An equipment health monitoring and fleet dispatching system for logging trucks

Summary form only given. A research project directed at the development of an automatic fleet monitoring system is described. Log truck operating parameters are monitored remotely and automatically and transmitted to a base station for data-logging and near real time display and analysis. The system is being developed for the special needs of the forest industry. It is hoped that when fully operational and linked to fleet dispatching and maintenance trending algorithms, it will realize estimated cost savings of 15-30%. The vehicle monitoring system consists of: (1) an onboard computer system that monitors the mechanical health of the trucks, (2) a DataRadio telemetry system to transfer the collected data to the base station via a repeater, and (3) a base computer for polling the trucks, data logging, display and analysis. The system samples 27 mechanical parameters, including engine oil and coolant pressure, temperature, and level; exhaust gas, retarder oil, transmission oil, and differential oil temperatures; and brake supply and application air pressure.<>