Author Archives: mich2011

Corporate Identity Shift- Brian Boling, CEO

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What’s in a name? If done properly, everything! ProconGPS was born in an era when GPS was something only found in the oceans of the world as part of maritime navigation and safety equipment. In 2001 the founders of the company introduced the first commercialized integrated analogue cell phone / GPS functionality in the USA designed for landlubbers, A Protect and Connect™tag line used for that product finally grew into a descriptive name used to define the device and its security focus: ProconGPS, Inc.

Fast forward about a decade and we find that while the cellular + GPS combination has thrived in this new digital age, the name of the game is no longer simply providing a working combination device. Data can now be gathered from a multitude of sensors in the mobile world. That data can be analyzed on the device or pushed to a server environment where it is sliced and diced and evaluated such that the information forthcoming can be valuable and critical to customers that are trying to improve mobile workforce and asset management. Today our mission is to connect companies to their mobile assets & workforce through game changing information platforms; putting the power in their hands to manage actionable business intelligence. So we needed a proper name - one that covers this territory without suggesting a device bias.

After months of deliberation with our partners & shareholders, along with extensive research done by our marketing team, we are ready to announce that name to the world. Our passion is to climb to the summit of mobile business intelligence. So we wanted a name that would work off of a root word like “spire”. Our goal is to remain tightly focused on customer needs. So we desired a name that was based on a word like “spear”. We wanted to sustain our rapid growth and leadership therefore a suggestive word like forever or “eon” would be a nice add. Drum roll please… Spireon will be the new corporate name. Pronounced (“Spear” and “eon”) we believe the name captures our passion to excel and stay focused. And with the tagline, Guiding Business Intelligence, the name plainly states our purpose in the world.

Today, Thursday March 22nd, is the day we announce our new corporate identity - Spireon Inc, and coined the tagline: Guiding Business Intelligence. Along with the name change, ProconGPS has adopted a new logo. All of these changes are effective immediately, and all future business activity will be undertaken with the new name, logo and ultimately our new identity. We’ve created a new corporate website www.spireon.com, which includes information and links to all our brands in each of our segments: Dealer Services, Fleet Services and Lender Services.

The Truckers guide for Winter driving

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It is no secret that roadway accidents increase at a chilling pace during the winter months. Often times drivers fail to take into consideration the hazardous conditions created by winter weather and exactly what to do about it. The Vehiclepath team cares about your fleet and your people, so we’ve compiled a list of tips and techniques to get you through these slippery months.
Safe winter driving demands knowledge of defensive driving skills and adjustments. The winter scene will be less hazardous for everyone one the road if a few precautions are made. Read on and share with your fleet!
Critical move-Prepare early for Winter. Now is the time!
The first step to preventing unnecessary accidents is to make sure equipment is ready for that first unexpected freeze or storm.
Be sure to check these essential items:

1. Radiators require proper winter coolant. Also, make sure there are no leaks.
2. Tires need to have good tread depth. Balding tires reduce starting traction by 30 - 50%.
3. Wiper blades must be in good condition to sweep snow and sleet off the windshield. If new blades are installed, check the arm pressure to ensure effective operation.
4. Heater and defroster, when functioning at their full capacity, will keep your windshield clear and you and your passengers warm.
5. Lights are particularly important in winter weather to ensure that you are clearly visible to other drivers. Be sure both headlights work on upper and lower beams, and are correctly adjusted. Check that stop, tail, clearance lights and directional signals work properly and are clean.
6. Brakes need to be in top condition to provide uniform braking.
7. Muffler and exhaust system should be in good condition and tightly fitted so carbon monoxide does not seep into the interior of the vehicle where it could cause serious illness or death to the driver or occupants.
8. Battery – cold weather lowers battery power – make sure yours is in good condition, and in case it is necessary, know the proper procedure for using a booster battery.
9. Fifth Wheel Lubrication – for tractor-trailer combinations, make sure a winter grade of lubricant is used on the fifth wheel. Some heavy summer grades of lubricant at low temperatures become too heavy and interfere with steering on slippery surfaces.
10. Windows and mirrors – windows should be cleaned to ensure good visibility. Mirrors also should be kept adjusted and clean for good visibility to the rear.

It’s important to remember that if you’re driving on ice, you won’t know it until you need to stop-making brakes are the great equalizer.

