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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.

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By Greg Bartlett

Some companies are involved in different types of work including seismology, pipeline laying, and running cables for electricity or telephone. Some work above the ground and others must dig below ground to perform their functions. Often, employees are scattered to the four winds performing various functions from start to finish without ever setting foot in a central office during the work day. How can employers keep track of their employees and measure their progress on such jobs? The answer is with GPS tracking.

If employees are paid an hourly wage and the amount of time spent on the job is needed, a GPS log can provide employers with the amount of time spent away from a job site, the time in transit, the time spent on the job. Progress during the day can be measured to verify that this crew is working and making progress according to the planned work schedule. It is even possible to know when and how long the crew spends on their lunch break because progress will cease to be in single direction for a time. This makes it possible for one supervisor to oversee more than one crew, because any work stoppages that occur in his absence will be noted by a lack of progress with the job.

GPS tracking of employees in this fashion can also help employers in the event that a service call comes in or an emergency comes up. The central office is able to take such calls and make a determination of who is closest that can handle the situation. This can save a great deal of money for the company by avoiding dispatching a crew that would have to travel farther to do the job than the one shown to be closer by the GPS system.

There are a variety of reasons for companies to make use of GPS technology. Tracking the locations of equipment and employees on jobs that require them to work in rural areas away from any sort of central office are two very good reasons. Ground crews working in scattered areas having materials transported to them by helicopter can be found quickly and the most direct route taken by the pilot to minimize time and fuel on each run. Supervisors can have two or three different crews working for them and be able to locate them easily using realtime GPS tracking technology. Companies can measure the progress made on pipeline and cable jobs by checking where the crew finished the day against where they started.

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By Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking systems have been steadily improved since the technology first became available to the general public in the 1990s. Devices have been created that can be installed in vehicles and are small enough to be hidden well from the prying eyes and tools of thieves looking to steal a vehicle. The use of GPS vehicle tracking has proven to be an aid to businesses for several reasons.

Businesses that have implemented GPS vehicle tracking systems have been able to save millions of dollars collectively through the use of these systems. Dispatchers can locate the vehicle that is closest or is routed to pass closest to a point when a pick up or service call comes in. This has resulted in extensive savings on fuel costs since the implementation of these systems began.

Businesses making use of these vehicle tracking systems are able to manage their employees’ time and solve disputes over the amount of time spent at a particular location quickly and easily by pulling up the data log from the GPS tracking device in the vehicle and checking how long the vehicle was at a particular location. This has resulted in many withdrawals of customer complaints about overbilling for time on the job and saved thousands of dollars for many businesses that, in the past, would have been forced to charge less to keep customers satisfied.

Vehicle tracking allows business to monitor the speeds at which employees drive their company owned vehicles and how much they are used for personal rather than business reasons. Both of these features have resulted in drastic savings on fuel and maintenance as well as a reduction in the number of moving violations charged to employees in company vehicles. If an employee is caught speeding by the GPS data, the employer can contact the employee and order him/her to slow down before the police get involved.

In addition to all of these savings, insurance carriers offer discounts on many policies for vehicles equipped with GPS. This is a direct result of a steep drop in the number of claims for damages received as a result of theft and the decline in moving violations charged against drivers in company owned vehicles that are so equipped.

The growth of GPS vehicle tracking technology has resulted in several different uses for the vehicle tracking systems by businesses to streamline their fleets and save a great deal of money. This makes GPS vehicle tracking an aid to business on several fronts.

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By Greg Bartlett

It seems that a week doesn’t go by, without an accident involving an 18-wheeler making the headlines. These accidents may or may not be the fault of the drivers, but it is important that safety guidelines that have been legislated are followed. There is a reason that driver’s of large trucks are ordered to pull over for at least 8 hours every day. It ensures that they are not driving while tired, which is a huge safety risk.

In the best of conditions, it is impossible for a fully loaded tractor and trailer to stop on a dime. When you combine the inertia of the machine, with a driver whose reflexes are being adversely affected by fatigue you have a rolling safety hazard. It is essential that these drivers are as alert as possible, because we know that many of the cars they share the road with are driven by reckless and careless individuals. Many highway pile-ups are the result of a truck driver trying to prevent an accident, but if his or her reaction time is down this can lead to a worse mess.

If 18-wheelers were required to install a GPS fleet management system, it would be a simple matter for law enforcement to check on the trucks movements for the past couple of days. This would give a far more accurate account of the driver’s activities than the log books they are currently required to complete. It is fairly common practice for a truck driver to have several logs on the go at once; GPS tracking would eliminate that possibility.

A highway patrol officer who finds that a truck has been moving for too long, could then be given the discretion to order a mandatory rest period or to issue a ticket to the driver. Truckers are just like any other employees; they are just trying to get the job done. If it begins to affect their profit they won’t “chance” it and will follow the highway safety guidelines.

Accidents will happen, but as our roads become ever more clogged with traffic, shouldn’t we encourage any initiative that makes them safer? After all, our kids are on these highways with us. And it’s not like installing GPS trackers would infringe upon anyone’s civil liberties.

