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.

By Greg Bartlett

Everyone today is looking for more ways to be green. One of our government’s primary goals is to reduce our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, turning instead to alternative energy sources. Wherever we look, we see exhortations to recycle more, use less water, change our light bulbs, and choose reusable shopping bags, with the ultimate goal of being kinder to our planet and preserving our resources for future generations. While the current administration hopes to reduce or even eliminate the need for oil in our society, the reality is that vehicles will continue to run on gasoline for at least several years to come. Still, there are ways that we can reduce our fuel consumption and emissions in order to promote better air quality. One tool that has proven effective in this endeavor is the GPS tracking device.

The primary purpose of GPS tracking devices is to locate objects or people remotely. By strategically placing a GPS signal transmitter in company owned vehicles and monitoring the job site from his computer, a construction contractor can keep an eye on his heavy equipment after he has left the job site. In addition, however, many GPS tracking devices have the ability to monitor fuel consumption, speed, and idling time by sending periodic signals to a receiving device. Companies with fleets of vehicles can keep track of how far a driver goes, whether he maintained the speed limit and whether he left the truck idling during the delivery. Individual drivers who may simply be curious about their personal fuel consumption can give themselves the knowledge and incentive to seek alternate routes and find other ways to reduce travel time.

How much difference do these adjustments make? Statistics demonstrate that a 10 mph reduction in speed makes vehicles 20% more fuel efficient and that a fleet of vehicles whose drivers each reduce idling time by only 15 minutes a day can save hundreds of gallons of fuel each year. Employees are less likely to take the scenic route to a job or to run home in the company vehicle if they know the boss has installed a GPS vehicle tracking device, which means less fuel consumed during the work day. While each individual decision may seem insignificant, millions of Americans making one small decision to use less fuel each day can add up to billions of gallons of fuel saved each year. It’s all part of caring for our resources and keeping our planet healthy for the future.

By James Neely

Of all of the methods available in the pursuit of profitability, a GPS vehicle tracking system gives you added tools and information that will help you achieve success in your business like never before. Here is how it works and how you can put it to use in your business.

Monitor your business. Does your business rely on time and location operations? Do you have a fleet of vehicles or assets that must be managed at a close level? If so then a GPS Tracking system is a must for your business operations. You can monitor on a ‘live’ or ‘passive’ level with the ability to gather data in support of your business activities.

Comply with contracts. In business where contractual obligations are the life blood of an operation, a GPS Tracking system can provide the information and details needed to form the basis for invoicing and compliance verification. The detail level is so great, that the information can also be used in situations where evidence is needed in the support of legal questions.

Watch employee actions. Company vehicles are a valuable asset that requires monitoring on a daily basis. Drivers also need to be monitored for safe and responsible driving activities. Imagine the level of control and adherence to company policies and procedures will be afforded to your business. When the time comes for employee performance reviews, this data can help substantiate raises and promotions.

Save on business insurance. When you implement a GPS Tracking system into your company, you will save on premiums on your assets. This directly affects your bottom line profitability. Plus, in the unfortunate event of a theft, the system can provide instantaneous details of location so that authorities can recover your asset sooner so that you can get back to work.

Appreciate added security. The sense of security and control provided by a GPS Tracking system is priceless. Making money is the prime directive for your business. Being distracted by having concerns about the location of assets and how they are being treated takes your focus off of the more important aspects of your business.

Make use of GPS vehicle tracking systems today and see how your profits take off and soar. In this climate of cutting back and making your business more efficient, you can no longer afford to be without one. You will never regret the day you implement these into your business – that is a fact.

By James Neely

Knowledge is king when it comes to business. You might think that you have a handle on your business, but if you rely on assets that are out of your sight, then there is always a question in the back of your mind about how they are being used and/or abused. Who watches out for these assets and what kind of verification can you obtain in support of their use?

A vehicle tracking system for all of your moveable assets is a must in order to increase your knowledge of your business operations.

Know your employees. Your most expense commodity in business is employees. Payroll makes up a huge chunk of your budget, yet, you cannot get along without them if you run a business that requires deliveries and adherence to schedules. Part of knowing your employees means knowing what they are doing while on company time with company assets. You can gain greater control over both with the implementation of GSP Tracking systems.

