Telematics and GPS Navigation

GPS Fleet Tracking Extends Reach To Trailers And Heavy Equipment

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:57 +0000

tracking system layout

GPS fleet tracking used to be just about tracking vehicles such as cars and trucks. Now the fleet tracking includes freight, heavy equipment and

trailers as well, and are being incorporated into the fleet tracking software. Sometimes other functions are required for trailers and heavy equipment such as environmental and if it has been opened or not. These features would be wrapped up in the entire telematics system software however. At any rate, read on for more about how GPS fleet tracking now incorporates trailers and heavy equipment.

With significant technology improvements and expanding wireless networks, the GPS fleet tracking industry has exploded in growth, and small business owners are probably benefiting the most. From landscape companies to local couriers, fleets as small as two or three can see tremendous advantages from the technology. What about heavy equipment operators, trailer companies, and vehicle auction companies? Do GPS options exist for these segments?

The struggle such segments encounter deals with cost, durability, and a lack of power supply. Trailers are often disconnected from power supplies for long periods of time. Vehicle auction companies – always a target for auto theft – cannot afford GPS for the majority of vehicles that just sit, but still need to deter theft and track vehicle movement when grand theft occurs. Heavy equipment operators are primarily concerned about device durability.

Thanks to companies like iTRAK Corporation in Colorado, such GPS tracking solutions now exist. The company recently released its newest product, iTRAKopus? 1200, an economical and compact tracking device that operates on GSM data networks. Designed for easy installation, the 1200 is a self-contained device with an internal antenna and battery that is charged when connected to a power supply. The battery can power the GPS device for 6 to 18 months, based upon device usage.

The iTRAKopus? 1200 is very compact (measuring about 2″x4″x1.5″) and weighs only about 1 pound. The casing is tamper-proof and highly durable for withstanding the wear and tear of being installed on heavy equipment. Trailers will benefit from the battery life, and vehicle auction companies will find the cost of the device easy to swallow. Additionally, iTRAK’s data systems monitor device activity based on actions, rather than time intervals. Such a system structure eliminates useless data transfer to further reduce monthly data fees.

The GPS industry continues to rapidly evolve at all levels, but most certainly in the commercial sector. Additional advantages companies will experience from a GPS fleet tracking system on unique assets is a reduction in insurance costs, as well as an improvement in operations.

The industry’s top GPS tracking systems operate in the cloud and can be easily accessed through mobile devices, such as iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. Reporting functions can be highly customized based on a company’s specific needs, and enterprise systems can be more cost-effectively deployed for companies in need of additional security. The sky is quickly becoming the limit in the GPS fleet tracking industry.

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Forward Planning And The Practical Benefits Of Fleet Telematics

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:51:55 +0000

Telematics is becoming more of a necessity rather than a luxury in businesses that have to operate a fleet of vehicles. The savings on the vehicles is

fleet telematics tracking map

becoming well known, especially since the cost of the telematics technology has gone down significantly over the years. In these days, most software management of the fleets can be done online through a service, which saves a lot of upfront costs of software installation. Read on for more on the benefits of fleet telematics.

Fleet industry analysts are forecasting sales growth for telematics to rise to almost 6.5 million units by 2014. Developing realtime vehicle tracking innovation is recognised as a key factor by most private industry or public sectors operating fleet vehicles of any size or application when forward planning to maintain maximum cost efficiencies and productivity.

Technology now plays a crucial role in the global fleet industry. From local and regional SME businesses, equipped with a basic vehicle tracking device to national and world wide haulage and service distribution, deploying a full scale fleet gps tracking system.

While telematics investment is seen as a capital asset, most small to mid size fleet organisations enter the process with an entry-level vehicle tracker which supplies a basic ’satnav’ application. Fleet managers and their control room teams quickly become aware that it is crucial to have full visibility of an entire journey history as it happens in realtime. A system upgrade to a full live vehicle tracking system enables streaming data to be directly relayed from the on-board diagnostics.

Consultation and full company workflow and costings analysis is a vital prerequisite in forward planning projected business growth to a required telematics performance. Provision of capacity must be to meet future fleet operational demands with added functionality, rather than simply address present concerns. A clear prefiguring of practical benefits will enhance productivity estimates matched to delivery capability. In addition, a selected software solution must be scalable or customised to fleet vehicle specification and intended usage. Economic urgency can very often focus on a main issue of fuel cost reduction to be achieved within the first time period of installed GPS tracking use, obscuring wider strategy needs.

