Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

GPS Tracking Devices Reduce Theft

May 4th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

In 2007, more than two million burglaries were reported, more than six million items were stolen, and more than one million auto thefts occurred. Generally speaking, rates have been rising for years. And, like most people, you don’t want to be one of the statistics. You don’t want your dream car that you just purchased to be stolen, you don’t want your kid’s DVD player to disappear while you’re on vacation, you don’t want your beloved pet to be stolen, and you don’t want someone else to obtain through theft the things you’ve worked hard to earn.

GPS tracking devices can help reduce theft. Whether it sends a warning beforehand or helps law enforcement monitor an item than has been stolen, GPS devices have reduced theft and increased the identification of thieves and returning of items to owners.

For instance, a pair of thieves in Florida recently broke into a house and stole some jewelry and electronic equipment. One of the items they stole was a cell phone which had a GPS device inside. It was easy for the police to locate the cell phone, discover and arrest the burglars, and return the stolen property to the owners.

Laptops and cars are routinely recovered because GPS tracking devices were installed. According to one study, a laptop is stolen approximately every 12 seconds. Those that have GPS devices installed, however, are often recovered. Cars with GPS tracking devices can lead the police straight to the automobile and help you get your car back. GPS tracking in cars can also prevent further theft if the culprit is caught with the stolen vehicle and arrested.

Or maybe you’re concerned about another disturbing trend – stealing pets, particularly dogs. Because of their value, expensive breeds of dogs are sometimes snatched from their yards or stolen during a burglary. Smaller and more unusual breeds are especially vulnerable to being stolen. Besides taking basic precautions such as not leaving your dog unattended outside or putting a microchip in your pet, using a GPS device in your pet’s collar allows you to know instantly if the pet strays or is removed from a specified area.

No matter what it is you want to protect – your electronic equipment, your vehicle, your dog – GPS tracking devices can provide you with the security you need to protect yourself from being just another theft victim statistic.

GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems for Tracking Business Mileage

May 3rd, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

semi-fleet-3 Working for a company that pays for your travel expenses sounds like a great benefit, especially with today’s much-fluctuating gas prices. However, it can be tempting to misuse this benefit and report more miles than were actually driven for work purposes. With current economic problems, companies are searching for ways that they can be more efficient. And the last thing that businesses need is to pay out more than they really owe their employees for traveling. Tracking mileage is one area that can easily go from over-estimated and difficult to simple and efficient with the help of today’s technology.

GPS tracking systems are not brand new technology, but it is becoming an increasingly beneficial thing for businesses as well as employees. By putting systems in business vehicles, it will be a cinch to track which miles are truly for work and which are for the quick run to the store. The knowledge that they have a GPS ‘keeping an eye on them’ will help employees keep work and leisure time separate. In fact, they won’t even have to worry about tracking their own mileage, because the system can do it for them.

GPS tracking systems work in the employee’s favor just as much as it would against them. Although they might not like the idea of a babysitter that makes sure they behave, when shown how a GPS system will work for them, employees will not resist having a system in business vehicles.

Businesses can and should encourage employees to put tracking systems in their own cars as well. Those who have to report work mileage on a personal car can be increasingly frustrated trying to keep business and personal mileage separated. It can be difficult to remember to track and log all of your business traveling time, but the GPS can do it for you! Employees will no longer have to remember all the errands that they ran each night after work that added significantly to the day’s mileage. Instead, they can view a list of their travels or they can look at each day’s mileage on a digital map.

So put away the notebook and pen and save yourself time and frustration by switching to a GPS vehicle tracking system that will take all the hassle of out reporting company miles and just leave you enjoying the benefit of being paid for company travel time.

Vehicle Tracking Systems – the Informer

April 30th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Fleet tracking has become a necessary part of running any business that involves numerous vehicles. Any time you use vehicles for your business, you need to be able to protect the investments you’ve made in the vehicles and you need to be in contact with your driver. Management of resources and time is difficult enough in an office setting, but with the added complication of distance, monitoring a vehicle fleet is even more complicated.

