Webfleet Solutions: the Road to Efficiency

Telematics can add value to the operations of transportation companies everywhere but each market prioritizes one application or another depending on its most pressing transportation needs. In Mexico, where truck theft costs the country 0.5 percent of its annual GDP, according to Canacar, telematics that help prevent robberies and recover units are top of the list.

“Telematics can do much more than just help recover stolen trucks,” says Manuel de la Torre, General Manager of Webfleet Solutions. He points out that fleet companies generally look for track and trace services that help them monitor where each unit is, but Mexico-based transportation companies demand telematics to recover the vehicles.

Webfleet Solutions, previously known as TomTom Telematics, is a supplier of telematics solutions for fleet management and connected car applications. It was acquired by tire manufacturer Bridgestone in 2019 and officially renamed in October 2019. Through its digital platforms, the company helps transportation companies run a tight ship in terms of vehicle tracking and communications with operators to optimize fleet operations, improve driving patterns and reduce fuel consumption. 

The company offers the WEBFLEET digital platform, which allows companies to have access to all the information they need to manage their fleets. However, to adapt this solution to the specific needs of local clients, Webfleet Solutions often needs to partner with local integrators. “These partners add value to our systems and develop tailor-made solutions for clients depending on each country and segment,” says De la Torre. Since transportation companies in Mexico demand telematics to recover stolen vehicles and prevent truck robberies, Webfleet Solutions had to develop solutions exactly for that.

De la Torre adds that the company also trains its clients to avoid practices that put trucks and payloads in danger. “In some cases, truck operators will avoid their designated routes to try to save money,” he says. “To prevent this, our solutions enable companies to monitor the routes that operators use and receive alerts if a truck strays from designated routes or stops in non-permitted rest areas.”

De la Torre says these telematics applications help reduce the likelihood of robberies, but criminals have also stepped up their game and now use jammers to block telematic signals. To counter, Webfleet Solutions and its partners marketed a new solution to make theft even more difficult. “When we identify that a truck has been robbed, we prevent that unit from being moved,” he says. “This allows for transportation companies to respond and reach the truck so that authorities can recover it.”

According to De la Torre, telematics technology continues to permeate the Mexican transportation industry as companies better understand how it can improve their fleet management operations. These applications enable companies to save in areas such as vehicle maintenance, road safety and theft prevention and optimize the use of basic resources, especially fuel. “Diesel is one of the heavyweight costs that transportation companies must contend with,” he points out, adding that the company’s solutions help fleet businesses optimize their use of fuel.

Telematics can be used to plan routes and prevent driving habits such as sudden brake and throttle applications that increase fuel expenses. With that in mind, Webfleet Solutions created an indicator called Optidrive that collects data generated by trucks and ranks drivers according to their driving habits. According to De la Torre, this solution enables transportation companies to learn who their best and worst truck operators are and make decisions on how to improve their driving.

“Training operators and transportation companies can have a great impact on reducing fuel costs, reducing emissions and increasing safety standards in the freight transportation sector,” says De la Torre. “Knowing the most efficient ways to operate a truck can have a deep impact on fuel consumption and road safety, which translates to savings and a reduced carbon footprint for transportation companies.”

The savings from training reach beyond fuel costs and the environment. Having better drivers can lead to lower insurance premiums. “Increasing the well-being of trucks and payloads through telematics and betting on road safety training can help transportation companies more effectively negotiate the prices of policies with insurance companies,” says De la Torre. He adds that equipping trucks with GPS systems and other safety equipment can result in a similar insurance benefit.

Looking ahead, De la Torre envisions new opportunities for technology development in the acquisition of TomTom Telematics, now Webfleet Solutions, by Bridgestone. “This process will complement Bridgestone’s operations and boost the capacities of Webfleet Solutions,” he says, highlighting that Bridgestone is a key mobility player with incipient digital services that will be strengthened through the acquisition of TomTom Telematics. “As the industry moves toward self-driving vehicles, all components of a car or truck need to be connected with each other through IoT and telematics can offer just that.”