It’s not uncommon for the immediate benefit to quickly fall away after a small short-term gain from initial driver reaction once a vehicle fleet tracking system has been installed. It is imperative that data must constantly be utilised and acted upon to inform the vital decision making process in order to see long term benefits. Key running cost reduction and productivity development can be most effectively implemented via necessary driver behaviour management. Company operating costs can be better controlled by ensuring that data is understood and acted upon on a daily basis.

In-vehicle diagnostics will monitor driving behaviours, such as idling, gear selection and engine revs, as well as measuring braking, acceleration and cornering. Installed routing software enables comparisons between actual and planned scheduling with geo-fencing limits, which can be pre-set for vehicle movements out of hours or prescribed journey areas. Also, a record of any unauthorised vehicle use can be kept.

Consultation with the telematics provider at very stage is vital, especially when planning integration with existing network infrastructures. Telematics purchasing is always vitally dependent on possessing full and accurate information, which aims to achieve the required cost reductions. A strategic implementation policy and assignment of responsibility for ensuring the entire process is carried out to agreed plan is a forward planning imperative.

http://www.cybit.co.uk are the UK’s Leading Supplier of Vehicle Based Telematics Services, GPS Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Tracking, Trailer Tracking with customisable added value application modules, who deliver an extensive portfolio of advanced vehicle tracking solutions to over 2,000 enterprises across a wide-range of industries. UKAS accredited to ISO 9001:2000, Cybit’s dedicated professional services team can provide guidance to legislation compliance, Human Resource Management and Duty of Care best practice.

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GPS Fleet Tracking for Vehicle Fleet Management

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:22:41 +0000

GPS tracking is a very popular technology for use with vehicle fleet management. As the costs of this technology decrease and the capabilities

Fleet management

increase, the use of vehicle fleet management will grow. Strategic vehicle fleet management can save a modest sized company thousands per year in fleet costs. While personal privacy are reduced with the use of a company vehicle, the company can also increase the safety of it’s drivers by routing them to more safe routes on the fly. Read more as this article discusses the need for vehicle fleet management.

A Global Positioning System or GPS receiver is an instrument which displays the position of the receiver on a map display. This means, that if such a receiver is installed in a car, it will show the car’s exact location on a map.

This kind of a tool is extremely beneficial and important to have for a variety of reasons. But before we get into that, let us look at whether your company really needs a GPS fleet management system or not. Here is a small checklist to consider before deciding to go and purchase GPS fleet management software:

* In your business, do you use a number of vehicles in the line of your work?
* Would you like to know what is going on with your vehicles at all times?
* Would you like to be able to give your customers accurate delivery times?
* Would you like to know if your company vehicles are being misused during off duty hours?
* Would you like to know if your employees are speeding or otherwise abusing your vehicles?
* Do you want to know about the exact mileage that each vehicle is having?
* Do you want to know about if your vehicles are stolen? And if so, would you like to know their location right away?

Asking yourself these questions will help you understand whether you really need to have an up-to-date account of all the vehicles within your organization which are being used by your employees for work and related duties.

Advantages of GPS Fleet Tracking

Now that you have ascertained that you do need to know about the above mentioned facts, let us look at the various benefits that a vehicle fleet management system coupled with GPS fleet management software can offer your company:

* You will know where all your vehicles are at all times using real time mapping provided by GPS systems.
* You can save a lot of fuel by using the GPS fleet management system to your advantage to clock mileage for personal and work use.
* You can keep a track on when your drivers are taking time off work for all the wrong reasons and can thus work out their wages accordingly.
* Improve your customer service by providing customers with accurate delivery times. If there are any delays, the GPS fleet management software will alert you right away and you can inform your customers about it.
* You can implement a speeding policy and keep a track of whether your drivers are following it or not. You can also keep a track on offenses such as drunken driving and so on by your drivers.
* In case a driver gets lost, or is new to a route, having a GPS system installed in the vehicle will prove to be of his benefit as well, because he can find or traverse the route effectively.
* A GPS fleet tracking software can be connected with the vehicle’s engine diagnostics port and can be programmed to alert you when any problem occurs. The software can also be programmed to alert you after a certain number of miles are clocked on the vehicle, so that it can be sent for servicing and maintenance.
* GPS vehicle tracking helps you devised optimized routes which will contribute towards significantly increasing your customer delivery efficiency.
* GPS fleet management software generate reports of various types which can be used in various stages of planning, budgeting and management.

With these benefits you will also see an improvement in the behavior of staff, especially the drivers, because they will know that their bad behavior will be noticed. At the same time, you will also see a marked increase in their efficiency and promptness regarding their work.

Thus, installing a vehicle fleet management system will greatly enhance your service standards while also help you pull down costs and increase the efficiency of your staff.

