Rocky Mountain Tracking

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

Even though auto theft incidents have been dramatically cut in recent months, that is no reason to stop being vigilant about the possibility of it happening to you.  Consider that the most commonly stolen vehicle is the Toyota Camry.  That is not a luxury model by any stretch, and drives home the purpose for which Vehicle Tracking devices have been developed.

GPS & Auto Theft

Here are the best reasons to get a Vehicle Tracking device installed in your car or truck.

Safety

When you are driving and encounter a police vehicle, what is your automatic reaction?  Slow down and look at your speedometer.  This is because being in the presence of one who can enforce the laws makes you drive in a less conspicuous way.  The same is true of a GPS Tracking device.  It constantly monitors vehicle speed, direction, and location and delivers these in a report that can be used to enforced rules and laws on the part of parents to teens and parents to their parents.

Security

You should never travel in your vehicle to an unsafe location.  But, you never know where trouble might originate.  GPS Tracking devices provide a sense of security in that vehicle movements can be monitored in real-time with the proper device.  And, with geo-fencing, alerts can be generated if a vehicle breaks through established boundaries.

Sanity

Parents are constantly worried about their teens when they drive.  And for good reason.  Accidents for teen drivers are higher than any other driver group.  Parents need a GPS Tracking device that can give them some peace of mind about their teen drivers.

Savings

You can realize a savings on your insurance premiums by installing a GPS Tracking device.  Insurance companies embrace these devices as they help lower their risk.  These savings are shared with their clients.

Stability

Adding GPS Tracking devices to your vehicles gives stability to your family and the expectations that parents set forth.  It is one area in which monitoring can be a positive thing because adding them to all of your vehicles puts everyone under the same rules and guidelines.

GPS Tracking devices are more affordable than ever and you can find a model that fits your needs.  The cost can easily be made up in the insurance premium savings in just a few months.

So, what is keeping you from implementing one of these devices?  The sooner you do the better protected and prepared you will be.

By Greg Bartlett

Vehicle tracking systems can be used in a variety of ways. One of the most common ways is for a fleet of vehicle, usually for a car rental service or for a business that provides house calls for its customers. When a car rental uses GPS tracking on their vehicles, it is usually to protect against vehicles being stolen or lost. A business may use the vehicle tracking system to determine the amount of time its workers are spending at each house call, how much extra gas mileage they are expending, and how long they leave their vehicle running on the side of the road. Whatever the case may be, a vehicle tracking system can save you time and money in regards to your vehicle.

Vehicle Tracking Systems

GPS systems have recently become more popular as their uses have become more well-known. A GPS system is very easy to understand, but requires a few basic objects. First of all, you need a GPS tracking device. This item is attached to a car or a person either in secret or openly. Next, you must turn on the object so that it can begin recording or transmitting data. Once it has been activated, the GPS begins sending data to a series of satellites located in outer space, that then transfer the information to a central computer. This computer can analyze the data it receives and then place it in separate files as needed. Technicians will then take the data and pass it along to those that require it.

A vehicle tracking system can help in a variety of ways. Many companies have saved thousands of dollars as a result of their investment in this program. One company created a RFID GPS system that attaches to the car and records the time that a vehicle enters and exits certain vicinities. This helps officials to know whether someone has gone over a time limit or whether he or she was there during an event. A popular use of the vehicle tracking system is during Olympics or major public events. Authorities can track the cars, planes, or trains on which athletes or other famous people are located.

A vehicle tracking system could be just the thing that you need to help your company save money more efficiently. In just a short period of time, you will be able to see the results of your investment.

By Greg Bartlett

Vehicle tracking devices can come in a variety of forms. Whether for an undercover operation, or simply because you want to be easily found if you are ever lost, you can find affordable and easy to use trackers that are convenient for you and your needs. The basic GPS device that most people think of is the one that tells directions, speed, and location of a vehicle. This vehicle tracking device is placed in easy sight of everyone within the car. Another type of GPS is one that can be secretly placed on the car. This type of device is most often used for secret types of work, whether to track the location of business vehicles, to know where your spouse or child is driving, or to find a lost car.

Vehicle Tracking Devices

GPS tracking is a newer type of technology that has created quite a buzz in the business world. A GPS tracker is a very simply device that uses a variety of objects to determine its location. First of all, you start with the basic device that is attached to an object or person. It can be small or rather large, but must be turned on in order to be activated. Once the device has become engaged, it begins either transmitting or recording signals. A tracking device that records the signals on a hard drive is a passive tracker; one that transmits signals to a series of satellites is an active tracker. Once the signals are passed on to the satellites, the satellites begin reflecting them to a central computer that records and analyzes the data.