From the other perspective there are advantages to installing GPS trackers. Trucks equipped with GPS systems will lower insurance rates for the owners. As well as lowering insurance, GPS can be used to track stolen vehicles in real time. This means that if a truck carrying product is stolen it is possible for law enforcement to be called in, track the vehicle and possibly recover the merchandize as well as the truck. Additionally, installation of GPS trackers can protect the rights of employee drivers. This group of drivers, who do not own their own vehicles, are often pressured into unattractive runs with unrealistic delivery times. With systems monitoring the movements of trucks, the driver would be able to say that they cannot accept the unrealistic demands of their employers.

If you value the safety of our highways and roads, and think that mandatory installation of GPS truck tracking devices could help achieve safer roads contact your local representative. Write letters tell your friends and family, get them involved. With a little perseverance and time we can affect real change.

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Should you accept that company car?
By Jackie Gately

A company car is a shiny status symbol and can be a great employment “perk,” particularly in a down-turned economy. However, before accepting one as part of your compensation plan, carefully consider the pros and cons to understand any strings attached.

Pros

• A good company car beefs up your corporate and personal image and reliability, potentially resulting in more business.

• It can provide welcome relief from automobile costs, including loan or lease payments, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and gas.

• An accident that occurs in a company-owned car does not affect the cost of your family auto insurance plan. Additionally, your personal assets are protected in a corporate lawsuit that results from an accident.

• After a few years of normal wear and tear, a company car will likely be replaced with a newer one, providing long-term, reliable transportation.

• Many company cars are equipped with a car tracking device to help you navigate uncharted territory and to locate you in an emergency.

Cons

• Your personal use of the car may be limited. Understand the details and consequences of violating your agreement. Non-business related errands during business hours, as well as off hours use may be frowned upon.

• Your agreement or insurance policy may limit who drives the car. That may mean your spouse or teenage son cannot use the car under any circumstances, including an emergency.

• If equipped with a GPS car tracking device, note that your time, mileage, location, and route may be subject to scrutiny.

• If you have children or trouble keeping your vehicle neat and tidy, will that be a problem for your employer?

• It’s never a good idea to drink and drive. Doing so in a company car – or, for that matter, violating any traffic laws – may have greater consequences, including losing your job.

• Personal use of a company car is considered taxable compensation, which appears on your W-2. In addition, you won’t be able to include auto expenses in miscellaneous itemized tax deductions. (See IRS Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses, at www.irs.gov.)

A company car may be just the financial relief and added benefit you need. However, if you choose to opt, inquire about a salary adjustment, extra vacation time, tuition reimbursement, or stock options to compensate for the lost employment incentive.

Jackie Gately is a freelance writer. She can be reached at jackiegately.wordpress.com.

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When we tell you that installing GPS tracking devices can save you money, many times we are referring to the savings you get when your vehicles are running more efficiently and there is less were and tear on them. The decrease in wear and tear means that your vehicles will need to be repaired less often and will last longer.

However, there are other ways in which GPS tracking systems can help you to save money that do not involve keeping your vehicles in good repair.

One Tampa Bay police department found that some of its officers were attempting to “save” the department money by using the vehicles less…however, they were still harging the department for hours that they did not work. So in reality, they were attempting to defraud their employer. The police department set out to investigate a number of its officers with them aim of getting to the bottom of suspected fraud.
After reviewing records from GPS tracking systems in conjunction with time cards, receipts for gas and records of surveillance, investigators found that four officers were being less than honest about the hours they were working. The investigation showed that one tenth of the officers who were investigated were not being truthful about the hours they were working. On the one hand it is good to know that a majority of the officers are not trying to get more pay than they deserve. Still, though with municipal budgets getting tightened everywhere, municipalities can’t afford to let money be siphoned away in this manner.

The four officers who were found to be padding their work logs with hours that they were not working no longer work for the police department. Three of them retired and one of them was fired.

On the other hand, GPS tracking technology does not only let you know when vehicles are not being used, it can also alert you to unauthorized use of company vehicles. With our software you can not only track but easily establish an alert system for events like a driver going outside of a designated area or staying idle for too long. Idle time and stops at unauthorized locations can become costly for your business; with a GPS system you can ensure that this does not become a problem.

Call Rocky Mountain Tracking at 877-477-9668 to speak with an expert about the GPS tracking system that will work best for your company and help you manage your fleet.

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You may be at risk if you own anything of value. It used to be that high dollar items were most likely to be stolen but that’s not so anymore. From personal theft to shoplifting and even employee theft, you may be shocked to learn what’s hot this year.

Imagine coming home and finding your Christmas tree and all of your gifts missing. For one family in New York, this was not just an imagination, it was a reality. These types of thefts are happening all across America. Christmas gifts are being taken away from small children who had very little to begin with and cannot afford to buy more. Packages are being swiped from porches. Single trees are being taken from residences and dozens of trees are being taken from tree farms. One tree farmer said the last time trees were stolen from him was in 1978 when there was a similar recession. You could call it a Christmas tree crime spree.

