Blog Archives - Page 27 of 60

What to Look for When Switching ELD / Telematics Providers

Posted on May 15, 2017 | by Victoria Gole

Switching from one ELD or telematics provider to another is not the easiest process. However, if you are having issues with your current provider, sticking with them simply because you are worried about making the jump isn’t good either. Once you’ve reached a decision, it’s important to ask the right questions to reduce the pain of switching and prevent any surprises. In this blog we will go over best practices when transitioning from one provider to another.

Investing in telematics for your fleet can be a significant undertaking. Before the final decision is made regarding which telematics provider to choose, there are usually countless demos, meetings, negotiations, and approvals. Once the vendor is chosen, there are then a new set of tasks that need to begin: planning out a telematics strategy, ELD implementation, and most importantly – measuring results.

Why Make the Switch

Almost all customers who implement telematics goes through a similar process. For some, it’s smooth sailing, unfortunately for others, it can be a little more complex. Regardless of how the process goes, customers often stay with their existing telematics provider for a variety of reasons:

Long-Term Contracts
Comfort Level
Capital Expenditures for Hardware
Back-End Integration

With that being said, sometimes there are compelling reasons why fleets decide a change is necessary – even if it requires a little extra work. The decision to change providers is normally sparked by a few reasons: ongoing hardware costs, reliability, technology, security, or monthly fees.

When vetting out potential partners it’s crucial to take several factors into consideration to make the best decision. The top four criteria to evaluate are: technology, access to data, partnerships with third-party partners, and security.

Evaluating ELD Providers: What to Look For

From a technological perspective, changing telematics hardware and software is often one of the most difficult pills to swallow. Significant investment was already made obtaining the devices, installing and maintaining the devices, and the education internally on how to use the system. Switching from one provider to another requires removing the old devices, installing now ones, and retraining your staff on how to use the new system.

No telematics company can eliminate all the pain of switching providers – however, it’s important to choose someone who is willing to work with you to reduce this pain as much as possible.
Telematics companies today receive data from the devices they sold to the end user. Some of these devices are proprietary and only specific to the provider who sold them. Some other devices are off-the-shelf meaning they are capable of sending data to other sources other than the initial telematics providers software platform.

1. Third-Party Device Integration Speeds Up the Transition Process

Make sure to ask providers about third-party integration (meaning the ability to pull data from a third-party telematics device into their system). With this, customers will often be able to use their existing telematic hardware as they move to a new software solution. With third-party integration, the telematics provider is able to gather key data points from many different hardware platforms.

Examples of data gathered from telematics and third-party device integration:

Longitute
Latitude
Date / Time
Ignition Status (on/off)
Speed
Auxillary Relay Status for up-to 8 Relays
Device Data
Engine / Diagnostic Data

Even more data:

Tow Detection
Low Battery
Battery Voltage
Starter Tamper
Power Tamper
Trip Count
Temperature
GSM Signal Strength
Loaded Voltage
Battery Level
Successful Uploads
GPS Fix Attempts
Failed Uploads
GPS on Time

This feature allows fleets to transition immediately to the new provider’s system without high costs and confusion. Then over time, if the existing devices fail or new vehicles are purchased, updated hardware from their new provider can be purchased.

This will also allow your internal staff to transition to a single software interface right away – avoiding having to utilize two different systems at the same time.

2. Third-Party Software Partners

The ability to share your data with third-party vendors is critical for the majority of fleets. It could be a maintenance system, a TMS provider, a remote diagnostic system, IFTA reporting system, and the list goes on.

It’s important your new provider understands that all businesses are unique, meaning different integrations are ideal for different businesses. Many providers simply don’t offer these integrations or only provide their customers with in-house packages. Regardless of your existing platform, make sure your new platform has the necessary integrations to optimize your business.

Some telematics companies are moving toward an add-on based approach where customers are able to easily see what companies are integrated and additional information on the vendor. Many think this is the best approach; customers have the option to utilize the telematics providers software plus the third-party vendors to truly optimize their business and accomplish their goals.

Your new partner should have a well-rounded partner network offering benefits to everyone: the provider, the partners, and most importantly, the end customer.

3. Access to the Data

Unfortunately, many telematics providers charge a substantial amount for end users to access their data via APIs, or even worse, prevents them from accessing it all together. To avoid these issues with your future provider be sure to check out their API access and any limitations.

Expandability is a must. Ask for a copy of their Software Developer Kit (SDK). This will explain how you are able to pull raw data from your telematics system in order to be utilized in third party systems. Even if you do not see a need for it today – it’s a good option to have as your business continues to evolve and your needs may change.

4. Security

When shopping around many people forget to ask about security. How does your potential provider handle the security of the hardware? The transmission of data? And the data stored at the server? Simply ask for the provider to give you a copy of their security documentation to review to make sure you will be protected.

As technology continues to change at a rapid pace, asking the hard questions today can save you significant pain in the future.

Interesting about what’s best ELD Provider for you and your business in the long run? Click here to find out.

Check out our comprehesive guide to Canadian ELD Mandate 2019

Original Article:

Making the Jump: Switching ELD Providers by: Scott Sutarik, Business Development, OEM Sales Manager at Geotab

Waste Management Solutions Optimize Routes & Increase Safety

Posted on May 9, 2017 | by Victoria Gole

Waste Management is an area that is ripe for improvement through telematics. Garbage trucks run similar routes day after day, and any time that can be shaved off the route is saving the company money. It’s not like a bus route that must keep to a schedule. We offer a comprehensive telematics package that can drastically improve your waste management operations.

