A new monitoring service from Mentor Engineering will track excessive speed and idling time to help fleets reduce fuel costs, minimize liability and improve driver behavior.

The Mentor Fleet Monitor tracks speed and idling, sending the data to from an in-vehicle mobile computer to a hosted server where reports are created for the fleet manager. Reports can be customized for each vehicle, delivered via e-mail at a time of the manager’s choosing and includes the location of each speeding or idling event on a satellite map.

“Mentor Fleet Monitor is an exciting service addition to help clients manage the challenges of their fleet-based business. It offers our existing and future clients expanded functionality and added value,” said Mike Koebel, vp-- sales & business development. “With the ability to track when and where vehicles exceed a speed threshold and reducing the avoidable idling of vehicles, clients can encourage better driver behavior and see real fuel savings. Monitoring vehicle idling also provides another way to support green initiatives.”

According to Mentor, a 5% accident reduction for a 50-vehicle fleet can save between $18,000 and $36,000 a year.