Toll Group, Australia’s leading transport company, unveiled its first ever Australian Control Room in Melbourne today which will enable improved safety and more efficient deliveries throughout the country.
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the Control Room is the new nerve centre for Toll’s national road network, responsible for monitoring fleet location, delivery times, engine performance, driver fatigue and distractions, speed events, and incident analysis – all in real time.
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, helped officially open the new facility today.
“It is an important milestone, not only for Toll, but for the community and industry in our quest to improve road safety across Australia,” Mr McCormack said.
“It shows how industry can harness the benefits of new transport technology, to solve real-life problems. An aim supported by the Liberal and Nationals’ Government.
“I am very impressed with what I’ve seen here today. It is clear a significant amount of expertise has been invested by Toll in this facility to support drivers and the community.
“Toll and the Australian Government share a commitment to seeing truck drivers – indeed all Australians – home safely.”
Toll President of Group Operational Services, Peter Stokes said the Control Room puts Toll at the forefront of transport tech.
“Our new Toll Control Room is a major milestone for our company and the businesses we support throughout the country,” Mr Stokes said.
“Using data and digital technologies, the Control Room allows the Toll team to view and respond to any safety or operational issue across the country.
“Our team now have the very latest technology at their fingertips, enabling them to safely monitor and move our fleet across our national network like never before, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The new centre is an investment in the future of our transport network and will ensure Toll continues to deliver strong results for safety and on-time deliveries.”
The Control Room features a massive video wall with a 9.5 metre interactive touch LED display screen - the largest in Australia and one of the largest of its kind in the world. Smart software integrates data from multiple sources including Toll’s in-truck telematics, which is then displayed and interacted with at the screen.
The new Control Room comes as Toll gears up ahead of the busy peak holiday season, where the number of linehaul movements is expected to surge by up to 40%.
The Control Room is staffed by 24 specialist analysts, planners and operational personnel.
Toll also announced today that it will partner with the Australian Government under a new telematics data sharing project that aims to improve road safety and infrastructure planning.
Among the technical features of the Control Room are:
The first Australia-wide Control Room for Toll
Comprehensive monitoring of biometric eye-tracking technology that detects driver distractions and
potential fatigue
Connection to GPS-enabled telematics to track truck location, and monitor driving hours to help manage
fatigue
Oversees telematic systems to improve truck and operator performance to reduce fuel usage and carbon emissions
Remotely monitors road speed data in real time allowing intervention if necessary
LED interactive display technology for enhanced operator collaboration
The Control Room is part of Toll’s broader eight year $1.6 billion investment in new fleet and equipment.