Continental has launched a new mobile app to help improve tachograph accuracy.
The VDO Driver App turns the user’s smartphone into a digital tachograph remote control, keeping drivers compliant and allowing fleet managers to easily download data from the truck.
Continental currently has six customers trialling the product with the application only being made available to fleet operators who sign up for its Transport Intelligent Service-Web solution.
VDO’s creation was driven by the desire to make drivers lives easier and to move the focus away from tachographs, and to make fleet operations easier with a number of services and solutions.
Manjeet Degun, VDO Programme Manager at Continental, said, “There are still a number of compliance issues even though there are systems in place to stop them. In fact 75% of compliance issues reported are down to manual entry issues.”
Tim Jennings, Managing Director at Continental, added, “Fleet managers have become the centre of attention, and pulling all the data together in one place is becoming more important.”
The app ensures that drivers enter the correct entry for their tachograph, which lessens the chance of causing an infringement.
It will also allow drivers to ensure their driver’s card is up to date, as downloads can be instigated from the phone and downloaded to the unit via Continental’s Smartlink system.
The app can also receive messages reminding drivers of any updates to their card or from fleet managers wanting to make contact.
The vehicle check function allows drivers to complete the checks and send the data directly from the phone to their fleet manager, so both the tachograph and vehicle check data are received simultaneously, which helps reduce compliance and administration issues.
Continental is exhibiting at the 2014 CV Show on stand 5D70.
