The trip efficiency indicators

From tachograph sheets we get data on the vehicle distance traveled ie. the vehicle crossed kilometers. 

We know that the vehicle is useful only while moving. But if moving without a load it was not useful to, on the contrary, it only makes expenses. 

Therefore, the total traveled way, useful to us is only the distance traveled by the vehiclewhile it was loaded and that road we call, distance traveled with the cargo. 

          How to get to the information about it, what is the distance traveled with the cargo of a vehicles?

          By law, the driver is required to fill the "Travel order". In the travel order the driver must enter the correct time and the exact mileage at each standing at each loading and unloading and the amount of cargo they carried.

          Therefore, based on data from the travel orders, we can know what is the distance traveled with the cargo and volume of transported cargo.

           On this example, we'll see how to calculate utilization of travel distance.

           If the distance between the loading and unloading sites is 20 km and if the vehicle had three rounds in that distance, its distance traveled with the cargo will be 3 X 20 km = 60 km. If the vehicle that day, a totaly crossed 125 km, utilization of travel distance or utilization ratio of travel distance will be 60km/125km = 0.48. This means that out of the traveled road vehicle has passed with the cargo 48% or slightly less than half the distance.

           Owners of of vehicles corresponding to the higher coefficient of utilization distance. Ideally, this ratio is 100%, ie. that vehicles never move without load.

           The value of this coefficient depends on the logistics.

Analysis of tachograph charts from the standpoint of fleet utilization

Basic data that can be obtained from the tachograph charts, are data on:
 
- time of vehicle operation during the day,
- odometer of the vehicle during the day and
- vehicle speed in each moment during the day.
 
These data are important, on the one hand from the standpoint of traffic safety, ie, the expert opinion of accidents, on the other hand, are important from the standpoint of vehicle owners, to control the operation of the vehicle or to obtain certain parameters of the vehicle or the fleet.
Here we will deal with the data from the tachograph charts, which can serve to obtain certain parameters of the fleet. 

On the tachograph chart, there are basically three axes (Figure):
- A axis - is the distance traveled by the vehicle and in the following way,

- B axis - refers to the time of vehicle operation and
- C-axis - is the vehicle speed.
 
From this tachograph chart, we can read that the vehicle:
 
- began its work in 6 hours and 20 minutes,
- completed its work in 15 h,
- stood from 7 h 45 min to 8 h, from 8 h 55 min to 9 h and 10 min and from 12 h and 45 min to 13 h and 5 min. (standing less than 15 min. was not taken into account)
- a total passed 232 km.
 
Based on the data read from the tachograph charts, we can make the following table:

Date	Started in h	Done with work h	Spent at work h	Stood h	Spent driving h	Driven km	Utilization of time spent at work
3.3.2011.	6:20	15:00	8:40	0:50	7:50	232	0,9035

"Spent at work h" we get when we take away "Started in h"  from "Done with work h".
"Spent driving h" when we get from "Spent at work h" take away "Stood h".
"Utilization of time spent at work" is the ratio of time spent driving and time spent at work. This indicator tells us about how much of the total time spent at work, our vehicle was in a state of movement. In our case, the vehicle was moving approximately 90.35% of the total time spent at work. This indicator is important to us because the vehicle earns money, ie. is useful only when moving. Thus, the higher the utilization ratio of time spent at work, it is better for the owner of the vehicle. However, in connection with this, there are certain legal limitation. Specifically, during nine hours of driving, which is the maximum allowed for a driver for one day, the driver must make a break from 45 minutes, minimum. Which means that the maximum value of this coefficient 0.9231.
More complex analysis of fleet work, is possible when with this data, obtained from the tachograph charts, cross the data about the vehicle operation, ie. data on how much cargo is transported, as the vehicle passed miles with the cargo of the vehicle had a tour in which distances and more.
This will be the topic of the next blog.


For anything that interests you in connection with published blogs, do not hesitate to ask.

Completing Tachograph Sheets (Charts)

There are many uncertainties about filling out the tachograph sheets. Drivers often are not sure of which data should be written, and what certain symbols means on the tachograph sheet. The following figure shows completing tachograph sheets.

Fuel consumption, experience from practice 2

Testing of vehicles in terms of fuel consumption


Those who manage fleets, they must know the average fuel consumption of vehicles in their fleet. Of course, the average fuel consumption is not always the same in all situations and at times it is necessary to test vehicles in terms of fuel consumption. Also, we test vehicles in order to prevent or detect fuel abuse.
 
In essence, this test consists of three phases:
 
1. supply of fuel just before the start of vehicle operation,
2. vehicle operation and
3. supply of fuel at the end of the vehicle operation.

The first thing to look for when testing is a place, that is, surface, on which the vehicle is in, during the fuel supply. For a test to be valid, the surface should be, straight and level, with no slope or, if the surface is not horizontal, to the both fuel supply, the slope must be the same.

In both fuel supply, fuel tank must be filled to the same level. The best, and easiest to run it, is to fill a reservoir to the brim.
 
When pouring the fuel in the tank, foam creates. When the fuel level in the reservoir reaches the top, we should wait for foam to remove and, if necessary (and mostly it is), pour more fuel in the tank so that it is full.

When the vehicle is properly supplied with fuel, we should collect the following information:
 
1. the total distance traveled in vehicle kilometers (mileage),
2. total time in hours of vehicle operation,
3. if there is a fuel monitoring device, we should record and data on the total amount of fuel consumed in liters.

When the vehicle is properly supplied with fuel and when we recorded all necessary data, the vehicle can go to work.
 
During operation of the vehicle, it should be noted that the scale that indicates the engine speed is still in the green box, that is, should not be in the red box. You should also pay attention to the sound of the engine.
 
Upon completion of the vehicle work, we should supply vehicle with a fuel and capture data in the same way.

If we mark data recorded in the fuel supply before the start of vehicle work as follows:
 
KM1 - state of the mileage
 
MH1 - state motto of clocks,
 
L1 - state of the total amount of spent fuel, from the device to monitor fuel,
 
and data recorded in the fuel supply at the end of the vehicle work as follows:
 
KM2 - state of the mileage,
 
MH2 - state motto of clocks,

L2 - the state of the total amount of spent fuel from the device to monitor fuel consumption, and
 
v - the amount of fuel poured in the tank,

then we have the following:
 
km = KM 2 - KM1 odometer vehicles,
 
mh = MH2 - MH1 time of vehicle operation,

l = L2 - L1 amount of fuel consumed during operation of the vehicle.

Average consumption obtained by testing is v / km or v / mh and the amount of fuel poured in the tank (v) would have to be the same as the amount of fuel consumed during operation (l) if the device for monitoring fuel consumption is precise.