Guest Blog: Using Tracking Data to Stay in Control
By Gary Lawson, Founder of Plant & Machinery Trackers
Smarter Hire Management for Compact Crushers
Compact crushers such as those produced by Dragon Equipment are becoming an increasingly common sight on construction and demolition projects.
Designed to be compact, capable and easy to move between jobs, they allow contractors to process material directly on site, reducing the need to cart waste away and bringing obvious efficiency benefits. Machines like these are clearly built with real-world use in mind, and it shows in the details. Features such as the auxiliary outlet that allows operators to run a hydraulic breaker directly from the machine make a big difference on site. Being able to break down larger pieces of concrete and feed them straight into the crusher without needing additional equipment is a clever and practical solution that saves both time and effort.
One of the reasons that Dragon’s crushers are so popular is their versatility. They are compact enough to move easily between sites, yet powerful enough to deliver serious productivity on demolition and recycling jobs. Because of this, they are often moving regularly between customers, projects and hire yards. For equipment owners and hire companies, having clear visibility of where those machines are working and how they are being used becomes an important part of managing the fleet effectively.
Having installed trackers on a number of compact crushers over the years, we’ve seen first-hand just how useful the usage data can be for hire companies.
Knowing where your machines are
The most obvious benefit of installing a plant tracker is simple location visibility.
Once installed, our tracking system allows equipment owners to see exactly where their machine is at any time through a secure app or web platform. For hire companies operating multiple machines across multiple sites, this can save a considerable amount of time.
Instead of relying on phone calls or paperwork to confirm where a machine is working, fleet managers can quickly check the location of any tracked machine within seconds.
For machines like compact crushers that may regularly move between jobs, this provides valuable oversight of the fleet.
Understanding how machines are actually used
Where tracking systems become particularly valuable for hire companies is in the operational data they provide.
Our tracking platform records when the machine starts, when it stops and how long it has been running. Over time this builds a detailed history of machine activity.
Equipment owners can see:
* When the machine was first started each day
When the engine was switched off
How long the machine ran for
When it was used during the day
The total operating hours of the machine
This information can be extremely useful when managing hire agreements.
If a customer says a machine wasn’t used on a particular day, the data can quickly provide clarity. The system records exactly when the machine was started and stopped, giving owners a clear record of how and when the machine has been used.
In many cases this removes uncertainty and helps avoid misunderstandings between hire companies and customers.
A real-world example from the hire industry
A situation many hire companies will recognise is when a machine is off-hired at the end of the week but remains on site until it is collected.
For example, a crusher might be off-hired on a Friday afternoon with the understanding that it will be collected the following Monday. In the past, this often meant the machine continued to be used over the weekend despite the hire period having ended.
With our tracking system, many hire companies now simply end the hire period on the Friday evening using Remote Start Inhibit.
Very often, the phone rings the following morning to say the machine will not start.
At that point the hire company has full control. If the customer would like to continue using the machine over the weekend, the hire can simply be extended and the machine re-enabled remotely through the app within seconds.
It’s a straightforward way of ensuring machines are only used when they are supposed to be — while still allowing genuine customers to extend the hire quickly when needed.
Remote Start Inhibit – “No Pay, No Play”
The feature that makes this possible is Remote Start Inhibit (RSI).
This feature allows the equipment owner to remotely prevent the machine from starting through the tracking platform. Within the hire industry this is often referred to as “No Pay, No Play.”
It’s a feature we developed specifically with the hire industry in mind, where controlling when machines can and cannot be used is often just as important as knowing where they are.
If a machine reaches the end of its agreed hire period, the owner can simply disable the ability for the machine to start. If the hire is extended, the machine can be re-enabled remotely within seconds through the app.
This approach gives equipment owners far greater control over how their machines are used and helps ensure hire periods are managed correctly.
Reducing unnecessary wear and servicing costs
Tracking data can also help equipment owners manage machine servicing more effectively.
Most plant machinery is serviced based on engine hours rather than mileage. When machines continue to operate outside agreed hire periods, those additional hours quickly add up.
Extra running hours can lead to:
More frequent servicing
Increased parts costs
Additional downtime
Faster depreciation of the machine
By monitoring machine hours and controlling usage through Remote Start Inhibit, equipment owners can prevent unnecessary operation outside agreed hire periods.
Over time, this can make a noticeable difference to maintenance costs and the long-term condition of the machine.
Instant security alerts when something happens
In addition to location and usage data, our tracking system can also provide instant security alerts when something unexpected occurs.
Owners can receive notifications if:
The machine ignition is switched on
The device detects tampering
The machine is moved
The machine is lifted or transported on a trailer
These alerts allow equipment owners to stay informed about activity around their machines even when they are working miles away from the yard.
For equipment that may be left on construction sites overnight or transported between locations, these alerts provide additional reassurance that the machine’s activity is being monitored.
A practical tool for managing modern equipment
Compact crushers are highly productive machines and represent a significant investment for contractors and hire companies.
Our tracking system has been developed specifically around the needs of plant owners and the hire industry, giving equipment owners clear visibility of where their machines are, how they’re being used and when they’re running.
For machines like Dragon’s compact crushers, having clear visibility of where equipment is working and how it is being used simply makes managing the fleet easier.
Comment from Dragon Equipment: Thanks Gary for sharing your experience and insight in to machinery tracking. A lot of thought, time and clever tech goes into our machines, and its great to know that hire companies are using equally clever tech to look after their machines in the field.
If you have something you would like to share, we’re always on the look out for guest bloggers - email laura@dragon-equipment.co.uk to get involved!
