Category Archives: ROI

How to respond to employees about your decision to use GPS Fleet Tracking

Posted on by
Reply

When informing employees about installing GPS systems into your fleet, it is very important that they understand why you are doing it, in order to alleviate any anxieties. Some employees may feel they are not trusted, which can lead to fear and paranoia that is not necessary. Taking the time to explain how GPS fleet tracking will benefit them and the company as a whole, will drive different results and attitudes about the decision. Below is a list outlining how businesses and employees will benefit from a GPS fleet tracking system that can guide you while presenting the idea to your employees:

Improved Customer Retention: For drivers, it is essential that they retain their customers. Having a GPS system will allow businesses to provide their customers with real-time information about the status of shipments. It will also provide detailed reports that can serve as proof that service was completed on time. As well, customers can get accurate information about where a vehicle is and how long it will take for the vehicle to arrive at their location.

False Claim Protection: Vehicle tracking systems provides information about where a vehicle traveled, the speed of the vehicle, the direction of the vehicle, and weather conditions. This information can be helpful if there is an accident and the other driver claims the employee is at fault. It can also provide proof of a delivery at a scheduled time if someone claims the vehicle arrived late.

Accurate Mileage Log: The GPS vehicle tracking system provides an accurate mileage log, which saves drivers the hassle of manually logging mileage.

Improved Driver Safety: Having a GPS tracking device will help improve driver safety. Driver safety can be monitored for such practices as speeding, excessive idling, and excessive braking. This data is automatically reported so driver safety can be monitored to help a driver improve their driving skills. This will help reduce the chance of being involved in an accident, and possibly reduce insurance rates.

An Improved Business is Financially Beneficial for Employees: When a company improves business efficiency, boosts productivity, and saves money, they will increase their profits. This means there is more chance of employees receiving raises and other bonuses for doing good work. The company can even create incentives based on productivity.

GPS Fleet Tracking offers numerous benefits to a business that deploys a vehicle tracking system, and it is important to alleviate any employ anxieties about the system by informing them of what GPS Fleet Management can do for them. Here is one last tip that may bring about a change in your employees opinion of the use of GPS tracking:

Update on EOBR Rule

Posted on by
Reply

As of Monday, January 31 the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) passed the electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) rule. The rule will mandate almost all motor carriers install EOBRs to monitor the drivers hours of service (HOS).

According to an article in FleetOwner, the proposal states, “All motor carriers are currently required to maintain Records of Duty Status (RODS) for HOS recordkeeping would be required to use EOBRs to systematically and effectively monitor their drivers’ compliance with HOS requirements.” Additionally, drivers will still need to retain some documents in order to verify driving time. It was noted in the article that toll receipts would be a way to monitor time.

The FMCSA explains that the approach will place an appropriate balance between promoting highway safety and minimizing cost. Therefore, this proposal is an important step to increase the safety bar for commercial carriers and drivers (FleetOwner).

Do you think this is a good idea? Yes? No?

How do they do it? Success for JB Hunt

Posted on by
Reply

As of Friday, January 27, JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc announced 2010 financial results that could be very positive and informative by other truckload and multi-modal carriers (FleetOwner).

JB Hunt’s President and CEO, John N. Roberts III stated, “In 2010, we continued our strategic mission of integrating our distinct and complementary services, while simultaneously maintaining execution discipline in our four business segments.” According to an article in FleetOwner, the company offered a comprehensive approach by taking a ‘horizontal view,’ which consisted of manufacturing and importing, various distribution channels, retail replenishment, and final delivery to the consumer.

As a whole JB Hunt is very pleased with the progress they have made. They will continue to collaborate with their clients and still plan to provide efficiency to their consumers. In addition, JB Hunt will focus on revenue quality and the appropriate addition of assets across the business segments (FleetOwner).

The Sky is Not Falling – Nor are GPS Satellites

Posted on by
Reply

A rumor that’s been floating around the universe and blogosphere for some time is that the Global Positioning Satellites orbiting Earth is about to fail, leaving civilian and military users stranded in their tracks.

