Renault Trucks is extending its Optifleet onboard telematics solution with a new functionality to assist long-haul drivers with their eco-driving.

It gives customers the possibility of monitoring and individually assessing their drivers’ performance by drawing on Renault Trucks’ experience in economical driving.

A vehicle’s fuel consumption results from a driving behaviour pattern as well as a number of parameters which are beyond the driver’s control. For example, the load, the route and traffic conditions.

As a consequence, Renault Trucks has now developed a new tool that assesses driving style based on a number of objective criteria.

Incorporated into Optifleet, the Renault Trucks onboard telematics solution and its Check module, it enables fleet managers to track and analyse their drivers’ performance more accurately, thereby lowering their cost of use.

Through the interface, the fleet manager can identify specific driver development opportunities. These can easily be discussed in an objective way with the individual drivers and dove-tailed into any potential future training needs.

They are based on an algorithm specially developed by Renault Trucks. The classification criteria of this algorithm do not therefore focus on actual consumption as such, but on items that drivers can control, irrespective of their load, route profile or traffic conditions. This enables all fleets to obtain ratings for each driver solely based on driving performance.

This new function is included in the Check module at no additional cost for every Optifleet customer and, for hauliers who already use Optifleet, this update is free and will be automatically displayed on their usual portal.

Nigel Butler, Renault Truck UK’s commercial director, said: "This is another great example of the way we at Renault Trucks UK are truly focused on helping our customers manage their total cost of operation. No other supplier includes this level of fuel management commitment to their customers free of charge.”