HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE TIMELY MAINTENANCE WITH FMX250

INTRO

The global construction market is experiencing significant growth, driven by urbanisation, population growth, and increased infrastructure spending. As the construction industry expands, so does the reliance on heavy-duty vehicles to support large-scale projects. As a result, the need for an efficient vehicle maintenance routine is paramount to ensure smooth operations and minimise downtime.

CHALLENGE

In 2028, the construction market size is projected to reach approximately $1.17 trillion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%​. Heavy-duty vehicles are essential in the construction industry, transporting materials, equipment and workers to and from job sites.

Their reliability is critical to keeping projects on schedule, ensuring safety and meeting customer commitments. However, operating in harsh, humid, dusty, and dirty environments causes engine wear and frequent breakdowns, reducing productivity. Regular, thorough maintenance is, therefore, necessary to prevent these concerns and can help avoid costly project delays.

A major challenge in the construction industry is that heavy machinery often travels short distances, but remains in one place for hundreds of hours, such as on roadworks. This intensive, stationary use accelerates wear and tear. Traditional mileage-based maintenance schedules are inadequate for such machines, as they do not take into account the thousands of hours of operation. This oversight can lead to unexpected breakdowns and high repair costs.

In addition, meeting business commitments and maintaining construction productivity requires a proactive, data-driven approach to vehicle maintenance. This challenge involves using advanced technology to continuously monitor vehicle health and identify problems early on. By addressing issues before they escalate, contractors can prevent sudden vehicle failures, reduce repair costs and avoid project delays.

The challenge is also to use real-time data and continuous analysis to improve fleet performance, extend vehicle life and minimise disruption. This proactive strategy not only reduces repair costs but also improves the management of maintenance budgets. By increasing efficiency and reliability, construction companies can better meet customer deadlines and maintain high levels of productivity. Teltonika's telematics team provides a solution that can continuously monitor and analyse data, enabling timely intervention and preventative action to avoid costly breakdowns and delays.

SOLUTION

To meet these challenges, Teltonika offers an advanced series of CAN data reading trackers, FMx250, with both 4G LTE Cat 1 and 4G LTE Cat M1 connectivity. Designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions typical of construction sites, the integrated CAN data reading microchip capabilities are combined with an IP67-rated casing. As a result, the series is specifically designed for seamless integration into heavy-duty vehicles, ensuring robust data tracking and real-time monitoring.

How it works - let's take the 4G LTE Cat 1 connectivity model FMC250 as an example. This vehicle tracker is designed to read and transmit critical data from the CAN bus lines, enabling seamless integration with a vehicle's on-board diagnostic (OBD) system. The GPS device supports an extensive list of over 1,810 different vehicle models, ensuring it can be easily installed and used in a wide range of vehicle makes and models, including trucks, vans, buses, special machinery, etc.

Teltonika FMC250 supports over 90 parameters covering various aspects of vehicle performance. These include critical metrics such as fuel level, engine RPM, total engine hours, engine oil level, temperature, pressure, and exhaust fluid levels, among many others. The integration of these CAN parameters enables real-time monitoring and proactive maintenance of heavy-duty vehicles. 

For example, monitoring total engine hours helps schedule maintenance based on actual usage, ensuring timely service and avoiding unnecessary downtime. Tracking engine oil levels ensures there is enough oil for smooth operation, preventing damage caused by low oil levels. The GPS tracker also helps to monitor engine oil temperature to prevent overheating and excessive wear, which are common problems in heavy-duty vehicles operating in demanding conditions.

In addition, the tracking device measures the level of exhaust fluid (AdBlue) in the tank, which is vital for maintaining emissions standards and avoiding regulatory penalties. Monitoring engine oil pressure helps to detect circulation problems early, preventing significant engine damage. Finally, tracking the engine's intake air pressure ensures that the engine receives optimum airflow, which is essential for maintaining performance and fuel efficiency.

By providing comprehensive data on these parameters, FMC250 allows fleet managers to make informed decisions about vehicle maintenance and operation. Real-time data transmission to the fleet management platform allows operators to monitor vehicle performance from an office location, tablet, or smartphone with an internet connection, ensuring up-to-the-minute insight into the status of each vehicle in a fleet.

Such comprehensive monitoring allows fleet managers to maintain engine health, reduce unexpected breakdowns, and minimise repair costs. By ensuring the correct levels and conditions of vital engine components, FMC250 model can help to increase vehicle longevity and operational efficiency. Its robust IP67 casing makes it a reliable solution for maintaining heavy-duty vehicles in harsh construction environments, resulting in improved fleet performance and reduced overall operating costs.

TOPOLOGY

BENEFITS

• Reliable tracking in harsh conditions - the IP67-rated FMC250 is fully dust-proof and water-resistant, making it suitable for a range of demanding construction environments.

  
  

• Enhanced engine health monitoring - real-time tracking of engine performance indicators helps identify potential faults before they escalate, ensuring optimum engine health and longevity.

  
  

• Reduced fleet repair costs - by monitoring critical engine parameters, maintenance can be scheduled proactively, reducing the likelihood of costly emergency repairs and downtime.

  
  

• Improved maintenance planning - detailed engine usage and condition data facilitates accurate maintenance planning, optimising resource allocation and minimising operational disruption.

  
  

• Ensuring fleet longevity - maintaining the correct engine temperature and air intake pressure extends the life of heavy-duty vehicles, improving their reliability and performance.

  
  

• Avoiding unexpected breakdowns - continuous monitoring of engine hours and oil levels allows for timely intervention, preventing unexpected breakdowns and ensuring uninterrupted project progress.

  
  

SUCCESS STORY

A UK-based telematics provider specialising in IoT projects for heavy-duty equipment and machinery has integrated Teltonika FMC250 with a wireless EYE Sensor model to optimise fleet management for construction businesses. The solution enables real-time tracking of excavators, diggers, and dump trucks, helping rental and sales companies monitor fleet engine hours, schedule timely maintenance, prevent over-use of equipment, and ensure insurance compliance.

Such a combination of tracking devices not only monitors the engines but also records the movements of the excavator arms and buckets through accelerometer-based reports. Along with extending the life of machinery and reducing maintenance costs, the predictive approach to operations helps avoid unexpected failures, prevent misuse, minimise insurance premiums, and streamline operations for equipment dealers, rental companies, and fleet operators.

WHY TELTONIKA?

To successfully solve the challenges of tracking and monitoring heavy-duty vehicles in harsh climatic conditions while saving on operating costs, we offer a unique option with FMx250 series from Teltonika. These GPS trackers, with an integrated CAN bus data processor and an innovative IP67-rated click-type casing, help to withstand the forces of nature and effectively manage fleets in the construction industry.

We believe we are the ultimate choice for your business success, offering the widest range of top-quality certified GPS trackers, asset trackers, accessories, and telematics solutions for every imaginable use case. Since its start, Teltonika's dedicated and growing team has shipped tens of millions of IoT devices and counting, supporting thousands of customers and business partners in more than 160 countries worldwide.