GPLogger Online Tracking system purpose-designed for tracking and monitoring professional GPS vehicle tracking devices installed on moving objects such as cars, motorcycles, buses, etc as well as for personal GPS trackers. On our web site you can find a list of GPS vehicle tracking devices and personal GPS trackers that can track and monitor with our online tracking system. You can subscribe to our online tracking service with an existing GPS tracker or purchase a complete tracking package that includes GPS tracker, SIM card with GPRS traffic and subscription to online tracking services from our online shop. Subscription to our system allows users access all the data regarding GPS tracker at any time with any computer connected to Internet. http://www.gplogger.com

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GPS Tracking Is Now Transformed By New Telematics Technology

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:02:50 +0000

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Telematics and GPS tracking are similar in what kind of service they provide, yet they can use different means to achieve their goal. Being able to track vehicles, cargo and other large items has given businesses a better handle on their assets and where they are located. New advancements in technology can certainly assist in the growth of how telematics can help businesses increase their profit margin by reducing costs as well. This article discusses how new Telematics technology improves the way businesses can operate.

Developments presently taking place in GPS tracking technology, which aim towards the linking of vehicles to external system processes, improving traffic conditions and thereby, transforming the fleet driving environment, are emerging online and are more frequently being seen at trade conferences and industry exhibitions.

As new and innovative technology begins to become more widely available, the telematics industry appears to be at the threshold of the next important breakthrough in supplying realtime vehicle tracking solutions at a more sophisticated level of data reporting. Advances in integrating cloud based computing, virtualisation and mobile technology to deliver fast access, sharing and storage of ever larger quantities of vital data are remodelling computer ecosystems to operate across increasingly diverse platforms and complex infrastructures.

As more devices capable of multiple and versatile connectivity intersect with the next generation of applied telematics, it is predicted that a corresponding explosion in online and smartphone interoperability should be shortly expected to be actively in operation. The integration of external mobile devices with in-vehicle systems enabling messaging, email, and social media interaction are also forecast to expand mobile phone tracking capability.

The rise of the machine-to-machine (M2M) concept is a strong advocate for streamlining mobile asset tracking management by the implementation of a fuel tracker mobile app to monitor vehicle mileage via a smartphone. Fleet managers can look forward to seeing further improved fuel efficiency and highly optimised alternative routing according to updated reporting on best available road and traffic conditions.

Fleet enterprises who operate multiple delivery vehicles in the same delivery consignment can deploy an advanced type of trailer tracking app. Data received from the vehicle’s fleet GPS system can send text messaging, voice, and vehicle controls and thus, be in constant communication, displaying their progress on a map, throughout the entire journey. Fuel levels and other vehicle speeds are also tracked by alerts signalling a vehicle stopping.

However, it is the integration of present telematics with the fast developing smartphone and mobile device technology which is just round the fleet industry corner. Successful linking of the two systems will be critical to coordinating valuable information and feedback response, which will best utilise user mobile service infrastructure combined with on board, web based services.

Improved connectivity performance between fleet control rooms and cab mobile, reduced driver distraction, and easier upgradeable platforms are seen to be the cornerstones of reliable support to ensuring continuity of new services. As a result, the vehicle driver and client-customer, alike, are assured of being supplied advanced, automated and home-base support.

Insurance Company Telematics Trade Perks for Privacy (wired.com)

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Benefits Of GPS Vehicle Tracking Devices In Fleet Monitoring

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:38:18 +0000

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GPS tracking is one of the best ways to monitor fleets of vehicles. With this technology, the fleet manager can know where at all times their vehicles are and with additional software, or an entire telematics solution, can manage where their vehicles are, and can send information to the driver if need be.

GPS vehicle tracking devices help businesses increase their efficiency, productivity, and accountability at the same time. If you have been looking for ways to improve your transportation or distribution business to provide quick delivery services to your customers, installing GPS system is a wise decision. Although the technology was launched decades ago, it has gained popularity in few recent years. Keeping up with the technological developments is very important for surviving in today’s cut-throat competition. Most fleet and fright management companies and transport and distribution companies have already realized the importance of GPS tracking devices in ensuring discipline and accountability. The space-based navigation system allows you to determine just the accurate location of your car, bus, or truck right from the comfort of your home or office.

Benefits Of GPS Vehicle Tracking Devices In Fleet Monitoring

* Using GPS vehicle tracking devices is one of the most effective tools in tracking the exact location of vehicles. It offers more advantage to the individuals and companies who are in transport and distribution business. This is the most efficient way of fleet monitoring.

* GPS racking devices help companies to better manage a huge fleet and monitor drivers’ schedule. This, in turn, helps in keeping a track of fueling halts between the source location and destination.