Informer GPS Tracking System

Vehicle tracking systems are one of the best ways to effectively manage your corporate fleet. And tracking your fleet is easier than ever with a new alternative, the Informer. The Informer, which integrates CalAmp GPS products with NavIQ software, is an advanced monitoring system which also offers easy programmability and numerous tracking options. It allows companies to monitor their fleets effectively, easily, and efficiently. Furthermore, it helps companies cut costs involved with managing fleets, combining advanced technology options with competitive prices so that you can use the Informer’s management helps without huge expenses.

For instance, the Informer can store thousands of locations on its highly accurate system and can be programmed for individualized rules. Perhaps you want the tracking system to report every hour, or perhaps every five hours. Customized rules such as these are possible and easily programmable with the Informer, allowing you better control over and access to your fleet and drivers.

Vehicle tracking systems such as the Informer can even monitor a vehicle conditions, offering companies a flexible but effective form of management. The Informer also has options for driver identification and messaging systems for added safety and better communication. For the company, features such as satellite imaging, routing programs, alerts, 3D perspective zoom, fly-over routing, and reports and graphs allow the company the best control over vehicles, drivers, and resources. Tracking your company fleet has never been easier or more effective.

Whether your company is small and has just a few vehicles or whether it has hundreds, protecting your vehicle investments and managing your resources is a priority. Vehicle tracking systems can give you the tools you need to accurately and effectively manage and monitor your assets. With its advanced features and increased accuracy, the Informer is superior to other vehicle tracking systems and is the best choice for your company when it needs a way to manage its company fleet.

Individuals Reaping Benefits Of GPS Tracking Formerly Reserved For Fleet Management

April 27th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

GPS tracking for vehicles has been in use for several years now. The benefits of having GPS technology for your vehicle have continued to expand the entire time. Today, many of the benefits formerly available only to fleet managers are being used by individuals.

Stay ahead of the pack with GPS

Fleet managers have used GPS technology to keep up with the locations of vehicles during work hours and have alerts set up in the event of certain conditions, such as excessive idling, spending too much time in one place, or travelling outside set boundaries. Now these benefits are available to individuals who have GPS tracking in their cars.

Alerts can be set that notify a driver via SMS (text) messaging when he/she is speeding, especially in known construction zones where fines are often doubled. Sometimes, many of us get caught up in thinking ahead and making plans and we forget to watch our speeds. This type of alert can easily save a great deal in fines as well as reducing the amount of fuel consumed by a vehicle.

Another common alert used mostly by fleets in the past is a notification of excessive idling. Many of us are guilty of stopping at a shop to run in for one item and leaving the car idling because we only plan to be a minute. A lot of times we run into someone we know and a conversation strikes up. All the while, fuel is being consumed. The GPS tracking device in the vehicle can be set to send a text message reminder that the car is idling for an extended period so that we can shut it off or get back on the road.

The single most popular alert used mainly by business owners for fleet management until now is the alert of movement of the vehicle outside normal operating hours. Many vehicles are stolen right out of the driveway where they are parked at night. If you are sound asleep and someone steals your car, you may not miss it until morning, by which time it may be totaled, in another state, or both. GPS devices can now be programmed to send an alert to both cell phones and computers to sound an alarm that will alert you to the theft as it is happening so that authorities can be called immediately.

These are only some of the benefits enjoyed by fleet owners and managers exclusively until recently. Now, they are available to individuals as well, making GPS tracking a more valuable asset to vehicle owners.

Slow Down – Save Fuel – Monitor Compliance

April 23rd, 2009

By James Neely

Fuel costs are not as high as they were a year ago, however, that does not mean that fuel conservation efforts are a waste of time. In the overall scheme of lowering business costs, this is one area that in the past has not had a lot of oversight since fuel prices were so inexpensive.

