Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to streamline the transport task was a central theme to WHG’s TechDRIVE Roadshow on October 22, in Melbourne.
Over 300 guests braved wild winds and pouring rain to attend Seaworks, Williamstown to hear from a range of industry speakers, and interact with the latest technology designed to make operating fleets easier.
WHG Director of Operations, Dylan Hartley set the scene for the event, highlighting the role technology can play in assisting drivers and fleet managers in meeting regulatory requirements and staying safe on the road.
“We believe progress truly happens when technology and people move in the same direction and TechDRIVE very much, to us, has been bringing our clients and our partners and innovators together to share that idea and showcase breakthroughs that are shaping the future of connected transport,” Dylan said.
He announced WHG would soon be offering a Lifetime Warranty on all TCA-approved WHG Telematics hardware systems. “This warranty represents our confidence in our engineering, our accountability to customers, and our promise to provide lasting technology.” The WHG Lifetime Warranty reflects WHG’s commitment to development and advancement to their expansive technology ecosystem, ensuring that fleets are supported through every stage of their journey.
Dylan also encouraged industry to give back and highlighted the special work of the company’s chosen charity, Change the One, which is a purely volunteer driven organisation focused on supporting underprivileged communities in Asia (changetheone.org).
TechDRIVE showcased leading software systems, including Allotrac, iLink Air and more. WHG demonstrated the power of their iLinkAir platform, an app-based interface for fleet managers and drivers, that captures data from a range of activities such as checklists and transport route permits.
With the help of AI, new checklists can be dictated straight into iLink Air for conversion into a document able to be easily shared among all users, supporting drivers to streamline workflows.
Updates to FleetWEIGH Smart On-Board Mass were also shared. FleetWEIGH is designed to make it easier than ever for trucks to be loaded to the correct weights, without the driver having to leave the cab. Combining sensors, telematics, AI, and in-cabin and external displays, the system provides instant updates about vehicle mass, supporting compliance.
AI plays its part in WHG’s FleetASSIST and FleetPREDICT products too, working in the background to alert drivers and fleet operators to issues ranging from fuel consumption to fatigue.
FleetPREDICT, in particular, monitors biometric parameters including the cardiorespiratory system, utilising AI to analyse and monitor data gathered from Garmin smartwatches worn by drivers. FleetPREDICT provides real time alerts to combat fatigue, and proactive fatigue intervention with 90 per cent accuracy, one to eight minutes before the onset of fatigue or a micro sleep.
Cameron Davidson, Director of Bandit Security – Part of the WHG Group, explained how Bandit Security provides 24/7 control room monitoring, and has been managing stolen vehicle recoveries since 2011 in Australia – 267 vehicles have been recovered during 2025 so far. Cameron highlighted the importance of using technology to secure your assets, working with police he said the fastest vehicle recovery had taken just 14 minutes.
WHG’s Oogi AI-powered video telematics system was centre stage. With forward and in-cab facing cameras, Oogi’s AI-driven software is designed to analyse driver behaviour and offer real-time feedback and coaching. The camera can be set up to stand alone, or feed data back to a larger fleet management system. Oogi combines features of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) and Occupancy Monitoring (OCM) into one easy to use system, with privacy front of mind.
WHG also announced their new partnership with Andatech. Andatech’s Interlock technology combined with WHG telematics ensures only drivers with zero alcohol recordings are able to start fleet vehicles and get to work.
TechDRIVE guests also heard from industry leaders including Transport Certification Australian (TCA) General Manager Strategic Engagement and Performance, Gavin Hill. Hill shared the importance of selecting telematics products that have passed TCA certification, which is closely tied to industry requirements, government and national standards.
“I’ll point out there are only 12 certified providers in the market, only 12 from over 100 different technology providers out there today,” Hill said.
“It’s a small pool, because they put their systems and technologies to the test through an independent assessment process where requirements around resilience, durability, reliability, accuracy, and, most importantly, service provision are all assessed, and they meet our requirements.”
Victorian Transport Association Chief Executive Officer, Peter Anderson said he had seen the benefits technology had brought to the industry over the years but noted there was still a long way to go when it came to getting the regulatory settings right to help companies make the most of the changes.
and Asset Tracking system. Image: WHG
He said on the positive side, technology offered great service to customers, drivers and fleet managers, but in the end, freight could not be moved by a computer and it was imperative steps were taken to protect the people the technology was created to serve.
Anderson called out high-tech platforms enabling a gig economy structure to develop in Australia as an example of where the technology was amazing, but its application was driving down working conditions and creating unrealistic expectations on prices in the market. “That creates an unfair workplace, and an unfair and uncompetitive marketplace upon which the good providers are now starting to go out of business,” he said.
“We’ve lost 178 businesses to becoming insolvent in the last 12 months, a lot of that has to do with the inability to be able to compete with the rising costs and rates not following those rising, rising costs.”
Other speakers on the day included Glenn Ellingworth from Transurban, who shared progress on the West Gate Tunnel project as well as Healthy Heads CEO, Naomi Frauenfelder who relayed the successes Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds has had in raising awareness for the mental health challenges of workers in trucks and sheds since its launch, five years ago.