Discovery Channel’s Mike Rowe tries out Ford Work Solutions
Posted on 29. Oct, 2010 by Alex in News, Product
Microlise Release a Brand New Trailer Tracking Solution
Posted on 24. Aug, 2010 by Alex in News, Product
Due to customer demand, Microlise have introduced a brand new trailer tracking solution. This small, rugged & water-proof battery backed unit can either be charged up from the AC mains, attached to the asset or trailer and left to report in periodically or connected to a DC supply on the Trailer – for example, the Trailer’s running lights or Suzi.
Tracking data transmitted by the unit, via GPRS, can be used within the Microlise Map Client and Transport Management Center in exactly the same way as a regular Microlise Tracking Unit (MTU3).
The standard configuration of the Trailer Tracking unit is that it reports in every 5 minutes whilst moving (powered or unpowered) and every 6 hours when stopped. This configuration can be changed remotely. Battery level is reported each time a unit reports in such that a user will be prompted should any unit not be getting charged frequently enough a portable unit need recharging via the mains.
Trailer mounted tracking units – that are being powered from the running lights – need about an hour of power a day to keep the unit fully charged. Where the Trailer tracking unit does not have external power, based upon a full charge, the unit will report in it’s location and status over 2000 times.
The unit can also support other inputs such as doors monitoring. The Geofences that can be created in the Microlise Map Client support rules, which means alerts will be generated if Trailers stop or their doors open where they shouldnt, similarly, if a trailer moves from a location when it shouldnt. These alerts can be text based.
Microlise also provide the Activity, Utilization, Location and exception reports as part of it’s Trailer Tracking.
Microlise’s new trailer tracking solution gives operators increased security, enhanced visibility and control of goods & service delivery as well as the information required to improve trailer utilization and fleet management costs.
For more information the New Microlise Trailer Tracking Solution, you can contact your account manager, alternatively Click Here to contact us.
Microlise’s Tracking solution accredited for Petrochemical safe working
Posted on 04. Aug, 2010 by Alex in News, Product
Microlise’s MTU3 Tracking & Telematics device now comes with full zone 2 ATEX certification.
Like many Telematics solutions providers, Microlise have been installing their MTU3 (Microlise Tracking Unit 3) devices into Petrochemical tankers in compliance with the Energy Institute guidelines for many years – this means that vehicles can be tracked apart from when the tanker was loading fuel at a depot or discharging fuel at a garage, whereupon, like most of the other electrical equipment in the vehicle it would be isolated via an isolation switch. This approach, obviously provides some practical limitations if operators want to closely monitor vehicle activity whilst on a site.
Given Microlise’s growing sales in the petrochemical sector, we have now put our MTU3 hardware, including CANbus & Digital Tachograph connections through the ATEX certification process. Microlise are also able to provide an ATEX compliant panic switch if required.*
This now means Microlise’s equipment can be kept live throughout the entire delivery and loading process. There are few Telematics suppliers who can provide this level of service.
Microlise’s Product Strategy Director, Matt Hague, commented “Given the amount of business we are now doing in this arena it made sense to be able to provide the best solution. The MTU3, which is our own product, flew through the certification process. ATEX certification is actually quite a differentiator, in that a number of our competitors talk about having ATEX certification, but when you read the fine print, they still need to be isolated when being filled or when making fuel deliveries. By complying with both the Energy Institute installation guidelines and also having ATEX compliance, we are giving our customer’s the best level of visibility and safety assurance”.
Ford Motor Company Take home the Award for Best Telematics Service & Application for Commercial Vehicles for Crew Chief
Posted on 11. Jun, 2010 by Alex in News, Partners, Product
This award was looking to reward the best Telematics Service Provider for commercial vehicles management at this years Telematics Update Event. The Crew Chief telematics application, devloped in partnership with Microlise, was submitted for the award, and was shortlisted back in May. The winners were announced at the Henry Ford Rouge Factory in Dearborn, Detroit on the 7th of June. In winning in the award, the Crew Chief Application demonstrated a high standard of customer service, rapid application development and faultless integration and deployment. Below, Nizam Uddin, the Microlise Project Manager on the Ford Crew Chief Project (Left), Bill Frykman, Business Development Manager for Ford Work Solutions with the award (Center), with Steve Walsh, head of Microlise’s USA operation(Right).
