Logistics & Trucking Fleet Telematics
Fuel consumption control, axle load monitoring and FMS data for freight trucks and distribution fleets
Fuel consumption monitoring
Fuel theft prevention
Axle load and cargo weight control
Engine diagnostics via CAN bus
GPS route and location tracking
The challenge
Fuel is the single largest operating cost for logistics fleets — typically 25–35% of total vehicle running costs. At fleet scale, even a 5% reduction in consumption translates directly into significant profit. The challenge is that without instrumentation on each truck, overconsumption is invisible: it hides in inflated fuel norms, unreported driver behaviour, or simple theft from the tank at stops.
At the same time, European weight regulations impose strict axle load limits on freight vehicles. Overloading fines are substantial, and the damage to tyres, suspension and road surfaces from chronic overloading multiplies maintenance costs over time. Without an onboard load sensor, a driver has no way to verify whether a loaded trailer is within legal limits until the next weigh station.
Wagencontrol hardware gives logistics operators accurate per-trip fuel consumption data, real-time tank level monitoring, axle load readings before departure, and full CAN bus data from the truck’s ECU — all integrated into any existing GPS tracking platform.
Monitored parameters
- Actual fuel consumption per trip, per route, per driver
- Fuel consumption split by engine mode: Idle / Optimal / Overload
- Consumption norms calibration and deviation alerts
- Detection of fuel system tampering attempts
- Current fuel level in each tank — volume in litres
- Refueling events: volume, location, time
- Fuel drain detection — siphoning and return line theft
- Fuel temperature monitoring
- Current axle load — each axle individually
- Total cargo weight and total vehicle weight
- Overload alerts before departure
- Loading and unloading events with location and timestamp
- Unauthorised cargo detection
- Engine operating hours by mode
- Engine RPM, coolant temperature, oil pressure
- Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) — remote fault detection
- Onboard voltage and power supply monitoring
Fuel control in the fuel line vs tank level
DFM flow meter — accurate consumption per trip
The DFM inline flow meter measures actual fuel consumption directly in the engine fuel lines, with measurement accuracy of 1–3% depending on installation. This gives exact litre-per-kilometre or litre-per-hour figures for every trip, independent of road conditions, load or driving style. Comparing actual consumption against established norms per route immediately reveals overconsumption and driver behaviour issues.
DUT-E level sensor — tank monitoring at every stop
The DUT-E sensor monitors fuel level continuously and logs every refueling and drain event with volume, time and GPS location. Combined with the flow meter, it provides a complete picture: how much fuel the engine used (flow meter) versus what actually disappeared from the tank (level sensor). Discrepancies indicate theft or tampering.
Axle load control for European compliance
GNOM sensors — weigh before you move
European road regulations set strict axle load limits. The GNOM axle load sensor installs on the truck’s suspension and provides the driver and fleet manager with real-time cargo weight data. Overload alerts trigger before the vehicle departs, preventing fines, suspension damage and potential liability for road damage.
The GNOM DP mounts on the bogie of a semi-trailer. The GNOM DDE mounts directly on the truck’s drive axle. Both transmit data to the GPS platform in real time.
Beyond compliance — operational insight
Axle load data also shows loading and unloading events with exact timestamps and GPS coordinates. This provides a verifiable record of where cargo was picked up and delivered, detects unauthorised loading or unloading between stops, and gives logistics managers the data to optimise load distribution across the fleet.
CAN bus data from modern trucks
Full FMS data without additional hardware
Modern trucks from Mercedes, Volvo, DAF, MAN, Scania and other manufacturers transmit a rich set of parameters via CAN J1939 and FMS interfaces: engine hours, fuel consumption, RPM, fault codes, AdBlue level, tachograph data and more. MasterCAN reads and converts this data into a format compatible with any GPS tracking platform — no additional sensors needed where the data already exists in the CAN bus.
CANCrocodile — for older trucks and non-standard buses
Where direct FMS access is not available or practical, CANCrocodile reads CAN bus or J1708 data contactlessly — no wire cuts, no connection into the bus, no warranty impact. It works on vehicles where the OBD or FMS port is restricted, locked or simply inconvenient to access.
