Fleet Tracking and Monitoring System in Production Industries

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American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER)
2020
American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER)
e-ISSN: 2320-0847 p-ISSN : 2320-0936
Volume-9, Issue-7, pp-01-08
www.ajer.org
Research Paper Open Access
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Fleet Tracking and Monitoring System in Production Industries
using Nova Tracker
1EBINOWEN T.Dand2UMARU.W
1(Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State,
Nigeria)2(Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, Nigeria)
Corresponding Author: Ebinowen T.D
ABSTRACT: This paper primarily focuses on the development of Truck Tracking Device (TTD), used for the
improvement of fleet activities, with the aid of GPS-GSM devices. TTD is a truck tracking device that make use
of an integrated Global Positioning System and Global System for Mobile Communication (GPS-GSM) to track
real time location of fleet of trucks with the aid of Google Map, the actual location of trucks using the
registration number issued by government agency and Cab number branded by the company to search the real
time location and status of the trucks. The TTD is an integration of hardware component mounted on a strategic
place on the truck, and the software component uses a Nova tracker software installed on a computer
networking, GSM, Palmtop. An auxiliary tracking device is also installed on the truck, that make use of local
area network and powered by solar battery mounted on the truck to give a back-up power to the auxiliary
tracking device in case, the TTD has been tampered. With the adoption of the modern technology for
dispatchment of consignments, there was significant improvement in the tracking of the trucks and the Turn
Around Time wasdrastically minimized.
KEYWORDS: Tracking, TTD, GPS, GSM Hardware, Nova tracker.
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Date of Submission: 18-06-2020 Date of acceptance: 06-07-2020
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I. INTRODUCTION
Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle
maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, speed management, fuel
management and health and safety management [1]. Fleet Management is a function which allows companies
which rely on transportation business to remove or minimize the risks associated with vehicle investment,
improving efficient productivity and reduce their overall transportation and staff costs, providing 100%
compliance with government legislation (duty of care) and many more [2].Vehicle Tracking System is the
technology used to determine the location of a vehicle using different methods like Global Positioning System
(GPS) and other radio navigation systems operating through satellites and ground-based stations [6]. Transport
is one of the important infrastructures of any country. The main problem about the transportation is the
uncertainty of wasting time due to traffic jams and any other issue like abnormal conditioning. The safety of
private and public vehicles is a major concern, so global position system-fleet tracking system ensures their
safety while travelling. In the existing system, different tracking techniques were used which are integrated with
Google maps for route allocation, automatic transit directions or real time tracking and arrival time prediction.
Either an in-house fleet-management department or an outsourced fleet-management provider can deal with
these functions. Vehicle tracking system, the most basic function in all fleet management systems, is the
vehicle-tracking component. This component is usually GPS based but sometimes it can be based on cellular
triangulation platform [3]. This paper describes a model for routing and tracking with mobile vehicles in a large
area outdoor environment based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global System for Mobile
Communication (GSM). The supporting device SIM CARD and the network subscribers (Globacom) are used to
control the operation of the fleet. GPS real time vehicle alarm monitoring and alerting system using GPRS was
used on an embedded, compared with the conventional single mode of GPRS, this method makes up the
disadvantage of the high time delay and the incertitude of the time delay in data transmission[8]. Transportation
is a very important shared resource that enabling efficient and effective use of resources like GSM modem and