Slower speeds reduce fuel consumption

Now things are different. Even though fuel prices have dropped in the past 12 months, there still remains the need to decrease this cost of doing business. The recommendation is to keep best practices on vehicle maintenance at the forefront of cost containment efforts. Then after you have secured that area, move to technology to help even further. That is why a GPS Tracking system makes sense for fleet vehicle operations.

There are benefits in installing and using these devices in your business because they will save money on fuel, and in other ways, too. Here are the most important ones.

Promotes Safe Driving. With instant, real-time tracking you have monitoring during all trips. The ability to be able to validate job duties and functions of personnel who use company vehicles is invaluable. Those employees who realize that they are being monitored are much more inclined to obey traffic laws and company regulations. What this means to your business is a safer employee and protection of your assets.

Reduction in Moving Violations. What would be better than having a speed gun pointed at your company vehicles all day every day? Now you can with a GPS car tracking system. Talk about making sure drivers obey the speed limits! This also has the added benefit of accident prevention and reduction. Fewer occurrences of moving violations translates to a reduction in tickets which keeps costs down as well. This means that your employees will require less oversight and therefore staff turnover will go down which also saves money on the hiring and training processes within your business.

Evidence of compliance. If your business depends on the timely delivery of goods then you will appreciate the ability to confirm departure, arrival and delivery times with a high degree of accuracy. Plus, should there be any question with regard to performance, logs can be generated which can validate your activities.

Premiums go down. You cannot be without insurance in your business, but you can strive to cut the cost by implementing a GPS Tracking system on your vehicles. Insurance companies reward those businesses that make the effort to monitor their vehicles at all times. They win with lower claims and you are rewarded with lower premiums while profitability for both goes up. It is a true win-win situation.

When viewing all of the benefits of one of these systems, the only remaining question is “when will you outfit your fleet with them?” It is an investment that you will not regret.

The Hidden Advantage Your Business Has Over the Competition

April 22nd, 2009

By James Neely

Every business is looking for an edge over their competition. This is especially true since economic times are difficult and making money is more challenging than it has been in a very long time. If your business utilizes vehicles or equipment that is used out of doors, then you should consider adding a GPS Tracking system to each of these units. Here is why:

Beat Your Competition with GPS

With these units, which cost only a few hundred dollars each, you can keep track of automobiles, trucks and any other type of vehicle or large piece of equipment that is used in your business. There are many advantages that this can provide to you.

How it is done. These GPS Tracking systems allow you to accumulate and display information with regards to the location and use of your vehicle or equipment in real time. Not only that, but you can monitor direction of travel, speed and distance as well. This is the starting point of a very reliable, competitive advantage for your business. Read on to learn more.

The ‘why’ answered. With the ability to track the information above, you gain a competitive advantage by managing logistics in a very close way. This means keeping costs low while enforcing compliance on the part of your employees in the use of company assets. Time is money, and a reduction in the amount of time it takes to complete routes means a savings to you while an increase in customer satisfaction. Today it is more important than ever to watch every penny, and these systems will give you the tools that you need to accomplish this on a highly detailed level.

Applying the advantage. We have already discussed how and why, now for the application to your business. If there is one word that captures the essence of what the GPS tracking systems will provide you that would be ‘control.’ You will find that with these units installed and functioning for you, they will give you the ability to control your assets while delivering information applicable to verification.

Benefits of the systems. Because of the tracking abilities, you will be able to maintain solid management and knowledge of the location of your assets. If they are ever stolen, then you will be able to provide instantaneous information to the authorities to the whereabouts. In addition, insurance premiums will go down as you reduce the risk to the insurance companies. Other ancillary benefits include a safer community and roadways as well.

There are no losers when GPS tracking systems are placed into service. Make sure you are on the winning side and have your competition struggling to keep up.