Driving tips:

Tip #1 Ice on your windshield means ice on the road.
The ice doesn’t have to be packed up on the roadway to be dangerous- a thin sheet of ice can develop quickly into a thick problem.
Tip # 2 Keep an eye on the temperature.
Water freezes at 32 degrees. The roadways tend to be slightly warmer than the air temp, but once you’re down that low in temperature, you need to be wary.
Tip # 3 Watch for spray off tires
If spray is coming off the tires, it’s likely that the roads are wet (as opposed to ice covered), but keep in mind that a short stretch of road with ice on it can be just as dangerous as a ice-packed roadway.
Tip # 4 ASK!
Make sure your CB radio is on and talk to the drivers around you. If you are a new driver, try to find a seasoned driver. You want to communicate with an experienced driver who has a healthy respect for physics to help talk you through it.
Tip # 5 Keep a healthy distance.
Traffic tends to bunch up on bad roads–the natural inclination is to follow other drivers. Stay away from four-wheelers. Often they are under the illusion that the roads are safer than they actually are.
Tip # 6 The ditch is a good clue
If there are four-wheelers spun out in the median or shoulder, the roads are bad. If you start seeing big trucks spun out, it’s time to get off the roadway. If numerous cars are in the ditch-time to find a rest area!
Tip # 7 There’s no load worth your life.
If you are on dangerous roadways, your best bet is to find a safe spot to wait it out. Let your logbook gain some hours. If you can’t find a spot in a truck stop, park on a ramp or anywhere out of the way. Try not to park on an incline. You’re liable to get yourself stuck. There is no load too precious to not be safe…especially the cargo in the driver’s seat.
Tip # 8 Carry supplies.
In the unfortunate event that you end up stuck, spun out, wrecked, or just sitting in a backup, be sure you have necessities with you. Keep extra blankets, canned food (and a can opener!), and water. Be sure you keep your diesel tanks full so you don’t run low.
Tip # 9 Treat your diesel.
Diesel gels when it gets really cold. If your diesel gels, your truck won’t run. If you are facing winter weather conditions, you need to put an anti-gel additive in your tanks (put it in BEFORE you fuel so it mixes). It’s a good idea to stock up ahead of time rather than expecting the truck stop to have it in stock. They tend to run out right when you need it!
One last technique that is great to know-The Feathering Technique

Apply the brakes gradually until you feel the wheels begin to lock and then release them slightly. If you start to lose steering control, release the brakes immediately, gear down, and repeat the gradual application. This technique requires more feel than pumping.
Use discretion in gearing down. Too much gearing down on ice may cause drive wheels to slide and start a dangerous side skid or jackknife. Release the clutch immediately and let the wheels roll to correct this condition.
Remember, when stopping on slippery surfaces, keep all wheels rolling to maintain steering ability, while at the same time using brakes to get the maximum stopping effort without wheel lock-up.

Wintertime or anytime, it is your responsibility to be alert and cautious while driving.
Be safe this winter season!

Managing Your Fleet & Your People

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Often overlooked, though a critical component to fleet management- People Management. The reality is that the majority of a fleet manager’s time often is spent dealing with personnel and interdepartmental issues. How you deal with these issues influences shop morale, user department relationships, and management’s opinion of your effectiveness as fleet manager.
Successful “people management” equates to successful fleet management. This translates into increased and improved operational efficiencies and improved customer service.
Below are six characteristics of said people management, employed by and common among the best of fleet managers around the nation:
1. Become a Role Model: Successful people management means you yourself, serve as an example of excellence. “Do as I Do”-By maintaining a high standard of personal performance, you encourage a similar high standard from all associates. An effective fleet manager ensures all employees perform to the best of their abilities and are given opportunities to improve their skill sets, and can do the job right the first time. In addition, a role model also means standing behind promises and following through on commitments to staff, user departments, and management.
2. Fairness. One way to exemplify fairness to your workforce is to ensure all rules are applied equally. It is important to be impartial when enforcing fleet policy and company rules. ‘Not Just a Critic”-Fairness also means acknowledging when someone does a good job. Never take credit for other people’s work, but also by providing constructive criticism when needed. Maintaining a “feel good” environment is sometimes counter-productive. Strive to develop a management style that is fair, firm, and consistent.
3. Encourage Self-Growth. Develop programs that incentivize associates to advance their skill sets by striving for excellence and taking advantage of training opportunities. Let your associates know you are receptive to new ideas to improve fleet operations. Encourage creativity and innovation!
4. Problem Resolution. When issues emerge with your fleet operation, your focus should be finding solutions, not assigning blame. If it is necessary to criticize, do so in private. The best way to resolve problems is to prevent them from happening in the first place. You may think everyone understands the goals of the department; however, it is important not to take this for granted. It is crucial to continually re-communicate the goals of the department. These goals need to be well defined and clearly stated.
5. Cultivate Customer Service. A best-in-class fleet operation has excellent interdepartmental relationships. It is important to remember that without user departments there would be no need for fleet operations. “Word of Mouth”-the cheapest advertising for your company you’ll ever find! An effective fleet manager listens to user departments. It is important to regularly survey customers to determine their needs, wants, and expectations of fleet operations. If you are not meeting these needs and expectations, then you’ve failed as a fleet operation. It is important for fleet operations to be cost-efficient and to temper unwarranted user department demands, but an unhappy customer represents a deficiency in your department’s performance.
Remember—-People management is harder than fleet management!

“Distracted Driving?” Study reveals this is much more than texting.