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GPS unit that can be installed on a vehicle and used to track its location. This system is located on the bus and
GSM modem communicates via SMS with a server connected to a basic GSM phone,overcome the previous
system and develops a system for navigation assistance to visually impaired people[5]. Portable terminal unit is
an embedded system having RFID reader, GPS and analog compass as input device to obtain location and
orientation. In navigation mode start robot reaches destination by avoiding obstacles using ultrasonic and
infrared sensor input. [4] Proposed the automatic transit tracking, mapping, and arrival time prediction system
based on Google map application, which is installed on Smartphone. This level of automation is possible
through a set of algorithms that uses GPS traces collected from transit vehicle to determine routes served, locate
stops and predict the arrival time at upcoming stops. [7] Proposed land vehicle application on android platform.
A land vehicle tracking system combines the installation of an electronic device in vehicle with purpose
designed computer software at least at one operational base to enable the owner to track vehicles location. The
vehicle information can be viewed on electronic map via internet or specialized software.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tracking of trucks can be in two ways:
2.1 Real time location-based tracking system can be classified as follows:
i. Real time monitoring using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
ii. SMS (Short Message Service) Based Vehicle Tracking System
iii. Web based application
iv. Mobile application
Some hardware devices are used for automation and controlling of the other supporting devices, these
devices are Global position system (GPS), GSM, Accelerometer sensor compass sensor. Although this thesis
gives the theoretical modeling and simulation of a vehicle tracking system which can do routing, tracking of
moving vehicles in large geographical areas within the geo-fence of the assigned path using the Google map and
manual surveillance of the various route. This device consists of two sections, first which will be an inbuilt
GSM inside the truck cab together with a slotted in sim-card, using one of the network providers (MTN, GLO,
ETI SALAT, AIRTEL) etc. The GPS act as a relay as the trucks moves from one location to another within the
geo-fence. The location of the trucks goes on changing continuously; the GPS find the location of the trucks
using two of the co-ordinates that is Longitude and latitude. These co-ordinates communicate with another
section of the base station. The GSM is connected to the computer through a special processor driver, which
should have internet connection in it. So, that as soon as the co-ordinates are received, it can be located in the
Earth Google map to ascertain the specific location of any truck. Other sensors are used as an accelerometer
sensor to sense weather the truck is moving or stationary base on color code preview and a compass sensor for
identifying the direction of moving truck using the four-cardinal point as a focal point, other sensors for the
speed regulatory is also used.
WORK ORDER FORM
TO LIASON UNIT:_________________________FROM____________________________
TRUCK NO: ______________________________ CAB NO: _________________________
DRIVER’S NAME: _________________________ FLEET NO: ______________________
DRIVER’S I.D CARD: ______________________ DATE: __________________________
TRAILER NO: ____________________________ PHONE NO: _____________________
TIME OUT: _______________________________WORKSHOP TIME IN: ___________
Please arrange and attend to repairs of the above-mentioned Truck/ Trailer with following defect (s).
S/NO
FAULTS
DESCRIPTION OF FAULT
1
ENGINE
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
4
BREAKING SYSTEM
5
STEERING SYSTEM
6
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
7.
TRACTOR CHASIS
8
TRAILER/BODY
9
CABIN
10
WHEELS/TYERS HUB
EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION __________________________________________
PREPARED BY:_____________________ CHECKED BY: ___________________________
FLEET ANALYST___________________ FLEET WORKSHOP COORDINATOR______
DATE ADMITTED: ________________________ TIME ADMITTED__________________

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KILOMETRE ADMITTED: _________________ NOTIFICATION NO: ________________
NAME OF MECHANIC: ____________________ RESERVATION NO: ________________
2.2 Prediction tracking system
Real Time Location Based System uses the current location and speed of the truck to calculate its arrival time
and prediction system takes into consideration the traffic pattern on the route to calculate the arrival time of the
truck. However, here the emphasis is on real time location-based system.
2.2.1 Daily status Report of Trucks: The operation department in IBESE DANGOTE CEMENT
TRANSPORT is made up of a total of three thousand trucks (3000) both the operation and nonoperational
trucks. These three thousand trucks is sub-divided into ten (10) fleet. A fleet is a collection several numbers of
vehicles used for a specific purpose. Each fleet handle three hundred (300) trucks under the supervision of the
Senior Transport Manager (STM). Each STM has six (6) truck coordinators or fleet managers handling fifty (50)
trucks, and each fleet manager has two (2) fleet analyst under their control with each fleet analyst managing
twenty-five (25) trucks each. All the three thousand truck at dangote cement transport have registration number
assigned to those trucks by the government agency responsible for the plate numbers that is, the Federal Road
Safety Corporation, the other number assigned to the truck is the cab number, which is assigned by the
company. Each of the fleet has the following cab number for proper identification.
Fleet1
1A-001, to 1A-050
1B-001, to 1B-050
1C-001, to 1C-050
4A-001, to 4A-050
4B-001, to 4B-050
4C-001, to 4C-050
These are fleet one trucks with their cab numbers making a total of three hundred (300) trucks.
Fleet2
2A-001, to 2A-050
2B-001, to 2B-050
2C-001, to 2C-050
3A-001, to 3A-050
3B-001, to 3B-050
3C-001, to 3C-050
,,
,,
Fleet Wise Report Newer Fleet
Fleet 13 = 49/00
Fleet 14 =61/03
Fleet 15 = 50/01
Fleet 16 = 35/00
Issuance/ Balance =195/04
Sub Total Issued/Bal =462/07
Export Fleet
Togo = 50
Ghana = 65
Total Issuance For Export =115
Overall Issued/ Bal =577/07
Biometric Evaluation Domestic =460
Biometric Evaluation Export = 110
Total Biometric Evaluation =570
Physical Evaluation Domestic =455
Physical Evaluation Export =105
Total Physical Evaluation = 560
Dispatch = 580
Weigh Bridge
Dan-transport = 580
Export = 100
Dan-commercial = 150