Vehicle tracking devices have become somewhat prominent in the news. One company, called Reltima LLC, has created GPS tracking software that has allowed several companies to recover lost tractors and other business devices. Due to their efforts, over $300,000 worth of equipment was found within an hour after it was stolen. Other businesses have used the devices to help them cut fuel costs, the time it takes to reach a customer’s house, and wasted hours on a job.

Whatever your situation may be, a GPS vehicle tracking device may be the thing that you need. There are several options available, depending on your financial situation and the type of device that you are looking for. Take a few minutes to find out if this affordable option is right for your cars.

By Harriette Halepis

WKBW, February, 11, 2010, Buffalo, New York - When snow falls in any city, the first thing that city-dwellers want to know is: how quickly will snow be removed from city streets? In the past, this question was met with a bit of fumbling and a lot of guesses. This is no longer the case in Buffalo, New York, where more than 80 city snow removal trucks have been outfitted with GPS tracking technology.

Snow Removal & GPS Tracking

Salt trucks and snowplows alike are now equipped with GPS trackers that tell the Buffalo Public Works Department how much snow has been removed, what streets have been plowed, and whether or not streets have been salted. Steve Stepniak told WKBW news that the new GPS trackers give the city “…tracking ability, vehicle information ability, whether the plow is down up, spreading salt (WKBW).”

A federal grant paid for Buffalo’s $175,000 GPS tracking system. The system has already proved its worth, and the city believe that snow removal will be even more efficient next year. Stepniak promises citizens that they will “…see better services and more efficient services…when we miss a dead end we’ll know and we’ll be able to make adjustments, so you don’t see those chronic mistakes (WKBW).”

Not only are the GPS trackers ideal for tracking snow plows and salt trucks, trash trucks and street sweepers will also be outfitted with the trackers during the warmer months. This will help street crews to keep track of roads that have already been cleaned, while paying more attention to those roads that need cleaning. While the street sweepers and trash vehicles aren’t equipped with GPS trackers yet, Buffalo has applied for an additional federal grant.

The city of Buffalo hopes to place GPS trackers on nearly 545 different city vehicles within the near future. Other cities that have received a lot of snowfall in the past are currently looking towards Buffalo’s experimental GPS tracking program. So far, the program proves to be worth every penny, and residents of other cold climate cities can expect to see similar programs implemented within the next few years.

GPS tracking devices are really beginning to change the way that public employees and vehicles operate. From tracking the whereabouts of city employees to tracking the effectiveness of snow removal, GPS technology has made it possible to manage seemingly unmanageable public works departments across the nation.

By Greg Bartlett

Insurance-it’s on everyone’s mind these days as the health care debate remains in the media spotlight.  Health insurance is just one of many forms of insurance which most people have.

Insurance & the GPS Tracker

When did you last consider your other insurance and how much you are paying?  For example: car insurance.  Did you know that many car insurance companies offer discounts to vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices?  Some states even require auto insurance companies to offer discounts for anti-theft devices (Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas).  And just in case you don’t think your car will ever be stolen, consider some statistics.  According to the FBI, a car is stolen in America every 33 seconds.  Those living in urban areas are at an even greater risk for car theft.

Don’t be lulled into complacency because you have an older car.  The National Crime Insurance Crime Bureau reports the top ten most stolen cars in 2006 were models were 1995, 1991, 1989, 1997, 2005, 1994 (several different models from this year), and 1990.  If you happen to own a motorcycle, you are at an even greater risk.  In 2008 60,763 motorcycles were reported stolen.

And while car thefts have fallen slightly over the past year, it is in part due to the advances in technology in anti-theft devices.  One such device is a GPS tracker.  A GPS tracker has two components: the satellites that do the tracking and the receiver that is attached to the vehicle.  There are roughly 24 satellites that can determine the location (latitude and longitude) of the receiver (can be a person, in this case your vehicle).  This information is sent to a database that is accessible by internet or through mobile devices.

Active GPS tracking systems give real-time information about the location of the receiver, while passive tracking is more like a log of events that occurred.  If your vehicle equipped with this type of anti-theft device were to be stolen, you would be able to determine the exact location, which is why insurance companies often reward such preventative measures with discounts.  These discounts can start around 5% and go as high as 30%.

As previously mentioned, some states require companies to offer discounts, but many, many companies in other states also offer incentives and discounts to owners who equip their vehicles with anti-theft devices.  If you are paying too much for car insurance, consider the investment in a device that will offer you many benefits-one of which would be lowering your monthly insurance costs.

