Glossary - Telematics

Glossary: Telematics

Are you fluent in Telematics? Explore frequently used terminology here.

Accelerometer - A device that measures the position of the vehicle (up/down, left/right, forward/backward). The information from the accelerometer can be used to measure driver behavior such as rapid acceleration or harsh braking.
Aggressive Driving - High-risk behavior such as speeding, harsh braking, rapid acceleration, hard cornering, etc. Telematics devices can be used to monitor for these driving habits, allowing you to identify coaching opportunities to eliminate this behavior.
Application Programming Interface (API) - Technology used to integrate data across various systems. Most telematics solutions leverage an API to seamlessly integrate data into comprehensive fleet management systems.
ARI insights® - Our award-winning fleet management platform which delivers instant access to real-time information about your fleet through intuitive dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and alerts, helping you centralize your fleet data and identify opportunities for improvement.
ARI Driver Scorecard - A customizable tool that simplifies how you measure the performance of your drivers, pulling data from numerous sources such as telematics devices, accident records, fuel data, MVR reports, and moving violations to rank each driver with an overall performance score.

Controller Area Network Bus (CAN Bus) - Connects and facilitates communication across various engine computer units.

Dashboard Camera - Also know as Dash Cams, these video recording devices are mounted on the dashboard to capture footage while a vehicle is in operation. Dash cams can provide a view of the road from the driver’s vantage point or record in-cab footage. These recordings can be helpful in the event of an accident or can be […]
Data Feed - The flow of data points from the telematics device to an application, fleet management platform, or other data warehouse.
Data Normalization - This is the process of standardizing data received from various sources.
Distracted Driving - Actions such as using a mobile device, eating, or any other activity that takes the driver’s attention off the road or hands off the wheel.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) - ELDs are often used in commercial vehicle applications to automatically record Hours of Service (HoS) as mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in an effort to improve safety and protect commercial drivers from fatigue. An ELD typically captures data related to driving time, vehicle movement, engine data, and miles driven.
Engine Diagnostics - With many telematics devices connecting via the vehicle’s OBD II port, these units are capable of transmitting data for key diagnostics information such as RPM, coolant temperature, fluid levels, trouble codes, etc.
Engine Hours - Measuring engine hours tells you how long the engine has run, accounting for idle time as well as miles driven. In high-idle applications, this allows you to develop more accurate maintenance parameters and this information also allows ELDs to automatically log driver hours.

Fuel Usage - This metric measures how much fuel is consumed by the vehicle, helping you assess efficiency and other key fuel metrics.

G-Force - The movement of the vehicle and its acceleration. Typically measured by an accelerometer, g-force information helps you assess accident data and understand/identify high-risk driving behavior.
Gamification - The concept of leveraging competition or incentivization to promote safe driving habits. By rewarding your safest drivers and/or good driving behavior, you can promote friendly competition among your drivers.
Geofencing - Geofencing allows you to create areas or “boundaries” using GPS data. For example, you can create zones for particular job sites, office locations, maintenance facilities, etc. With these areas or geofences established, you can manage by exception or receive an alert when a vehicle arrives at or leaves a zone. This methodology can be used […]
Global Positioning System (GPS) - A sophisticated network of satellites, monitoring stations, and receivers used to convey global location information. GPS units are used in a variety of devices such as cell phone and vehicles to track location and provide directions.

Hours of Service (HOS) - The regulations that govern the number of hours that drivers can log behind the wheel before they must take a break. This is common in the commercial vehicle industry, particularly for over-the-road fleet operators, and is design in part to help ensure safe operator of vehicles.

In-Vehicle Coaching - This is when an in-cab device is able to deliver alerts to the driver about the operation of their vehicle through audio or visual cues.
International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) - A fuel tax paid by interstate commercial carriers. The tax helps to fund and maintain highways throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many telematics solutions help to significantly simplify IFTA compliance by tracking mileage and fuel consumption.

Machine Learning - Machine learning is the driving force behind predictive modeling and analytics. By analyzing trends and historical data, a computer or artificial intelligence can identify or predict what it most likely to happen next.

Near-Field Communication (NFC) - A collection of communication protocols that enables communication between two nearby devices. In the fleet management space, this technology can be used by telematics devices to verify driver identity and allow access to specific vehicles.

OEM Embedded Telematics - Telematics devices that are factory installed by the manufacturer. These embedded Telematics units require no aftermarket installation and are capable of transmitting vehicle data to Telematics providers via the built-in modem.
On-board Diagnostics Port (OBD-II) - This port is a standard automotive electronic system often used for vehicle diagnostics and reporting. The OBD-II port is used extensively in telematics and fleet management.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) - Original equipment manufacturer or OEM refers to companies that produce cars, trucks, SUVs, etc. along with the associated parts and equipment for these vehicles. Some examples of OEMs include Ford, General Motors (GM), FCA, etc.

Remote Diagnostics - Remote diagnostics can be used in conjunction with telematics devices to generate alerts for diagnostics trouble codes, allowing you to immediately address maintenance issues.

Seat Belt Usage - With some telematics devices, you can monitor the use of seat belts and identify which drivers are not using them, providing opportunities for proactive correction/coaching.

Telematics - A methodology for monitoring an asset – car, truck, van, equipment, etc. – via a device that measures and transmits vehicle data. The factory-installed or third-party telematics unit records information such as GPS location, vehicle speed, driving behavior, diagnostic data, etc. and sends it via the cellular network to a software platform for reporting and […]
Third-Party Device Integration - This term refers to the capability of a software platform such ARI insights to seamlessly integrate information from a wide-range of telematics devices into a centralized data warehouse alongside other operating data for comprehensive reporting and analysis.

4G LTE Network - 4G LTE (or fourth generation long-term evolution) is a term used to describe the type of wireless technology that provides connectivity for many of today’s telematics devices.

5G Network - 5G is a term that refers to the fifth generation of mobile technology. This lightning-fast cellular network is capable of delivering more data at higher speeds than 4G networks and will be the global wireless standard moving forward.