ICO International Car Operators loads and unloads more than two million new cars annually from roll-on/roll-off ships at terminals in the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. Since 2016, ICO has been using LIVE.connect to monitor safety on the docks: speed by zone, driving with the sliding door open, driving behavior, cycle times, and who is driving—all tracked via the driver’s Alfapass.
About ICO International Car Operators
ICO specializes in the handling and storage of roll-on/roll-off cargo: primarily new vehicles, construction machinery, and heavy lifting equipment. In addition, ICO provides vehicle processing, shipping agency services, customs clearance, and complete door-to-door logistics. Through its terminals in Antwerp and Zeebrugge, ICO handles more than two million vehicles annually for major automakers and RoRo shipping lines.
The Challenge: Safety on the Docks
To load and unload ships, ICO deploys drivers who constantly drive in and out of the ship, to and from a designated parking area on the port grounds. Once a driver has dropped off a vehicle, he is picked up by a driver shuttle that takes him back to the ship. To save time, the shuttle drives right up to the ship, stopping close to the next vehicles in line.
The constant back-and-forth driving by a large group of drivers, amid the hustle and bustle around the ship and under intense time pressure, created unsafe conditions on the docks. Vans often drove with their sliding doors open so that drivers could get in and out more quickly. Drivers were speeding, braking abruptly, accelerating hard, and making sharp turns, which also put a heavy strain on the engine and tires. A fatal accident in a zone with a speed limit of 30 km/h was the last straw for ICO: the company decided to address safety using IoT technology.
ICO was looking for a way to maximize safety on the docks while also optimizing its logistics operations. An additional challenge: the hardware also had to have sufficient GPS reception inside the ship’s metal hull to continue recording data. The constant movement on and off the docks puts a heavy strain on the system, so ICO wanted robust devices it could rely on.
What ICO wanted to measure
The ICO briefing was detailed and clear: collect as much data as possible, for each driver's van and each team.
Per driver van
Location
Know where each driver's van is located at the terminal.
Speed on the docks
Use geofencing to create a heat map of speeds, in order to strategically place speed cameras.
Door Detection with Alarm
Determine when a van is traveling at 10 km/h or faster with the door open.
Driving behavior
Record sudden braking, acceleration, and turns using driving behavior monitoring.
Distance traveled
The total distance per month, per vehicle.
Defects and Damage
Is the van still safe to drive in terms of tire tread, oil, maintenance schedule, and inspection certificate?
Per team
Driver Identification
Who drives which van and when? The drivers check in using their Alfapass.
Cycle time
Calculate the delivery cycle (pickup, delivery, pickup) to optimize productivity and staffing.
Fuel consumption
Compare fuel consumption to encourage drivers to drive more efficiently.
Given the complexity and high requirements, we proposed a robust, high-end device equipped with a door contact, a buzzer, and an Alfapass reader. That reader was developed specifically at ICO’s request and is now part of our standard solutions for driver identification.
The Solution
ICO uses LIVE.connect. Both FLEET.connect and LIVE.connect track your vehicles, but you should choose LIVE.connect if you want to combine that with team management.
Safety Behind Closed Doors
The AllConnects tracker is connected to the van’s onboard computer and receives a signal from the door sensor every time a door opens or closes. If a driver exceeds the speed limit, this is recorded, and the driver hears a warning via the buzzer. The tracker also measures G-forces while driving and transmits all data to LIVE.connect.
Speed Zones with Geofencing
Geofencing allows you to set up a virtual fence around an area, so you can designate zones as permitted or restricted. If a vehicle crosses the boundary, the person in charge immediately receives an email notification. In LIVE.connect, the manager can view all recorded speeds of the driver vans in an overview and on a map. This heat map serves as the basis for strategically placing mobile speed cameras and capturing violations on camera.
Automated vehicle inspection
In the past, maintenance and inspections were tracked manually. Now, the driver receives periodic automated notifications to perform a vehicle inspection within a specified timeframe. Using the LIVE.connect app on his smartphone, he goes through the standard inspection checklist and adds comments and, where necessary, photos of any damage. The fleet manager reviews the inspection reports for each vehicle in LIVE.connect and takes action as needed.
Calculating Cycle Time Using Geofencing
These same geofence zones also automatically calculate cycle time. This data shows the average number of cycles per hour and identifies where bottlenecks or wait times occur. This allows ICO to better plan staff deployment during peak times.
The result
ICO International Car Operators has been working with AllConnects since 2016. Terminal manager Johan Lockefeer receives a daily report containing three figures:
He uses these reports to compare and analyze the data and make adjustments where necessary. According to ICO, the safety score has improved significantly since the system was implemented, and maintenance and repair costs are considerably lower.
Want more security on your own property?
Speed zones, a door alarm, and insights into driving behavior: we’d be happy to work with you to see what’s feasible at your site or for your fleet.