Know your business activities. When you make customer satisfaction the top priority in your business, you had better know every detail that helps get you there. That includes locating company assets, being able to follow routes, making changes in stops and monitoring the time that it takes to complete tasks. All of these intricate details and more are delivered to you via GPS Tracking systems.

Know your customers. Customers vary in the way that they deal with expectations of your business operations. Sometimes you will get valuable feedback as to how you are doing and other times not. Then, you can be caught totally off-guard by a customer who leaves and takes their business elsewhere. That is a part of being in business. But, you need to make sure that it had nothing to do with your operations and performance. You can obtain information to support that from a GPS Tracking system.

Know your limitations. Knowing what you are not that good at can help you work to make improvements in that area. This might mean getting a better handle on your operations and the details that you need to monitor. Then, you can turn it around and make a limitation vanish in place of a positive for your customers.

Know your profitability. Whether you are focusing on on-time deliveries or compliance by employees, your bottom line remains your number one priority. Knowledge will help you get there and remain in a constant mode of change. GPS vehicle tracking systems will be the structure with which you deliver better business at a better price with more profit. What more can you ask for?

By James Neely

GPS vehicle tracking systems are in the headlines of news stories across the world. The positive benefits of using these systems is well documented, but the practical application side of things gives insight into where they are making their highest impact.

These stories underscore the importance of obtaining and implementing a GPS Tracking system into your business.

First, from Pueblo, Colorado comes a story about the use of a GPS Tracking systems on school bus fleet operations. Not only are they using the system to monitor in near real-time the bus routes and driving activities, but also they will be requiring students to use a card to swipe as they enter or leave a bus in order to verify where they got on or off a given route. This will provide instant monitoring in case and incident should occur. Authorities can be notified immediately with the location of the bus as well as the number of students aboard at the time. The GPS Tracking system will also help avoid students from getting off at the wrong stop or location.

Second, we have a story of a man who stole a courier van that contained a GPS Tracking system. This occurred in England and underscores the importance of being able to monitor at all times where assets are located. This gives operations better control over the whereabouts at all times. Also, being able to recover a vehicle almost instantly helps you be able to get back to business and keep profitability your highest priority.

Next, there is a move afoot on a federal level for legislation called “The Standup Act” to be enacted that would tighten up licensing requirements for teenagers. In connection with this effort the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted research that underscores the fact that a GPS Tracking system helps reign in poor driving habits by teen drivers.

Finally, in a seemingly obscure application, a GPS device is being added to an asthma inhaler. The practical uses are yet to be fully realized, but the unit detects trends in usage as well as time and location reporting.

These underscore the importance and acceptance of GPS Tracking systems in culture. It is almost expected to find these in situations where security and performance issues are supremely important. The role that they play and the discussions surrounding privacy will continue as well. But one thing is sure: GPS vehicle tracking systems are here to stay and they are making life better for everyone.

By James Neely

When it comes to safety and responsibility on the roads, nothing compares to an investment of the principles that apply to safe and responsible driving. It is easy for fleet drivers to become lax overtime because driving is their job and the more miles driven makes them become less tuned in to the things that are important.

That is why a GPS vehicle tracking system is a must for any fleet operations. There are many features and benefits to a fleet of vehicles that have been outfitted with these devices, but safety and responsibility are at the top of the list. Here is why this is true:

Heightens awareness. This is true not only when the driver is on the road, where they need to be the most aware of their surroundings and the things happening in front of them, but when they are on their own time as well. Paying attention to details is always a good choice in remaining focused on any task. Driving a vehicle, especially a large delivery truck or even semi, requires a constant focus. But there are always too many distractions.

Increases sense of belonging. When a driver is part of an organization that values safety and responsibility, they feel like a part of something bigger than just making deliveries every day. This is what motivates people to become heroes when they assist others who are involved in traumatic situations. In fact, the training that they receive often kicks in without them thinking about it.

Makes safety a part of the work process. By emphasizing safety, it becomes a part of their everyday routine. From making sure that their vehicle is operating correctly, to driving with added ownership of their actions at the wheel they are immersed in safety activities.