* If you’re looking for ways to improve your services and decrease the product delivery time, installing GPS vehicle tracking devices is a wise decision. You can determine the approximate time a vehicle takes to reach a specific destination. You can remain updated about scheduled movement of vehicles.

* By deploying GPS technology, you can streamline labor costs as well. As it helps in proper management of fleet drivers, their schedules, working hours, workforce mobility, and route management, you can streamline your costs and fix up standard minimum and maximum limits.

* GPS vehicle tracking devices can help you route drivers more efficiently making them complete more service calls per day while improving customer satisfaction.

* Apart from this, the driving behavior of drivers can also be monitored. It also provides information about the performance of a particular vehicle. In addition to this, it enhances safety and boosts efficiency.

* GPS tracking system is a smart technology that delivers exceptional control and visibility over fleet vehicles. This also eliminates the out-of-route miles improving compliance.

* Using GPS system minimizes the risk of theft of your vehicle. As long as GPS device is on, authorities can easily track the vehicle and reach the location of the stolen vehicle.

If you want to improve your services along with effective fleet monitoring, installing GPS vehicle tracking devices is the wisest investment that you can make. It not only takes your business to the next level but also offers you complete peace of mind. In addition to this, it helps in cutting down your labor and fuel costs by eliminating out-of-route miles and tracking working hours of drivers. By deploying this, most of unforeseen disasters can be averted. While ensuring proper management of your fleet vehicles, it helps you improve your bottom line processes and business operations.

Teletrac has been offering a wide range of GPS vehicle tracking devices to its clients for more than 23 years. The company delivers intelligent driving solutions and help customers in fleet monitoring, improving drivers’ productivity, and reducing delivery time.

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Using RFID for Student Tracking

admin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:42:43 +0000

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There are plenty of ways of tracking people and property. Tracking using telematics, GPS and RFID is more and more common in today’s world. In fact, almost everything can be tracked by RFID. It used to be things, now it is People. In this article, it talks about tracking children via RFID.

For Student Tracking

Enablitz was designed specifically for pupil transportation to monitor student ridership in a safe and non-intrusive way. Knowing if and when a student got on or off the bus accounts for a significant portion of calls parents make to schools and is information that schools need to know. Enablitz provides accurate and immediate answers.

Just What Schools Have Been Asking For

Agnicient has succeeded where others have not by using Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) technology to solve the problem. Students carry a small card that contains passive RFID technology that logs each student’s entry or exit automatically when the student pass the scanner located on the bus. Enablitz is accurate, easy and affordable.

Load and Unload Process Stays the Same

Customers say it works because Enablitz requires no action on the part of drivers or students, other than to carry the card. Enablitz delivers the required performance without impeding the normal loading and unloading process. It’s a true win/win/win/win for school officials, drivers, students and parents.

HOW IT WORKS?

Simple, Safe and Secure

Each student is issued a unique RFID card to carry. Everything else is automatic. As the student passes the Enablitz reader upon entering or leaving the bus, the time, date and location is logged and transmitted to a secure database.

Real-Time Answers

The data is accessed via a web-browser with Agnicient system application. For the first time, accurate information is available to answer parent and administrators’ questions accurately and cost-effectively.

Web-Based Reporting – Makes it fast and easy to access accurate information.
Student Report – Stamps time and date for all loading and unloading activities by student.
Bus Report – Provides all students ridership data by bus.

Improves Safety and Efficiency

School officials can quickly and easily track students entering and leaving buses and be in the best position to answer parents’ questions. Enablitz has made student tracking easy, secure and affordable.

WHO BENEFITS

School Officials, Parents and Students All Gain
Transporting students responsibly is something school officials and parents take very seriously. A student’s boarding or departure status has always been largely reliant on speculation. Enablitz provides the capabilities commensurate to the responsibility.

STUDENTS – Provide valuable information when getting on and off the bus.
PARENTS – Take the appropriate action because they have precise answers to boarding status and times.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS – Meet obligations to parents and district to do all they can to ensure student safety.
TRANSPORTATION MANAGERS – Equip buses with powerful track and report capabilities cost-effectively.
DRIVERS – Provide valuable and accurate information without having to do anything different.
SERVICE REPRESENTATVES – Answer parents’ and school officials’ questions instantly and accurately.
RISK MANAGERS – Protect the districts from liability by removing uncertainty about boarding status.
IT MANAGERS – Save valuable resources, with no demands on existing IT infrastructure or personnel.

Now student ridership can be monitored in a safe and non-intrusive way. Parents and school officials can have answers easily, immediately and cost-effectively.

New ways to save

It is Finally Knowable

School officials and parents have been waiting a long time for a solution to the vexing problem of knowing if, when and where a student has boarded or departed a school bus. There is finally an accurate, easy and affordable answer and that answer is Enablitz.