Businesses are seeing an increase in employee theft. From fictitious sales transactions to theft of office equipment and retail products, research shows that some employees have resorted to theft to deal with financial hardship. What may be the most troubling is the most trusted employees are often the ones getting away with theft. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, “About 20% of employers polled last month said workplace theft has become a moderate to very big problem recently.”

Shoplifting is increasing by the day. The latest numbers show that shoplifting has increased by 10 to 20 percent this year. Reports show that one in 11 people shoplift. This is not something to take lightly; its costing stores $35 million every day.

As of last year, auto theft had decreased for four consecutive years according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Although, the official statistics are not in yet, we already have reports of an increase of auto theft for 2008. The holidays are the most common time for auto thieves to strike. With the cold set in people are leaving their vehicles unattended to warm up making their vehicle an easy target. Some are installing GPS vehicle recovery devices and others are just taking their chances.

Theft is always higher during an economic downturn and during the holidays. Whether you are away, at home or at the office, we would like to remind you to be especially careful and secure your property this holiday season.

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There are many industries that make great use of GPS tracking. We’ve told you a lot about how cities use GPS tracking to keep track of employees and schoolbuses. We’ve told you about the ways people use GPS tracking on the water to keep track of ferry boats or whaling ships. On land, golf courses, hockey teams, and police units all use GPS tracking.

GPS tracking is also used to help those who work a lot with the earth itself. For years, farming has become more and more high tech. No longer is it about just using a plow to till the soil and waiting for rain. No, the farming industry has been keeping pace with other industries when it comes to using technological innovations.

There is an area of study and practice called precision agriculture. In precision agriculture, farmers use GPS technology as a tool to micromanage what goes on their fields. By using GPS tracking, farmers can make more efficient use of fuel, fertilizer and pesticides. It is possible for a farmer to map soil variation. When such a map is combined with GPS tracking, the farmer can give different areas of soil just the amount of fertilizer that they need. Satellites and GPS technology can also let a farmer know which areas have the most weeds and they can make sure that pesticides are sprayed where they are really needed.

Now we know that micromanaging is okay when talking about a farm, but it is a dirty word when it comes to talking about managing people. When it comes to managing people, micromanaging is not about being small and petty. It is about making sure that resources are allocated correctly. With budgets getting tighter and tighter, you need to which employees are going where and look at ways to make travel more efficient.

As fleet routes become more efficient, there are lower costs to the customer for fuel.  This again is a way to reduce operating costs.  Sometimes a portion of these cost savings can even be passed along to the customer.  This benefits employees because an efficiently-run business stays healthy and no doubt your employees want to work for an employer who is doing well.

GPS tracking systems increase productivity as well.  Drivers and dispatchers are able to communicate with ease.  It is simple to add a stop to a route or even to change a route since the dispatchers can contact drivers directly.  This helps to make each trip more effective and efficient.

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Running a business come with great rewards and great risks. For many business owners the risks are worth it to reap the rewards. But still, if you could find ways to mitigate your risks, you would take advantage of these opportunities, wouldn’t you?

When you have employees and equipment under your charge, you certainly don’t want anything to happen on your watch. When you use GPS tracking devices to monitor vehicle movement and employee driving habits, you can feel just a little more assured. There is no way to see into the future, but you can see to it that your employees get assistance if they need it.

You may often hear that employers use GPS tracking to “spy” on employees, and if you don’t feel comfortable with that, be aware that the purpose of GPS tracking is safety, not spying. As an employer you are concerned about your employees’ safety for personal and professional reasons. GPS tracking is one way that you can think less about your drivers out on the at times treacherous highways and byways and concentrate on the work at hand.

Your employees may be perfectly good drivers and they may be on the road with other perfectly good drivers, and the unexpected can still occur. It is possible that some erratic movement or driving maneuver is not due to negligence, but to illness or some other unforeseen circumstance. When you use a GPS tracking system to monitor your fleet in real time you will be aware of a problem immediately. Then you can see to the safety of your employee without delay.

Visit Rocky Mountain Tracking to learn more about how GPS tracking can help with fleet management.

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Everyone likes a sale. Often, we search for items we want, hoping to find them at a reduced price, but don’t forget that you can also get discounts on services as well.

During the month of June, Rocky Mountain Tracking is offering a special promotion for SmartTrack and SmartTrack Plus customers. Until the end of June, customers using these services will enjoy unlimited locates. This special promotion applies to current subscribers and new customers. So if you’ve been thinking about getting the service, now is the time to do it.

What is a “locate”, you ask? At your command, the SmartTrack system will give you information on the current location of your vehicle. Every time to request a vehicle’s current location, this is registered as one “locate”.

No doubt this service is great in the event that your vehicle has been stolen, but the feature is also useful during less daunting circumstances. As an employer you can use it to see just why a delivery seems to be taking so long. Parents can use it to make sure that the teen drivers in their household are following the rules. If the device is installed on the car of an elderly parent, a locate can be used to make sure they have arrived at their intended destination.

There are many uses of this great tool, so visit the Rocky Mountain Tracking website today to learn more about SmartTrack. There are several SmartTrack service plans, so you are sure to find one that will suit your needs. And be sure to stop back often because you never know what other promotions we’ll have.

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