Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

In a world of lost jobs, rising prices, failing companies and economic stimulus packages, we are all looking for ways to cut costs. Businesses know that they must make adjustments if they are to survive the current economic storm and employees hope that they won’t be the next to receive a pink slip. Business owners who maintain a fleet of vehicles should be aware that they can significantly reduce costs simply by installing GPS tracking devices in each vehicle.

GPS tracking devices operate by sending a signal from the transmitter, which is placed in the vehicle or on the object to be tracked, to a receiving device such as a personal computer. In this way, a single person can monitor the whereabouts of any given number of company owned vehicles throughout the workday. In addition, many devices can monitor fuel consumption, number and duration of stops, speed and idling time. This is invaluable information for a work supervisor as he looks for ways to reduce spending.

Companies that use GPS tracking devices report that if employees know their actions are being monitored, they are more likely to drive the speed limit, turn the engine off during a delivery, and drive directly to an off-site job rather than taking a personal detour. Small adjustments like these add up to huge financial savings over time. Collectively, we as a nation use billions of gallons of diesel fuel each year. Over one billion of those gallons are consumed by idling vehicles and at today’s gas prices that means over 5 billion dollars wasted in unnecessary fuel consumption. Individual companies can save thousands of dollars annually by asking each fleet vehicle driver to reduce idling time by as little as 15 minutes per day. In addition, drivers who are more conscientious about what they do on the clock report fewer overtime hours which can add up to big savings for employers.

GPS tracking devices provide a simple way for employers to reduce costs in troubled economic times. Though some may wonder if the initial investment will be worth it, those who have actually implemented GPS systems for their companies report that the systems pay for themselves many times over within a short time period. Business owners may not always be able to predict the fluctuations of a volatile market or the reactions of potential customers, but with GPS tracking devices, they can maintain a measure of control over employee habits that may be costing the company money.