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Commercials = 80
Total = 910
Measurements in Tonnage
Dan-transport = 26,100
Export = 3,000
Dan-commercials = 6,750
Commercials = 2,400
Grand Total Tonnage = 38,250 TONS
Empties trucks at line 1 and 2 loading Bay Report
Dan-transport =13
Dan-commercial = 04
Commercial trucks = 03
Export trucks =00
Loaded Trucks at line 1 And 2 Loading Bay
Dan-transport = 06
Dan-commercial = 04
Commercial trucks = 01
Export =00
Empties Truck At Line 3 And 4
Dan-transport = 11
Dan-commercial Trucks = 00
Commercial trucks = 01
Export =00
Loaded trucks at line 3 And 4
Dan-transport = 05
Dan-commercial = 02
Commercial trucks = 00
Export trucks = 00
Grand total empty/loaded = 30.
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
GPS tracking system unit is a self-contained tracking device that can quickly and effectively locate any
truck, this new technology combines the universal coverage of global positioning system (GPS) satellites with
cellular based communication cellular provider. Tracking fleet management solution lets fleet officers and
managers view multiple interactive maps; each map displayed in its own independently controlled window. For
instance, users can display one map showing all the trucks, but use other windows to stay zoomed in several
specific trucks. This helps fleet officers and managers make better operational decisions by getting the big
picture while focusing on potential problems and emergent situations in detail.

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Fig.1.0: Breakdown Vehicle for 24hrs
From figure 1.0 above, the truck with registration GAK213XA has been on highway breakdown for
more than 48hrs along Benin-Sapele highway. The speed record indicates 0m/s, which revealed that the truck
has not move from the position of breakdown for the past 48hrs. This will help the fleet manager to know the
status of the truck and inform the workshop unit on how to fix the truck to make it operational again.
Fig. 2.0: Simulation of Truck

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The above figure shows the simulation result of truck with registration number DAL790ZS with an
average speed of 61km/hrs. in the direction of south east, along Benin-Abuja highway on a Google map. The
result of the simulation shows that the status of the truck to be on transit either to destination or back to the
company.
Fig. 3.0:Tracking of Truck

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Fig. 4.0: Truck Broke down on Highway
The above figure shows truck GYA286XA on a highway breakdown along Warri-Ughelli-Mbiama road, Port
Harcourt. The speed of the truck is 0 showing the truck as park loaded for a period exceeding 72hrs.
IV. CONCLUSION
The GPS and GSM integration for truck tracking had helped in providing real time truck tracking and
giving the actual status of trucks in Dangote Cement Transport. This fleet tracking system are used in solving
some of the challenges faced by the transportation unit, which could be further extended as follows anti-theft
system for trucks, managing of public transports likes trucks and trains, tracking of valuable assets.
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Ebinowen T.D, et. al. "Fleet Tracking and Monitoring System in Production Industries using
Nova Tracker.” American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), vol. 9(07), 2020, pp. 01-08.