Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

GPS Tracker for Small Objects

March 18th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

The advantages of installing a GPS tracker device on your car or truck have been known for quite some time now, but many people are just waking up to the idea of tracking smaller objects. As the GPS tracker devices themselves become smaller and more easily concealed it only makes sense to hook them onto laptops and other high end electronics.

By purchasing a subscription to a tracking service, you are giving yourself added peace of mind that your purchase will stay in your possession, or at least be returned as soon as possible. Using the example of a laptop if you were to forget it on the table of a busy coffee shop getting it back would be as simple as calling into your tracker company’s call center and requested the location of the device. Once you have alerted them they can either direct you, or the police, to the computer’s location to retrieve it.

The technology is one of the most user-friendly of the modern digital age. Once the device is installed (professional installation is often available through computer stores/GPS service providers), the customer can either call the call center as in the above example or log into a website to get updates on the current and past locations of your possessions. Different tracking packages are available which over location updates as frequently as every 5 seconds to once an hour.

You’ve already paid top dollar to have the newest, hottest gadget out there, why wouldn’t you want to protect it? With a tracker attached to your property you can be reasonably sure it will come back, without one the police may take a report but that is all they will be able to do. Police just don’t have the resources available to track down petty thefts, unfortunately.

In addition to easing the recovery of lost/stolen items, adding a GPS tracker or gps cell phone
may make it easier to insure it. Some insurance companies are strongly encouraging customers to invest in this technology prior to underwriting the item. This practice is not the norm, but is becoming increasingly common.

What it comes down to is: protect yourself. When there’s a line up at the ATM you cover the keypad, getting a GPS tracker is the same concept. There are too many people out there that are interested in making the easy money. Let them go elsewhere and keep yourself and your belongings safe. For more information, call Rocky Mountain Tracking toll-free at 1-888-242-0500.

Lawn Maintenance Services – Do you know where your equipment is located?

March 16th, 2009

By James Neely

Along comes another story which is proof that GPS tracking systems can be a major asset to a local business. Three men were arrested in a Wisconsin community for attempting to steal a John Deere lawn mower valued at more than $10,000. This attempt was thwarted by some who saw the activity and reported it right away to authorities. But, the question is: what if there had been no one to see and report what they saw?

In your business of lawn maintenance services, managing the equipment is a full-time job alone. Not to mention the cost of purchasing a new unit. That is why you should strongly consider a GPS tracking system to be attached to each piece of equipment that you own and use to run your business. That includes any trucks or other vehicles in your fleet as well.

Equipment break-downs can be the death of your business. Preventive maintenance needs to be scheduled on a per-hour basis for your mowing systems. A GPS tracking system can deliver the data that can show you what lawns you have visited and how long it took to complete a job. You can also better schedule your jobs based on the time it takes to complete them.

Find Your Equipment. Knowing where your mowers are located at all times is an imperative for your business. If anything is ever stolen, you will have a system that can deliver the exact location which the authorities can use to execute a search warrant. Getting your equipment back quicker will allow this to be just an inconvenience rather than a serious blow to you business.

After your season is over, you will have time to sit down and analyze the data from your system to give you a better idea of where you worked and how long it took you to perform jobs. This will help you in scheduling customers for the next season. It will also provide you with information on what customers are worth keeping and which ones you can let go because the time may not be worth the money.

What better way to gain control over what you do in the lawn care business? Keeping track of your assets and managing your fleet are immensely easier with a GPS tracking system. You will not be sorry that you made the small investment in your business for this purpose. It will pay off, you will see.

Alternative Uses for GPS Tracking Service: Increasing Revenue through New Markets

March 11th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Social workers assist persons with developmental disabilities. One of the great challenges faced when working with this population is how to balance safety concerns with the client’s right to be independent. Issues that need to be evaluated are the client’s propensity for wandering/getting lost and also the possibility that a client will be taken advantage of by a member of the community. GPS tracking, combined with continued work with the client, could aid in allowing a client more self-determination in their life.

GPS tracking services have seen a huge increase over the past several years; however there is more this technology has to offer than protecting stolen merchandize. Or rather, it can be used to protect assets that are more valuable than items. As GPS tracking devices continue to become smaller and more discrete they are increasingly becoming a viable option for protecting people.

Currently the literature offered by the companies which offer a GPS tracking service focus on the “things” in our lives, with protecting children thrown in almost as an afterthought. This is missing out on several grew areas for future growth. If on the other hand, these companies chose to introduce new brands into the marketplace they could market to specific segments of the population and improve revenues.

