the reg plate surround. For larger vehicles such as buses and coaches, the reversing cameras would be fitted either above or below the back window to give optimal viewing. 

Reversing cameras are designed to assist drivers performing low speed manoeuvres by providing a real time image of the vehicle blind spot area. They are also invaluable for avoiding rear collisions and improve safety.

For more information on what we can offer you, please get in touch and one of our expert team will guide you through the process and find the ideal system for your vehicle.

3G Camera Systems

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With so many vehicles on the road these days it is almost inevitable that at some point you or one of your drivers will be in some sort of accident or collision. Most accidents are minor scrapes but being able to prove who was at fault and the events leading up to that incident could save you a lot of money. After an accident all parties concerned can give conflicting views on what caused the accident which could result in one of your drivers being accused of causing a crash, even if they were not at fault.

By having your 3G Camera System in place both you and your drivers are protected of any false accusations. With such a huge range of CCTV systems and cameras available, whether you drive a car, bus, lorry or moped, there is a system to suit everyone.

What exactly are 3G multi camera systems? A 3G multi camera system allows operators to view their vehicles cameras remotely and location. If, due to an unfortunate incident involving the vehicle, the operator can login and see the lead up to the incident and the incident itself before the vehicle gets back to the depot. It means that incidents can be dealt with swiftly. Drivers who report an incident involving passengers unsociable behaviour, can get their company to keep an eye out whilst the vehicle is still on the road.

As with the 3G Dash Camera, incidents such as drivers harsh breaking, can be emailed to the company through the ‘G’ sensor that is built in the DVR.

We have a great range of 3G Camera Systems available on our website. Plus, don’t forget, 10% off your first order! Any questions, please do get in touch and one of our experts will be there to guide you through the process.

Our brand new wireless camera system

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Our brand new wireless camera system features the very latest technology and can be used in vehicles such as Horse Trailers, Caravans and HGV’s due to its super wide voltage unit.

The 7 inch colour monitor can be connected with up to four cameras and can be plugged directly into vehicle via cigarette cable or hard wired in. We can provide you with either a suction bracket or a U-shaped bracket.

Our wireless camera system also has a recording function should you need to review any incidents during transit.

Josephine saves four lives (Transaid News)

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Josephine Mupeta potentially saved four lives when she carried two pregnant women to a health facility. Josephine is one of the volunteer riders using bicycle ambulances to transform the lives of communities in sub-saharan Africa. 

It was November, just a few weeks after the bicycle ambulance arrived in the community. Josephine – a volunteer health worker from Serenje District in Zambia – was on her way to collect a woman with a complication in labour to take her to the health facility when she heard a second woman also needed emergency transport.

When she reached the second woman, after collecting the first woman, she realised she was in a far more serious condition, so she moved the first woman onto the parcel carrier at the rear of the bicycle and placed the other woman on the bicycle ambulance’s stretcher.

She then continued cycling for a couple of hours to reach the health facility where both women received treatment and safely gave birth to their babies.

That day, Josephine cycled that bicycle ambulance like she does every time she is needed – motivated by the opportunity to save the lives of mothers and their babies.

The More MAMaZ programme

In Zambia, the risk of a maternal death is 1 in 79, compared to 1 in 5,800 for women in the UK, according to World Bank data. Add to this a striking urban-rural divide – only half of rural births are attended to by a skilled healthcare provider, compared to nearly nine in ten urban births.

Between Josephine and the other 199 bicycle ambulance riders trained in the programme, a total of 4,105 mothers were transferred to health facilities in less than two years.

The transport industry funded the original research into bicycle ambulances. The More MAMaZ programme is funded by Comic Relief and supports work by the Ministry of Health. Transaid implements this project with a consortium that includes Health Partners International, Development Data, and Disacare.

Facts from the More MAMaZ programme include:

  • 4,105 women have been transferred to a health facility by Emergency Transport Scheme (ETS) drivers, one of the factors leading to a rise in institutional delivery rates at 89%.
  • 82,205 door-to-door visits have taken place at homes of pregnant and newly delivered women by Community Health Workers and 89% of women and girls feel empowered to achieve a safe pregnancy.
  • The programme has also tackled other important community issues – 89% of men and 88% of women report a decrease in gender-based violence (GBV).

– See more at: http://www.transaid.org/news/josephine-saves-four-lives/#sthash.zjySLPIl.dpuf

The cost of providing CCTV systems on vehicles has fallen.

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The cost of providing CCTV systems on vehicles has fallen significantly in recent years, and technical improvements in the hardware now make reliable, robust systems readily available. Prices are still falling as the technology becomes cheaper and more commonplace. Costs vary, depending on the equipment used and the supplier. Generally, colour systems are more expensive than monochrome; compact ‘flat’ monitors are more expensive than traditional, deeper CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors; systems for articulated vehicles are more expensive than for rigid vehicles, due to the extra connector and the extra labour involved in fitting.