Accurate – RFID card-based systems ensures precise data collection. It is the only one of its kind.
Easy – Enablitz works without requiring anyone to change behavior.
Affordable – Agnicient innovative approach delivers performance at a price that is remarkably affordable.

You Can’t Afford to Go Without

The risk is just too great, now that there is an effective alternative. Think about the time already being spent to answer these calls from parents. It is considerable because the same questions are asked every day, by different parents, about different students. That’s why the effective automation Enablitz offers gives you a daily payback.

Think About What Is Already Being Spent

Think about how you spend your valuable time. Are you chasing down details and still getting incomplete information so you are unable to satisfy parents’ and administrators’ questions? It is time to let Enablitz help you

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Telematics Systems For Trucks

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:56 +0000

?In this article the author discusses some of the different telematics systems for trucks. This author especially focuses on the history of telematics in the trucking industry and what some basic telematics systems are made of. As the trucking industry grows, it is important to have systems that can manage fleets of trucks to provide better customer service as well as lower costs. Read on for more about telematics systems for trucks.

Connect a satnav to a mobile phone and you have a simple telematics system that can track the progress of a vehicle in real time. People have been doing that for years now, and with great benefits, but telematics systems have continued to evolve, and these days they do much more than just give vehicle location.

On early telematics systems you could select a vehicle and be presented with a little map, showing its last reported position. Look at modern control centre software for telematics systems and you’ll see the whole fleet pinpointed on a zoomable map, updated in real time. In addition to the fleet information, the map can show traffic information with data updated in real time. It is possible to see drivers heading into problem areas and reroute them, or at least reschedule on the basis of predicted delays.

You can map the history of a vehicle’s movements throughout the day. The ignition key is monitored as well so it’s possible to check drivers hours, and see how much driving time they have left. Control centre software can also log movement data, truck miles and driver hours, and elaborate the data for both personnel management and truck maintenance purposes.

On trucks, a telematics system can be provided from just a satnav and a smartphone. These are not limited to telematics use, they can be used as an ordinary satnav and mobile phone as well. smartphone use is on the increase; they allow additional specialised software packages to be deployed. Truck drivers can use a smartphone application to make their daily walkaround vehicle inspections. Vehicle check and defect reports get sent straight back to the operations centre where they can be stored as VOSA approved electronic reports.

Another smartphone application is electronic Proof Of Delivery, the type of delivery note where goods are signed for on a touch screen. A copy of the signature goes straight back to the control centre so administration staff can close the paperwork straight away, without having to chase around for lost bits of paper. Customers can have access to a system that shows them the state of consignments in real time. Of course there are stand alone systems that can do this, but incorporating the functions with a Vehicle Tracking System is more efficient and can allow customers to view the vehicle location online to check progress.

Truck telematics systems are simple in concept, but they can be complicated to piece together. Rather than try and commission their own systems, most operators adopt a ready made and proven system from specialist suppliers. Operators often want to integrate their telematics systems with existing control centre software and administration system; control centre software allows for this with interfaces to custom software modules.

Implementing a fully featured telematics system can be a big outlay, and not just for the up front costs; maintenance and running charges must be accounted for as well. Many operators prefer to use a telematics service where they pay a fixed daily fee per vehicle for an all inclusive package.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_L_Taylor

Here are more articles on telematics systems for trucks

Telematics for Trucking: Vnomics Banks on Furthering Technology …

the CEO Hour, April 29th 2011. David Chauncey is the CEO of Vnomics. He has more than 22 years of experience in both the commercial and government electronics industries. Vnomics is a leading provider of Intelligent …

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Transport Telematics | Your company’s liability and insurance …

Use of transport telematics is widespread, with nearly 80 percent of commercial trucking fleets relying on the technology for real time traffic and travel information related to driver behavior, fuel efficiency, …

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What is Commercial Telematics and How Does it Fit Into My Business?

Telematics or Vehicle Telematics is a term used to define vehicles that are connected with each other and to a home base while exchanging data over a wireless technology such as GPS. … field service/repair fleets, government fleets, heavy equipment, intermodal shipping, long and short haul trucking, military vehicles, municipal fleets, regionally-based delivery vehicles, rental cars and trucks, school buses, taxis/limousines and transit buses and trains. …

Publish Date: 03/25/2011

Telematics Systems, Commercial Trucking Industry, Two-Way …

For Protecting Drivers And Trucks From Hijackings And Terrorism, A Commercial Trucking Industry Is Used Telematics System, Find Out Pinpoint Exact Location Of The Vehicle &Amp; Two-Way Communication Devices, To Contact With Drivers.