The re-branding of services is necessary, as care-givers want to think of caring for someone, not spying on them. This is the opposition I have received personally, when putting forth the idea of attaching GPS trackers to clients that are prone to getting lost. In many ways, these objections are valid however, I believe that when safety is concerned we have a responsibility to do all that is possible and use any available technology.

It is really about rewriting the marketing literature, as the services and devices currently being offered by these companies would remain largely unchanged. Thus these companies would be creating a new market niche with a minimal investment of capital.

Companies that are looking to adopt the ideas contained in this article would do well to start by targeting state-run institutions. This would serve two functions: 1. Provide lucrative contracts and 2. Set a precedent that the company could use to market to the third party (non-government) agencies. The first company that establishes a foothold within the government in this capacity will have built itself instant credibility and clout when approaching these smaller, local services.

One important consideration prior to embarking on this path is the need to respect these individuals. It is not enough to create a “Child Safe” branded service to be a cover-all solution to person protection. While that is an avenue for specialized attention, products geared towards adults with developmental disabilities should take their status as adults into consideration. A GPS tracking device will meet these needs.

Airport Asset Tracking

March 6th, 2009

By James Neely

When visiting an international airport one marvels over the expanse of the facilities and the amount of equipment used in the servicing of airplanes and moving of luggage in and around the terminal. How is it kept under control? What systems can be put into place that will allow motorized vehicle tracking? A GPS Tracking system is the answer.

Whether you are attempting to locate a small luggage carrier, a fuel truck or a food service delivery vehicle, this system will deliver for you in real time.

With this system you can verify location and provide a time lapse review of activities for asset usage and compliance. This affords you the control you need in making sure that tasks relative to on-time delivery are being met. Airport schedules are very important and remaining on-time is not an option.

What can paralyze an operation more than equipment break-downs? Airport vehicle preventive maintenance needs to be scheduled on a per-mile or per-hour basis. This system can deliver that data for you to help make sure your fleet is in the best possible condition. You have the tool that you need to help keep them running great which can reduce break-downs.

The cost of these systems is only a few hundred dollars per unit. The savings in break-down costs alone over the course of a year would more than pay for these units.

Asset tracking and recovery. Now more than ever, maintaining a tight control on your assets is not an option. Finding a dependable and affordable way to keep watch on equipment will help ward off the negative effects of thieves who steal and then attempt to sell on the open market. Asset location information can be delivered to authorities as to the whereabouts of equipment so that recovery efforts can move forward.

When it comes time for a review of your equipment by accounting personnel you will be able to deliver reliable and accurate reports. They will be simply amazed at your organization efforts.

All of this wrapped up into one word would be ‘control.’ You control your assets, reporting needs, compliance requirements, locations and maintenance needs. The truth is that this kind of control is no longer an option. With equipment costs rising every year and budgets being scrutinized more and more, a system like this will certainly become invaluable overnight. You will wonder what you ever did without it.

GPS Tracking System Provides a Competitive Advantage To The Fleet Operator

March 6th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

When GPS tracking is mentioned, a common response is “oh yeah, track kids and wives.” That’s true but it is only a small part of the possibilities that these systems represent. Fleet operators can utilize the systems to monitor the locations and conditions of their vehicles while they are out on the road.

GPS Progressive fleet operators can utilize these systems to both aid their drivers in getting to their destinations on time and in a safe manner. These operators have developed a system where their drivers are supported by staff that, from a central location can monitor the weather and road conditions that the driver may run into during their trip. This staff provides services to the drivers that customer care representatives provide to customers.

Through the use of the Internet, conditions on a particular route can be monitored and road blockages and travel delays can be provided to the driver so that an alternate route can be planned and executed during the trip. The advantage of being able to reroute a driver to avoid a potentially extensive delay provides the fleet owner the flexibility heretofore unseen. Drivers for these fleet operators no longer need to wait for hours for a traffic accident to be cleared.

Another specific advantage through the use of GPS tracking system is reduced fleet maintenance costs. Modern systems have the capability of providing more than location and speed data. They can also be configured to provide temperature, pressure and rpm data. The fleet operator can monitor the entire performance of the truck from a remote location. The monitoring of this data should not be done in a covert manner. The drivers for the fleet should know that the data is being monitored and recovered either in real time or as a download when the truck returns to the terminal. The drivers, knowing that the truck’s performance is being monitored, will respond by driving within the guidelines specified by the carrier. This will result in fewer cases of the engine being used in an over speed condition thus reducing maintenance costs.

