Californian video telematics firm Lytx has launched an asset-tracking service to augment its fleet management offering.

Available in the USA and Canada, the asset-tracking service can be used by fleet managers looking for a streamlined approach to locating and managing their powered equipment. The company also announced several maintenance enhancements for its fleet tracking service, which are slated for release later this year.

With nearly $1bn dollars of large machinery lost or stolen in the USA every year, fleet managers need an efficient way to secure and locate their most important powered assets.

Available now, the Lytx service is designed for fleet managers who need timely information about their powered equipment. The service consists of asset tracker hardware and a monthly subscription per unit that grants access to the customisable software via a Lytx account.

Asset tracking can be essential for those with mixed fleets since the location of assets can change quickly. Without a means of locating and tracking equipment, companies can be exposed to theft and loss of equipment.

By installing an asset tracker device into a powered asset and using the tracking software, companies can obtain data such as the asset serial number, current estimated location, last connected time and the last movement date. Customised real-time alerts provide additional visibility including how long the equipment has been dormant, battery level, and when an asset enters or exits a defined area.

Paired with the fleet tracking service, asset tracking can provide fleet managers with the peace of mind of knowing where their vehicles and essential powered equipment are at all times. This full-view visibility gives fleet managers and business owners the ability to track history and travel patterns to determine vehicle and equipment usage, as well as whether they need to buy more equipment or offload some.

Although the fleet tracking service is not required to purchase the asset tracking service, subscribers to both have the benefit of being able to view their vehicles as well as their powered equipment in one integrated map.

Enhanced by video, Lytx’s GPS fleet tracking software lets companies manage and monitor their vehicles and assets in the field so they can respond faster, complete more jobs, decrease theft and improve customer satisfaction. With an installed GPS-enabled device, fleet managers can gain visibility into arrival, idle and departure times, leading to faster decision making and reduced fuel costs.

The fleet tracking service can be customised to suit different fleet needs, including setting defined areas called geofences, configuring interactive maps, and analysing trends and performance. Video-enabled devices can enhance asset tracking by providing video evidence to help protect drivers and reduce claims costs in the event of a collision, as well as with supporting investigations of damage incidents or missing equipment.

Maintenance enhancements are in development and will be added to the fleet tracking service later this year. Those capabilities include:

• DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) support for heavy-duty vehicles: With current support for light-duty vehicles and upcoming support for heavy-duty vehicles, DTC insights can identify potential vehicle malfunctions and help managers resolve issues before they become more dangerous and costly.
• Preventative maintenance by calendar: Fleet managers will be able to configure and schedule vehicle service intervals proactively with due dates set by calendar day. This can help with performing time-based vehicle maintenance, which can result in fewer vehicle failures.
• Preventative maintenance by engine hours: Managers will also be able to track engine hours and have the option to schedule maintenance by engine hours, which can help measure the wear and tear on vehicles.

Lytx helps protect and connect thousands of fleets and 1.6 million drivers in more than 60 countries.