Electronic work diary use on the rise

Teletrac Navman has released new research which the company says shows that electronic work diary (EWD) use will triple within the next 12 months. As legislation allows transport operators to replace paper logbooks with EWDs, it’s likely the technology will grow exponentially in 2017.

The research, conducted by ACA Research, shows that a third of fleets with six or more trucks plan to implement EWDs in the next 12 months. This is due to many firms that already have the functionality to activate EWDs within their existing telematics systems.

Andrew Rossington, Vice President Transtech, a division of Teletrac Navman, said, “The proposed changes in regulations on paper logbooks and EWDs present a huge opportunity for transport operators to ensure compliance and improve driver efficiencies. Implementation of EWDs shows how technology is improving driver behaviour, when you add Smartjobs and other solutions to that the efficiency savings are exponential.”

Teletrac Navman’s EWD solution is able to monitor drivers’ fatigue by calculating work and rest hours based on current and historical data. This gives drivers forewarning when at risk of breaching fatigue regulations. Powerful planning tools are provided for fleet managers and the solution is fully functional outside of cellular coverage.

Currently, EWDs have the largest penetration within larger fleets — almost a quarter with 25 or more heavy vehicles already utilising the technology.

The primary aim of this research was to gauge current perceptions of EWDs within the road freight transport industry. With important regulatory changes on the horizon, this research gives insight into what role EWDs will play in managing compliance, monitoring driver behaviour and improving operational efficiency for fleets of all shapes and sizes.

According to the research, the primary reason for adopting EWDs changes depending on the size of the fleet. More than two-thirds (67%) of companies with fleets larger than 25 vehicles stated their primary reason for implementation was for increased visibility into driver compliance. For operators with smaller fleets, introducing the solution for the elimination of inefficient paper processes was the main driver behind the change.

“It’s easy to see why so many businesses plan on taking advantage of the proposed regulation changes and adopting electronic work diaries. For transport operators, keeping drivers safe and their business compliant is always top of mind. EWDs provide them with increased visibility into their fleet and enable automation of business tools, helping to combat driver fatigue and stay on top of complex legislator requirements,” said Rossington.