One of the next steps in the advancement of telematics is seeing how different solutions providers carve out niches within the industry.
They aren’t all entirely about tracking trucks and providing driving data and navigation – they can be used across nearly any aspect of the trucks in a fleet.
RPM Group is one of those companies finding their speciality, particularly in the realm of tyres.
CEO and Executive Director Guy Nicholls spoke on the recent partnership they have forged with WHG, looking at how they can leverage data on truck tyres to help lower costs and keep maintenance to as low a level as possible.
“80 per cent of our business is commercial fleets, so we live and breathe trucks,” Guy said.
“From a fleet point of view, we understand that tyres are an important decision. It’s the third largest purchase you make behind fuel and vehicles.
“It’s not just about the cost, but how long they last, the downtime, and how safe they’re going to be. Those metrics are a place for us to make sure the trucks are still on the road.”
Guy believes that the next evolution in tyres will be around self-sealing tyres, as well as airless models.
With the advent of electric vehicles in fleets across Australia, low noise or noiseless tyres may also start to appear as the next innovation.
“All tyre brands are trying to innovate and stay ahead of each other,” Guy says.
“The great thing we think with tyres and electric vehicles is weight. We know the batteries are heavy, and the lack of torque is ripping tyres apart.”
WHG and RPM have been working together to create digital tyre pressure monitoring through telematics technology.
They’re aiming to take the manual challenges out of keeping tyres fresh, particularly in extreme cases that can be seen around the nation.
Using Bluetooth systems, their solution can manage 80 tyres, keeping track through scanning and tyre depth detection and measurement.
“The connection between trailers and prime movers for instance on an AB quad in Queensland, 70 metres long, becomes quite challenging,” Dylan says.
“Your biggest cost in terms of your fleet is labour, fuel and tyres. It’s an investment worth focusing on.”
RPM sees used tyres as a big issue within fleets, with very few easy ways to recycle them.
This is also an unnecessary cost that can be removed, as they look towards how they can make an impact on the recycling of tyres.
“We understand buying tyres is a choice you make depending on brand and price,” Guy says.
“The problem we all face is what to do with all tyres. They are a burden. We have to pay to get rid of them ourselves.
“What we’re doing is launching a recycling station is Campbellfield. From a solutions point of view we want to help keep vehicles on the road while also solving the problem of waste tyres as well.”
