In This Article:
- OEM data includes essential information your vehicle’s diagnostic system tracks
- While OEM data is valuable, it doesn’t include everything a rental fleet manager may need to know about their vehicles
- OEM data is reactive rather than proactive, only notifying fleet managers of problems when they occur
- Real-world examples show how fleet managers benefit from data beyond what vehicle diagnostic systems provide
What Is OEM Vehicle Data?
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) data refers to information a vehicle’s diagnostic system tracks. In most makes and models, the dashboard displays this data and gives you insight into the vehicle’s health and the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance actions. Common OEM data includes:
- Vehicle health and diagnostics — Warning lights, engine status, and oil life indicators
- Location and mileage — Last known vehicle location, odometer reading, and trip mileage information
- Fuel and EV status — Fuel level, estimated fuel range, and charging status
For your rental vehicle fleet, tracking OEM data can help diagnose problems, monitor wear and tear, and keep your fleet running efficiently. Monitoring your vehicles’ OEM data is the first step in protecting your fleet. While you hope your drivers will operate your vehicles responsibly, fleet managers often struggle to track driver-specific wear and tear — especially for larger fleets with quick turnaround.
Limitations of OEM Data
As vehicles become more sophisticated with robust diagnostic systems, the amount of OEM data available to drivers continues to grow. While the data is valuable, there are still gaps:
Limited Driving Context
OEM data typically focuses on the vehicle’s health and performance instead of the driver’s behavior. As a result, OEM systems often fail to capture:
- Hard braking
- Sudden acceleration
- Excessive idling
- Frequent or continuous location pinging
This limited context creates blind spots that hide high-risk driving behaviors that lead to unnecessary wear, higher maintenance costs, and safety incidents.
Proactive Alerts
A vehicle’s diagnostic system alerts you when something goes wrong, which makes OEM data more reactive than proactive. Your data will often lack:
- Real-time battery information
- Proactive maintenance reminders
- The urgency of a service issue
As a result, teams often allow minor issues to go unnoticed until they escalate into bigger problems. Real-time insights allow fleet managers to prioritize maintenance needs before they disrupt operations.
Why You Need More Than OEM Data
OEM data such as GPS location, speed, and oil life helps you maintain your fleet, keeping your drivers safe. However, monitoring OEM data is not the only step in maintaining a top-notch fleet. As a fleet manager, it’s important to track supplemental vehicle health data. Access to information like battery and engine health warnings, real-time location tracking, and diagnostic trouble codes can save your business from incurring extra costs and keep your vehicles on the road for longer.
A study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that onboard monitoring systems significantly reduced safety event rates in fleet vehicles. In fact, participating fleets reduced safety events by 15.8% between the baseline and intervention periods.
Fewer safety events mean fewer accidents, and fewer accidents mean your fleet can be on the road longer. Monitoring driving behaviors not only adds a layer of accountability for drivers, but also for fleet managers. Having detailed, driver-specific data creates opportunities for real-time, tailored coaching — helping protect both managers and drivers.
OEM Data is a Starting Point — Not the Full Picture
OEM data answers the question: “What has happened to a vehicle?”
Rental operations often need to answer: “What is happening to my vehicle and how do I address it before it’s too late?”
Because you can’t be everywhere at once, OEM vehicle data plays an essential role in fleet visibility. But it doesn’t tell the full story. You require proactive telematics to let you know what your vehicles need and when they need it, helping you avoid the dreaded situation of discovering issues when it’s already too late. From giving you a warning for future maintenance needs to driver-specific insights that impact your fleet, larger operations often require deeper, more contextual data that can provide real-time feedback and allow you to act immediately. As your fleet grows, so will your need to utilize detailed supplemental insights that your vehicle’s OEM doesn’t provide.