Runtime/Distance/Efficiency Goal Suggestions

Overview

ARMOR tracks dozens of telemetry metrics, but three categories consistently drive the most value: runtime, distance, and efficiency. Understanding which metrics to monitor—and what thresholds to set—is key to building an effective goal strategy.

This guide provides detailed recommendations for setting meaningful runtime, distance, and efficiency goals, complete with suggested thresholds, constraint types, and real-world examples.

Runtime Goals

What Runtime Measures

Runtime tracks how long an asset's motor or engine is running. It's the single most important metric for understanding utilization and productivity.

Available runtime metrics in ARMOR:

• runTimeToday - Hours of operation today (midnight to midnight)
• runTimeWeek - Cumulative hours this week
• runTimeMonth - Cumulative hours this month
• runTimeTotal - Lifetime hours (odometer equivalent)

Recommended Runtime Goals

1. Daily Runtime Goal (Most Common)

Operation Type	Suggested Threshold	Reasoning
Single shift (8 hours)	5-6 hours	Accounts for breaks, lunch, transitions
Double shift (16 hours)	12-14 hours	Allows for shift changeover, downtime
24/7 operations	20-22 hours	Maintenance windows, operator breaks
Part-time use	2-4 hours	Backup assets, occasional use
Rental assets (customer-driven)	4-6 hours	Ensures active rental, productive use

Example goal configuration:

2. Weekly Runtime Goal

Operation Type	Suggested Threshold	Weekly Schedule
Standard 5-day work week	30-40 hours	Monday - Friday
6-day operations	45-55 hours	Monday - Saturday
Full calendar week	50-60 hours	Monday - Sunday

Why weekly goals matter: Daily spikes or dips are normal. Weekly goals smooth out variations and provide strategic visibility.

3. Monthly Runtime Goal (Executive KPI)

Use case: Long-term performance tracking, ROI measurement, fleet productivity benchmarking.

Distance Goals

What Distance Measures

Distance tracks how far an asset has traveled. Critical for route-based operations, delivery fleets, and mobile equipment.

Available distance metrics:

• distanceToday - Miles or kilometers traveled today
• distanceWeek - Cumulative distance this week
• distanceMonth - Cumulative distance this month
• distanceTotal - Lifetime odometer reading

Recommended Distance Goals

1. Daily Distance Goal

Asset Type	Suggested Threshold	Use Case
Warehouse forklifts	3-5 miles	Short-range, confined spaces
Pallet jacks	1-3 miles	Very localized movement
Delivery vehicles (local)	50-100 miles	Urban/suburban routes
Delivery vehicles (regional)	150-250 miles	Multi-city coverage
Long-haul transport	400-600 miles	Interstate routes
Construction equipment	0.5-2 miles	On-site only, minimal travel

Example goal configuration:

2. Weekly Distance Goal

3. Distance + Runtime Ratio (Advanced)

Why it matters: Tracks if vehicles are moving efficiently or sitting idle while running.

Calculation: distanceToday / runTimeToday

Typical ratios:

• Delivery vehicles: 8-15 miles per hour (accounts for stops, traffic)
• Forklifts: 0.5-1 mile per hour (short trips within facility)
• Construction equipment: 0.1-0.5 mile per hour (mostly stationary work)

Note: This requires creating a custom calculated field or using external reporting tools. Not directly available as a single metric in ARMOR goals.

Efficiency Goals

What Efficiency Measures

Efficiency metrics track waste, optimization, and operational performance. These goals directly impact cost savings and sustainability.

Recommended Efficiency Goals

1. Idle Time Goal (Waste Reduction)

Asset Type	Suggested Threshold	Impact
Forklifts, pallet jacks	At most 2 hours	Reduces battery/fuel waste
Delivery vehicles	At most 1.5 hours	Minimizes fuel consumption
Construction equipment	At most 3 hours	Expected waiting time on job sites
High-efficiency fleets	At most 0.5-1 hour	Aggressive waste reduction targets

Example goal configuration:

2. Charging Time Goal (Battery-Powered Assets)

Charging Type	Suggested Threshold	Reasoning
Standard charging (lead-acid)	At most 8 hours	Full charge cycle
Fast charging (lithium-ion)	At most 4 hours	Rapid charge capability
Opportunity charging	At most 2 hours	Quick top-ups during breaks

Why it matters: Excessive charging time indicates battery degradation, charger inefficiency, or improper usage patterns.

3. Battery Health Goal

Why it matters: Batteries that consistently drop below 15% degrade faster and risk operational downtime.

4. Energy Consumption Goal (Advanced)

Use case: Sustainability reporting, cost control, benchmarking energy efficiency across fleet.

Typical thresholds:

• Electric forklifts: 15-25 kWh per day
• Delivery vans (EV): 50-80 kWh per day
• Gas-powered forklifts: 2-4 gallons per day

Combining Metrics for Comprehensive Monitoring

The "Fleet Performance Package"

Most customers benefit from implementing all three metric categories simultaneously:

1. Runtime Goal - Tracks utilization (are assets being used?)
2. Distance Goal - Tracks mobility (are route-based assets covering territory?)
3. Efficiency Goal - Tracks waste (are assets operating optimally?)

Example: Delivery Fleet Package

• Daily Runtime: At least 6 hours
• Daily Distance: At least 75 miles
• Idle Time: At most 1.5 hours

Together, these goals provide complete visibility into fleet performance.

Adjusting Goals Over Time

Month 1: Baseline

Set conservative thresholds. The goal is to understand actual performance, not trigger constant alerts.

Month 2-3: Refinement

Analyze alert frequency. If too many alerts, relax thresholds. If too few, tighten them. Target 70-85% compliance rate.

Month 4+: Optimization

Introduce stretch goals. Gradually increase runtime expectations or decrease idle time targets to drive continuous improvement.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• ❌ Setting "perfect" thresholds (100% utilization) - Unrealistic and demoralizing
• ❌ Applying same thresholds to all assets - Customize for asset type and usage pattern
• ❌ Ignoring seasonality - Winter operations may differ from summer
• ❌ Not accounting for planned downtime - Exclude assets undergoing maintenance
• ❌ Monitoring too many metrics at once - Start with 3-5 key goals, expand gradually

Related Topics

• Recommended Goals for Fleet Customers - Industry-specific suggestions
• How to Improve Goal Accuracy With Telemetry - Data quality best practices
• How to Create a Custom Goal - Step-by-step implementation

Getting Help

Need help choosing the right metrics and thresholds for your operation? Contact the ARMOR Support Team for personalized recommendations.