The use of a GPS tracking system along with a team of “driver care specialists” can and does reduce the potential of delays in the delivery of the goods that are on the truck to their destination. This improvement in “on time” delivery results in greater customer satisfaction. This customer satisfaction results not only in the retention of customers but it also provides a selling point in the acquisition of new customers. The truck performance data acquired from the GPS tracking system provides the fleet maintenance accurate data as to how the truck is performing and aids in the preventative maintenance of the vehicle. This results in less down time for the particular truck.

Fleet operators who equip their trucks with GPS tracking systems acquire a competitive advantage over non GPS equipped fleets. These competitive advantages include a higher rate of on time delivery and reduced maintenance costs. Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc can answer all your quesitons about GPS technology at 1-888-242-0500.

Tracking Scattered Workers with GPS

March 5th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Keeping Track of Employees 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.

GPS Tracking – Where Does He Go?

February 28th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Most people never think about it, but airline catering trucks run on a very precise schedule. Schedules are prepared for each driver, which include loading time at the catering kitchen, travel time to the airport, loading time at the airport and return time to the kitchen with the food and beverage carts used on the flight.

At a major airport, one of the drivers of the catering trucks was reported late once or twice a week when he would return to the kitchen after unloading a flight. The driver wasn’t grossly late, just a matter of 15 or 20 minutes. Since it was only once or twice a week, it wasn’t a major issue. When asked about being late, the driver usually gave the excuse of traffic or security; however, this particular driver was the only one late.

Tracking Image from Satellite The kitchen manager inquired of the security department if there was any way that they could find out where this particular driver was going and why he was going there. The security director decided to install a GPS tracking device into the truck that this particular driver was assigned to. When the truck was removed from service for scheduled maintenance, a GPS tracking system was installed. This installation was completed by a vendor and done after hours when vehicle maintenance personnel were off duty.

The truck now equipped with a GPS tracking system was given back to the driver. The drivers’ movements were monitored for a week. The GPS system showed that the truck was driven to a vacant warehouse that was in close proximity to the kitchen and was parked for 10 – 15 minutes. The question arose as to why the truck was going to that location. This pattern was observed for several weeks and a correlation was established that the aircraft the driver was servicing was always a flight that originated in South America.

When the truck was scheduled for maintenance again, a covert CCTV camera was installed in the truck. When the images produced by the CCTV camera were reviewed it was showed the driver upon parking the truck at the vacant warehouse, was removing a package from the bottom of one of the food carts used on the aircraft flight and passing it on to another person outside the truck.

Determining that something was amiss, the local metropolitan police department was consulted. Due to the fact that something was being removed from the truck that had not passed through customs, the metropolitan police department turned the matter over to U.S. Customs. Customs continued to track the catering truck and established covert surveillance at the vacant warehouse. Customs determined that it was narcotics being smuggled and brought the DEA into the picture.

In a matter of a few weeks a major drug smuggling operation had been broken up and several hundred pounds of narcotics were seized. The utilization of the GPS tracking system allowed the authorities to maintain close surveillance on the truck used without any sign that the surveillance was being maintained.

Fleet Management and Tracking – the Easy Way

February 27th, 2009

By James Neely

Risk Management Report In the realm of vehicle fleet management, asset protection and location ability is no longer an option. No matter how large or small your operations, no monetary value can be placed on a system that allows you to track your assets in real-time.

Additionally, the accountability feature forces those in your organization to play by the rules and provides evidence when they are violated. Those who ignore rules and laws cost your company money.

Adding a GPS satellite tracking system to your fleet management operations affords you the ability to track, report on and recover assets. Some additional benefits are:

Heightened Driver Safety and Responsibility. Real-time tracking provides instantaneous feedback as to the whereabouts of your assets. This data is used in the verification of performance related to job duties. Once drivers know that they are being watched closely, they are more likely to remain inside of acceptable limits and regulations.

Reduces Moving Violations. These systems are like having a constant radar detector on your assets. You will know how fast the vehicles are being driven in order to help maintain compliance with laws and ordinances. Not only does this prevent accidents, but it also saves on moving violations and loss of productivity due to having to separate employees who are in constant violation of these laws.

Provides Proof of Performance. In viewing the history of an asset you can determine the times of deliveries as well as the duration. This feedback provides factual data for the guidance of personnel in the performance of their job functions. Those who are within acceptable limits can be rewarded and those who are not can be re-assigned.

