Bus drivers keep it smooth, assisted by Scania’s new OnBoard and Optimise platforms
More than 250 Scania buses are now connected to the organisations OnBoard and Optimise software, giving fleet managers real time information on vehicle use and driver behaviour.
The technology can help reduce fleet running costs and emissions, and improve safety in all operating environments.
One-thousand Scania vehicles are now connected to the software and, while the majority of these have been trucks, 258 buses are also now connected.
“Scania Driver Services was established to activate the full benefits of the Scania Communicator; the on-board data management centre that collects information on how the vehicle is performing and how it is being driven,” Scania Australia driver services manager Alexander Sundin says.
“Not only can we pin-point areas of operation that can help reduce fuel use, but we can also identify opportunities to reduce driver fatigue, which reduces the potential for accidents.”
Bus operators who use new Scania’s also have access to follow-up coaching and efficiency tips from the organisation’s master driver trainers when required.
“We began offering Scania OnBoard and Scania Optimise to our customers just a few months ago and the results have been exceptionally promising,” Sundin says.
The Scania Communicator that is required to connect to the software has been fitted as standard on its buses for more than a year, but has been available as an option for a few years now.
“We are confident the rate of adoption will continue to accelerate as fleet customers experience the full benefits of the OnBoard and Optimise programmes, which enable them to make significant improvements to their total operating expenditure,” Sundin says.
With assistance from the Scania Driver Services team, operators may be able to achieve fuel savings of around 10 percent, which is significant especially for long distance coach operators.
Scania introduced connectivity as standard in the European markets about five years ago and now has about 170,000 vehicles connected in more than 50 countries.
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