Publish Date: 10/14/2007

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GPS Fleet Tracking and Telematics Communications

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:01:06 +0000

With GPS fleet tracking, communication of data is a key component. A part of telematics is the communication of that data. All kinds of data aspects can be communicated such as speed, environment and other types of information like location, and engine health. Other types of things that can be communicated are things like panic situations calling for immediate assistance, which in some parts of the world are vital. Read on in this posting as we talk more about the components of GPS Fleet tracking and telematics.

Here are some videos on GPS Fleet Tracking:

8 Ways to Add $500 To Your “Bottom-line” Using GPS Fleet Tracking

www.VirtualFleetSupervisor.com This is a 10-minute presentation on the many benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking. More specifically, we provide you with 8 different ways to create ROI for implementation of GPS Fleet Tracking technology within your business…

How to Use GPS Fleet Tracking for Landscaping Companies

Discover how GPS fleet tracking can positively impact the bottom line for landscaping companies. Learn more at www.wirelessmatrix.com.

Here is an article titled: GPS Fleet Tracking: Telematics Communications Options

Introduction

Fleet management and tracking systems are now essential to the efficient operation of virtually any size commercial fleet. Not only has the rapid return on investment been proven out by improved safety, enhanced operator behavior and the prevention of vehicle and load theft, but now the benefits associated with reduced fuel consumption through lower speed and efficient asset utilization compound the justification.

One of the most important decisions to be made during the system evaluation process is related to the communication method used to transmit data such as speed, location, and status of the vehicle or asset. This data may be very time sensitive, but cost tradeoffs and the fleet management requirements ought to drive the most appropriate system selection.

Fleet Tracking Systems

Real-time GPS tracking systems designed for fleet management typically include a GPS receiver and a cellular data modem or satellite data modem as well as the computing electronics to gather and interpret vehicle data. The tracking equipment receives signals from GPS satellites enabling it to calculate the location, speed and direction of the vehicle. This information is combined with other important status data about the vehicle and is used for modifying driver behavior, fleet maintenance, logistics management and optimizing asset allocation to jobs and routes.

Vehicle Data Transmission

The vehicle tracking unit is connected to the ignition system or Engine Control Module (ECM) which enables it to record ignition on/off events, idle durations and other engine health data. All asset data collected by the unit is then typically transferred from the vehicle to a vendor hosted web application for viewing and analysis by fleet and crew managers. Various standard and customized reports may be generated in real-time to understand status and history of any asset in the fleet. At this point, there is a significant vendor selection choice based upon the requirements of the fleet manager and return on investment expectations of the operation.

The data gathered and interpreted is transferred wirelessly via cellular or satellite data network. Tradeoffs in communication quality, transmission immediacy and signal availability must be considered and weighed with regard to the urgency of fleet asset awareness and subsequent action. Vehicle assets in remote areas where cell coverage is unreliable or non-existent will delay data transmission until a signal is located, assuming the vehicle is still moving. This delay may compromise appropriate response after the information is interpreted.

Satellite equipped tracking solutions provide the most reliable and expedient transmission of asset data, but come at a higher cost of capital equipment on the vehicle and a higher cost of monthly communications subscriptions. However, very quick awareness of asset data on the order of seconds can be achieved with systems that use all satellite communications and are based on systems such as the Iridium network of 66 cross-linked satellites.

Driver Communication

When the decision for satellite enabled fleet management solutions is made, the transmission benefits also apply to the two-way messaging and custom location-tagged texting that is provided with these systems. This allows personnel to continually communicate from remote locations and can be especially important for compliance with Work Alone programs or where continuous awareness of asset location and status is critical to the mission of the organization and efficient operation of the fleet.

Disaster Preparedness

Some organizations such as the government agencies must be prepared and enabled to communicate in any situation. Communications are the critical path for relief in emergency and disaster situations. Cellular networks can suffer from on the ground damage and are susceptible to the overload of calls that naturally occur in such a situation. This was painfully clear in the recent Los Angeles earthquake on July 29, 2008, where excessive calls on both landlines and cell phones caused disruption to receipt of 911 calls. One wireless carrier reported an 800% spike in call volume for that period.

Satellite communication has been deemed essential in these cases because this form of wireless infrastructure is not susceptible to damage from ground-based disasters and is not subject to the large increase in call volume. In the case of the Iridium network, the main repeaters sending and receiving signals are located outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Overall Benefits

When selecting a fleet management system and analyzing return on investment, the following benefits are achievable, but only if the system delivers the right information at the right time.

