Email

You’ve probably seen insurance advertisements that claim you can lower your monthly rate by installing a GPS tracker. Lowering your insurance rate is always a good thing, but at what cost? USA Today recently reported that some insurance companies may be selling this information to the U.S. Government. Further, according to the article, the government is considering making vehicle tracking mandatory for all U.S. drivers. Why would the government be interested in your driving habits? The answer is two-fold.

First, tracking your driving habits means that sending out violation tickets will become even easier for law enforcement.Second, this evidence can be used for — or against — you if an accident occurs.

Sure, the GPS tracking data that your insurer collects will be used to lower your rates (if you can play by the stringent rate lowering rules), but it is also used by police and government officials. Right now, you have the option to skip the installation of a tracker and go on paying regular insurance rates. But, this may not be a choice in the near future.

Presently, the U.S. Government requires that all long-haul vehicles be equipped with tracking devices. Soon, the government may require all regular vehicles to include tracking technology too.

If you’re tempted by offers of low insurance rates, read the fine print, and make sure that this data will not be used in any other manner. If you hardly ever get slapped with traffic tickets or find yourself in an accident, it may be best to skip those tempting insurance offers for the time being. Only time will tell if vehicle tracking will be mandatory a year or so from now.

Article Written by Harriette Halepis

0 comment(s)

Email

A single GPS tracking device is more affordable than ever, but lots of companies are still skeptical about the cost of an entire fleet tracking system. A business has to foot the bill for devices for multiple vehicles, a software system, time for employees to learn and then regularly monitor the system… some may be wondering, is it really worth the investment? In late 2009, the city of Dallas, Texas, implemented a fleet tracking program in its sanitation department, to the tune of $700,000. That’s a big expense and in the current economy, a big risk. Multiple objections were raised, and the biggest one was, what proof is there that it will work? Well, for everyone else with the same question, Dallas has answered your concerns.

A fleet tracking system starts with a GPS device on each vehicle in the fleet. That device sends signals to satellites which read the vehicle’s location. Then the satellites send signals to a computer which puts each vehicle on a map. Now, from the comfort of the home office, a business owner, manager, or designated employee can see all kinds of information, depending on what they want to know. Where is a particular vehicle? How fast it moving – and is that speed exceeding the speed limit? What are current weather conditions around the vehicle? Is there a door open? Say a customer sends in an important call. Which vehicle has the quickest route available to respond to that need?

The Dallas fleet of garbage trucks, for instance, has been able to use GPS data to send the closest truck to a missed pickup. They have outlined better routes and reduced idling and stop times, thus decreasing fuel costs and overtime pay costs. All in all, city officials announced that in the first year, they saved over $56,000 per month – a total of $677,000. That means that in the first month of 2011, they will have paid back to themselves the cost of the system and continue saving money. The city estimates it will save an additional $900,000 through the remaining two years of the contract. There is no longer any question that GPS fleet tracking has saved Dallas money – or that it can save other fleets money, too. It’s certainly a wise investment for businesses and cities who are striving to cut costs and make headway in the current economy.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

0 comment(s)

Email

Installing a GPS Tracker on Financed Cars

A large number of buy-here-pay-here car dealerships have begun to use GPS tracking technology as a form of protection against high-risk clients. Most of these trackers also contain engine disruption devices that can prevent an engine from starting if a payment is missed. When these devices have been installed, repossessing a vehicle becomes a lot easier.

Yet, some dealerships are wary about using GPS technology. Even though, any way you slice it, a dealership has a right to protect their investments, many dealerships don’t want to upset potential clients by using GPS. On the flip side, thousands of dealerships throughout the world are currently using this technology with a great amount of success – and a large rise in profits.

How To Attract Clients While Using GPS

The target market for buy-here-pay-here car dealerships is people who have no, poor, or very bad credit. In a downtrodden economy, there are more of these clients than ever before. This should translate into increased profits for buy-here-pay-here dealership owners. When dealership cards have been played correctly, attracting clients while using GPS to track vehicles can be accomplished.

Buy-here-pay-here clients are usually looking for a vehicle that will help them perform daily tasks. As such, these consumers need vehicles that are reliable and affordable. These consumers are also looking for dealerships that will provide financing regardless of a poor credit history. Being upfront with clients is the best way to use GPS tracking, and still provide customers with a second chance at owning a car.

What To Tell Clients

Informing clients of GPS usage is the best way to use GPS technology. Here are some things to consider when installing this type of technology.

• Contract: include the fact that cars are being tracked with GPS in every contract.

