Introduction:
Use this feature to adjust idle RPM thresholds when equipment productivity data appears inaccurate. Setting correct thresholds helps ensure that idle vs. productive time is calculated correctly.
When to use this feature:
Upon initial onboarding for new equipment.
When equipment productivity data appears incorrect.
After switching to a new device or adding new equipment. (Not necessary after simply decoupling/recoupling.)
The Equipment RPM Graph can be accessed in two ways:
Directly: Navigate to Fleet > Equipment > Equipment RPM Graph. This page allows you to search RPM data across multiple days.
Through Equipment Edit Window: Navigate to Manage > Equipment > Add/Edit Equipment, search for the equipment number, and click the Edit button under the Action column. Scroll to the bottom of the equipment popup window and select the Equipment RPM Graph button.
Note: When accessed this way, the graph is limited to displaying RPM data for one day only.
If the Equipment Edit Window graph returns a "No Results" message for the selected date, you can use the main Equipment RPM Graph page (via Fleet > Equipment > Equipment RPM Graph) to search a wider range of dates. This broader view helps locate the necessary RPM data to make idle threshold adjustments.
⚠️ Warning: Unsupported Devices:
Note: Not all equipment will report RPM data, even if a BUS-connected device is present.
If FleetWatcher is unable to retrieve RPMs from the equipment, you will see the following red warning message displayed on the screen:
* The currently coupled device does not support this setting.
In this case, idle thresholds cannot be set for that piece of equipment.
🛠 How to Choose the Correct Idle Threshold on the Graph: When setting the Idle Threshold RPM, it's important to select the high idle range—not the lowest RPM values. If you set the threshold at the low end, some productive activity might still be misclassified as idle—leading to inaccurate productivity reports.
Steps: Setting the Idle Threshold RPM:
Navigate to Manage > Equipment > Add/Edit Equipment, search for the equipment number, and click the Edit button under the Action column. Scroll to the bottom of the equipment popup window to view the Idle Threshold RPM information.
To View the RPM Graph, Select the Equipment RPM Graph button.
The calendar to the right of the button allows you to adjust the one-day view. The default date shown is today's date.
Set the RPM Threshold:
Identify the correct idle RPM visually from the graph.
Click directly on the graph at the desired threshold line. FleetWatcher will automatically:
Round up the RPM number to the nearest increment.
Add an additional 75 RPM to ensure accurate idle/productive threshold.
A confirmation popup appears to confirm the idle threshold.
Save Settings:
Click OK on the popup.
Verify the new RPM setting by refreshing the Equipment Edit page. Initially marked as Not Current, it updates to Current after the next data transmission from the device.
Graph Interpretation:
Idle threshold settings are displayed on the graph with a yellow horizontal line.
Understanding the Threshold:
RPMs above the set threshold count as productive time.
RPMs below the threshold count as idle time.
⏳ Important: RPM Thresholds Are Not Applied Instantly:
Setting an idle RPM threshold does not update the device immediately. Here's how it works:
After you set the threshold and click OK, FleetWatcher sends the update to the device.
The threshold will take effect when the device sends its next engine running data packet.
Until that packet is received, the status will remain as Not Current.
Once the engine is running and the next data packet is sent, the status will update to Current.
Tip: If the equipment hasn’t been started recently, the update may be delayed until the next active engine cycle.
Understanding Idle Threshold RPM Status
The Status column in the Idle Threshold RPM table indicates whether the threshold setting has been successfully applied to the device. Below is a reference to help interpret the statuses:
Status | Meaning |
Current | The idle threshold has been successfully set and acknowledged by the device. |
Not Current | A threshold has been requested but has not yet been applied to the device. |
N/A (Blank) | No idle threshold has been set for this equipment yet. |
Example:
The image below shows examples of each status type:
Row 1: Current – Threshold successfully set and completed.
Row 2: Not Current – Threshold set but pending application.
Row 3: N/A – No threshold set.
Tip: Use the Equipment RPM Graph Page for Broader Data Searches:
If you're accessing the RPM graph from the Edit Equipment window and the graph displays a "No Data" message, it may be because the one-day default range doesn't contain any activity for that asset.
In this case:
Navigate to Fleet > Equipment > Equipment RPM Graph to access a broader view.
Leave the date picker blank to search the last transmission date.
To set the idle threshold from this page:
In the Report Filters at the top, change the RPM Capable dropdown to Settable.
Select the desired equipment from the dropdown list.
Once data loads, click directly on the RPM graph to set the idle threshold for that asset.
This method allows you to locate and set RPM thresholds even when recent single-day data is unavailable in the Equipment Edit view.
Tip: Use the RPM Distribution Chart to Inform Your Threshold
If you're unsure where to set the idle threshold on the Equipment RPM Graph, consider running the RPM Distribution Chart first.
The Distribution Chart shows which RPM ranges the equipment most frequently operates in.
The tallest bar typically represents the idle RPM (or a high-idle value if there are two peaks).
Once you identify the ideal idle RPM from the chart, you can:
Manually enter the value in the Idle Threshold RPM field under the Equipment column in the Edit window.
This is especially helpful if the graph view shows “No Data” or if you want to set an exact, data-backed value.