HIGH mileage fleets are being given the opportunity to slash running costs with a new system offering real-time traffic and travel information (TTI). Satellite-based vehicle tracking solutions company Global Telematics has launched a service that allows fleet managers to log on to the Orchid management system and access up-to-the-minute congestion, incident and traffic-related information that could cause drivers to be delayed and running costs to rocket.

Nigel Porter, technical director of Global Telematics, said: 'With fuel consumption for vehicles covering 50,000 miles a year accounting for 71% of total running costs, the chance to reduce excess usage is a central issue for fleet managers.'

Orchid TTI is a web-based service and information is given to users on five, 10 or 15-minute intervals or on demand. The information is displayed by icons, which are overlaid onto a driver's existing street map. Icons are used to identify road problems, transport difficulties, special events, road works and delay times. The new service is based on an agreement with Trafficlink - a supplier of TTI to UK radio stations - and will incorporate Trafficlink technology into the Orchid TTI package.

Tim Vestey, managing director of Trafficlink, said the technology would help decision-makers avoid driver delays. He added: 'Where it's too late to divert vehicles, fleet managers can assess severity and reschedule deliveries as appropriate.' The pricing structure is £2 per vehicle per month for the first 60 vehicles and each vehicle after that it is £1 per vehicle per month. Customers must sign up for the full 12-month period.