Microlise’s Driver Performance system monitors France’s top drivers at the Charade Circuit event
Posted on 10. Jun, 2010 by Alex in News, Partners, Product
MAN Camions & Bus SAS in France are currently hosting 350 of their top customers at the Charade Circuit in Clemont-Ferrand, France. They are using the Microlise Driver Performance Monitoring Telematics System to evaluate the driving styles of France’s top truck drivers in 5 MAN TGX demonstration vehicles. Microlise’s senior French Business Analyst is at Charade assisting the event and demonstrating the systems capabilities and features, while the Business Analysts in the UK are monitoring the progress of the drivers in realtime. See below for our lastest map view of the event.
Microlise Introduce their New Driver Feedback Module to now make it even easier for you to monitor and improve driving behaviour and performance
Posted on 02. Jun, 2010 by Alex in News, Product
Microlise’s Transport Management & Telematics Solutions are used by customers around the world to improve fleet productivity & utilisation, enhance 
customer service, reduce management overhead and improve safe and economical driving.
At the heart of this solution portfolio, is the Microlise Tracking Unit (the MTU3) which Microlise both design and manufacture. This telematics device monitors the location of vehicles and how it is being driven by connecting into the vehicle’s CANBus.
In the specific case of safe & economical driving, Microlise and their reseller & Automotive partners have helped hundreds of customers to improve driver behaviour with our simple, yet powerful, Safe & Economical Driving Style reports. These league tables, using the easy to understand A-G economy rating system, readily allow customers to improve their fuel economy by over 10%.
These reports are used most successfully when they are embedded in an operation’s daily and weekly procedures such that good driving can be recognised and, in the case of poor driving, debriefing and driver training can occur.
Microlise are introducing the Driver Feedback Module to compliment this reporting suite and to ensure driving feedback is delivered in real-time. In this manner, drivers who are driving to the required standard get instant feedback, whilst poor driving is automatically communicated to the driver, giving them the opportunity to change their behaviour, knowing that any further infringements will be recorded.
The Driver Feedback Module’s purpose is to sustain & develop good driving and to reduce debrief and training overhead. This low cost unit can be fitted to any MTU3 using CANBus / FMS data.
The small and light weight DFM unit can be adhered to the dashboard and consists of Red, Amber and Green lights plus Audio prompts. When the driver is driving the vehicle inside all of the allotted targets, relating to speed, harsh braking, greenband, idling, over-revving and so forth, then the green light will be on.
Should any infringement begin to occur, then the Amber light will come and an audible WARNING prompt, along with the particular, infringement will sound. For example, “WARNING – EXCESSIVE IDLING”
The unit can be configured with either a male of female voice. Likewise, different volume levels can be set, controlled from the Microlise MTU3 configuration.
Should the driver not modify their behaviour, then the red light will illuminate and an audible message will play, for example “RECORDING – EXCESSIVE IDLING”.
Matt Hague, Product Strategy Director at Microlise says; “We are delighted with the Driver Feedback Module. We think it really enhances what is already an innovative telematics solution and will allow customers to leverage more benefits, quicker. The DFM will be on general availability in June, but have already taken orders. Some customers are being quite smart in how they intent to deploy the Driver Feedback Module in that they won’t fit them across a whole fleet necessarily but will use the DFM as a training aid for those drivers who are identified as needing driver training”.
Tesco sign international Transport Management System deal with Microlise Ltd
Posted on 11. May, 2010 by Alex in News
Following a successful trial in Slovakia in late 2009, Tesco have now awarded a contract to Microlise, which will see a roll out of Microlise Transport Management Solutions to their store delivery operations throughout Central Europe, Asia and the USA.
