Driving style analysis

You can control the driving style of the driver, with aspects like acceleration, deceleration, use of cruise control, and sudden acceleration or braking. Based on the results, you can eliminate driving elements causing excessive fuel consumption, and reduce maintenance costs.

The retrieved data can be saved in an Excel spreadsheet (compatible with both LibreOffice and Microsoft Office).

General information

You only need a CAN/FMS (the car's built-in communication ports) connection for this service. Useful information are received via vehicle’s CAN bus using multiple protocols enabling you to find out the driving style and if general driving rules are observed by the driver. The vehicle’s system continually transmits data when ignition is on or the engine is running, at very high speeds: e.g. the current engine speed can be transmitted 30 times per second. As such a large amount of data cannot be uploaded and it would even overload the server in case of uncounted end points, so our ARM type on-board GPS device has been provided with a processor that is able to process all incoming information in real time. (iTrack uses more powerful processors than competing products)

To enable processing, the unit generates a summary of incoming information and periodically uploads these summaries about a variety of parameters, e.g. engine speed, how many seconds are spent in each category, and for how many seconds was the vehicle in cruise control, etc. This amount of data can already be handled more easily and yet it has all the relevant information. Thus, sampling is carried out every fraction of a second, and these data are uploaded every few minutes, categorized with a resolution of seconds.

This information is then processed by the server showing the results on graphs and histograms to the client program.

Retarding systems

Improper engine braking

Engine braking is used at too high revs. Not good for the motor; by default it is not preferable to use engine braking over the RPM (speed) of 1900; this parameter is individually adjustable in the software.

Engine braking

Engine braking is used between the speeds of 1200 and 1900. The goal is to slow down the vehicle. This is a good engine braking range, e.g. when you see that you need to slow down after a few hundred meters, so you can approach the desired speed without fuel consumption and brake wear in this mode.

Rolling in gear

Engine braking at a speed of less than 1200 rpm. The goal is not to slow down, but to roll the vehicle without fuel consumption. It is also a good method if e.g. you do not see in advance how the traffic will evolve a couple of hundred meters ahead.

Rolling in neutral

The accelerator pedal is not pressed and the cruise control is not active, the vehicle is rolling, and engine speed is so low that the engine starts to add fuel to prevent stalling. Too high a value may conceal a shortcoming in the driving technique; otherwise it is normal in small amounts.

Use of retarder

On a hilly terrain, it is extremely important that the brakes are spared on the slopes. The retarder serves to slow down the truck by throttling the engine, without using the brake. If you do not use it, it means high additional costs because the brakes can be worn out by poor driving techniques within a few thousand kilometers.

Use of brakes

The golden rule of braking is that a weak braking of less than 5 seconds is ideal. Such braking does not heat up and depreciate the brake pads significantly. A driver who is attentive to his work and looks forward in the traffic by several vehicles ahead if necessary, watching and preparing for changes in the traffic, can reduce the amortization of the braking system and repair costs, postponing the replacement periods by several times.

Categories for the use brakes

Short, weak

This is the best kind. Obviously, the less you use it, the better – depending on traffic and the proper use of other slow down systems.

Short, strong

Braking is considered strong when the pedal is depressed more than 40%. Avoid it.

Long, weak

Though not strong, this braking is longer than 5 seconds. Avoid it.

Long, strong

This braking may occur only rarely, e.g. in a hasty city traffic or on a highway, due to lack of foresight. Avoid it absolutely.

ABS

Our system records each time when the vehicle uses ABS. It may be necessary very rarely, rather only in winter.

Accelerator position, cruise control

Effective acceleration is an important part of fuel-efficient transport. The engine is operating optimally during acceleration, and a speed can be reached in the cheapest way when you do not step on the accelerator pedal too strongly. Combustion is not optimal during a strong acceleration as more and more diesel fuel has to be injected to increase the acceleration, therefore it is cheaper to accelerate slowly. Obviously, as an ordinary truck runs the cheapest at an engine speed of 950-1200 rpm and with cruise control, it is not worth accelerating too slowly either.

The use of the accelerator pedal and cruise control usage are shown in percentage distribution as follows:

1-60%: The ideal range.
60-80%: It may be justified for a big load, or when accelerating on a strong gradient.
80-100%: To be avoided.
full throttle (kickdown): To be avoided absolutely. The kickdown switch can be turned on after fully pressing down the accelerator pedal with a strong pressure, and works as if the pedal were pressed down to 105%. In this case the engine gives it all, and combustion is not efficient at all.

Cruise control

The switched on status of the cruise control is collected as well. Since you can press the accelerator even in cruise control, it may happen that the sum of the above figures exceeds 100%.

Engine speed distribution

Every vehicle manufacturer determines the ideal speed range for its engine. For most DAF trucks it is typically in the 950-1200 rpm range, and according to driving technique trainers, you don’t need to increase the engine speed above 1400 rpm even on grades. In our experience, at those companies which did not have a driving technique training, or where the very old hands at the driver profession waved away the trainer's advice, saying that they had been driving a truck already when the trainer had to have diapers, it certainly happens that the truck is typically driven in the 1500-1700 rpm range. This in itself may result in a difference of approximately 10% in consumption, which could mean up to 1,000,000 HUF per year for the well-driven truck.

Speed distribution

The consumption of a truck can be influenced significantly by selecting the traveling speed. The trucks typically run at 90 km/h on the highway, and many trucks are even limited to this speed. In our experience, if, for example they typically drive at 70 km/h, this consumption is reduced by 4 liters (obviously, they usually have to hurry, as they do not have time to go slowly), and if they drive at 100 km/h instead of 90, then it results in an increase of consumption of approx. 4 liters (and the risk of fines). If a truck is forced to drive in a speed range that is too low, for example 30-40 km/h, consumption is also increased in this case. For these reasons, the percentage of speed ranges the truck traveled in is important information when examining consumption.

Anomalies

There are certain abnormal usages which you can calculate from the incoming data. The number of these events is shown per day or hour in the driving style analysis window.

Full throttle (kickdown) usage

Incorrect use of cruise retarder

The use of cruise control is considered to be wrong when the vehicle is used for acceleration during cruise control. Unfortunately, the cruise control of truck accelerates with too much gas, and therefore it is inefficient and wastes fuel.

Incorrect use of retarder

Retarder use is considered to be wrong when the accelerator is pressed down somewhat at the same time. This is not good for the vehicle, so it is worth paying attention to.

Speeding

Incorrect engine braking

Idling

In our experience, you can reduce the idle time of the engine by only an average of at least 30 minutes a day, if you speak to the driver to stop doing it. This would mean a saving of approximately 20 to 30 liters per vehicle in itself. Many times people believe that the engine has to be idled for 5-10 minutes to warm up, for example in the morning before departure. This is no longer needed for today's engines because they are so efficient that they do not really heat up only by idling and it is better for the engine to depart with the vehicle 10 seconds after startup when lubrication is already adequate, and the driver just needs to handle the truck with attention and delicately in the first 5-10 minutes. Overall, this means less wear for the engine.

Visualization

The visualization of driving style analysis can be enabled in various places in the iTrack client, not just in its own menu. In its own menu, this function shows the most detailed information, and important data elements can be switched on for to the report and the route list as well.

Html export

Driving style parameters for a certain vehicle can easily be exported, printed or sent by e-mail in html format. Thus the customer can directly give feedback to the driver.

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