A Vehicle Tracking Device Will Help Small Businesses

April 14th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

Two of the largest line items in any small business budget are vehicle cost and labor. When small businesses put employees on the road, there is no guarantee that the employees are putting in a full eight hour day. A vehicle tracking device can help insure that the workers are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be.

Small company makes good use of vehicle tracking devices

When installing a vehicle tracking device, two choices are available to a small business. The devices can be installed covertly or overtly. A covert installation will deny the operator the knowledge that it is there. An overt operation will have the device in plain sight and the vehicle operator will be immediately aware of its presence. In most small business applications, an overt installation is preferable since the owner of the business wants his employees to know that the movements of the vehicle are being tracked.

Many small businesses, security companies for example allow the technicians to take their vehicles home at night. The normal agreement with the company is that the vehicle is to be used for company business only.

A vehicle tracking device installed in the company vehicle permits the company to monitor the use of the vehicle and insures that the vehicle is used only for company business. The tracking device will provide the data needed to reduce vehicle maintenance and fuel costs by eliminating unauthorized usage.

Employees in the service sector commonly work without any supervision. This lack of supervision embodies a feeling of trust in the employee, however it also can lead to abuse by the employee. An employee can “skim” time from the company by taking longer lunch breaks than is allowed by company policy. The employee has the potential to arrive late to a job assignment or leave early. Should the employee arrive late and the job run over the normal working hours the employee could charge for overtime. The utilization of a GPS tracking device insures the company that the vehicle is where it is supposed to be when it is supposed to be there.

The initial cost of installing a vehicle tracking device onto a company vehicle is recovered in a short period of time. The increased efficiency of vehicle usage is provided by the knowledge of the technician that his location can be monitored at any time of the day. The knowledge that his location can and will be tracked insures that the employee is on the job when he is supposed to be and remains on the job for the amount of time that he is supposed to be there. For more information about GPS technology, call Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc at 888-242-0500.

Best Practices – Equipment Maintenance Principles

April 10th, 2009

By James Neely

semi-fleet In fleet management, there are certain best practices that, when implemented, will help a manager keep a fleet running at peak performance. But, what if that fleet is spread across miles and miles of territory? Would it not be in the best interest of the business to be able to track the equipment and calculate maintenance schedules based on remote data gathering procedures?

Enter the GPS Tracking systems for today’s modern fleet management operations. These systems can work within the framework of any fleet operations. Here are the different types of maintenance practices and how a properly operating GPS Tracking system can help:

Reactive Maintenance. This is the ‘fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants’ operation model. You just keep running the equipment without regard to condition or status until it stops. This is ‘old school’ management. But worse, it is no management at all. In today’s competitive and time sensitive business climates, this type of maintenance model will do only one thing: destroy your business sooner rather than later. There are no considerations as to how technology like GPS Tracking could help in this scenario.

Preventive Maintenance. Towards more effective fleet management, preventive maintenance is the base line type of maintenance model that will help keep your fleet running on a regular basis. It is better than nothing, but GPS Tracking is not going to be a part of businesses run with just this type of outlook towards maintenance.

Predictive Maintenance. This is where forecasting and data meet to provide a systematic, and measured plan to keep equipment not just running, but running at peak performance levels. GPS fleet tracking systems can supply data like hours used and miles traveled (among other things). These two components alone can provide the data needed for effective predictive maintenance schedules.

Tracking & Maintenance Software

Reliability-based Maintenance. Take all of the above and add to it the realization that fleet management also needs a component that plans for certain types of equipment to fail because of the circumstances under which it is being used. The heavy usage of certain types of equipment means that reliability factors need to be considered along with tracking of hours used and miles traveled.

This is all especially valuable in fleet management where equipment and/or assets are used differently at different times. No two units are the same, and so they must be monitored constantly to make sure that the above best practices are used to get the most out of the fleet for the longest time at the lowest possible cost. A GPS vehicle tracking device is there to help. For more information, call Rocky Mountain Tracking today at 888-242-0500.

