Paragon has launched a fuel usage enhancement to its routing and scheduling software that will enable logistics operations to accurately compare planned versus actual levels of consumption leading to greater fuel savings. This latest update to Paragon’s Route Execution module means fuel data can be taken directly from an approved, CANbus-integrated vehicle tracking system and analysed against predicted consumption figures, calculated during the planning process, to identify where route planning can be improved. 

Transport managers will be able to use the added insight to give immediate fuel efficiency feedback to drivers as well as generate bespoke usage reports, based on credible data, for relevant stakeholders within the business. This will provide greater visibility and understanding of where excessive consumption is occurring within a fleet and what action can be taken to help drivers reduce fuel costs and the associated carbon emissions.

“Many telematics solutions can capture precise fuel usage, but these systems have no access to any realistic estimations regarding how a vehicle should be performing,” explained Richard Street, Development Director at Paragon Software Systems. “By taking a scientific approach to calculating consumption, our software is able to accurately predict usage levels by individual route and then compare with the actual performance to pinpoint exactly where inefficiencies are occurring. The ability to use accurate weight data at both the transport planning and review stages provides an invaluable opportunity to take control of fuel management to reduce transport costs and carbon emissions.”

Paragon’s routing and scheduling software uses payload, speed, vehicle type and kerb weight data to estimate the fuel usage for any journey. With fuel consumption very much influenced by the vehicle load, the calculation takes account of the weight of cargo being collected and dropped off at every stage of a planned route. Making use of load data taken from a company’s order management system, the process can achieve a high accuracy rate for multi-drop transport operations.

“Fuel costs are a big factor for the logistics sector. The creation of this advanced solution will make a big difference to transport planners looking to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions,” commented Phil Ingham, Support Director, Paragon Software Systems. “With more than 30 years’ experience in developing dynamic routing and scheduling software, we are continuously looking at ways to help our customers overcome the complex transport challenges they face. By continuously reviewing the results our customers are achieving with carbon minimiser functionality and now this fuel usage enhancement, we can feed more real data into our product development to help our customers achieve even greater fuel savings in the future.”

Paragon

About the Author: John Loughran