Adding sensor data as a metric to track can help you move toward proactive maintenance practices by enabling faster, more accurate issue diagnosis and providing insights into asset health trends to improve asset reliability and uptime.
By Rachael Plant
Asset uptime and safety remain top of mind for fleets across all industries鈥攁nd that is no different for waste management fleets. A downed asset can cause a cascade of daily disruptions, so any steps you can take to reduce the risk may be well worth the effort, whether that is improving preventive maintenance (PM) compliance or moving to a more predictive, proactive maintenance approach. Now, while these things can certainly be easier said than done, that does not necessarily mean they cannot be done more easily with the right tools at your disposal.
Sensor data, for example, is an incredibly powerful tool not just for helping diagnose issues, but also for seeing trends in asset health. Sensor data refers to data that comes directly from your assets and includes everything from engine diagnostics and tire pressure to how hard someone is pressing the brakes. This information can be used to track driver behavior and asset health to inform maintenance decisions. Fleets can use sensor data snapshots to make it easier for technicians to quickly identify the source of an asset issue and use historic sensor data to gain insights into soon-to-fail items. This allows fleets to pick up on asset health patterns to predict potential failures before they happen.
How to Access Sensor Data
Not all fleets are working with the same type or amount of technology, so determining the best way for your fleet to document sensor data will depend on the tools at your disposal. Manually documenting sensor data using an OBD-II reader is always an option, though the amount of data available is limited, you are unable to access it in real time, and some assets鈥攕uch as hybrids and electric vehicles鈥攎ay not be compatible with some scan tools. That said, this is still a good method for starting your sensor data collection journey.
An alternative to manual tracking is telematics. Telematics devices capture a wealth of sensor data, and many waste management fleets are already required to equip assets with telematics. Depending on the provider you use, you may be able to access sensor data directly in their platform. If you are using a fleet maintenance software or optimization platform that integrates with telematics, you can also access sensor data that way鈥攚ith the added benefit of seeing that data within the context of the rest of your fleet data, such as service and inspection histories.
How to use Sensor Data
Being able to access sensor data in real time is one thing; determining how to use it is another. One of the best places to start is by using it to make asset issue diagnosis more efficient, which can reduce shop-related downtime and get assets back on the road quicker. Diagnostic fault codes are not always the most straightforward, as the system and component flagged may be due to an underlying issue playing a role in component failure. Sensor data provides technicians with access to a larger amount of asset information, allowing them to better identify the source of an issue with both speed and accuracy. Basically, sensor data provides technicians with more context so they can tackle the problem effectively.
Another way you can use sensor data is to determine whether a fault alert that occurs while an operator is on the road needs to be addressed immediately or if it is something that can be safely scheduled at a more convenient time. If an issue does not pose a safety or mechanical concern and can wait until off-hours to be addressed, it can save on productivity loss. On the other hand, if an issue arises that is more critical, you can direct the operator to go to the shop.
Sensor data鈥攅specially in conjunction with the rest of your fleet data鈥攁lso provides valuable insights into soon-to-fail components and recurring issues, so you can take proactive measures to mitigate downtime. If, for instance, an asset throws a low battery voltage alert, but your service history is showing the battery was recently replaced, you can pull historic sensor data to help determine if the battery is actually the issue, or if maybe it is another part of the charging system.
Sensor Data Snapshots
For fleets looking to improve their maintenance practices or that aim to become more proactive than reactive, a fleet optimization platform can be a good option, as it consolidates data from multiple sources, including sensor data from telematics integrations. This not only gives you a fuller picture of fleet health, performance, and cost, but it also automates a portion of maintenance workflows.
You can set up automated fault alerts, so you will know to check the sensor data in the platform to evaluate the fault severity. You can also take a 鈥渟napshot鈥� of the relevant sensor data and attach it to a new or existing digital work order to speed up resolution times. Technicians can view the sensor data, issue priority, and estimated service duration, add parts from inventory, and clock in and out of jobs鈥攁ll directly within the work order. This does not just help reduce downtime in the short-term, it also enables fleets to proactively address recurring issues and determine whether an asset鈥檚 PM schedule needs to be adjusted.
Regardless of what method you are using to collect fleet data, adding sensor data as a metric to track can help you move toward proactive maintenance practices by enabling faster, more accurate issue diagnosis and providing insights into asset health trends to improve asset reliability and uptime. | WA
Rachael Plant鈥檚 automotive background started in auto parts inventory management. After developing and contributing articles to construction magazines, she moved into overseeing fleet-specific editorial in national trade publications and eventually joined Fleetio, a fleet management software that helps organizations track, analyze and improve their fleet operations. For more information, visit .