A new asset management tool from Briggs Equipment is
designed to give managers control over their lift truck fleets
and help promote optimum safety and efficiency.Simon
Duddy, editor of IPE’s sister publication – Handling &
Storage Solutions – attended the launch

Speedshield is the second management
tool developed by Briggs and works
alongside BE Fleet, offering a range of
modules in a bid to match customer
requirements.

Features offered by Speedshield include:
Zoning: This allows managers to enforce
variable speed limits around a site or
multiple sites.

Two-way commands: Managers control
fleet performance and speed in real-time
from any online PC.

Impact detection: Managers are
immediately alerted by any significant
impacts facilitating fast and efficient
investigation.

Auto-shutdown suite: This can be used to
cover unlatched seatbelts, impact
emergency shutdown and idle time-outs,
for example.

Les Knight, BE Fleet divisional manager,
comments “We want our customers to be in
full control of their fleet, minute-by-minute.

Speedshield gives customers the ability to be
proactive instead of reactive. It provides
real-time fleet information instead of
standard KPIs.”
Speedshield also enforces a tailored
checklist on start-up. This gives users a
compliance record with exceptions locking
out a unit and informing supervisors.

Managers can monitor trucks on any
internet-enabled PC through the web-based
Speedshield application. They can send
commands to their fleet or an individual
unit, rectifying issues immediately and can
set permission levels for staff using the
application.

As it is web-based, machine activity can be
accessed anywhere in the world. It can also
be linked to individual drivers. Furthermore,
Speedshield can be programmed to read
existing company ID cards ensuring that
only licensed operators use a given machine.

With a control box rated to 90V DC,
Speedshield can be hard wired into any
vehicle without the need for converters or
additional connectors. Once fitted, Briggs’ BE
Fleet team train the customer to help them
make the most of the system.

Knight continues: “The system connects
via global roaming GSM that sources and
connects to the strongest signals. This way,
efficiency and control is kept to a maximum.

Speedshield and BE Fleet are two-halves of a
unique whole; severing forever the reliance
of a fleet manager on the manufacturer or
their supplier for KPI reporting or fleet
control.We are breaking the mould and
putting the customer at the heart of their
fleet with their own online reporting and
control.”
Customers such as Celanesse Assitate,
Travis Perkins, Honda,Mars and Nestle are
evaluating Speedshield, and Kanes Foods has
purchased the system.

Although keen to highlight the cost saving
and efficiency benefits for users, Knight also
stresses that the company is not sitting on its
laurels. “We are already on the next stage of
development and in the very near future this
technology could allow customers to
pinpoint unit locations on online maps,
anywhere in the world, locating assets
to within a few feet.”
Paul Dawson,
designer of the
Speedshield
product, which was
developed in
Australia, adds: “The
crucible for mitigating
risk is Australia because
workers are insured by
the State. This has created
a lot of impetus to make
sure accidents don’t happen.

“The Australian
government carried out
research and found that lift
trucks were a major source of
accidents. Speedshield was developed in
response.”