GPS vehicle tracking systems are a popular tool for business owners; Original equipment manufacturers from General Motors to Bobcat are including tracking systems in their vehicles. Here’s some background information to help you:
Who uses GPS tracking?
GPS tracking systems are used by businesses in the service, transportation and manufacturing industries. Businesses of all sizes, with fleets of 1 to thousands of vehicles, rely upon their tracking systems to add to their profitability.
Types of businesses using GPS tracking:
- Contractors who provide HVAC, plumbing or electrical services
- Limousine and taxi companies
- Uniform / Linen Services
- Food and Beverage Distributors
- Street Sweepers
- Pest Management Services
- Snow Plow Services
- Car Carriers
- Landscaping and Irrigation contractors
- Cable Company Contractors
- Bulk and Route Delivery
- Fuel / Oil Haulers
- Hazmat and/or Chemical Haulers
- Produce / Perishable Delivery
- Utility companies
- City, county and state motor pool fleets
What is it?
GPS tracking systems consist of a device installed in the vehicle, a central server and software for the owner to access the information.
All GPS tracking devices use data from the U.S. Government’s constellation of Global Positioning System satellites to determine a vehicle’s location, speed and direction of travel.
The tracking device transmits data from GPS satellites overhead to a central computer server via either a communications satellite or, more often, via the local cellular phone network. The vehicle data is updated every 2 – 15 minutes, depending upon the owner’s preferences and manufacturer’s settings.
The central server makes the tracking data available to the system owner through the Internet. The owner logs onto the tracking company’s secure web server and sees their vehicle data on a map and in text form. Some tracking companies make the data available for download, so the owner could archive it on their own computer.
Why do they use it?
Users of GPS tracking systems have many reasons why they’ve installed them:
- Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by targeting speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and ultimately, drive up insurance rates.
- Using the system's automatic mileage reminder reduces downtime and enhances vehicle resale values by encouraging scheduled, preventative maintenance. Your tracking system will remind you when it's time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled maintenance.
- Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.
- Productivity is improved by:
a. documenting long lunch hours,
b. exposing unauthorized breaks,
c. comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity,
d. logging personal vehicle use after hours or on weekends. - GPS tracking systems improve customer service by showing you which employee is closest to the client who just called. WOW your customers--give them precise arrival or delivery estimates, based upon the actual location of your vehicles at the moment they call.
- Your system can tell you the exact time and date each employee reached each customer. If a customer questions when your employee arrived or left --prove it to them.
- Is one employee more productive than another? --Check the data. Is it time to add a vehicle? --Use your system and there's no more guessing.
- Use your system to correlate overtime performed with your employees' overtime requests. See who is putting in extra time.
- Never make another phone call to find out where your employees say they are.
- Simplify asset management by displaying everything on one computer screen. Make work easier for your dispatcher.
- Tracking systems work without any input from the driver. No driver logs needed.
Purchasers of GPS vehicle tracking systems say they recover their investment in an average of six – 12 months, by both reducing expenses and improving productivity. While some users recoup their entire investment at one time by recovering a stolen vehicle, most users are repaid more gradually.
Ken Sink, owner of My Vehicle WatchDog, is a veteran with 20+ years of transportation experience, including fleet management of over 800 vehicles. Visit http://www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info for more information about GPS vehicle tracking systems from Fleet Management Solutions, Networkfleet and Sprint/Nextel. Submit your info for a quick, no-obligation system quote. Quantity discounts for volume purchases.
GPS stands for global positioning system, a system that has been established and is managed by the Department of Defense. The GPS system utilizes satellites that have been put into orbit that help people determine their exact location whether it be for the purposes of personal navigation, military activities, or any type of enterprise that requires an exact global positioning by latitude, longitude and altitude. GPS systems are installed in automobiles, motorcycles, some PDAs, Airplanes, dog collars, fishing boats, and so many other products.
GPS systems all started out in the army in the year 1970. In the army, many soldiers needed navigation systems to know their directions around other countries. Without this device it would be really hard for them to find their way around. This device has saved soldier’s time in war and has also saved many lives. GPS systems are very powerful devices and are a great navigation system to use to get around.
GPS systems have gone for beyond just serving the army. They now serve just about everyone. These navigation systems help drivers find there way through city streets and help hikers find their way through the rough terrains of the mountains. They also help pilots find their way around the skies as well as helping mariners find their way around the great sea. The GPS systems technology can help serve anyone in need of it.
GPS systems can also be purchased for motorcycles, and hikers sometimes use such systems to determine where they are while walking. Cyclists should not be left out of the mix, and runners, joggers, and skiers use navigation systems to prevent themselves from becoming lost in an unfamiliar area. Some PDAs - personal digital assistants - are equipped with built in navigation devices, while some Palm devices also include such systems.
Navigation systems are sold with a variety of features and what kind of features you should look for is solely dependent on two factors - price and need. The most basic of navigation systems will provide you with a route from one point to another point or to multiple points, depending on your destination and trip plan. A benefit of such navigation systems is that they not only serve as a guide to your preplanned destination, they also serve as guide back to where you started. Any route you plan in a navigation system is completely reversible thanks to the innovative design of such systems.
Alternatively, you may pay more money for a navigation system that has voice capabilities. You can purchase a navigation system that will guide you to your destination vocally and while speaking to you it will offer up a turn-by-turn dictation of your journey. Conversely, those individuals that spend the majority of their time traveling - like a delivery man may find that they prefer a navigation system that they can preplan many destinations at one time and then move from one set of directions to another. Thus, such individuals require a uniquely designed navigation system -one that possesses multi destination capabilities. Finally, there are different navigation systems for boats, motorcycles, cars, and joggers so you will need to be sure to purchase the product you require for your intended use. The most popular GPS Systems are made by: Navstar, Magellan, Garmin, Slim Trak, Cobra, Holux, Suunto USA, and Timex.
Chris Simons is a prolific freelance writer. You are welcomed to visit http://gps.theconsumerguide.net, for more information on GPS units and tracking systems.
