All 1,506 of the company's vehicles and 100 contractor vehicles are now monitored using the TomTom Business Solutions system.
The utilities giant – which supplies gas to 5.8 million customers and includes subsidiaries Southern Gas Networks and Scotland Gas Networks – has reported improvements in response times, ensuring its engineers can respond to call-outs within an hour, in line with industry safety standards.
The TomTom system uses a combination of live traffic data and historic road use data to generate accurate ETAs for every journey. This means the most appropriate engineer can be selected based on who will arrive on site quickest rather than simply who is closest. Directions can then be sent automatically to the engineer's in-cab navigation device, allowing them to follow the most efficient route, avoiding traffic along the way.
SGN has also made a commitment to improving driver safety and reducing maintenance costs by monitoring driver behaviour. TomTom's fleet management platform allows profiles to be built for each driver covering key aspects of safe and efficient driving – including speeding, harsh steering and braking, fuel consumption and idling time – also creating the possibility for fuel savings.
‘The TomTom system has provided a significant boost to service delivery, providing the necessary tools to make sure we meet our safety targets and exceed our customers' expectations,’ said Chris Stone, finance manager, SGN.
‘Our First Call Operatives (FCOs) respond to reports of gas escapes within an hour and this system allows the process to happen even more safely and efficiently.
‘Often you may think the drivers would be resistant to this kind of system but they now realise the benefits it can have for them. We don't use the data to penalise drivers but instead to discuss performance with them and many of the drivers simply didn't realise they were cornering or braking too quickly,’ he added.