• Information: train sales associates to explain GPS to clients, and provide written information to those who need to know more.

• Legalities: make sure that clients know what the consequences of disabling a GPS tracker are. This information can be attained by speaking with your company lawyer.

All around the world, car dealerships are using GPS tracking technology successfully. Turning a risky client into a paying client is simply a matter of knowing how to approach the subject.

Post Written by Harriette Halepis

0 comment(s)

Email

Article Written By Greg Bartlett

Law enforcement departments  across the country must constantly balance the demands of protecting citizens against the costs of department operations. In a perfect world, performance of duty would never suffer due to lack of funds. Unfortunately, the reality is that the costs of purchasing equipment and meeting payroll demands weigh heavily on law enforcement administrators, which forces them to make various budget cuts.  That’s why many law enforcement departments across the world  have turned to GPS tracking as a way to cut costs.

GPS tracking devices act as an extra set of eyes for labor-strapped law enforcement departments. By reading reports that a tracking device sends to a computer, police officers can monitor the movements of any vehicle. In addition, the number and length of the stops being made can be monitored from one central location.

One of the primary uses for a GPS device is following suspected criminals. Rather than paying an officer for long hours of observation in a stake-out, a department can attach a tracking device to a suspect’s car, thereby keeping track of all his movements. They can also use current personnel more effectively to take care of known problems while letting the tracking device keep an eye on suspected criminal activity. Police departments across the country have used GPS tracking technology successfully and report not only cost savings, but also more effective observation since tracking devices never fall asleep or lose the trail of the criminal. Yet, despite the effectiveness of GPS tracking, the tracking practice has not been without criticism by privacy rights activists.

However, tracking criminals has just become legal. A recent judgment by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that attaching a tracking device to the car of a suspected criminal does not violate that person’s privacy (even if the car is parked in a private driveway).  The ruling also stated that law enforcement officials can continue supplementing police duties with the tracking devices.

This is good news for both the cash-flow and the performance effectiveness of law enforcement in the states affected by the ruling. GPS tracking allows officers to apprehend criminals who might otherwise go unpunished for crimes such as drug trafficking or theft, enabling them to better protect citizens who might become victims of criminal activity. At the same time, those departments will require fewer personnel to perform observation tasks, enabling them to remain under budget and to allow officers to focus on carrying out other urgent responsibilities.

0 comment(s)

Email

New satellites will soon be in orbit to increase the capabilities of current GPS tracking devices. The Air Force will be putting new satellites in orbit for both military and civilian tracking. GPS tracking devices don’t all just rely on satellites, some also use cellular towers. Passive tracking devices record the location, speed, and directional information on the tracking system itself, which is then retrieved for viewing on a computer. These devices are cheaper, but are not as convenient to use because they must be retrieved often if information is going to be analyzed. Also, if they are left too long, the device will run out of storage space and begin to write over old information that might not have been downloaded yet. Always get the particulars of your personal gps tracking device!

Robot - from "Lost in Space" TV Series

On the other hand, active (or real time) tracking devices send out signals to these satellites in orbit around the earth. The tracking information can then be viewed from any computer with internet access without the tracking device ever being retrieved. These devices, the kind used in vehicle tracking, will have to be retrieved periodically for charging unless they are hard wired into the car battery. A common gps application is to geo-fence a protective field around important assets and notify through alerts of any movements breached outside of this specific area. Perhaps this most closely resembles the “Danger, Will Robinson!” moment of the hit 60′s TV series “Lost in Space”.  Having a gps device protect your assets will feel like a robot is there to alert you of danger (i.e. theft) in progress! Amazing.

But why do we need new GPS satellites? There are several reasons that these satellites will be beneficial for the world of GPS tracking. As devices are getting smaller, it is important that satellites are updated to allow for very close and accurate location tracking. Some of these smaller systems, including the GPS trackers found in cell phones, struggle with accuracy and much of the information they gather is unusable because of that fact.

Better satellites in space will allow airplanes to use them as navigation instead of using systems on the earth, which can be difficult to use in bad weather situations. The strong signals of GPS tracking devices will allow airplanes to have more consistent navigational information in spite of the weather conditions surrounding the plane. These new satellites will also allow for even more consistency in GPS tracking and are designed to function for much longer than the present satellites operating today.

GPS technology will continue to expand into more areas of life.  Soon businesses and homes will not be complete without the assistance of these systems. Maybe impressive devices displayed in our favorite tv shows and movies like “Lost in Space”, “Star Trek”, “2001 A Space Odyssey” or ‘Star Wars” will start appearing as well. Things we thought were very impossible a decade ago (cell phones) are very common place now.  Celebrate and embrace new technologies and be prepared for what is next. You never know.

