Ryder, a leading UK provider of commercial vehicle rental, contract hire, maintenance and dedicated delivery solutions is celebrating a milestone 5,000 connections across its fleet, working with telematics solutions provider Microlise.

The milestone has been reached during a productive nine year-partnership, which saw contracts signed in October 2010 for an integrated telematics and schedule execution system for Ryder’s dedicated delivery solutions operations. Since then, Microlise and Ryder have strengthened their relationship, with telematics systems introduced across the other Ryder divisions: rental and contract hire.

Microlise provides three core packages to Ryder – Fleet Performance, Journey Management and ePOD, its electronic proof of delivery communications system. Ryder promotes these tailored packages to its customers to improve fleet productivity, provide intelligent journey execution monitoring and deliver significant savings in terms of fuel costs and environmental impact.

Far from providing a standardised solution, Microlise has worked with Ryder to tailor packages to suit divisional end users, gather intelligence and provide contract terms to suit specific requirements.

Operators with a Microlise solution already in place directly benefit when Ryder vehicles are added to their fleets. With telematics hardware in place, vehicles can quickly be ‘activated’ within the operators’ solution, allowing for speedy asset management without the need for installation and set-up.

Microlise Business Development Director, Paul Jurevecius, said: “Our partnership with Ryder is a benchmark success story. Working with a client for almost a decade and completing an impressive 5,000 connections is the result of developing our telematics solutions and data management processes to meet Ryder’s evolving business model.  Over the past nine years, we’ve developed a keen understanding of the systems and differing telematics solutions that suit Ryder, its operating divisions and its users.”

Microlise systems are installed in Ryder vehicles assigned to long term lease contracts upon customer request.  All Ryder rental trailers, and all Ryder rental power assets above 7.5 tonnes are pre-installed with Microlise systems. Microlise also provides a full end-to-end service for Ryder’s dedicated delivery solution customers, with Ryder managing all data generated.

Stephen Hogg, Technology Solutions Manager at Ryder, added: “The contribution Microlise has made to our business over the past nine years is significant – and 5,000 connections is certainly cause for celebration. Whether our vehicles are leased over a number of years, rented out according to specific customer requirements, or we have a client who needs a particular insight into its logistics operations, Microlise has never failed to tailor a solution that is appropriate for us.

“This is a growing relationship and as both businesses continue to evolve, I look forward to working with Microlise on future developments, to provide our customers with market-leading technologies that can have a significant impact on their fleet management.”

Microlise is a world leader in vehicle fleet management solutions. Its suite covers four broad areas: telematics, safety compliance, journey management and proof of delivery. This end-to-end solution helps transport service providers to reduce fuel consumption, maximise vehicle utilisation, improve safety and provide real-time visibility of the fleet against schedule.

 Further information on Microlise can be found at www.microlise.com