MiX Telematics, Wavecom Launch New Tachograph Data Collection and Fleet Management Solution

MiX Telematics and Wavecom (News - Alert) SA have launched a new tachograph data collection and fleet management solution. Marketed exclusively by Continental as the VDO DLD, this intelligent remote data harvesting system is expected to make life easier and business more profitable for fleet managers across the globe.

 

According to companies’ sources, VDO DLD was developed exclusively by MiX for Continental. The new solution collects digital tachograph (DTCO) data from vehicles such as trucks and buses.

 

The officials explain that tachographs are deployed to record information including driving time to ensure compliance with government regulations, which are mandatory in most European countries. In contrast to traditional analogue tachographs that recorded the data on a waxed paper disc, modern DTCOs record data on on-board computers. MiX Telematics and Wavecom further explain that earlier, the DTCO data could only be only accessed through a manual extraction from the on-board computer of each single vehicle at the end of the trip, using a combination of a memory card and an authentication smart card.

 

The new VDO DLD system can securely connect to vehicles via GPRS cellular networks and directly transfer the data to backend archiving systems over the Internet. All this can be achieved without any manual intervention and is enabled by Wavecom’s Wireless Microprocessor, an industrial microprocessor which also acts as a wireless modem for voice and data transmission over GSM/GPRS networks.

 

MiX Telematics has made the VDO DLD into a complete, autonomous fleet management system by leveraging the Wireless Microprocessor’s capabilities. The VDO DLD can also unlock fleet management capabilities to fleet owners, including driver and vehicle performance monitoring, real-time tracking, trip reporting and more. As the product can be re-programmed and upgraded over the air, it protects the fleet owner’s investment and ensures an ongoing ROI.

 

According to Charles Tasker, managing director of MiX Telematics (International), they have created a new class of solution that goes far beyond the regulatory requirements for recovery of tachograph data. He noted that the solution leverages the potential of wireless communication to collect DTCO data in a much more efficient manner, and also provides investment protection via over-the-air product upgrades.

 

Tasker expects the customers to see a significant reduction in the time needed to collect this data. They now have a choice to upgrade to an industry-leading fleet management solution any time without new equipment installations.

 

Ron Black, CEO of Wavecom, stated that tracking and fleet management are perfect illustrations of how wireless machine-to-machine communication can improve business processes and generate new revenue streams. He also expressed his company’s delight to have teamed up with one of the leaders in this field.

 

Tasker believes that the technology roadmap offered to them by Wavecom will allow their products to keep up with the rapid evolution of wireless communication technologies.