Vehicle Tracking Systems – Which One Is Right For You?

April 10th, 2009

By Greg Bartlett

In today’s world people want to know where their vehicle has been and how it was driven. The method of accomplishing that is through GPS tracking technology. Prior to purchasing any GPS tracking system the consumer must do their homework to determine which system will fit their needs. These systems fall into two categories, active and passive. A little background on GPS tracking systems is helpful to the person interested in acquiring a GPS tracking system for their vehicle.

Passive GPS tracking systems are attached to a vehicle and record data concerning where the vehicle has been and how it has been operated. After a period of time has passed, the device is removed from the vehicle and downloaded to a computer. Software supplied by the manufacturer is utilized to view the data in a form that makes it easily interpreted.

Active GPS vehicle tracking systems are more complex than passive systems. The active systems have the ability to communicate through cellular or satellite networks to report their location in real time. Utilizing the manufacturers software, the vehicle can be located in real time and the conditions that it is being operated under can be viewed. Multiple options are available for this technology. These options include the ability to set geographic limits for vehicle operation and the ability to remotely disable the vehicle should any limits be exceeded.

Most GPS tracking devices are mounted to the vehicle by means of a magnet. When making the choice as to which system is to be purchased the consumer should look for units that are motion activated. These motion activated units “go to sleep” once the vehicle is stationary for a time period. This time period is typically 3 minutes. The ability to “go to sleep” saves on battery life, thus extending the period that the unit can acquire data.

While the tracking unit mounted on the vehicle gathers the data, the software provided by the manufacturer interprets the data into a logical form. When purchasing the GPS tracking device, the software should be reviewed to insure that the data and the method that the data is presented suit the owner’s needs.

Multitudes of vehicle tracking systems are available on the market. As with any other consumer product, research should be conducted to determine which device is the right one for you. Active tracking devices are more expensive than passive devices due to their inherent complexity. Passive devices can only tell the owner where the vehicle has been and how it was operated upon data review. Should the consumer desire real time data, an active device must be chosen. This determination will assist the consumer in choosing the right device and make the utilization of the device an asset to the owner. For more information, call 888-242-0500.

Why I Insisted on GPS Tracking

April 9th, 2009

By Lyle Goldstein

I remember the day I decided to get a car with GPS tracking. It was a Monday, two years ago. I was on the phone at work when I happened to glance out my office window. I guess I unconsciously looked for my own car. I spotted it just as the call ended. As I was hanging up I noticed a sizable dent in the passenger door. My first reaction was that somebody had hit me after I had parked, but as soon as that thought occurred to me I discounted it because I had parked at the end of a row. That put the passenger door right next to a chain link fence, where it couldn’t have been hit.

I knew the dent hadn’t happened while I’d been driving, and I was the only one who drove the car – my wife has her own. If I had GPS tracking, I wondered, would I be able to check my travel history and find out when the car was used without my knowledge? I thought back to the night before. I’d gone to bed after the 11 o’clock news. The only person still up was my 15 year old son, Bobby.

father-and-son That was when I knew Bobby had taken my car out for a joyride. I confronted him that night and he swore up and down that he hadn’t. I wanted to believe him, but it seemed to fit. Like all 15 year olds, Bobby had been pushing the limits of his parent’s tolerance – staying out later and later until we had to impose a curfew. His last report card hadn’t been great, either, come to think of it.

It is a terrible moment when you realize your child is lying and there is nothing you can do about it. GPS tracking would have eliminated his plausible deniability. I talked with my wife. We were worried by our son’s behavior. Kids today live in a culture that contains so many temptations; so many threats. I’d been looking at buying a new car and we had discussed the GPS option.

That night we decided a GPS device was something we needed – for the sake of our son. We bought the new car, and we mentioned anything about device. The next time Bobby went joyriding, we knew where he’d gone – a seedy neighborhood known for drug usage and then to a friend’s. Today Bobby’s back on track, thanks to GPS tracking.