Cemex launches GPS monitoring of French boats

643 Cemex is aiming to improve delivery of aggregates in France by river with the launch of a new GPS-based monitoring system. The company operates 88 transportation barges and 12 pusher boats on the River Seine and the new satellite-based system is designed to optimise the operation.

The GPS tracking allows Cemex to follow the activity of the barges, analyse travel time between sites and evaluate the timing for loading and unloading materials. The company will also be able to constantly monitor the exact location of its fleet while optimising turnover, creating new efficiencies and improving management. Most importantly, the GPS will be an added benefit for customers because the company’s Customer Service Centre is now able to provide real-time updates of the material’s location.

“Fluvial transportation is a major issue for our activities, this is why we have developed, together with the 4477 Novacom Services, a system for real-time location of our fleet,” said Cemex France logistics director for the aggregates division Valérie Cornet. “Fluvial transportation also has the added benefit of vastly reducing our CO2 emissions, making it a sustainability priority as well.”

Additionally, pusher boats have been equipped with technology to detect anomalies in fuel consumption, thereby keeping fuel costs down and reducing emissions.