Fleet group monitoring is essential and includes the ability to 1. track vehicles in real time and 2. use communication tools for vehicle operators. Fleet groups are sets of vehicles that are assigned within your ITS software (in your Transit Assets product suite), and by definition, are typically 'Fixed Route' vehicles monitored by your dispatch team for schedule adherence, operator on-the-fly needs, and managing events and communications, etc.. Maintenance staff can also monitor vehicle health alerts in the maintenance queue and see where vehicles are located in real time on the live/ dispatch map:
Live Map:
Dispatch Map:
When you log on to the myAvail system, the default fleet groups and talk groups you will monitor are already assigned to your position and personnel accounts so they will be visible on the dispatch map/ live map, you'll see exactly where vehicles are located on the road in real time, and you have access to communication tools to support operator needs. Your account will include specific 'Talk Groups', to further ensure communications can be sent and received.
Personnel Accounts/ Positions Connection:
Each of your staff are assigned a position in the system. Each position includes permissions that grant or deny access to various parts of your products, simply based on workflow. For example, the Dispatch and Maintenance positions both, by default, should include 'Fixed Route' monitoring.
Positions: A standardized set of permissions per role ( dispatcher, manager, maintenance, finance, supervisor, operator, exec, etc.). In the screenshot below, the dispatch position is highlighted:
Positions are also easily customizable by your agency. Avail understands that no two agencies operate in the same way. It may be your Operations Manager, a Senior Dispatcher, Supervisor, etc. who create staff accounts and provide access to features, such as 'monitoring fixed route vehicles, within your ITS tools; so you can easily manage and customize who has/ needs access to monitor fleet vehicles and communications. Review additional information here: Position Settings Tab.
Personnel Card: Individual accounts assigned to a (standardized) position
Personnel accounts are created in ETMS> Human Resources> Personnel Card:
Alternate view:
Closed Mic Systems: In closed mic systems, when dispatchers have to step away from the dispatch office/ stop actively monitoring, system design includes ways to continue monitoring and communications. First, ensure that all dispatchers who will monitor fleet vehicles have permissions included in their accounts for all your vehicle fleet types.
Use the 'Auto Response' setting located in the Dispatch Menu- Commonly used in closed mic systems