Garmin International, a unit of Garmin, one of the global leader in satellite navigation, announced the expansion of their Telematics API platform and the integration of the fleet 590, the company’s first portable and connected fleet management GPS that combines the necessities of fleet management with the simplicity of Garmin navigation.
With vital fleet-tracking abilities and driver-enabled capabilities, the fleet 590 delivers an integrated tracking and dispatch fleet system for business owners and their drivers.
As a Telematics navigation device designed specifically for the fleet service provider in mind, the fleet 590 integrates a black box, cable and antenna with Garmin’s industry-leading user-interface.
The 5-inch touch display is optimal for limiting driver interaction and makes it easy to see driving-related information at a glance.
Garmin
The device also provides a fleet-friendly design that enables the flexibility to easily transfer from vehicle to vehicle. Since the fleet 590 is portable and does not require a direct hard wiring to the vehicle, any professional installation costs or customer downtime is eliminated, allowing the driver to get back on the road.
“Both the Telematics API and the fleet 590 combine to create an attractive and powerful platform, designed specifically with simplicity in mind,” said Chad Sallman, business development manager for commercial solutions at Garmin. “We’re very excited to offer this Telematics API solution to our fleet service provider partner base.”
With a third-party business partner application, fleet owners have the capability to track their assets at a moment’s notice, even during non-business hours.
With Continuous Asset Tracking, the fleet owner has instant access to the location of the fleet at any time of the day.
And with the addition of electronic time clock functionality, labour and job data can be logged and recorded on the spot.
Another important aspect to the fleet 590 is the ability to provide proper maintenance and upkeep to transportation vehicles.
The fleet 590 detects driver behaviour and allows the business owner to assess the driver’s safety characteristics and driving habits. Based off the embedded 3-axis accelerometer within the device, speeding, excessive braking, jack-rabbiting and sharp turning can be logged.
The threshold parameters can be adjusted, giving a customised insight into the driver’s road habits.
With the fleet 590’s sophisticated Engine Status Detection system, excessive engine idling is detected and reported, allowing the fleet owner to increase efficiency and save money with regards to fuel consumption. The Smart CLA (cigarette lighter adapter) utilises an advanced algorithm that is adaptive to different vehicle and engine types. The engine readings are validated by GPS data to produce optimum accuracy.
Nationwide 3G data coverage and U.S. banding allows for the driver to be in constant communication with the fleet’s home base. Under the vast AT&T coverage area, drivers can easily be dispatched and communicated with via two-way text messaging as well as a canned messaging interface for one-touch responses.