· An accurate and timely view of all assets, including history
· Efficient deployment of assets to jobs and customers
· Improved project and trip completion rates
· More accurate time card submissions for vehicle based operations
· Reduced speeding and idle time lowering overall fuel consumption
· Reduced risk of asset theft and improved recovery rates
· Increased driver accountability with fewer incidents
· More timely maintenance, perhaps saving a vehicle from destruction
· Reduction in unauthorized use
· Reduced insurance premiums

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5579224

Here are some blog postings on Vehicle Fleet Tracking:

Rocky Mountain GPS Fleet Tracking: A New Answer to an Old Fuel …

Others are secure in the knowledge that Rocky Mountain Tracking’s GPS fleet tracking devices can effectively keep fuel costs down. Many companies put faith in the reliability of drivers. Yet, thousands of fuel dollars go up in emissions …

Publish Date: 04/27/2011

Reasons to Choose Web- Based GPS Fleet Tracking

Article from Article Storehouse and entitled Reasons to Choose Web- Based GPS Fleet Tracking – By Andrew Stratton.

Publish Date: 04/28/2011

Benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking — The News

Here are just some of the ways that GPS fleet tracking technology is improving company productivity. The most obvious benefit of tracking a fleet via GPS is simply knowing where each truck or van is at any given time. …

Publish Date: 04/30/2011

GPS Fleet Tracking Systems Come in Two Different Styles

There will be two kinds of GPS fleet tracking systems that will play a major role in the Angolan aircraft. This will be the D1000C kit and ACH1000 kit. The first one is a practical aircraft tracking system that is being utilized for …

Publish Date: 04/09/2011

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Flexible Vehicle Tracking Options That Include Mapping Technology

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:41:13 +0000

In the telematics industry, having options to track your vehicles along with the software that will easily map where they are located in real time is important in being able to save costs and improve customer service.

Here are some videos on vehicle tracking with mapping technology

ATLAS FOR MAPPING TECHNOLOGY

ATLAS is an aerial mapping and GIS company, specializing in large-scale mapping and orthophotography for engineering and municipal related projects. Our experience and competitive services have allowed us to serve several sectors throughout the Pales…

Hillegom, Netherlands Using Mapping Solutions Technology

This nightly newscast (in Dutch) illustrating the use of Mapping Solutions, Inc. FIREbase Map in-vehicle software mapping system.

GPRS Tracking – Falcon-i Vehicle Tracking System

Falcon-i vehicle tracking system or Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVL) is an innovative technology that enables one to track or monitor the location of the vehicle in an instant time. The system functions with the help of different technologies …

Dynamic Vehicle Tracking and Scheduling

Click on the “HD” button to view the video in high definition format. A demostration of an order allocation and vehicle route optimization and tracking prototype software system. This system was done mainly by “Mashing” up resources from the public i…

Here is an article on…. wait for it…. Flexible Vehicle Tracking Options With Mapping Technology

Running a fleet operation in today’s competitive economic climate requires a versatility of application, from servicing small to medium businesses to controlling international organisations. Implementing a Fleet GPS tracking solution may often require an advanced approach to meet ever increasing demands coming from operator and client, alike.

Responding to individual company preferences and daily work needs is key to customising a vehicle tracking system for a modern company to run the most cost efficient, secure and visible mobile workforce solution they can.

No longer a case of ‘one size fits all’, it is now possible to choose to run different configurable fleet tracking options, strictly according to necessity: Digital mapping, Google Maps incorporating Street View technology and a 20-second vehicle update technology.

Mapping technology is an effective across border support which enables highly detailed visual location updates to help with monitoring all areas, from driver safety to real-time traffic. Mapping tailored to suit individual needs can allow large distribution operations to benefit from the optimised security and safety of upgrading to a live vehicle update option.

A home delivery businesses gains total destination imaging vision over the locations visited from Google Street View, whilst traditional digital mapping remains the clearest option for monitoring routes and measuring to plan.

This type of sophisticated online live vehicle tracking is fully scalable, allowing additional services to be quickly taken up cost, effectively within a single Telematics unit. Additional modules can be installed enabling advanced and user driven reporting, automatic links to power take off, integrated satellite navigation and duty of care and data analyses.

The logistics of modern industrial and commercial transportation clearly demand and have proven to have benefitted from 24hr real-time fleet location visibility, managed fleet data, cost control by eliminating wasted mileage, live and dynamic timesheets detailing key fleet data, access real-time travel updates, 20 second data capture and integration with back office service management software, to name a but few of the realtime tracking properties now available from leading suppliers.

http://www.cybit.co.uk are the UK’s Leading Supplier of Vehicle Based Telematics Services, GPS Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Tracking, Trailer Tracking with customisable added value application modules, who deliver an extensive portfolio of advanced vehicle tracking solutions to over 2,000 enterprises across a wide-range of industries. UKAS accredited to ISO 9001:2000, Cybit’s dedicated professional services team can provide guidance with legislation compliance, Human Resource Management and Duty of Care best practice.

