Fleet managers have access to more vehicle and operational data than ever. The challenge is turning that information into timely knowledge that improves uptime, utilization and operating efficiency.
“Fleets already have plenty of data. What they need is the ability to use it to enhance truck efficiency and get a comprehensive picture of their operations,” said Samantha Thompson, vice president of customer success and fleet telematics for Penske Transportation Solutions.
Thompson said capturing data for its own sake isn't the goal. Fleet managers need the right insights at the right time, tied to the key performance indicators that support their operational goals, whether that is fuel economy, uptime or driver productivity.
Penske’s full-service leases can help close that gap by providing vehicles, maintenance support and digital fleet-management tools. Rather than developing analytics capabilities internally or managing a collection of disconnected systems, customers can use integrated telematics data, predictive maintenance tools and AI-powered analytics to better understand how their equipment and operations are performing.
Fleet Insight™ Gives Lessees a Centralized View of Vehicle Health and Performance
Fleet Insight™ consolidates maintenance, asset and performance information into a centralized platform. It gives fleet managers visibility into vehicle health, utilization, service activity and roadside events without requiring them to pull information from multiple systems.
By bringing those data points together, the platform can help fleet managers identify trends, track key performance indicators and make more informed decisions about their equipment.
Catalyst AI™ Turns Fleet Data Into Actionable Benchmarks
Within Fleet Insight, Catalyst AI™ uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help fleet managers understand not just how their fleet is performing, but how it compares to similar fleets. The platform processes more than 100 billion data points and runs upward of 300 models simultaneously to identify the root causes behind fleet performance.
Rather than comparing a fleet against generic industry averages, Catalyst AI automatically identifies operations with similar duty cycles, routes and equipment to create a precise, apples-to-apples fleet comparison. "Our customers want to know their utilization and miles-per-gallon not only for their vehicles but also across similar industries," Thompson said.
Fleet managers can use the data to see utilization and miles-per-gallon for their vehicles as well as across industries. They can also see information down to the vehicle and hub level, and a tool called Fantasy Fleet shows what a fleet's performance would look like if it consistently matched its own top-performing assets.
How Darigold Puts Fleet Data To Work
Darigold, a century-old dairy manufacturer owned by the Northwest Dairy Association, leases equipment through Penske to support 200 drivers making direct-to-store deliveries and warehouse transfers across the Pacific Northwest. The company uses Catalyst AI to inform decisions that once relied on instinct or static reporting.
“The data surfaced through Catalyst AI has already supported internal reporting and opened up opportunities to reduce costs and reevaluate how we measure success,” said Brian Harper, fleet operations leader for Darigold. “We're starting to use that intelligence to shape how we manage fuel and utilization across locations.”
Harper said the deeper, vehicle- and hub-level insights available in newer releases are becoming foundational to how the fleet operates. “Being out front with technology like this — it's where I want us to be, and we're just scratching the surface,” he said.
Accurate Data Behind Every Recommendation
Fleet managers can only act on data they trust, which is why Penske validates the data behind its predictive maintenance and analytics tools against established reference values and historical operating data. The validation process is ongoing and uses constant, iterative feedback rather than a one-time check. Plus, models are regularly checked against real-world outcomes so recommendations stay accurate as fleets, routes and equipment change over time.
Predictive Maintenance Helps Catch Problems Before They Cause Downtime
Unplanned downtime is one of the most disruptive and expensive problems a fleet can face, and it typically costs far more than scheduled preventive work once the impact on drivers, deliveries and customer service is factored in. Penske's predictive maintenance program has been designed to anticipate and address issues before they lead to an over-the-road failure.
Telematics devices continuously capture engine and performance data, which is monitored for the error codes and early warning signs that typically precede a breakdown. When a pattern indicates a component is likely to fail, Penske can proactively reach out to schedule service before the vehicle experiences a roadside breakdown. Combined with Penske's preventive maintenance program and 24/7 roadside assistance, that approach helps reduce the number of over-the-road failures a fleet experiences and keeps replacement vehicles available when they're needed.
Technology Is Included in a Lease
Full-service leasing at Penske offers a way for fleets to gain predictive maintenance, fleet-wide visibility and AI-powered benchmarking without adding new systems, vendors or staff. The technology comes bundled with the vehicle, the maintenance program and the data platform, so lessees can focus on using the insights rather than building the infrastructure that produces them.
“Fleets have invested a lot of money in their assets, and they need their trucks to be on the road, moving freight,” Thompson said. “Their needs haven't changed, and with newer technology, we are able to help fleet managers do even more with their equipment.”