Underscores the effect of good decisions on the road. When drivers value safety and responsibility, they make better decisions on the road. Knowing that lives are at stake helps a great deal, also.

A GPS tracking device helps the driver realize that they are being monitored not only for business purposes, but to also make sure that rules of the road and all laws are being obeyed. This will help make sure that the incidents of moving violations are low while driving up customer satisfaction. Drivers will be more productive as well. This is a decision that you will not regret making for your business. Check out one of these systems today.

By James Neely

In the GPS Tracking systems offered by RM Tracking, you will find a very valuable web-based software called NavIQ. This software is what allows you to track your assets as they are ‘on the move.’ The ability to pan, zoom, and provide 3D perspectives and fly-over routing makes this software worth gold to your operations. Not only that, it is available for use in over 56 countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America.

One of the best features is that you can mix and match tracking devices that will fit your business model. There is a solution that tracks via cellular technology and one that uses standard satellite navigation systems.

Here are some of the benefits of these systems:

Trip playback. Monitoring daily activities of your fleet is possible on a map and in text format. This is great for verification purposes and allows you to provide evidentiary support for business activities.

Event overlay. Enhance the safety of your operations with event flagging for items such as ‘overspeed.’ This helps keep your drivers aware and responsible as they perform their duties.

Custom reporting. No software updates are required for making new reports because of the ‘hybrid-web’ technology. Using reports in your business helps you deliver greater customer satisfaction. Imagine being able to submit an invoice with a backup report attached that shows details of activities performed. You will find that customers will appreciate that level of service and it will come to be expected. It is one thing that will help separate you and your competition.

Robust I/O Support. These systems provide an additional value in the ability to send email alerts related to an I/O event.

Geofencing. No, this is not a new Olympics event. This provides the ability to set boundaries in a geophysical area on a map in order to detect violations of those boundaries. Keeping fleets in their areas is important and provides evidence of compliance to rules as well.

User-defined grouping and status codes. Built into this system is the ability for the end user to establish groups and status codes. Your fleets can be logically grouped or sorted based on a number of user-specified criteria. For example, if you have multiple ‘teams’ of deliver operations, you can assign each unit to a team and monitor the group from that perspective.

Allows third-party development and IT staff. The NavIQ Developer Services allow in-house customization in capturing and using real-time data directly from our servers which is then delivered in popular formats of either XML/SOAP, .Net web services, etc. This allows larger operations to build interfaces and displays that meet their specific needs and thereby deliver better customer service at the same time.

There is so much more, but suffice it to say that GPS Tracking systems that are fully integrated into your business operations gives you control like you have never had before. And, you will begin to realize that using the system is no longer an option, it becomes the very lifeline of your business. Make it yours today.

By Greg Bartlett

Everywhere you go, it seems like someone is watching. Whether it is other people, security cameras, or tracking devices, very often people are being monitored. This is especially true in the workplace. Employers of trucking industries and those who drive corporate fleets seek to increase efficiency, productivity, and accountability by monitoring their drivers.

GPS monitoring of employees has become increasing popular in recent years. Employers, concerned about their company resources, seek to find a way to monitor their employees in order to increase efficiency and save costs. With GPS devices, they can now see if employees are speeding, moonlighting, making unnecessary stops, using inefficient routes, or charging excessive overtime. Since these activities increase company liability and expenses and decrease company efficiency and opportunity to effectively help customers, companies are glad to find a way to monitor employee activity.

One company in Kansas which employs a small fleet started using GPS tracking because of a few problems the employees had in the past, such as the drivers not being where they were supposed to be. Now the company can make sure that drivers are using the most efficient routes, are driving safely, and are spending an appropriate amount of time on each job. GPS monitoring has allowed the company to increase its profits and its relationship with its customers by being more reliable.

Despite the benefits of GPS monitoring, some employees are worried about privacy issues. Most of the monitoring is concerned with employee malfeasance, but employees still aren’t thrilled with the idea of constantly being watched. Employees are especially concerned about being monitored after working hours.

