Agricultural Machinery Telematics

Fuel monitoring, theft prevention and operating time tracking for tractors, harvesters and agricultural vehicles

Fuel consumption monitoring

Fuel tank monitoring and theft prevention

Machine operating time tracking

Remote engine diagnostics

GPS position tracking

The challenge

Agricultural machinery operates in conditions that make fuel control particularly difficult: remote fields far from supervision, seasonal peaks with multiple machines running simultaneously, complex irregular tank shapes that make level measurement inaccurate with standard equipment, and extended idling periods that inflate consumption without productive output.

Fuel theft in agricultural operations typically happens in two ways: direct siphoning from the tank, and underreporting of refueling volumes against inflated fuel norms. Both are hard to detect without instrumentation on the machine itself.

Wagencontrol hardware gives fleet managers of agricultural enterprises accurate data on actual fuel consumption per machine and per operation, real-time tank levels, engine operating hours broken down by load mode, and GPS tracking of tractors and harvesters across all fields.

Typical results from implementing an agricultural machinery monitoring system:

Fuel and lubricant costs reduced by up to 30%
Maintenance and repair costs reduced by up to 20%
Idle time identified and reduced
Accurate fuel norms established per operation type and field condition

Monitored parameters

Actual fuel consumption per engine hour and per operation
Fuel consumption norms calibration per machine and operation type
Refueling volumes — accurate detection per event
Fuel draining detection — siphoning and return line theft
Fuel temperature compensation

Current fuel level in tank — continuous monitoring
Fill-up and drain events with timestamps and volumes
Complex tank shape compensation — DUT-E handles irregular agricultural tank geometries

Total engine operating hours
Time in Idle / Optimal / Overload modes
Engine RPM, coolant temperature, oil pressure (via CAN bus)
Diagnostic codes and fault detection

Operating time of attached and working equipment
Compliance with operating procedures
GPS location and movement history
Unauthorized use detection via geofences

Fuel monitoring specifics for agriculture

DFM flow meter — the right tool for tractors and combines

Agricultural engines operate under constantly changing loads: different implements, varying terrain, headland turns, extended idling. The DFM inline flow meter measures fuel directly in the engine fuel line, delivering accurate consumption data regardless of machine movement, fuel sloshing in the tank, or mixed operating cycles. This is critical for establishing accurate per-hectare fuel norms.

DUT-E sensor — built for complex tank shapes

Agricultural machinery tanks often have pockets, ledges and steps that cause standard float sensors to give inaccurate readings. The DUT-E probe is cut to the exact depth of the tank and calibrated to its specific geometry, ensuring accurate volume readings across the full range.

CAN bus data from modern tractors

CANCrocodile — read tractor data without wiring changes

Modern tractors and combines transmit a wide range of operating parameters via CAN J1939 bus: engine hours, RPM, fuel consumption, attachment status, fault codes. CANCrocodile reads this data contactlessly — no wire cuts, no connection to the bus, no warranty concerns. The data flows directly into your GPS platform.

MasterCAN — bridge between digital and analogue systems

Where older agricultural equipment uses analogue instruments alongside newer digital components, MasterCAN DAC converts signals in both directions simultaneously. This allows older tractors to be integrated into the same telematics platform as newer CAN-equipped machines, giving a unified view of the entire fleet.