By Greg Bartlett

Many people may wonder why some businesses find it necessary to install tracking devices in their vehicles. While it may seem like an unnecessary precaution to install vehicle tracking, some companies have found that fleet tracking has allowed them to better serve their customers, as well as save on fuel consumption. A company in the United Kingdom began tracing the effects of their tracking systems and found that some businesses saved up to 15% of their annual fuel costs. These savings have allowed them to quickly pay off and profit from the purchase of the vehicle tracking devices. Also, once an individual knows that they are being tracked in their car, they are much more likely to be conscious of their speed, time spent idling, and wasted gas mileage.

What is Vehicle Tracking?

GPS tracking can work in a variety of ways. Basically, the system starts with a tracker, or object which is placed onto or into a vehicle. This tracker can be passive or active, which will be explained later. Once the unit is activated, it begins transmitting signals. Currently, there are two different places where these signals can be passed along to. One option is to use the cell phone towers and pass along the signals to them, which will then pass it along to a central computer. The other option is to use a series of satellites in outer space. The information from the satellites is also passed to the central computers, where it is recorded and analyzed.

As stated before, there are two types of GPS vehicle tracking. Passive tracking involves an internal recording device in the GPS unit, which then downloads the information onto a computer when connected. The other type of tracking is active tracking, when the signals from the GPS are continually transmitted. While passive tracking is usually cheaper, the active GPS will keep you continually alerted as to your vehicle’s whereabouts.

A new GPS vehicle tracking company has started in the Philippines, with updates maps of the country, and up-to-date information on the unit at all times. Perspective Mobil Tracker claims to be able to keep you knowledgeable of all aspects of your vehicle - the speed it is traveling, whether its doors are opened or closed, how far it has traveled, and other facts. Tracking vehicles is a very new concept, but one that continues to flourish and that may be right for you.

By Greg Bartlett

Difficult economic times place everyone in a situation of having to watch their spending more closely, protect their assets more carefully, and make sacrifices in day to day living. Small business owners must work even harder to make sales and make sure customers don’t default on payments. One industry that has been particularly hard hit is the auto sales industry. Fewer people are buying cars, and more are unable to make payments after losing a job or seeing a pay decrease at work. If you own a Buy Here, Pay Here car lot and you’re worried about losing your stock if a customer defaults, then you may want to consider purchasing a GPS tracking device for the cars you sell.

Buy Here Pay Here & GPS

GPS tracking is becoming more and more versatile all the time. One option now available that can benefit independent car lot owners is a smart tracking device. When you purchase the device, you can add it to the cars in your lot while leaving the tracking capabilities deactivated. When a customer leases or finances the vehicle, the tracking device stays with the car. Many car dealerships already offer customers a free oil change or service package at the end of the lease or finance agreement, so when they bring the car in for service, you can remove the tracking device at the same time. The benefit of the smart tracker is that you can activate it only when you need it, pay for just one day of use, and avoid monthly service fees. If, for instance, a customer defaults on his loan and fails to return the vehicle, you can activate your GPS tracking device in order to find the car immediately.

Not only will the smart GPS tracking device protect you from customers who default on their agreements, but you’ll also be protected against stolen vehicles. While vehicle theft overall has decreased over the past five years, still, the cost in stolen vehicles during 2008 was $6.4 billion. By taking the initiative to install a GPS tracking device in the cars for sale on your lot, you can protect yourself from significant losses. No one can afford to lose even one car to auto theft when the average cost of a stolen vehicle is over $6,000.

Your business stands between you and unemployment. Don’t let auto theft be the deciding factor in whether your business survives or fails. GPS tracking can give you the advantages you need to make sure you not only make it through the economic crisis, but that your business continues to thrive.

By Greg Bartlett

Are you involved in a business that utilizes vehicles on a regular basis? Does it seem harder to keep track of the automobiles that your employees and clientele are using? Many rental companies have found that the number of vehicles damaged and/or stolen has risen exceedingly in the last several years. Other businesses that send employees out on house calls realize that the amount of work completed each day has diminished greatly, while the number of hours an individual is on a job just keeps getting greater. While this may be due simply to accidents or poor driving, most often it is a result of poor accountability and a lack of responsibility on the part of drivers. Vehicle tracking may be the solution to your problem.