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Andromeda Announces Launch of Real Time GPS Order & Driver …

Using our mapping technology a store manager can see all of their pending orders, along with their driver’s position, on an on screen map in real time. This enables the store to allocate orders efficiently, reducing delivery time to … GPS Tracking System: Track all your vehicles in real time · BlackBox GPS 36-220-01 Locator Real Time Mobile Asset Monitoring Solution for Fleet Management – Vehicle Tracking · Spy Hawk Turbo GPS Real Time Handheld Portable Tracker …

Publish Date: 12/09/2010

GPS Tracking System: an Innovative Mapping Technology

Remoteassetmanagement.co.uk offers the best in high quality GPS Vehicle Tracking System utilising the most reliable and accurate GPS Tracking System and GPS software packages to know your vehicle movements in real time.

Publish Date: 10/11/2010

What is Advanced Mapping?

Well, advanced mapping goes that little bit further than ‘traditional’ mapping technology, to afford you with all of the information you’ll ever need to streamline your operations. For example, our fleet tracking system can give you a …

Publish Date: 09/24/2010

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Freight Tracking Thourgh Courier Companies

admin — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:16:16 +0000

This article is interesting in the way that it states that courier companies aren’t as modern as they could be and the don’t currently have parcel or freight tracking available for their customer. This should be easy enough as couriers are with the packages at all times. Most of these companies can use the standard software and use the courier cell phones as the GPS tracking device. That would be a simple universal solution. The software may have to be modified to connect a specific account to a specific courier and then allow the customer to log in and track that specific courier.

Read an article called: International Courier Companies Should Have a Tracking Option for Customers:

Thanks to technology, international courier companies now offer more services and perks than ever before. In order to meet the demand of its tech-savvy customers, these shippers have had to update software and their networks globally. Remember when you shipped goods overseas and basically had to wait and hope they arrived at their destination? The internet and the e-commerce market have created high consumer expectations so couriers have had to rise to the challenge or perish in this globally competitive market.

This technological growth has meant that global shipping companies worldwide compete with one another, even if they are not in the same town, city, country or continent! This intense competition means that international courier companies must offer services that stand out against the others to not only retain existing customers but attract new ones as well. One way to stand out in the global shipping crowd is to offer a variety of courier options, all at a great price.

Tracking is a Stand-out Service

Many shipping companies offer similar services so they turn to tracking options to stand apart from the competition. The ability to track packages online is a service that customers appreciate because the more informed they are about their shipped items the less likely they are to worry about a timely delivery. Tracking is a great perk to offer customers and it requires little time, effort and money to set it up. Plus, offering it as a free service makes the customers feel like they are getting something for nothing.

Other Online Services

Additional online services that customers appreciate include the ability to get online shipping quotes as well as having access to weight calculators and fuel surcharge information. With this information, you could calculate an approximate cost of a shipment from door to door. Online website tools for global shippers are a great selling point when marketing to new customers.

If you are researching various international courier companies, look beyond their pricing and basic services. You will easily find multiple companies that offer similar options. Look for the ability to track your packages online as well as those online tools to simplify your global shipping packaging requirements and approximate costs. Everything should be spelled out clearly on the shipper’s website. Above all, their customer service should also be excellent as well with knowledgeable account specialists who can answer your questions quickly and in easy to understand terms. Customer service often ends up being the deal breaker when all other shipping needs are met.

Looking for international courier companies? ICR Worldwide Express Ltd. at http://www.icronline.uk.com provides a full range of courier services, including: international, overnight, and same day courier for documents to 10K kg freight.

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Kuepper breaks into SADC

Johannesburg, 13 March 2009 – Kuepper International is looking to expand its tracking solution to post offices and courier services in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The freight tracking company is equipping …

Publish Date: 03/13/2009

Fedex : fedex is the world of logistics

You can do fedex freight tracking and obtain timely information on the status of your shipment. fedex software, also known as FedEx Ship Manage Software, helps you with the full range of shipping functions. … Fedex courier is also gaining worldwide recognition for its efficient and prompt service. A representative will pick up your shipment at the location you choose. Then he will take it to the nearest airport via a dedicated FedEx Custom Critical truck. …

Publish Date: 11/26/2008

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Here is an article on…. wait for it…. Flexible Vehicle Tracking Options With Mapping Technology

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Read an article called: International Courier Companies Should Have a Tracking Option for Customers:

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