Rocky Mountain Tracking » GPS Fleet Tracking

GPS Devices: A Tremendous Benefit to Commercial and Government Fleets

John Chapman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:05 +0000

A fleet of cargo or freight trucks no doubt provides an incredible logistical challenge to a fleet manager. Managing so many vehicles, each with its own quirks, across a wide range of terrains and weather conditions, each load of cargo with its own difficulties involving fragility and weight… truly a truck fleet is a wonder of modern industry.

With that in mind, it is impressive that fleet managers could ever run their fleets before the introduction of GPS technology. With the accurate tracking provided to fleet managers using GPS devices installed on vehicles, keeping track of the fleet is easier than ever.

Fleet managers no longer need to pull his or her hair out because a truck has dropped off the grid. Mileage tracking is fast and accurate, preventing overtime and enabling super exact billing.

GPS Insight recently held a webinar to highlight the benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking. The free webinar from one of the world leaders in GPS fleet tracking was designed to showcase the cost savings and efficiency provided when GPS technology is integrated into a fleet.

The database-style functions of GPS Insight software were presented, displaying how customizable reporting can aid the administration of a government or commercial fleet. In addition, the software streamlines truck routing, provides custom alerts for a variety of situations, and features Garmin integration.

With a wide range of options available, every fleet manager should consider the advantages of making GPS systems a part of their commercial or government fleet. The GPS industry has a sweet spot for government and commercial applications. There is nothing any organization loves more than accurate reporting and tracking. When it comes to moving cargo across the country and beyond, GPS tracking is a no-brainer solution for the fleet manager that needs up-to-the-minute information on every last detail of the fleet.

GPS technology has truly changed the function and implementation of modern industry, especially when it comes to moving cargo. When goods and materials stop moving, their are serious consequences world-wide. Nothing helps move the fleet industry into the modern age like the integration of a solid GPS system.

Chicago Implements GPS Tracking to Help Residents Cope With Winter

Khristen Foss — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:42:13 +0000

Last year, winter hit the U.S. hard. Countless areas received record snowfall in just one storm which shut cities down for days and stranded numerous motorists; Chicago being one of them. In the hopes of preventing last year’s disasters from occurring this year, the city has developed ChicagoShovels.org which relies on GPS tracking devices affixed to the city’s 300 plow trucks.

Residents will be able to log onto the site and see in real-time the location of each and every snow plow at any point during the storm. As soon as the storm begins, the devices on each vehicle in the fleet will be activated, their location instantly mapped using their GPS tracking coordinates. This will allow residents to see how likely making it to work on time would be, and save the panicked person whose car is parked on the street, showing them exactly how close the plow is to their location and help guide the decision to dig it out before it gets towed away.

Didn’t make it to your car fast enough? Save yourself from the shock of walking outside to an empty parking space by installing one of the many apps also offered by the city which alerts you when your car is towed. Another useful app leads those who may have lost power during the storm to the closest location for shelter, food, or medical attention.

The website will also offer an “Adopt-a-Sidewalk” section where residents can volunteer to help maintain a sidewalk after a storm, along with a “Snow Corps” section to recruit people to aid in moving large piles of snow on a volunteer basis.

Other cities have used GPS tracking for snow plows as well, such as New York, which was hit hard by a storm last year that kept some neighborhoods inaccessible for days and caused massive headaches for administration. New Jersey and Lake County, IL have also begun tracking plows. However, Chicago is offering the first program that lets residents in on the action.

It sounds as if Chicago is taking winter very seriously this year, and you can’t really blame them after the hard hitting storms of 2011. And to those who point out it’s been a mild winter thus far, implying that it’s a bit overboard to set up this program, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the unpredictable white stuff. John Tolva works for the Mayor of Chicago, and knowing winter has just begun, wisely commented “I’m not calling this a mild winter yet.”

GPS and Electronic Ticketing For Ethiopia Bus System

Mark Rummel — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:11:50 +0000

GPS tracking is quickly making its way into all sorts of municipal functions, and the development is not limited to the most technologically advanced or wealthiest nations. Officials in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia are weighing their options for implementing a GPS tracking and electronic ticketing system to streamline the city’s tangled public transit network. As a major means of transportation for many city residents, the bus system operates 450 vehicles on over 100 routes daily. According to the proposal under consideration, a GPS tracker would be installed on each bus, allowing central dispatchers to see where each vehicle is at any given moment. More control over the positions of buses would allow for more efficient routing, rerouting in the case of accidents, and notifying waiting passengers when buses are running late.

