How to Use Fleet Management Software to Find Odometer Tampering

 Summary

The practice of tampering with odometers is not new. Since automakers began installing mechanical odometers so they could set a greater price when selling a used car, private automobile owners have done it.

This is a widespread issue in the fleet industry, and fleet drivers are motivated by the possibility of "earning an extra buck"—quite a lot of it! Fleet owners are frequently aware of the ongoing wrongdoing but lack sufficient evidence to take appropriate action.

Even though there have historically been ways to detect odometer fraud, it has always been a contentious issue amongst fleet operators, car and fleet owners, and vehicle vendors. The management of the organization is now able to properly monitor, spot, and stop odometer manipulation thanks to the development of contemporary technology like Vehicular Telematics, centralized servers, and GPS-enabled Fleet Management Software.

Odometer tampering: What is it?

Odometer tampering is the illegal practice of inflating the reading on a vehicle's odometer to give the impression that fewer miles have been driven than actually have been. This is a dishonest practice that raises the price of the vehicle and tricks the buyer into thinking he is getting a car with fewer miles on it.

Odometer tampering: Why does it happen?

Since automakers started installing odometers in their cars, odometer manipulation has been a concern. When odometers were mechanical in the past, "rolling back" involved manually changing the reading and reinstalling the odometer on the dashboard.

However, is odometer tampering still an issue today? After all, contemporary automobiles have computerized mileage records and are highly technologically advanced. Well, con artists have also advanced! Because they now manipulate the odometer software rather than doing it manually, this fraudulent activity continues to this day despite technological advancements.

Fleet drivers lie about the mileage on their vehicles while car owners do so to get a higher price when they sell them. They can claim extra compensation for journeys where they are paid per mile by increasing the odometer reading. Or by lowering the readout to reflect fewer miles and reduce fuel use.

Methods used in the past to detect odometer tampering

For mechanical odometers, rolling back the digit gears and removing the device from the dashboard are required in order to tamper with the mileage. Detection is comparatively simple because there are various visible tampering cues that are frequently observed.

For digital odometers, this typically entails connecting to the vehicle via a diagnostic port to gain access to the odometer software and then editing the previously saved data. Unfortunately, online and at repair shops, tech tools to engage in this behavior are readily available (they are also used by licensed repair shops for legal car work).

The six conventional techniques for spotting odometer fraud are listed below.

• Odometer readings that are unusually low: Depending on the vehicle and the use it was put to, there is normally a typical number of miles it would have covered. If something is different and the owner can't adequately explain it, you should be worried.
• Original car title: the vehicle title includes the odometer reading. Watch for it: if there has been foul play, the seller may attempt to provide a duplicate title, tamper with the original, or even be reluctant to present the genuine title.
• Check the vehicle's history: a vehicle history check provides detailed details on previous owners, repair history, and accident history. Importantly, details about each repair the car receives from approved shops are added to this record, along with the current reading on the odometer. Utilize the vehicle identification number (VIN).

• Check the dashboard for signs of manipulation, such as physical signs like scratches, an awkward fit in the dashboard, or crooked odometer digits.
• Consult your technician: Of course, having your mechanic examine the vehicle is always a wonderful choice.
• Control module: Scammers might overlook the car control module, but it also keeps track of mileage. The control module isn't always affected when the odometer is tampered with. It would be simple for a mechanic to look for inconsistencies in mileage.

Utilizing fleet management software is a contemporary method of identifying odometer tampering.

Odometer manipulation is still a regrettable prevalent practice, especially in the transportation sector, as was already mentioned. Even though they are aware, fleet owners frequently lack the evidence necessary to address bad operators or drivers.

The use of onboard vehicle telematics, sensors, connected intelligence, and data analytics, however, has driven the automotive industry into the information age with the introduction of contemporary GPS-enabled fleet management systems (etc). In other terms, it refers to the integration of wireless communications, location-based services, and in-vehicle electronics using data that is generated and transferred to vehicles over wireless networks.

Tracking tampered cases

A typical user interface for GPS-enabled fleet management software is shown below.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as the number of refueling stops, the total distance traveled, etc. are now readily accessible. The pre-defined KPIs give management a clear comparison between planned vs. actual while accounting for some natural deviations, such as bad weather, more trips required, traffic congestion (etc.). Therefore, it is now very difficult to pass along phony odometer readings.

Odometer manipulation severely reduces income.

In their contracts, fleet operators and clients specify a "rate per mile." The profitability and sustainability of the whole logistics and supply chain ecosystem will be impacted by erroneous payouts and fraudulent mileage.

Conclusion: 

Modern fleet management software has made it possible for business management to stop odometer tampering and its related drawbacks. This software can electronically track mileage and also record it on centralized systems for examination.

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