Method and system for producing and displaying a vehicle operating tip to help a driver improve performance

Abstract

Vehicle data is collected during the operation of a vehicle is used to assess various aspects of driver performance and originate a performance ranking. A performance improvement tip is displayed on a website to assist the driver in improving his performance. In preferred embodiments the performance ranking for the driver is displayed. In preferred embodiments, the tip informs the driver of the degree an aspect of his driving performance decreased his ranking relative to other drivers. In a preferred embodiment, information regarding the driver's performance with respect to one or more time period-specific campaigns is displayed.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
         1 . A method of reporting a performance of a driver of a fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 (a) while operating the fleet vehicle, automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver's performance;   (b) enabling a specific driver to be associated with the vehicle data;   (c) using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data to calculate a driver efficiency performance ranking; and   (d) displaying the driver efficiency performance ranking, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website, where the displays includes at least one tip for improving the driver's performance ranking, based on the vehicle data collected during operation of the fleet vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tip relates to one performance metric value, chosen from a group of performance aspects consisting essentially of:
 (a) late shifting;   (b) hard braking; and   (c) excessive idling.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tip discloses the amount by which a performance metric value has reduced the driver's ranking. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the amount by which the performance metric value has reduced the driver's ranking is expressed as a percentage. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tip discloses that a performance metric value has disqualified the driver from a bonus campaign. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tip discloses that a performance metric value on a specified day has disqualified the driver from a bonus campaign. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the display on the driver efficiency performance ranking website permits access to information regarding the driver's performance relative to at least one time-period specific campaign. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one time-period specific campaign is metric specific. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , where the display on the driver efficiency performance ranking website includes a choice-permitting feature, to permit the driver to select a particular time-period specific campaign. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the choice-permitting feature is a radio button selection. 
     
     
         11 . A system for reporting a performance of a driver of a fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 (a) a vehicle data collection assembly;   (b) a computing assembly configured to analyze the vehicle data to calculate a driver efficiency performance ranking; and   (c) a website hosting assembly sufficient to display the driver efficiency performance ranking, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website, where the displays includes at least one tip for improving the driver's performance ranking, based on the vehicle data collected during operation of the fleet vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tip relates to one performance metric value, chosen from a group of performance metric values consisting essentially of:
 (a) late shifting;   (b) hard braking; and   (c) excessive idling.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tip discloses the amount by which a performance metric value has reduced the driver's ranking. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the amount by which the performance metric value has reduced the driver's ranking is expressed as a percentage. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tip discloses that a performance metric value has disqualified the driver from a bonus campaign. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tip discloses that a performance metric value on a specified day has disqualified the driver from a bonus campaign. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , where the display on the driver efficiency performance ranking website permits access to information regarding the driver's performance relative to at least one time-period specific campaign. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one time-period specific campaign is metric specific. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , where the display on the driver efficiency performance ranking website includes a choice-permitting feature, to permit the driver to select a particular time-period specific campaign. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the choice-permitting feature is a radio button selection.