GPS Tracking: An Executive Summary-Who, What and Why

GPS vehicle tracking systems are a popular toolWhy do they use it?
for business owners; Original equipmentUsers of GPS tracking systems have many
manufacturers from General Motors to Bobcatreasons why they've installed them:
are including tracking systems in their vehicles.1. Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by
Here's some background information to help you:targeting speeding employees, who waste fuel,
Who uses GPS tracking?cause excessive engine wear and ultimately, drive
GPS tracking systems are used by businesses inup insurance rates.
the service, transportation and manufacturing2. Using the system's automatic mileage reminder
industries. Businesses of all sizes, with fleets of 1reduces downtime and enhances vehicle resale
to thousands of vehicles, rely upon their trackingvalues by encouraging scheduled, preventative
systems to add to their profitability.maintenance. Your tracking system will remind
Types of businesses using GPS tracking:you when it's time to rotate tires, change oil or
- Contractors who provide HVAC, plumbing orperform other scheduled maintenance.
electrical services3. Many insurance companies offer discounts of
- Limousine and taxi companiesup to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking
- Uniform / Linen Servicessystems.
- Food and Beverage Distributors4. Productivity is improved by: a. documenting long
- Street Sweeperslunch hours, b. exposing unauthorized breaks, c.
- Pest Management Servicescomparing driver overtime requests with system
- Snow Plow Servicesreports of driver activity, d. logging personal
- Car Carriersvehicle use after hours or on weekends.
- Landscaping and Irrigation contractors5. GPS tracking systems improve customer
- Cable Company Contractorsservice by showing you which employee is closest
- Bulk and Route Deliveryto the client who just called. WOW your
- Fuel / Oil Haulerscustomers--give them precise arrival or delivery
- Hazmat and/or Chemical Haulersestimates, based upon the actual location of your
- Produce / Perishable Deliveryvehicles at the moment they call.
- Utility companies6. Your system can tell you the exact time and
- City, county and state motor pool fleetsdate each employee reached each customer. If a
What is it?customer questions when your employee arrived
GPS tracking systems consist of a device installedor left --prove it to them.
in the vehicle, a central server and software for7. Is one employee more productive than
the owner to access the information.another? --Check the data. Is it time to add a
All GPS tracking devices use data from the U.S.vehicle? --Use your system and there's no more
Government's constellation of Global Positioningguessing.
System satellites to determine a vehicle's location,8. Use your system to correlate overtime
speed and direction of travel.performed with your employees' overtime
The tracking device transmits data from GPSrequests. See who is putting in extra time.
satellites overhead to a central computer server9. Never make another phone call to find out
via either a communications satellite or, morewhere your employees say they are.
often, via the local cellular phone network. The10. Simplify asset management by displaying
vehicle data is updated every 2 - 15 minutes,everything on one computer screen. Make work
depending upon the owner's preferences andeasier for your dispatcher.
manufacturer's settings.11. Tracking systems work without any input
The central server makes the tracking datafrom the driver. No driver logs needed.
available to the system owner through thePurchasers of GPS vehicle tracking systems say
Internet. The owner logs onto the trackingthey recover their investment in an average of
company's secure web server and sees theirsix - 12 months, by both reducing expenses and
vehicle data on a map and in text form. Someimproving productivity. While some users recoup
tracking companies make the data available fortheir entire investment at one time by recovering
download, so the owner could archive it on theira stolen vehicle, most users are repaid more
own computer.gradually.