(Did you know we have a contest going on right now at Rocky Mountain Tracking?  Yes!  Win a GPS Tracking Key from RMT by just hitting the “like” button on our Facebook page and commenting on an article of your choice, or the giveaway post – or whatever you “like”! Thanks for reading our blog too – Experience a fabulous gps tracking device – don’t just read about it!  Track stuff!  Enter and good luck!)

0 comment(s)

Email

By Greg Bartlett

GPS vehicle tracking provides a multitude of services to people in all walks of life. Whether you’re a business owner, a parent, or simply have a car you adore and want to protect, purchasing a GPS tracking system can help you protect your vehicle investment.

Business owners who operate a fleet of vehicles can benefit greatly from GPS vehicle tracking. Monitoring information such as fuel usage, routes traveled, and stops made can save a company thousands of dollars each year. Employees who know they are being monitored will be more conscientious about how they are using the company vehicle and will be less likely to take personal detours or spend longer than necessary on any given job. In addition, watching the routes traveled to and from each job can help you decide whether a different route might save miles, gas, and money.

Parents of teens should consider placing a GPS vehicle tracking device in their teen’s car in order to help enforce rules and monitor driving behavior. Parents can stay informed on whose house their child is going to, whether they are visiting off-limits places, and whether they are driving the speed limit. Many teens who know their parents are monitoring them report that, rather than feeling spied on, they feel reassured that their parents care about their safety.

Average car owners can also benefit from GPS vehicle tracking. If you’ve just purchased the BMW you’ve always wanted, imagine how you’d feel to come out to your driveway morning and find that you car had been stolen during the night. You may not be able to prevent a thief from taking off with your car, but if you’ve equipped your vehicle with a tracking device, you can give law enforcement officers the information they need to make a quick recovery. The odds of recovery increase astronomically for vehicles equipped with GPS tracking devices as compared to those that are not.

GPS vehicle tracking can provide cost savings, theft recovery, safety and peace of mind for vehicle owners. Whether you need to keep an eye on one vehicle or a thousand, a reliable GPS tracking device can provide up-to-the-moment reports that keep you informed on the location of one of your most valuable assets. Invest in a GPS vehicle tracking system and don’t let your vehicles go unprotected another day.

0 comment(s)

Email

By Greg Bartlett

When people leave their vehicles in the care of a mechanic, they wouldn’t be surprised if the mechanic took the vehicle on a test drive, but they would surely not appreciate it if the vehicle were used for personal reasons to travel a substantial distance away. Having installed a GPS tracking device into his car some time before, a vehicle owner learned that this very thing had happened to him.

With GPS tracking, anyone can enjoy the piece of mind of knowing exactly where a monitored person, animal, or object is at any given time. By attaching a GPS tracking device to a desired subject, the exact navigational coordinates of that subject can be calculated with amazing precision at any given time. For instance with a vehicle that is being monitored by GPS tracking, the precise current location, speed, and direction can be recorded. The history of GPS tracking dates back to the World War II year’s of the 1940’s, when it was developed by the United States Air Force for military purposes. Since being made available to the public in the 1980’s, GPS has brought about a revolution of sorts in how people live and work. Traveling is greatly simplified; mapping out a trip is accomplished in a matter of seconds before departure, thanks to GPS navigation. Routine monitoring done by law enforcement officers and scientists has taken on a whole new dimension with GPS tracking. Indeed, people of all walks of life have learned the benefits of GPS tracking.

Once this vehicle’s owner knew the whereabouts of his car (through regular updates to his phone by his GPS tracking device), he was furious – understandably. The car owner, furthermore, received a request from the mechanic that he pick his vehicle up a couple days later – because it had been bumped in the lot! The owner was not fooled and addressed the repair shop employee point blank. The foolish repair shop employee was found out – and had no defense. He had taken the customer’s vehicle home with him over the weekend – without permission – and had gotten in an accident with it. Thankfully, the car owner knew the truth – thanks to his GPS tracking device – and the repair shop owner handled the matter appropriately.

0 comment(s)

Email

By Harriette Halepis

Here’s something that you don’t hear about every day: a retired sheriff’s deputy is attempting to help his son beat a speeding ticket. Why? Simply put, Roger Rude doesn’t believe that his son was speeding when the speeding ticket was issued.