As a developing country, Ethiopia does not have much in the way of a foundation for such an ambitious project. A team of city officials plans to visit one or more cities in Asia and Africa to see exactly what a city-wide GPS-integrated bus network would look like, then come up with ideas for tailoring it to the unique environment of Addis Ababa. They anticipate that the transition would not be simple, given the fact that most passengers would be unfamiliar with the concepts of scanning electronic cards as payment, recharging them at a station, and consulting a real-time monitor to check on bus schedule changes. As the new system is implemented, officials plan to keep the old payment methods available for those who are not quite ready to trade in their coins for a scannable card.

A survey of current bus riders and employees seems to indicate a generally positive attitude toward the update. Passengers will be very grateful for constant updates on bus progress while waiting at stations, and changing from a coin-based payment system to an electronic scanner on each vehicle is sure to speed up the boarding process. Bus employees have been assured that the efficiency improvement will not cost jobs, as plenty of help will be needed for passengers using the new equipment.

Administration of Addis Ababa’s bus system has experienced many changes since its establishment in the mid-20th century. Along with a fleet of 180 newly built vehicles, the GPS tracking and electronic ticketing system is expected to revitalize the busy network and introduce some cutting-edge technology into Ethiopia’s public transportation.

Truck Hijacked: 5,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks Stolen

Harriette Halepis — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:45:20 +0000

It’s been a tough year for Research In Motion (RIM). Even though RIM saw a lot of success when the first BlackBerry was introduced, the Canadian-based smartphone developer hasn’t had any luck with the company’s tablet (the PlayBook). PlayBook sales have been dismal (to say the least), and RIM has lost around $485 million thanks to the PlayBook alone. Now, a truck carrying 5,000 PlayBooks has been hijacked – this theft will cost RIM an additional $1.7 million.

The rig carrying all 5,000 PlayBooks was hijacked in Indiana. Unfortunately for RIM, the company decided to bank on a carrier that doesn’t have GPS tracking equipment. Without GPS tracking devices, the PlayBooks could be anywhere from here to Miami (that’s where the FBI thinks the tablets are headed). Whether or not RIM will be able to recover the stolen playbooks is uncertain, though thefts of this type are hardly ever recovered.

While there’s nothing wrong with the PlayBook (it is, in fact, a decent tablet), RIM didn’t equip the tablet with basic calendar and email functions, which resulted in most consumers skipping over the PlayBook altogether. RIM’s PlayBooks were just starting to sell once more (ever since the company announced that a system update, including email and calendar support, is in the works for February-March), but it seems like RIM just can’t catch a break.

Photo By Edans through Flickr Creative Commons

Fuel Prices Are On the Rise: Save Money With GPS

Khristen Foss — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:49:34 +0000

The holidays are upon us, and as they do every year, fuel prices are rising to record highs. The national average is currently $3.40, which is up 51 cents from this time last year.

Since October, the price of crude oil has increased roughly 30 percent, from $75.67 to $102 per barrel. Why? Experts think that one likely cause is good news. As the economy is slowly recovering and more are returning to work, the demand for fuel is increasing.

More reasons (not good news) include continued occupation and unrest in places that export crude oil, weak economies worldwide, dwindling inventory here in the US, and the decreasing value of the US dollar. It is estimated Americans will spend a whopping $489.7 billion this year, more than $100 billion more than what we paid in 2010, as calculated by Tom Kloza, analyst for the Oil Price Information Service.

You may not be able to do anything about the rise in cost of gasoline, but if you manage a fleet, whether large or small, you would be wise to look into adding GPS tracking devices to your fleet vehicles. Not only can these handy devices point out any wasted man-hours, it can also show you how you can cut fuel costs. If you can actually see the routes of your drivers, you might notice one or more of them who can change the route they take each day, saving you hundreds in fuel costs in the long run. Some devices can even alert you when the vehicle isn’t running as efficiently as it could be, allowing you to address the problem immediately rather than let it go for a period of time, saving you money.

Fuel prices aren’t going down anytime soon, so prepare yourself and your fleet for the rising costs this holiday season by installing GPS tracking devices.