This implementation will give Tesco’s distribution operations visibility across many of the geographical areas in which they now operate.
Microlise selected as Telematics Awards 2010 Finalist for Ford Crew Chief™ offering
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Alex in News, Partners, Product
Every year the Telematics Awards recognises and celebrates the key companies that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in GPS technology.
Microlise have been selected as a finalist for the Industry Newcomer Award for their Crew Chief offering (part of the Ford Work Solutions products).
Organised by Telematics Update, the finalists for these awards stand out in an industry where innovation is expected as the norm, and companies clamor for publicity, platform and prestige.
“This is a crucial year for the industry as the recovery process has already begun, and, telematics players, now more than ever, need to come together to strategise for the next decade of telematics service provision,” says Precksha Saksena, managing director of Telematics Update. “The response has been terrific and Telematics Update would like to each and every company that put itself forward as each and every entry made the competition even more intense. This year’s winners will be celebrated as true leaders in a year that epitomises the strength of the telematics industry, as the industry will continue to pull together in order to innovate and maintain progression and momentum.”
During the past six months, hundreds of companies have nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website.
An independent panel of industry experts from the digital automotive, mobile and web industries have analysed the submissions and individually narrowed down each category.
UK Van telematics seminar a success
Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by Alex in News, Partners, Product
The UK SMMT Telematics Seminar on 24 March proved a great success, with over 50 guests including operators, telematics providers, vehicle makers, civil servants and journalists. The event was designed to raise the profile for telematics and its potential to help van and truck operators save cash, fuel and emissions. Presentations were given by representatives from Ford Motor Company (US) and Tesco.com showing how the use of supplier Microlise’s telematics systems is already having positive and game changing effect on their businesses. TomTom WORK explained how they expected telematics to increase their ability to deliver efficiencies for van operators and a representative of Mediforce explained the important role TomTom plays in his firm’s private ambulance business.
etrac™ To Help Utilities Boost Fleet Efficiency & Improve Air Quality with Microlise
Posted on 23. Mar, 2010 by Alex in News, Partners, Product
ATLANTA – etrac™, a division of PS Energy Group, Inc., will help utility companies throughout North America continue to boost fleet productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of customized intelligent vehicle technologies now powered by Microlise.
This is just one of the latest etrac™ solutions offered by PS Energy Group to help customers manage their fixed and mobile assets, including their workforce and fleets. Microlise is an Independent Software Vendor supplying telematics to Ford Motor Company for its vehicles.
“This wireless solution takes the guesswork out of heavy fleet operations,” said Livia Whisenhunt, president and CEO of PS Energy Group, an energy and transportation solutions company. “We can automate the process for gathering data about mileage, speed, driver style, idling, fuel consumption, engine problems, tire pressure and more to improve fleet operations.”
For the past six months, a U.S. utility company has been testing a customized device attached to the computer of a fleet vehicle, which then transmits wireless data to an office computer. Results from the pilot project will help lead the way for other utility companies to burn less fuel and improve air quality.
“Real-time monitoring can help utility companies better serve their customers and improve fleet and driver performance, resulting in a reduction of the cost and environmental impact of fleet operations,” said Steven Walsh, vice president of U.S. operations for Microlise.
About PS Energy Group, Inc.
Founded in 1985, PS Energy Group, Inc. (www.psenergy.com) is a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company that offers business, industry and government a full range of energy and transportation solutions. As one of the nation’s top 35 diversity-owned businesses and the nation’s 4th largest Hispanic-owned energy company, PS Energy Group provides transportation fuels, emergency fueling and fleet management services, including etrac™, a telematics solution that helps improve productivity, profitability and the quality of the environment through better asset monitoring and vehicle tracking.
Media contacts:
Phyllis Weiss, PS Energy Group, Inc., +1(404) 873-6095, weiss@weiss-communications.com
Steven Walsh, Microlise America, +1(404) 889 2841, steven.walsh@microlise.com
Alexandra Robson, Microlise UK, +44(01773) 537478 alexandra.robson@microlise.com
