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.

man computer screen monitoring GPS telematics

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 improvie 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

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 improving 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. It can even be used to identify a particular road issue that would otherwise raise an alert of poor driving, such as a particular sleeping policeman or pothole.
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. This enables preventive maintenance to be carried out keeping the vehicle in good roadworthy condition.

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, reducing the time that would otherwise be taken fault finding and waiting for parts to be delivered.

Additional modules can be connected in order to monitor trailer parameters such as door openings and temperature, if required.
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. The addition of an in-cab speaker allows immediate notification and feedback to the driver at the time of incident, improving driver behaviour.

Engine idling is also a habit that fleet operators should reduce in order to save fuel and minimise emissions. The system monitors true idling (i.e. engine running) and can provide an audible alert, warning the driver of any infringements via an additional in-cab speaker.

Motivation can be further increased via the system's built-in dashboard that show all drivers faults, with reports showing top drivers or worst drivers. Each report has variable parameters and depots can be compared with other depots.
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. The recording of data is also important so that it may be used in any investigations of the collision at a later date.

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.
- Rugged version available for construction plants.

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.

The telematics systems can be integrated with Descartes' routing and scheduling software to provide the real-time GPS location of vehicles within the routing mapping systems.

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
- Maintenance scheduling, compliance support, and reporting
- Automatic collision/harsh movement notifications with data recording
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. The gamification of statistics can encourage drivers to improve their driving standards.

Often Overlooked Questions to Ask About Telematics Devices

Can the device capture data beyond GPS and speed such as Power take-off (PTO), refrigeration status, or trailer door events?

Yes - some companies may require more information than location tracking and engine management codes. For example, builders merchants may want PTO (power take-off) events logged, or foodservice delivery fleets might require chilled trailer temperature data, this can also be crucial for pharmaceutical distributors, with alerts being triggered for temperature breaches.
Can the device record and store data when offline and for how long?

If the fleet travels through dead zones (e.g. rural areas, tunnels), the device should have buffer storage and sync later without data loss.
How often does the device send data and is the frequency adjustable?

Some use cases need real-time tracking (e.g. high-value goods), while others may prefer lower frequency for cost savings. A higher frequency will also more accurately record the mileage driven, i.e. no corners are cut when calculating mileage.
How well does the device integrate with your existing systems?

Can the location of vehicles be shown in your route scheduling and optimisation solution? Being able to do this will allow planned v. actual routes to be monitored in real-time and analysed post-delivery.

Descartes

Vehicle Telematics Software