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Sacramento residents went from fuming to elated when they learned the city had purchased a new $110,000 GPS tracking system for the entire fleet of municipal vehicles. Residents were initially concerned when they heard how much local officials had spent, but were quickly singing a different tune when the city unveiled that the new GPS tracking system will save taxpayers $60,000 in the first month alone.

Keith Leech of the City of Sacramento Fleet Management explained that installation of the GPS tracking systems in the 184 vehicles would cut fuel costs by $60,000 each month, means that the new purchase will be paid off in less than 60 days. The savings will stem from allowing officials to focus on all 14 different types of vehicles in the city’s fleet, keeping track of vehicle performance, optimizing vehicle routes and identifying improvement drivers’ behavior.

He also said that the new technology will help the city keep a more thorough and detailed track of daily operations, which in turn will create a greater sense of accountability and effect the productivity of the workforce.

Leech added that while fuel costs account for the biggest financial benefit of the real-time GPS fleet tracking systems, they may also make an impact in reducing costs through a variety of other ways, including saving time through less paperwork, keeping track of workers and ensuring their time is being used appropriately, as well as tracking and measuring operating efficiencies.

Article Written by Greg Minton