GPS & Vehicle Tracking

GPS tracking has progressively assisted in many areas throughout the last several years. A GPS tracking device can be used on a variety of objects, whether inanimate or animate. Wildlife conservatories use them on animals that are becoming extinct, police use them on criminal transports, and the paparazzi use them on important stars or politicians. A GPS device is a small object that can be attached to a car or stuck into a pocket. This tiny mechanism will then emit rays, when turned on, to a series of satellites throughout the universe. These satellites then transmit the rays to a set of computers that record time, date, speed, and a number of other factors about the device.

Vehicle tracking is a type of GPS tracking that has become more important recently. A recent vehicle-tracking device that has been developed is the CoDriver OBD. This can be used to know either where your vehicle is at all times, or else to trace the individual that is driving the vehicle, so that you will know its speed, distance, and location. This is useful for parents, spouses, and even friends. Another use of GPS vehicle tracking has been used for fleets of cars or machinery. With the use of a vehicle-tracking device, individuals have been able to recover lost trucks, tractors, and other work-related vehicles.

Vehicle tracking is not a toy; it is a responsible decision to take care of your car. Although not everyone can afford to purchase the top of the line model, there are many types of devices for every circumstance. Take time to decide if this method is right for you.

By Greg Bartlett

A car is left running, keys in the ignition, purse on the front seat, while the owner returns her shopping cart to the store. She doesn’t know that the man she just passed in the parking lot has been watching customers go in and out of the store, waiting for just the scenario she provided. By the time she turns around, the man is already pulling out onto the road with her car, her keys, her cell phone, and her purse. If you think this couldn’t happen to you, consider that over six billion dollars worth of stolen autos are reported each year.  GPS tracking can prevent you from becoming the next victim.

GPS & Auto Theft

But, you say, I don’t drive an expensive car. I drive an older model that’s not likely to be a target for theft. I lock my doors and I never leave the keys in the car. Statistics demonstrate that older, reliable cars such as the Accord, Camry, and Civic are among the most stolen cars in America and the vast majority of drivers take safety precautions. But thieves are still making off with billions of dollars in stolen vehicles each year. Recovery is difficult, because car thieves know how to remove identifying marks such as license plates and VIN numbers, making it almost impossible to identify a particular car accurately. But law enforcement officers say that cars with a GPS tracking device installed can be recovered much more easily. Because the device can give the exact location of the car, officers can locate your vehicle and apprehend the thief immediately, rather than spending time and manpower to track your car down and watch the suspect.

Many GPS tracking models are available as small magnetic units that can be attached inconspicuously to your vehicle. While the thief thinks he’s getting away with the goods, police can track him and begin recovery procedures just minutes after you’ve reported the theft.

While it’s true that you may never be the victim of auto theft, investing in GPS tracking for your vehicle is still a good idea. You can monitor fuel consumption and speed with the device as well, information which can be useful if you have a teen driver in your home or you just want to be more environmentally conscious.  And if you should ever discover that your car isn’t where it’s supposed to be, you’ll know that your GPS tracking device is on the job, working to protect you from serious financial loss.

By Greg Bartlett

Many people are interested in technology as it progresses, but few seem to actually understand the workings behind the technology and how it applies to daily life. GPS tracking is one of these areas that few understand, but many would like to use. The most common use of a GPS is a device that is located within a vehicle to give directions to a specific place. While this is a good example, GPS tracking is slightly different. A GPS within a car will tell you where you are a currently located. A GPS tracking device will let you know where other individuals are located.

GPS Tracking

A GPS is fairly simple to understand. Basically, you begin with a small object that contains the actual GPS. You can attach this object to the underside or inside of a car, or you can give it to someone. Once the device is turned on, it will emit radio waves to a set of satellites that are located in outer spaces. These satellites then reflect the waves back to a central computer that will then record and process the information that is given. These GPS systems can be used to track the speed, distance, location, height, or depth of an object, as well as many other variables. The choices depend simply upon the GPS unit available and its capabilities.

GPS tracking can be used for many things and on many things. It can be used to track spouses, children, criminals, famous individuals, or a vehicle. It can also be used on a phone, a computer, a car, a briefcase, or a number of other items, depending on your ingenuity. GPS tracking is still new enough that its boundaries are endless. Some businesses even keep their expensive machinery, such as bulldozers and helicopters in check with GPS systems.

GPS tracking is still relatively new and will continue to go through many upgrades before the year is over. Still, it is exciting to see where this new technology is taking the world and how it continues to evolve as scientists understand more and more about how it works. The devices have continued to grow smaller, while the capacity of the machine has grown astronomically. Take some time to see if a GPS device could help make your life easier, so that you know where your important friends, valuable belongings, or priceless family are at all times.