Photo Courtesy of Cassie_BedfordGolf

Powering Up for GPS III

Admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:03:28 +0000

GPS tracking is now part of the daily life of people around the world. It comes standard in newer cars and cell phones. Law enforcement uses it to monitor parolees and track down criminals. Business owners use it to keep track of their merchandise, vehicles, and even employees. There are even international games that use the tracking capabilities of a Global Positioning System. But sustaining and maintaining such systems can be costly and quickly outdated.
Lockheed Martin and the United States Air Force have teamed up to develop an advanced GPS program for the future. The initial startup of the GPS III Non-flight Satellite Testbed (GNST) launches the program’s new pathfinder spacecraft with hopes to launch the entire system in 2014. LtCol Don Frew, the U.S. Air Force’s GPS III program manager said, “Our joint government and industry team is committed to delivering GPS III on schedule to sustain and modernize the GPS constellation for users worldwide.”
The GNST is a full-sized prototype the team has developed to work out the kinks of the system. Powering up this program allows developers to check initial mechanical integration and interfaces as well as perform hardware and software testing. All these tests reduce costs and ensure mission success. Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin’s GPS III program director stated, “Our progress on the GNST is already saving the program money, eliminating risk early and providing highly reliable mission assurance for GPS constellation sustainment.”
If successful, the program will provide low risk and affordable constellation sustainment as well as meet the military, commercial, and civilian GPS tracking needs around the world. The GPS III takes normal GPS functions to a whole new level with more accurate positioning and timing. It also provides more secure anti-jam capabilities for an ever-changing technological world.
The team, which includes ITT in New Jersey, hopes to deliver the system to Lockheed Martin in Denver near the end of 2011 for assembly and initial testing; then the prototype will head to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for intense pathfinding activities at the site where the satellite will eventually launch.
Lockheed Martin is well known for its GPS technology. It paved the way for today’s Global Positioning System with its Oscar and Nova satellites. Its IIR and IIR-M satellites represent the majority of the current operational GPS constellation systems. With a 99.9% reliability, Lockheed Martin is sure to meet the goals and aspirations of the GPS III, keeping the future on track.

Article Written by Katharin Stephens

Fleet Tracking with Mobile Phones

Admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:16:59 +0000

Many companies use GPS technology to monitor the status of vehicles and drivers in their fleet. This allows them to provide accurate customer service and to prevent unnecessary loss of time and resources. This tracking involves installing a GPS transmitter in the vehicles of the fleet. Unlike GPS mapping devices like many consumers have in their cars, these tracking transmitters are much simpler. They don’t need a display to give directions; they just send a signal for fleet managers to track. Fleet managers usually monitor the progress of their vehicles with an interactive webpage that shows the location of tracked vehicles. However, many managers need to monitor their fleets while they themselves are on the road.

Networkfleet just announced that they’re offering a new website for tracking fleet vehicles from mobile devices. Their new tracking page allows fleet managers to monitor their drivers from an iPhone or Android device. This gives managers the freedom to travel where they need to be, while still keeping track of the drivers and vehicles under their care.

The Networkfleet tracking system provides a full array of information for users: fleet location, engine diagnostics, truck speed, ignition and idle information, engine status, and a map. This puts a wealth of tracking information into the hands of on-the-go fleet managers.

Networkfleet is a leader in wireless fleet managing services. Their goal is to provide managers with all of the information that they need to reduce fuel usage, monitor emissions, and track maintenance expenses. This San Diego based company is owned by Hughes Telematics and was founded in 1999.

Networkfleet is an award-winning company that has been granted more than fifty patents (issued or pending) for remote monitoring and diagnostics for fleet managers. This newest project of theirs puts all of their industry-leading diagnostics information into the mobile phones of fleet coordinators across the country.

Monitoring a fleet of vehicles is not a simple objective. When that task ties down a valuable manager and limits him or her to a single desk or computer screen, it can hurt company objectives overall. That’s why having mobile access to GPS transmitters for vehicle information is such an important step for Networkfleet and their clients. Having the tracking data is essential, but it’s even better when all the important location and vehicle data can now be accessed from iOS and Android devices anywhere the manager needs to be.

Article Written by Mark Rammel

New Jersey Equips Snow Plows With GPS Devices

Admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:27:19 +0000

New Jersey isn’t messing around with Old Man Winter this year. They are hoping the $17 million they invested in GPS tracking devices for their fleet of 500 plow trucks will ensure that the entire state is free of snow troubles this year.

