MEGATRANS2018 – The Road To A Better Fleet

2018 was the first year of MEGATRANS, a three-day event that gave drivers, fleet managers and stakeholders the opportunity to see firsthand how the latest technologies and innovative solutions are reshaping the industry.

If you had a question about technology, trucks and everything in-between, MEGATRANS was sure to be your first step to finding the answer. Here are the big takeaways from the event and the technologies that had everyone talking.

Technology and The Modern Fleet

What was most obvious about this year was that telematics and other upcoming technologies are quickly becoming the standard among the transport & logistics industry. Whether it’s to reduce paperwork, manage compliance or improve efficiency, fleet managers are eager to take advantage of the loads of data that goes untapped in their business.

While GPS fleet tracking and fatigue management were on some minds, the thing that interested people most were solutions that could help them with job allocation. For many businesses, small and large, being able to electronically assign and monitor tasks means they can be done as jobs arise, allowing the closest driver to be found and complete the task faster along with proof of delivery. Using an in-cabin or smart device also lets drivers receive jobs while on the road and keep track of their schedule. This frees businesses from time-consuming paperwork. Telematics offers businesses an easy and effective way to achieve this no matter the size of their fleet at a low cost.

Electronic Work Diaries Were A-Buzz

There’s been talk of electronic work diaries (EWDs) becoming a legally-approved alternative to paper diaries for a while. The recent announcement from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) outlined that it will accept applications for EWDs approvals later this month. It’s also clear that that EWD use is looking to expand, becoming more common among not just large transport operators, but small businesses and owner drivers too – all of whom came to get a better look and understanding into how the solution works. There’s also increasing interest in what EWDs can do beyond time-keeping for compliance.

There were a few devices people could try to get a better idea of the market and what solution will best suit their business. Many soon discovered that EWDs are not a one-size-fits-all affair. Only a few delivered features such as real-time and pre-emptive alerts for when a rest break is due or work offline and independent of the phone network/server.

The Need For Integration

For transport operators that use telematics in their business, a big problem that’s beginning to arise is a lack of integration. Businesses may opt for the most cost-effective solutions with the bare minimum of features across multiple providers and soon realise it becomes a hassle to manage them all at once. Many visitors to MEGATRANS were looking for ways to manage different aspects of their business using a single and easy-to-use platform. Fleet managers and operators want an all-in-one solution that hosts multiple applications on one device. One that can easily communicate with other aspects of the business, such as integration with freight management systems for jobs and allocation. This means you don’t have to worry about tracking details of information from multiple hubs of information, it’s all there at a click of a button.   

For those looking to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to telematics, MEGATRANS was a great way to do it. From the talks from industry professionals and the exciting releases of products and technologies. Whether you were there for the trucks or the tech MEGATRANS 2018 brought in the best of everything and put it all in one place.