All we can say to that is: The sky is not falling! Nor is the GPS system. We’ve been providing GPS fleet tracking for many years with only occasional downtime or problems originating from the satellites, which are managed by the U.S. Air Force 50th Space Wing.

Articles published a few months ago noted that even though some of the 30 orbiting satellites in the GPS “constellation” are inactive or need to be replaced, the $30 billion system has “never been larger and more accurate,” according to the Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

In addition, only four satellites transmitting signals at once are required to “achieve the military’s positioning requirements.” That means there are still plenty of satellites to cover the military and civilian needs of those of us who rely on GPS fleet tracking systems.

The Air Force recently responded to a report by the watchdog Government Accountability Office that project delays and cost overruns could degrade the performance of the GPS system. An Air Force spokesman told The Associated Press that “the military actually has active satellites in excess of its needs and keeps spares in orbit for cases of unexpected failures. There are also ways to extend the useful lifespan of the existing generation of hardware.”

An even more reassuring article appeared in Air Force Times the other day.

So don’t be worried if you hear that the GPS constellation is about to give out. As operators of a reliable GPS fleet tracking system, we’re committed to staying on top of the technology that benefits our clients – so they don’t have to.

For a down-to-earth explanation of our Vehiclepath system, plus an online demonstration of how a GPS fleet tracking system works, just click the links in this sentence. Purchasing a GPS system could make you a bright star in your company’s constellation.

GPS Catches Robbery Suspect in Car He Had Just Bought

Posted on by
Reply

There’s no end to stories about thieves who trip themselves up and wind up getting caught. There’s even a TV show about them.

This one caught our eye for obvious reasons: On August 10, A man who allegedly robbed a bank in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, picked up his daughter from daycare in his getaway car soon after the heist. He then traded in the vehicle at a local car dealership.

Employees at the dealership thought the man acted suspiciously, so they placed a GPS fleet tracking device in the car he bought from them. The employees notified the police, who were able to track the car in real-time, leading to the suspect’s arrest.

That’s the first time we’ve heard of a trade-out vehicle using GPS fleet tracking to help catch a suspect. But we get plenty of reports from clients who’ve found their stolen or missing car using the technology.

With GPS fleet tracking, the ability to instantly locate all of your fleet vehicles isn’t the only benefit you’ll enjoy. You’ll also qualify for an insurance discount for each vehicle in the fleet, depending on your carrier and state. In some cases, the discount can substantial, up to 33%. Discounts vary by state, but those insurance carriers and their approximate discounts are:

  • AAA Insurance: up to 18%
  • AIG Insurance: up to 15%
  • Allstate Insurance (CA, TX, NY, FL)
  • ALFA Insurance (AL): up to 10%
  • Farmers Insurance: up to 15%
  • Fireman’s Fund: up to 5%
  • Geico: up to 10%
  • Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance (GA): up to 15%
  • Mutual: up to 25%
  • Mercury Insurance: up to 30%
  • Nationwide Insurance (CA): up to 10%
  • Progressive Insurance: up to 15%
  • Safeco Insurance: up to 10%
  • USAA Insurance: up to 33%
  • 21st Century Insurance: up to 15%

Some states mandate an insurance discount for vehicles equipped with GPS fleet tracking devices. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, those states are:

  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Texas

It makes good sense for an insurance carrier to offer lower premiums on vehicles with GPS fleet tracking units installed. The devices greatly increase the odds that a lost or stolen vehicle will be recovered, thus saving the carrier significant sums of money for replacing or repairing those vehicles.

Because you’ll be able to see where each vehicle is in real time on a familiar Google Map, you’ll know immediately if one is somewhere it’s not supposed to be. You even can be alerted by text message or email if a vehicle strays outside a predetermined polyfence you create on your PC. At the very least, you’ll know the last place a vehicle was tracked by GPS if it is stolen.

Play it smart. Talk to your insurance agent before you install a GPS fleet tracking system across your fleet. Make sure to ask about even steeper discounts for multiple installations of GPS fleet tracking devices. You and your carrier have nothing to lose and everything to gain – including a better night’s sleep.