Department Of Transportation officials will be able to watch the plows in action, in real time, on flat-screen monitors in Woodbridge, NJ to see what the crew is up to at any moment. The system will also keep an eye out for problems with the trucks, making it easier to address problems than ever before.

Not only will the trucks and salt spreaders be equipped with GPS tracking devices, the private contractors the city hires to lend a helping hand (about 1,500 of them) will be given cell phones with GPS tracking devices as well.

The hope: to never revisit the winter of last year, where New Jersey residents were furious with the state for their supposed lack of response. Some went days without seeing a snowplow in their neighborhoods after 2.5 feet of snow fell the day after Christmas.

They are hoping these efforts (and nixing the cap on snow removal, previously $10 million) will make it easy to keep the streets safe and the residents happy.

Article Written by Khristen Foss

Fleets of All Sizes Benefit From GPS Technology

Admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:34:22 +0000

Many smaller organizations make the mistake of assuming that GPS technology only functions effectively in the large-scale. Managing massive fleets using a satellite system certainly has its benefits; however, one of the most advantageous venues for these innovative devices is in monitoring the vehicles used by startup companies. Fleet tracking can save your company both time and money – regardless of the size of your fleet. Are you ready to give the competition something to worry about? This affordable technology will elevate your market status overnight.
Small businesses have a vested interest in keeping an eye on their vehicles. After all, when your fleet consists of five trucks, you can’t afford to lose one of them. And while you would like to think that you can trust your employees, unfortunately, drivers may not always act responsibly on the road.

Once a tracker is installed in your vehicle, you can monitor its whereabouts anywhere in the world. If it makes unspecified stops or travels off of the designated route, you will know. It may sound a little like big brother, but when it comes to protecting your investments, you just can’t be too careful.

Efficiency is a crucial aspect of any corporation; however, when it comes to startup businesses, establishing a pattern of efficiency takes on new importance. If your company operates a small fleet, you need a way to manage each vehicle’s comings and goings.

GPS tracking gives you the ability to consistently monitor the location of every vehicle in your fleet. In the event that a driver gets lost or needs assistance with repairs, you can easily determine his whereabouts. By monitoring the location of your small fleet you have the opportunity to ensure the efficiency of every vehicle.

Wasted time is wasted money when you oversee a fleet. Fleet tracking takes the guesswork out of your vehicles’ location so that you can be confident that your tightly woven schedule stays right on track. For small business owners this technology relieves the burden of having to micromanage each driver’s route. Consistent communication with your GPS units makes it simple to keep an eye on your investment. Routing information is available at the click of a button, saving you both time and money long-term. And let’s face it – typically for smaller companies neither one of these runs in large supply.

Article Written by Janice Grover

Michigan County Considering Plow Truck Tracking

Admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:51:10 +0000

Leelanau County Road Commission (Michigan) are considering whether or not to implement GPS fleet tracking on their plow trucks. The final decision has not been made yet, but Road Commission employees have already shared mixed opinions. “This is going to be a big purchase for us. I’m putting together a request for proposals because we’re going to need to seek bids on this,” said James C. Johnson, Road Commission engineer.

Road Commission’s vice-chairman John Popa shared his thoughts. “We’re not some big company that has thousands of employees. We have managers that are already out on the road and visiting the different job sites, or checking roads in the winter. I don’t know that we need this,” he explained. He did see some benefits, however. “It would show if a driver isn’t getting through his plow route the way he should,” added Popa.

“They haven’t really talked to us about this. I personally don’t mind. They’re selling this as a way to increase efficiency and lower costs. All I know is someone is going to have to keep track of this, which is another expense,” offered Bruce Kilinski, a union steward for the Road Commission’s Suttons Bay garage. Despite the conflicting opinions, everyone seemed to agree that the GPS fleet tracking system is a valuable management tool.

“Other Road Commisions, as well as private companies, have found increases in productivity, including the ability to better respond to emergencies,” said Chairman Lee A. Bowen. He is for implementing a GPS tracking system for the fleet, after doing some investigating of his own. He spoke to the manager of the Wexford County Road Commission, which have already begun using GPS systems on their trucks. “He saw an increase in productivity, I think it’s an option worth exploring,” said Bowen.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor