Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

The news seems full of reports of teen driving deaths, around 3,500 in 2008 alone, and many parents wonder how they can keep their own young drivers safe. Certainly, when teenagers are learning, the solution is easy. Parents can sit right next to their children and monitor their every move, telling them to slow down, stop at stoplights, and cautioning them against reckless driving. However, what do parents do once their children are fully trained and learn to drive by themselves?

Teen Drivers & GPS

Many families have started using vehicle tracking systems to solve this problem. These systems allow parents to see exactly where their child is and what their child is doing. If a teenager is going over 70 in a 45 zone, he may find his phone ringing with a lecture from his mom. If another teenager appears to be engaged in reckless driving and won’t answer her phone, parents can track where she is and find her. Although these situations may seem unnecessary and annoying, especially to the teenagers involved, many lives could be saved by using GPS tracking.

Guy Thompson of Lake Oswego, Oregon tracks his 16 year old driver, Maggie using a vehicle tracking device. At first, he admits, he checked on her regularly throughout the day, and Maggie confesses she didn’t like being on a leash. However, the pair says that after awhile, Thompson started checking only once a day, and she grew used to the vehicle tracking device, forgetting, at times, that it was even there. Of course, like any teenager, she wishes her parents didn’t use it in the first place, but she is willing to put up with the process and does acknowledge that it helped cultivate trust between her and her parents. Thompson, however, feels the device is fine. Although, he does add that it needs to be between parents and children.

Although many teenagers may feel these devices signify a lack of trust on their parents’ part, most parents view that miscommunication as a small price to pay for the safety and continued lives of their children. Granted, some children are trustworthy without GPS tracking. Still, many others need the accountability provided by such a device. Parents of teen drivers should seriously consider purchasing a vehicle tracking device, thus preventing their own children from being one of the next 3,500 deaths this year.

By Greg Bartlett

How many different types of tracking systems do you think there are available? While many people may think that only a few exist, the possibilities are endless and opportunities abound to exploit the advantages of a GPS tracker. GPS tracking systems can be used for a variety of things. One of the most well-known is used for tracking vehicles. Whether you want to keep track of your spouse or children, or whether you simply want to know where your car is at all times, a GPS system could suit you perfectly. Some people hide the GPS system on their vehicle, others place it in a conspicuous location, such as a standard GPS system that gives directions. Some companies, on the other hand, use GPS tracking systems to keep record of where their cars have been, how long they have been there, and their speed in travel. This can be helpful if you rent out cars or have a business that makes client calls.

GPS Tracking & Personal Safety

Another use for GPS tracking is to know where your animal is. Dog-tracking collars have made recent strides in technology and people can even have personal logins and passwords to find a lost pup on the Internet. Some people will also GPS tracking and place a device on an individual or in a pocket.

Other uses of tracking systems have been to keep abreast of what is going on worldwide. Police officers have used GPS trackers to know where criminals are at all times. Paparazzi use similar devices to know where a famous Hollywood star is or where a politician may be staying. The Olympics became well-known for tracking the vehicles that the champions were traveling in. This helped them to know where the athletes were and when they would arrive to the games.

GPS tracking is not difficult and has become very useful recently. It uses a small device that, when activated, transmits radio waves to satellites, that then pass the information to a central computer. This helps technicians know the location of the device as well as any other data it monitors. Tracking with a GPS system can be very beneficial and can provide you with much information that you would not be able to know otherwise. GPS systems are cheap and readily available for anyone who is interested in considering them further. Come see what a GPS tracker can do for you.

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

There are those who still question the need for and use of GPS Tracking systems in their businesses.  That is unfortunate, because they stand to gain from these devices in ways that will help increase their profitability.

GPS Tracking Questions

Here are the most important questions about GPS Tracking systems and the answers:

How Does GPS Tracking Differ from GPS Navigation?

GPS stands for Global Positioning Systems and is a part of technology provided by satellites as they orbit the earth.  These satellites and the systems contained in them are able to link to devices on the ground that are in tune to certain frequencies on which both are locked.  These frequencies allow communicating bi-directionally which gives benefits to the end user.

GPS Navigation systems have become popular with product manufacturers in the form of small devices that attach to vehicles or other transportation methods for the distinct purpose of displaying driving directions and other valuable data such as destination, and estimated times of arrival based on speed.

GPS Tracking has been developed for the specific purpose of tracking moving objects (vehicles and other assets) as they move across the landscape.  These devices are used more for verifying activities and providing data than they are for providing consumer feedback on a small screen.  These units provide location, direction of travel and speed information which is captured in near real-time.  This data is then used by businesses, law enforcement and even consumers in tracking assets.

How Do Businesses Benefit?

By using GPS Tracking, businesses are able to better manage assets in near real-time which allow them to be more responsive to their customers’ needs.  This gives businesses with fleet vehicles the ability to be able to make instant changes in schedules which improve customer loyalty and satisfaction.

What Type of GPS Tracking Do We Need?

You have a choice between a passive and a ‘real-time’ system.  Passive systems are those that are not tracked actively when the device is in use.  The device stores information which is downloaded for later retrieval and use.  This device is only good when instant updates are not needed.  Tracking over several days for a history of usage is the best way to describe its use.

The devices that are of the most benefit to businesses are those that are ‘real-time’ or nearly so.  These units send out a constant signal so that the information can be relayed to a local PC.  These GPS Tracking systems also allow businesses to set up boundaries called ‘geo-fences’ that set off alerts if a vehicle traverses a preset boundary.

What Can We Expect to Pay?

When these devices are purchased in quantity the discounts can be fantastic.  Often, the cost can be as low as about $100.  But, the key here is that the cost is so low, that the devices pay for themselves.  Other cost that you should be aware of is that there are monthly fees associated with continuous monitoring.  But, also there is a model called the Smart Tracker that does not incur these charges until the device is activated as needed.

Are Savings Possible?

Most insurance companies offer a significant savings in premiums when these units are installed and used on vehicles.  This helps them reduce their risk of loss and they are more than willing to share in the savings by offering lower premiums.

There is little to debate over the implementation and use of these devices in any business that has major dollars tied up in outdoor assets.  The ways that they are being used are many and varied and they will continue to provide a platform for successful business operations for years to come.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

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

Creating an environment in which your business can succeed is very important.  That is especially true in the economic climate in which businesses are operating today.  Once you establish a baseline of activities that you must perform to help your business succeed, then you can add the tools that you need to make it happen.

Building Your Business

These tools include a fully integrated GPS Tracking system.  Here are four ways that it can help you build your business:

Managing Growth

You know what the most difficult part of managing your business is?  Growth.  Your day-to-day operations are running smoothly and then all of a sudden you are asked to increase your service area or offerings.  If your business uses mobile or movable assets, then GPS Tracking systems will help you with the growth process because of the ability to manage them in a timely and efficient manner.  No longer will adding additional assets produce a sinking feeling on the part of your managers.

Increasing Customer Response

Being able to respond with instant feedback from a GPS Tracking system will help you turn your operations with ease to help keep profitability at the forefront of what you do.  When you track assets with GPS Tracking systems, you can know instantaneously where assets are located.  If they are missing or stolen, authorities can be notified to their exact location and they can be recovered within hours, not days, weeks or months.  You are able to keep running without having to sacrifice because of an incident of theft.

Keeping Service ‘Priority One’

GPS Tracking systems put customer service at the highest levels of business operations.  This is especially true if you are involved heavily in the delivery of goods or products via fleet solutions.  Other businesses that can benefit from these systems are people transportation systems as well.  There is no better way to manage routes than with a GPS Tracking system.

Repeat Customers

The most efficiently operated business invited use and customer satisfaction that keep them coming back for years.  Making use of the GPS Tracking system benefits helps your company stand out from your competition and makes you almost impossible to beat with it comes to delivering customer satisfaction.

Implementation of a GPS Tracking system has never been easier or more affordable than it is right now.  Adding one to your operation is no longer a nice thought or gesture.  It is mandatory and it is time to get on board.  Here’s to your success.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Ten years ago a GPS tracking system would have been considered a luxury, but in today’s market, they are readily available and much more reasonably priced. But you might be wondering if a GPS tracking system is something that you need to purchase right now.

GPS Product Lineup

The answer is here. Your answer might not be yes right now, but after considering these reasons, you will know whether or not it is time for you to purchase a GPS tracking system.
A GPS tracking system works better than alarms and locks. Thieves today are more talented and cunning than they were in the past. Thieves know how to disable car alarms and can break into them so quickly that they often cannot be stopped. This is why having a real-time GPS tracking system inside the vehicle is a good idea. The system has its own battery so it does not stop working even if the battery cable to the vehicle is cut. A real-time tracking system will allow you to locate your car after it has been stolen: something a car alarm certainly cannot do for you.

A GPS tracking device is also a very good idea for people like bikers and runners who may be alone. This will allow you to be tracked if you become a victim of a crime. A GPS tracking system is a good idea for anyone from a hunting enthusiast to a mountain climber, because these systems will also protect people who are likely to become lost or get injured or stuck somewhere. Many people also use these kinds of devices to track young children and those with Alzheimer’s disease.
A GPS tracking system can also be used to determine the faithfulness of a spouse. Having a GPS tracker on a vehicle may not give you the answers that you wanted, but it will at least give you the truth. The information from this kind of tracking device in addition to other information that you may gather from phone records or the credit card bill will give you the evidence that you need if your spouse is being unfaithful.

A GPS tracking system can also revolutionize the way that your business is run. It can be used to manage a fleet of vehicles and cut down on unnecessary vehicle wear and tear. It may also lower your insurance premiums, because your vehicles will be easy to recover if they are stolen. A GPS tracking system also simplifies the amount of records and reports that are required for billing purposes and keeps you from having to hire another person.

Any one of these reasons might be important enough for you to decide to purchase a GPS tracking system. If you find yourself worrying about the safety of your family members or the stability of your business, do not hesitate to purchase a GPS tracking device and let it take the stress and worry out of your life.

By Harriette Halepis

Track the Capitol Tree with GPS

This year, the tree that will light up Washington D.C. weighs more than 8,000 pounds, and hails from Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. The tree traveled more than 4,000 miles to reach the capitol, and anyone could have tracked the tree’s journey by logging onto Trackthetree.com.

SkyBitz (in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service) outfitted the tree with a GPS Tracking system that effectively recorded the tree’s every movement (well, every detour that the truck hauling the tree took anyway). SkyBitz also set up a Facebook and Twitter account that allowed people to comment on the tree.

The Capitol tree, 10,000 handmade ornaments, and 80 smaller trees (these will be placed throughout the Capitol buildings) all made it safely to Washington D.C., but how does one of the most popular trees in the land get chosen?

The selection of the Capitol Christmas Tree is quite an undertaking. The tree was actually spotted and chosen in mid-July when most people were thinking about summertime barbeques, not wintertime Christmas trees. The tree is then presented to the U.S. Congress, and if the tree is approved it makes the journey from its original location to Washington D.C.

The U.S. Forest Service had hoped that allowing people to track the tree would engage public interest in the tree lighting ceremony. Did it work? While SkyBitz didn’t release its website tracking data, you can head to Trackthetree.com to view the tree’s journey, read the tree’s blog, and make note of all the holiday Capitol happenings.

2009 Capitol Christmas Tree

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

Public transportation operations are getting smart by incorporating GPS Tracking into their systems.  One of the latest is Caltrain in the Bay Area of San Francisco, California.  Caltrain is implementing GPS Tracking for one purpose:  to closely monitor train movements and locations so that riders know exactly where trains are located in relation to their position and (more importantly) when they will arrive.

Caltrain Adds GPS

GPS Tracking makes its mark by helping to improve service to customers.  This has long been a strong point for tracking of public transportation systems including buses and taxi cabs.

Another way of alerting riders to train schedules happens via Twitter updates.  While these updates are helpful, they require riders to have cell phones with Internet access to receive the communications.

GPS Tracking systems like the one being installed for Caltrain do not discriminate in this way.  Electronic signs posted at each stop convey the information to riders.  What airports have been doing for years now comes to common public transportation users.

Other uses for these GPS Tracking systems include close monitoring of maintenance schedules.  This allows managers to make sure that scheduled maintenance stops are performed within the time allocation set up in pre-determined intervals.  This helps make sure that these large vehicles are in the best possible condition that they can be when in service which, in turn, can cut down on failures which can lead to accidents.

One reason for the installation of this system is that competition from buses has forced Caltrain to make the improvement in service which helps keep them in the running for being the best way to travel in the Bay Area.

The other issue that this addresses is the concerns by those who use the train, but because of schedules and delays, are late to work, classes and other appointments.

Score another win for GPS Tracking systems as they continue to make huge inroads into improving service and reliability.  Today’s public transportation users demand better schedules and information in order to keep their own schedules and be able to take advantage of a greener travel alternative.  It appears that all systems are ‘go.’

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

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

In New England GPS Tracking of criminals is making waves because of the money that is saved by the corrections systems.  While this is nothing new, it is further evidence that more and more criminals are being confined to “prison” in their own homes vs. being placed into prison complexes where the costs grow astronomically.

GPS Tracking of Convicts

There are inherent benefits for prisoners, too.  First, they are able to work at their jobs and earn a living.  Second, they can use their own medical insurance to cover illnesses.  These methods that are implemented for lesser offenders help them realize that the rescinding of much of their freedom is a high price to pay for their actions.  It also helps them to avoid difficult re-entry into society that some inmates face once they are released.  And, they are safe from the frequent in-fighting that often occurs in prisons.

While the underlying reason for sentences to prison complexes is to force convicted persons to pay for their crimes, being under ‘house arrest’ accomplishes the same thing.

The benefit to correction systems is solely financial.  It costs around $100 per day in most states to house, feed and provide medical services to inmates.  The amount drops to less than five dollars per day with GPS monitoring.

In addition to this, some GPS Tracking devices also feature an alcohol detection option that allows corrections officials to monitor the existence of alcohol near the detained criminal.

Just as other applications of GPS Tracking devices are a good fit, this makes additional sense by keeping corrections budgets low thereby keeping taxes lower, too.  It is a win-win for all concerned.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking devices to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Greg Bartlett

Somali pirates are famous for capturing ships and demanding ransoms. One of the more recent cases has caused people to wonder if GPS tracking systems could be useful in these situations. While it may not be possible to completely stop the pirating with GPS tracking systems, they may make things easier for the authorities.

GPS Tracking & Pirates on the High Seas

From speed boats to sail boats, boat theft has always been a problem, but boat hijacking is an even bigger concern, because people are often taken hostage during hijackings. The increase in boat thefts and hijackings has moved many boat owners to purchase GPS tracking systems to protect these valuable possessions.

Finding a missing boat is much more difficult than finding a missing vehicle because there are limited places that a vehicle can go. GPS tracking systems can easily pinpoint the location of the missing boat and also protect a very expensive item. People who have invested a lot of money in their boats need to protect them from theft with GPS technology.

The most important reason that people should install a GPS tracker in their boat is that it would help the authorities quickly find them in the case of a hijacking. Instead of waiting until the pirates demand a ransom, a GPS tracking system will allow the authorities to act immediately. A fast reaction time is crucial in these kinds of situations.

You could even use the geo-fencing feature that comes with most active GPS tracking systems to prevent this kind of problem from happening. The geo-fencing feature will alert you if your boat is moved from the dock, so you will know instantly if it has been stolen. In addition, you can use this feature to keep you in safe waters while you are out boating. Although you do not always know where potential boat hijackers are, placing a geo-fence alert around pirating hot spots will keep you out of the most dangerous areas.

You could also use this GPS tracking system to notify the authorities of your location if you have any other kind of emergency. Whether the boat is sinking or someone has become very ill, cutting down the amount of time that it takes the authorities to respond is very important.

Thanks to GPS tracking systems, recovering a boat, which could take months without the help of GPS technology, now becomes a very simple thing to do.

By Greg Bartlett

Recently, the American Red Cross division that services the National Capital Region announced that its vehicles will all be equipped with GPS tracking devices in order to facilitate better emergency service management, communication, and resource distribution. The use of GPS tracking on American Red Cross vehicles will allow managers to deliver better response time for emergencies as well as ensure safety of personnel on the road.

American Red Cross & GPS

GPS tracking will allow American Red Cross dispatchers to view the location of each vehicle in real time. They can monitor vehicles individually or all on one screen in order to facilitate more efficient use of resources and to enable quicker emergency response. When they know the exact location of each vehicle, dispatchers can notify the driver closest to the scene in order to eliminate waste of time and resources. Since minutes can sometimes make the difference between life and death in emergency situations, the GPS tracking devices will allow American Red Cross emergency responders to increase the chances of arriving in time to administer lifesaving aid.

The devices also allow perimeter monitoring, which means that if a vehicle is driven outside a specified perimeter, an alert will be activated which allows immediate notification of possible theft. GPS monitoring also provides motion alerts, allowing dispatchers to see when a vehicle is moving. If unauthorized motion takes place, police can be notified of theft and immediately begin recovery procedures. The American Red Cross loses vehicles and equipment to theft each year, and coordinators look forward to being able to reduce some of the thefts and increase recovery chances with the help of the new GPS tracking devices.

GPS tracking will also increase safety for the American Red Cross personnel. In both disaster and non-disaster zones, American Red Cross responders face danger as they perform their services. With GPS tracking, their vehicles will be under constant surveillance, allowing assistance to be dispatched immediately when problems arise.

American Red Cross personnel who serve the National Capital Region express excitement and increased confidence based on the new GPS tracking system. They look forward to being able to provide better and more efficient service to their region while also ensuring increased safety for their personnel and reduced theft of vehicles, equipment and supplies. With GPS tracking, the American Red Cross will be able to focus more completely on the job they do best-providing assistance to those in need.