A tacho- and CANbus interface added to the basic CarCube
21 September 2007 by LS
More data now available faster
Punch Telematix, a fast-growing, innovative and publicly quoted telematics firm, launches its new, improved CarCube. The CarCube is Punch Telematix’s fixed onboard computer for the truck- and transport sector, and a benchmark standard within this market segment. Its already extensive functions have been supplemented, on the new model, with time-saving tacho synchronization and a remote online display of the driver’s card. From now on, the CANbus interface provides the carrier with even more and accurate information about his vehicles and drivers.
A useful tool for compliance with the Driving Hours Decree
The CarCube driver’s hours tool was developed as per EU Regulation 561/06 on driving periods, rest breaks and rest periods. Audiovisual signals warn the driver if he’s nearing the max. permissible driving period. In this way, both the driver and the planning department have an up-to-date overview of the time already driven and the amount of driving period that remains.
The CarCube driver’s hours tool works on the basis of the data entered in the CarCube onboard computer but can, if desired, be linked to the tachograph. In the latter case, the data relating to the driving periods, rest breaks and rest periods, entered in the tachograph, is processed directly in the driver’s hours tool of the CarCube and then relayed to the back office. The driver enters his status changes into the tachograph, and... job done! The tacho synchronization with the CarCube ensures that the data in the CarCube is up to date, at all times. Both digital and analogue tachographs can be synchronized with the CarCube.
Administrative simplification
With the introduction of the digital tachograph, the driver’s data can, from now on, be digitally recorded onto a personal smart card, also known as the driver’s card.
The EU Regulation also introduced several new obligations governing the downloading and digital storage of the tachograph data. Once every 28 days, the data stored on the driver’s cards has to be read off and stored, so as to prevent against data loss. The data readout is done at head office using a specially designed smart-card reader (SCR). Because the drivers have to come specially to head office for this, that reading-off of driver’s cards is usually time-consuming and, therefore, an expensive business.
Punch Telematix has developed an application whereby the data stored on the driver’s card via an external SCR, linked to the CarCube, is relayed to the back office over the GPRS network. No longer then do carriers need to wait, for payroll accounting and reporting purposes, until the driver’s cards are physically present. The data held on a driver’s card can be read off on a remote screen and is available, any time, for processing at the wages office, archiving and/or for statutory inspections.
Black box
A CANbus system is being fitted on more and more trucks. The new CANbus interface of the CarCube caters to this growing trend. Thanks to this feature-rich interface, the CarCube is able to store the vehicle’s FMS data, such as fuel consumption, speed, rpm, use of the brakes, cruise control, engine temperature, etc., …. and then forward it, for analysis, to the FleetWorks back office applications at head office. This is not all... For trucks equipped with a CANbus, the data from the CarCube driver’s hours tool can be synchronized with the status on the digital tachograph.
The analysis of the FMS data offers many advantages. An accurate log of the fuel consumption means more accurate cost accounting and ditto invoicing. Parameter logging about driving style and driver behaviour affords Management the option of rewarding fuel-efficient and responsible drivers or of intervening, where necessary. Analysis of vehicle data is a useful tool for the efficient scheduling of maintenance inspections, and also for actuarial purposes as – in the event of disputes – such data may come in useful. In a sector where cost price has become a key competitive factor, rapid rescheduling and ‘fine-tuning’ is indispensable these days. The data on which Management is able to base its decisions is, from now on, available, any time, anywhere, without delay, for further processing or assimilation.
Success-driven development
The new features have been seamlessly integrated with the existing functions – the ones which made the CarCube software suite the benchmark onboard computer solution for the transport sector. The new, improved CarCube has already been implemented to good effect at the offices of several of our customers.
“The CarCube is widely known already as a very user-friendly, stable and reliable system. The new features raise it to an even higher level”, said Wim Maes, CEO of Punch Telematix. “Apart from that, we’re sticking to our winning formula. The CarCube-software suite is still a simple, ‘boltable’, total solution with predictable costs. Thanks to the leasing formula, our customers know, beforehand, exactly how much the total solution - hardware, software and data communications - will cost. The extra features cater to real needs of the transport sector. In the future, too, we will keep our finger on the pulse.”