At this point, there have been no court decisions about the legality of GPS tracking in the workplace. Only Connecticut requires that employees be informed beforehand if they are going to be monitored electronically. However, to protect the company against lawsuits and to avoid violating employees’ privacy, employers should be careful to inform employees that they will be monitored and explain when and how that monitoring will take place. Furthermore, information gathered from monitoring should be used only for the proper purposes, namely, to monitor work-related activities.

GPS monitoring can be a useful tool for employers to increase productivity, efficiency, and profit, but it needs to be carefully balanced with employee privacy. Only when properly balanced will GPS tracking be the best option for your company.

By James Neely

Running a service oriented business that depends on deadlines and punctuality; you cannot have a better tool to help you reach your customer goals than a GPS Tracking system. These come in a variety of sizes and options but all supply one purpose: to help run your business in a more efficient manner. Here is how it works:

Arrival times. You can check arrival times of your service personnel and verify their compliance to appointments. If one is consistently late, you have the evidence to prove or disprove the infractions and you are able to handle the issue based on facts, not emotion. For your clients, arrival times can be verified and then included with invoices to confirm adherence to contract obligations.

In-transit tracking. Is there too much time being taken between stops? Are there any stops between calls that are unauthorized? How you handle these issues depends on your policies established in your performance guidelines. But proper enforcing of rules can help increase customer satisfaction, especially when a service pattern has been established with a client.

Time spent at locations. Does a service call or stop take too long? Are there mitigating circumstances that cause this or is it because of other employee issues? With a GPS Tracking system you have the facts to back up the length of time spent at customer locations.

Track efficiency. You can look at a complete day and see where your efficiencies are and where you need to focus more resources or effort. It could be that better scheduling will produce better results. Viewing routes and miles driving on a map helps you make determinations for setting coverage areas.

A GPS Tracking system will become the managing instrument that you use to make sure that your business runs smoothly and without major problems. Service personnel will appreciate the attention to their jobs and scheduling. There will be fewer disconnects between management and field personnel when one of these systems is implemented.

Put to use a GPS Tracking system in your business and watch your business run smoother and with more efficiency. Take a step back and imagine how much more you can accomplish by using the features that are available to you. As a business person in this day and age, you cannot be too careful about maximizing profits. Making money is about paying attention to details and a GPS tracking system performs that operation perfectly well. Try one today and you will not be sorry.

By James Neely

The trend toward creating a ‘green’ environment in which businesses and individuals strive to use less of the earth’s resources and be conservative in the ones that we do use is prevalent right now.

The debates about the validity of some of the tenants of living or working with a ‘green’ mindset will wage on but it still is wise to get involved because it can help your company save money. That advantage alone is worth the effort. And if it helps with the environment at the same time, then, all the better.

A GPS Tracking system can help you ‘green up’ your fleet operations in this way:

Reduce fuel and maintenance costs. With the cost per vehicle estimated at about $1.50 per mile, you can see that this is an area that can use additional oversight in order to reduce those costs. Fuel and maintenance are based on the number of miles driven, but there is also another issue and that is the idling of engines during stops. Discussions wage as to how much fuel is wasted and pollution pumped into the air we breathe, but it is worth making the effort to shut down engines during deliveries, pickups and other stoppages.

Eliminates paper waste. Online reporting creates the ability to see and monitor activity. Reports can be generated which are then electronically transferred and distributed based on need. This keeps paper waste to a minimum. Print outs can be relegated only to billing needs and or verification needs in case of litigation or proof of performance questions.

Reduces excessive and unnecessary driving. By monitoring the routes and driving habits of fleet drivers, companies can make sure that as few miles as is necessary are driven which saves fuel and maintenance costs as mentioned above. Also, drivers can be monitored for unauthorized trips in company vehicles.

Sets geofencing borders. Keeping a fleet within ‘green’ borders established by service area helps reduce waste as well. Having the ability to re-route vehicles based on who is closest to a location further enforces the ‘green’ mentality.

Gains in environmental responsibility are achieved one step at a time. There are those who participate with no apparent effect from a positive standpoint at all. But the bigger picture must prevail; any and all conservative efforts are to be rewarded no matter how small or seeming insignificant. (GPS tracking) systems can be a major player in helping reach the goals for a ‘greener’ tomorrow – today.