As the weather gets colder and temperatures drop it is vital that transport keeps moving to ensure residents can commute without hassle. Part of keeping the roads safe for users is getting the gritters out through the night and early into the morning to cover the wide network of public roads.
At Radio Solutions, we’ve been delighted to support local councils throughout the UK with communication solutions. One council in particular, were looking at ways to improve operations for their gritter teams.

Challenging Communications

Because of the size of area that a council’s vehicles need to cover, it is important that the control room can reach each vehicle with no chance of loss or dead zones.
Using traditional two-way radios is possible on a wide area network, but it wouldn’t have been a cost-effective solution, or offer the flexibility required.
So, a PTTOC (Push To Talk Over Cellular) option was recommended. PTTOC is a solution that enables communication over the cellular networks. Which uses the main mobile phone masts and reaches every corner of the country with great reliability.
After discussing the overall requirements with the council, it was essential for each vehicle to be able to have instant communication with the dispatch team. From this, the Telo M5 was recommended.
Having a built-in map with live and accurate GPS location of each gritting truck enables the control room to efficiently pre-plan routes. Making sure every inch is covered with real time updates and extra clear voice communication using push-to-talk radios from each driver.

Key Features of the Telo M5 Radio

• High-sensitive antenna: Designed specifically for vehicles, this smart LTE features two high sensitive antennas at the back of the unit to provide reliable 4G / LTE and GPS data.

• Exceptional sound: There is a 2W rated loudspeaker on the right-hand side, which provides plenty of volume for noisy cabins and can be heard clearly over road noise.

• Compatible with Android: The Telo M5 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and a range of sensors such as G-Sensor, Acceleration Sensor, Gyroscope and Compass. This unit operates on Android 5.1 and has an IP54 protection rating.
• Dedicated map function: Clear and sharp, 4-inch IPS capacitive touchscreen with a MAP button which you can program to open Google Maps or other app software.

Results:

Thanks to the integration of the Telo M5 radio units in each vehicle plus a dispatcher in the control room, the council found a number of positive outcomes:

Improved Efficiency: The team at headquarters were able to adapt gritting routes dynamically based on rapidly changing weather conditions. Ensuring that resources were deployed where they are most needed and preventing from some areas being covered twice unnecessarily.

Real-Time Communication: With reliable communication, all the teams can be kept on track and the project timings can run smoothly.

Focus on Safety: In the event of an accident, staff are notified straight away and can divert other vehicles away from the area while simultaneously alerting the emergency services. Also, the safety of the drivers is improved because they are no longer isolated on route and can receive a prompt response if anything goes wrong during their shift.

If your council or organisation is looking for a seamless radio integration to improve communication and efficiency, look no further than SFL Mobile Radio in the North West. Call our team at 01745 335 811 to explore tailored solutions for any size fleet.