You see, Rude had installed a GPS tracking device in his son’s car a few months ago. Prompted by his son’s urges to “put the pedal to the metal” (Rude does not make any excuses for his son’s love of speed), he installed a GPS tracking device in his son’s car.

This device has the ability to track his son’s whereabouts, but it also has the capability to record his son’s speed. Rude has a computer printout of his son’s location and speed on the day and time in question. The funny thing is that his son was well within the legal speed limit (according to the tracking device) when the speeding ticket was issued.

Needless to say, Rude believe that his son is innocent. Further, Rude believes that his GPS readout will effectively prove that his son was not speeding. Rude and his son will attend a court hearing where the speeding ticket will be contested.

This case just goes to show that a GPS tracking device can do a lot more than help you find your way out of a traffic jam – these devices just may save you a few pennies that would have been spent on speeding tickets.  Rude isn’t trying to “…get a guilty kid off…” he just wants his son “to see that the system works (Sun Journal).“

0 comment(s)

Email

By Greg Bartlett

What used to be a safe and nurturing environment has become an uncomfortable and sometimes even frightening place for many young people around the country. College campuses are no longer safe, and students today feel increasingly more uneasy. This should not be the case, however. Students should have the right to feel protected and secure in their environment instead of walking around feeling like a human target.

Student Safety

Although campus security has been a part of college life for years, it is quickly becoming increasingly important. Schools and colleges across the country are looking for new ways to tighten security and decrease the risks of school violence. New technology like vehicle tracking systems can greatly improve the security of a college campus.

In order to keep students and faculty members safe, college administrators need to know where the campus security guards are at all times. In case of an emergency, instant action is essential. Using vehicle tracking systems, the administration can view a digital map of the campus including the locations of each security vehicle. This will enable them to act immediately.

A digital map would allow them to notify the security guards that are closest to the problem area. They can then direct the other guards to various other places on campus based on their current locations. Keeping the students out of harm’s way is the most important thing and that means that the security guards need to act as quickly as they possibly can.

Tracking the routes of security patrols, whether on foot or in a car, is also very important because it allows for a more complete coverage of the grounds. Tight security is crucial on campuses, because it can be the difference between another school shooting and a normal event-free class day.

Just the presence of security guards and their vehicles continually patrolling the campus will help to deter shootings and other incidents. The vehicle tracking systems will be very useful to the security guards in planning routes around the campus so that the entrances and other locations are closely monitored. A planned route can make even a small security force seem larger and more intimidating, which would discourage campus violence.

Campus security guards cannot afford to be wrong. Being right 100% of the time is difficult, but necessary in order to keep the students and faculty safe. Vehicle tracking systems would be beneficial to any college campus security force.

0 comment(s)

Email

Do You Know Where Your Vehicles Are?

The latest GPS tracking solution from Rocky Mountain Tracking Inc., provides comprehensive real-time positioning information and services, including geofencing, optimal routing, close and rapid vehicle tracking, and customization.

Fort Collins, CO August 17, 2006 — RMT Rover, a new GPS tracking system from Rocky Mountain Tracking (RMT), allows vehicle owners to access information about the position and status of their vehicles in real time.

“The constant information flow will afford them a peace of mind that would not be possible otherwise”

“Logistics is a finely calculated trade today, and shippers need to constantly be aware of where their cargo and vehicles are,” says Brad Borst, President of RMT. “Our new solution provides a host of GPS tracking services, all in real time and all accessible online.

“The GPS tracking software can be accessed from virtually any computer with an Internet connection, and it has been designed to facilitate in multi-tasking applications. The features of the software include geofencing, optimal routing, close and rapid vehicle tracking, and customization.

“Our team has special expertise in moving information wirelessly across town or around the world using WiFi, cellular and satellite packet data services over 802.11x, GSM, CDMA, GeoSync Satellite and Low Earth Orbit Satellite services,” says Borst. “Our mapping is based on GIS systems, such as, ESRI ArcGIS MapInfo/MapX and to consumer oriented mapping products such as Microsoft MapPoint to develop web-based and desktop applications.”

The vehicle tracking hardware itself provides accuracy of between 3 to 16 feet, and it weighs only 4.5 ounces. Yet this device can transmit a host of data, including not only position but also excessive speeds, excessive idle times, lockdown violations, possible thefts and fleet activity. “RMT Rover is the ideal tool for vehicle owners and shippers, allowing them to stay on top of their property at all points of time,” says Borst. “The constant information flow will afford them a peace of mind that would not be possible otherwise.”

0 comment(s)