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Although texting while driving by truck drivers has become a major safety concern for the trucking industry, a new report on “secondary tasks”—those not related to the primary task of driving the truck— reveals a lengthy list of actions taken by truckers while on their way down the road.

The report was compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and a private consortium led by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) began a multi-year project to develop an “Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety System” (IVBSS) in 2009. One result of the ongoing initiative is the recently publicly released “Heavy-Truck Field Operational Test Key Findings” report.
As part of the IVBSS program, participating drivers were videoed while behind the wheel to see what activities not directly related to the job of driving they engaged in, such as talking on a cell phone, eating, smoking or adjusting various in-cab devices.
The resulting considerable list of the so-called “secondary tasks” recorded may be almost as useful as the testing of the safety systems themselves, for what it reveals about work life on the road. Below is a shortened list of the “secondary tasks” the drivers were observed doing while on the road:
• Dialing the phone
• Text messaging
• Talking/listening on the phone
• Talking on or holding the CB radio
• Talking to or looking at passengers
• Adjusting stereo controls
• Adjusting HVAC controls
• Adjusting other controls on the dashboard
• Adjusting the satellite radio
• Adjusting the navigation system
• Holding or adjusting other handheld devices
• Writing on or reading the manifest
• Eating
• Drinking
• Grooming
• Smoking
• Reading
• Writing
• Searching the cab interior
Secondary tasks related to communications were the most common (20.7%), followed by eating (9.7%). According to the report, “Drivers with their windshield wipers on were the least likely to perform secondary tasks, while driver at night were the most likely to perform secondary tasks.”
This list is important to consider for drivers and fleet managers alike. Safety is an ongoing issue, and the Vehiclepath team is increasingly researching ways to keep everyone safer on the road.

7 Milestones that changed Fleet Management

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The times have changed since the fleet business first came about in the 1930’s. Technology, economic whirlwinds, and customer needs are ever evolving making room for even more change. Below are 7 milestones have dramatically changed the nature of fleet, and have ultimately impacted the way business is done in the fleet world.

1. Higher Content Fleet Vehicles: In the early days of fleets, companies had a choice of three models: Ford, Chevrolet, or Plymouth. The typical fleet car was the standard model with minimal equipment. The biggest selector deliberations were over the economies of installing a radio or adding air conditioning for vehicles located below the Mason-Dixon Line. The “Plain Jane” fleet car became a historical footnote as OEMs bundled options into packages, allowed free-flow option ordering, and proved that higher-content vehicles sold better in the resale market.
2. Creation of the Open-End Lease: Early lessors offering full maintenance leases were R.A. Company, established by David, Harry, and Nathan Robinson, and Four Wheels, founded by Zollie Frank and Armund Schoen in 1938. Changing conditions in the 1950s led to the development of open-end or finance leasing, which PHH offered in 1951. Fleets wanted the ability to replace units after a 12-month period with off-balance sheet reporting. In 1981, the Swift Dodge vs. IRS court decision legitimized the use of the TRAC clause in an open-end lease.
3. Factory Ordering: Before the advent of OEM fleet departments, companies purchased vehicles from individual dealers. Use of dealer ordering codes by nondealers, such as fleet lessors, allowed factory-direct orders. Another factory innovation was the introduction of fleet previews to provide new-model specifications to facilitate vehicle replacement planning.
4. Drop-Ship/Courtesy Deliveries: In the late 1940s, the concept of volume drop-shipping fleet vehicles was developed. At that time, PHH factory-ordered vehicles delivered to drivers by local dealers. Wheels and McCullagh (acquired by GE) started delivering cars from regional dealers directly to drivers. Ultimately, it became an accepted industry practice to pay a courtesy delivery fee to non-ordering dealers to deliver and prep vehicles.
5. Creation of Fleet Management Services and National Account Program: The first recorded purchase of a fleet management program, other than leasing, was by Gibson Art in 1946. Tire company national account billing started in the early 1950s. PHH and Consolidated Service Corp. (acquired by LeasePlan) started selling tires nationally using centralized billing. Other programs such as maintenance management were not in great demand because gas was cheap and operating costs were manageable. This gradually began to change in response to market demands and new fleet services proliferated such as fuel management, accident management, and personal use reporting.
6. Repeal of the ITC: Prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, significant tax benefits prompted companies such as Dart & Kraft, PepsiCo, and Xerox to acquire existing fleet leasing companies. However, as a result of the repeal of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), many corporate entities sold off their fleet leasing business units. Around this time, GE entered the market as a ready buyer and initiated a series of rapid-fire acquisitions that coalesced the industry into 10 major fleet management companies.

7. Computerization: The fleet industry could not provide its breadth of services without computers. Wheels and PHH installed their first IBM computers in 1959. In the 1990s, fleet quickly shifted to Web-enabled services. Computers gave lessors the capability to evolve into full-service fleet management companies.