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If you use Cartrack Fleet Web, you'll find several vehicle icon colours on the map. One of them is yellow, which indicates a vehicle in idle status. Idle is a state where the engine is running but the vehicle is not moving (stationary). There are many reasons for idling, for example, being stuck in traffic, queuing at a drive-thru, a bus waiting for passengers at a bus stop, or a driver deliberately leaving the engine running to rest comfortably in the vehicle.
Productive and Unproductive Idle
While most idle periods are unproductive, some are productive. Take, for example, idle periods on heavy equipment vehicles. The vehicle may not be in motion, but peripheral features (such as a crane, the bed of a garbage truck, and the bucket of an excavator) are being operated. To detect this type of idle, you need to install a power take-off (PTO) sensor in addition to a GPS tracker. Some types of trucks, such as trucks with refrigerated containers and ice cream trucks may also require idling because the cooler must be on to maintain the condition of the product.
| DIFFERENCE | IDLE UNPRODUCTIVE | PRODUCTIVE IDLE |
| This condition | The engine is running, but the vehicle is stationary | The engine must be started even if the vehicle does not change position. |
| Objective | There are no specific work-related goals | To run external equipment, start the cooler in the container, or warm up the vehicle to the permitted limit. |
| Example | Idle when loading and unloading, when queuing at ferry ports, when queuing at gas stations, when queuing at drive-thru restaurants, when there is a heavy traffic jam, or to rest in the vehicle while turning on the AC and radio. | Idle with PTO unit to operate equipment, such as dump truck bodies, cranes, bulldozer blades, and excavator buckets; idle required as a cooling power source on ice cream trucks and cold trucks. |
Idle is Very Detrimental
Despite what you may have heard, turning off and restarting your vehicle doesn't burn more fuel than idling. Every hour of idling can waste between 2 and 4.5 litres of fuel. Idling can also damage the engine and vehicle components because the fuel isn't fully burned and leaves residue. Furthermore, prolonged idling produces emissions that contribute to air pollution and the health of drivers and passengers. Cost-wise, your or your company's expenses will increase due to fuel waste and faster repairs or replacement of spare parts.
Read the article “3 Reasons Not to Leave the Engine Running While the Vehicle is Idling”
Minimising Idle with Fleet Management Technology
To minimise idle time, you need to use GPS-based fleet management system technology, such as Cartrack. This technology allows you to monitor idle time in real-time, evaluate and educate drivers based on data, and manage driver assignments to reduce waiting times and trip inefficiencies.
Cartrack has a driver monitoring feature, with idle as one of the monitored parameters. In addition to viewing the color status of the vehicle icon on the map, you can also receive idle notifications in real-time. All idle data is also available in the form of automatic reports (PDF or Excel format) and a fleet performance dashboard (for quick viewing). For trip efficiency, you can view and assign the nearest vehicle to your location or use Cartrack's Delivery feature to arrange the order of the assigned route.
Read the article “3 Ways to Reduce Costly Idle Habits in Your Fleet Operations”
Want to reduce idle time and save on vehicle operating costs? Monitor and evaluate idle activity with Cartrack now and gain insights to reduce costly idle time. Contact us here to find out more about Cartrack's fleet management system and its features.
