SGN tested TomTom telematics and the OptiDrive 360 driver behaviour improvement system on 100 vehicles. The trial, it says, resulted in to a 68% reduction in idling and a boost in fuel economy of 11%.
This revealed a "huge opportunity" to transform efficiency, says SGN's head of finance Chris Stone. "We now stand to make major savings on both fuel and maintenance."
He says: "Prior to implementing this programme, the company was wasting 13,000 litres a month through vehicle idling alone, but now we are able to provide drivers and managers with visibility around problem trends and the reasons why they occur.
"We understand drivers don't intentionally drive badly, so this isn't about punishing them. Instead, we are focused on working with our employees to help them perform more efficiently and safely on the road."
OptiDrive 360 scores drivers on key performance indicators such as speeding, driving events, idling and gear shifting and constant speed. Regular performance reports are shared with managers.
The TomTom system also integrates with Inchcape, SGN's fleet management provider, so that Inchcape has access to live engine fault code data, for preventive maintenance purposes.