Supplies Accuracy in Accounting. Your billing department can use the data from one of these systems to bill by time and mileage in a very accurate manner. Having this data can be invaluable in a customer service based dispute. Also, a copy can be included with invoicing to demonstrate accuracy in support of services rendered.

Maintains Evidentiary Support. This data can be used in a court of law to provide evidence towards the factual statements concerning execution of contractual agreements. Just having this support can help avoid litigation all together. An open policy towards contractual compliance is a deterrent to false claims. A system can provide that for you.

While you might think that these fleet management systems are cost prohibitive, the opposite is true. The above reasons make these systems a necessity for a growing, thriving business.

Benefits of GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems

February 26th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Satellite Tracking Image Since the 1990s when GPS tracking technology first became available to the general public, people have found more ways that GPS tracking can be used every year. One of the most common uses of GPS technology is to incorporate it into GPS vehicle tracking systems. There are several different benefits of such systems.

1. GPS vehicle tracking systems provide an accurate location and speed check on vehicles being driven by employees of a company. These can also be used to track the amount of time employees spend at one location in the event that a customer complains that he is being billed for more time than was actually spent on the job.

These systems are also very useful to company dispatchers who can locate each mobile unit and route the nearest one to any calls that come in, whether for service calls or pick up of packages.

2. A second use of GPS vehicle tracking systems is providing an accurate location of the vehicle to police in the event of car theft. The signal from such systems can be received by any police cruiser with an internet connected computer on board, which is almost all these days. Police can follow the movements of the vehicle and arrest the thief in short order, often catching others at the same time if this is a professional chop shop operation. Recovery of the vehicle in an unharmed state occurs far more frequently when GPS vehicle recovery systems are involved.

3. GPS vehicle tracking systems are also very useful for parents of inexperienced teen drivers. These systems allow the parents to monitor the movements and whereabouts of their teens when away from home in the family car. They have proven useful in reducing accidents and moving violations because the parents can track speed data and call the teen with instructions to slow down before the police get involved or an accident occurs.

4. Finally, GPS vehicle tracking systems make it possible for a spouse who suspects that his/her mate is cheating to follow the movements of the vehicle and catch them in the act if the suspicions are founded. Spouses who prefer not to make a direct confrontation can provide information on the signal from the GPS device to a private investigator who can obtain any evidence of infidelity and turn it over for use in a divorce proceeding.

GPS vehicle tracking systems have proven very useful for a variety of commercial and personal applications when knowledge of where a vehicle is and how fast it is moving is necessary.

GPS Tracking – How Technology Saved My Father’s Life

February 26th, 2009

A True Account of Life Saving Technology
By Greg Bartlett

I am an avid hunter. Every year, my father and I go out to the woods to try and bag a couple nice deer. The problem I always had was that although I love being outside, I can’t read a map. To compensate for that, I purchased a GPS tracking device two years ago. Using it with the maps has really helped me to get to the good deer runs in our area.

If I hadn’t had my GPS, I know that my father wouldn’t be alive today. Last fall, my father had a heart attack while we were in the bush. Getting to our location took an hour, and then it was another 2 hour drive to the nearest hospital. Carrying him out was obviously not an option, so I called the local ranger station and explained our situation.

I provided the ranger who took my call with my login information for the GPS service I subscribe to, and asked him to relay that information to the Coast Guard. In the normal course of a search and rescue, the Anchorage Coast Guard has to scour a relatively large area in a grid pattern to find lost hunters; in my case, they were able to find us in just over half an hour. One of the guys who worked on the chopper said that this was the easiest rescue he had been on since they had known exactly where we were.

We flew directly to the closest hospital, where there was a doctor waiting for my father. They rushed him through and he was on the operating table less than an hour after his attack. I am immensely thankful for the commitment of helicopter’s crew and the skill of the doctors, but I don’t think any of that would have mattered without the GPS. It was my “darned geek gadget,” as my father used to call it, that saved the day. It would’ve taken too long to find us, had we not pinpointed our exact location for the Coast Guard team.

Fellow outdoors men, I ask you to pick up a GPS tracking device. You may never need it, like I had, but it is a valuable tool in many ways. And if the worst happens, you will be able to get the help that you need as quickly as possible. Just because something is new doesn’t mean you shouldn’t adopt it. After all, once upon a time rifles didn’t have scopes, are you willing to give up that advancement?