A Complete System

Our Waste Management Solutions offer several components that when combined, provide the biggest benefits. The heart of our waste management solutions is our GO7 device, the most popular telematics device in the world. It fits in the palm of your hand and easily connects to most vehicles, allowing it to collect GPS data plus information from the engine and other onboard sensors. This data is all relayed back to fleet managers through a variety of methods and with the latest encryption technology.

Another key piece of technology is a packer control monitoring sensor. This device automatically tracks how full a vehicle’s storage is, allowing a fleet manager to adjust plans as necessary. Next comes ZenduCam, with a driver bookmark feature that provides a view into the receptacle of the truck. Finally, complete waste management systems incorporate “arms up” sensors to record whenever a load is lifted and bin tag beacons to keep track of each deployed bin.

Data For Managers and Customers

These devices allow fleet managers to scrutinize the time spent in each step of the process. This includes visibility into how long each stop takes. Fleet managers may notice that certain stops take a long time to complete and they may need to take steps to improve accessibility to trash receptacles at those sites. Power take off diagnostics allow fleet managers to see the frequency and duration of each waste bin lift. Data can also be provided back to customers. Most notably, our comprehensive waste management solutions allow fleet managers to provide verifiable proof of service to their customers. The packer control monitor also provides some visibility into how much waste is coming from a particular route or location.

Limitless Additional Features

If you choose our waste management solutions, you also have the option to add numerous additional features. For example, we can pair your system with fuel card integration that tracks how much fuel is going into the vehicle. Fuel transactions can be compared with other data such as route planning and idle times to minimize fuel costs. We have a comprehensive route dispatching system that is delivered via one of the latest Garmin GPS systems. These can provide turn-by-turn assistance, hours of service tracking, and personalized messages to drivers. Our systems can also monitor and improve driver safety with long-term driver reports that can be used to reward good drivers and redirect those that need improvement. Our GO7 device provides immediate, in-vehicle feedback to drivers. For example, drivers can be given an audible warning for speeding, revving the engine, swerving, cornering, harsh braking, and much more.

Learn More About Our Waste Management Solutions

Contact Us for a Quote

Distracted Driving: The New Drinking & Driving

Posted on May 8, 2017 | by Jimmy Song

April was Distracted Driving Awareness month. It was a somber reminder of a tragedy that occurred a few days prior.

In March 2017, members of a church in Texas attended an annual retreat. They enjoyed the weekend together. The adult choir group sang and socialized. Some of the attendants decided to return home by bus. This was a fatal decision.

The bus collided with a pick-up truck. 13 people died in the crash. 13 people – all with real names, real lives, and real families. Murray, Howard, Rhonda, Harold, Margaret, Cristie, Donna, Avis, Mildred, Addie, Sue, Martha, Dorothy. All gone.

A witness to the crash confronted the driver of the pick-up truck, who was driving erratically and survived the crash. The witness asked, “Son, do you know what you just did?”

The driver responded, “I’m sorry, I was texting.”

This was, unfortunately, one story out of many. A lot of stories do not make their way to the news.

Distracted driving is recognized as a risk equivalent, or perhaps more dangerous, than intoxicated driving. It goes beyond just texting or calling – distracted driving includes talking to passengers, or skipping that annoying song on a music playlist.

In fact, on Canadian roads, distracted driving contributes to 80% of collisions. Drivers are 4x more likely to be in a collision by talking on the phone while driving and are 23x more likely to be involved in a collision by texting.

Image Source: https://rates.ca/

How can safety managers create an effective distracted driving policy?

Companies must:

Create a policy. Managers must create different levels of infraction severity and identify a suitable consequence.
Educate drivers & managers. Employees will buy-in to the policy with education. This goes beyond explaining new policy changes. Employees should be taught about the hazards of distracted driving. A suggestion is to set up a meeting and share powerful statistics and videos.
Track and enforce. Managers should observe their drivers. This includes reviewing call logs, responding to complaints & tickets, observing camera footage, and installing cell control software.

Let’s end distracted driving.
We’ll reduce accidents and could save one, thirteen, and maybe even more lives.

Sources:
KXAN: Victums of New Braunfels Church Bus Crash
Dallas News: Man Killed in Bus Crash Seeks Testing and Driving Ban
IBC: Distracted Driving Management
Automotive Fleet: 6 Keys to an Effective Cell Phone Policy
Rates.ca: Distrtacted Driving Infographic
Toronto Sun: Distracted Driving Deaths Set to Double Drunk Driving
NHTSA: Distracted Driving

Put a Stop to Employees Slacking Off

Posted on May 5, 2017 | by Jimmy Song

The One Who Slacks At Work

When was the last time you noticed a co-worker slacking off in the office?

Sleeping at work is an obvious give-away of a slacker. Other than dozing off, there are other creative and not-so-creative distractions. In fact, the top three productivity killers for office workers include:

All of these behaviours are observed while employees are supervised in the office. However, what if employees were not supervised and worked on a remote job site? These are four crazy stories that we compiled.

Story 1: The One Who Took Long Breaks

Several years ago, a handful of Toronto bus drivers made the news for the wrong reasons. Passengers increasingly complained of drivers who left for unauthorized breaks while driving.

In one incident, a passenger took a video of a bus driver who took an unscheduled doughnut shop break. For each night in the past few weeks (at 3 am!), the same driver left the bus while leaving the door open. The driver then visited the shop to buy beverages and returned several minutes later.

As a result of similar incidents, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) took action against the drivers. However, the damage was already done. To this day, some Torontonians brand the TTC as “Take The Car”.

Story 2: The One Who Horseplayed

What is the boundary for horseplaying at work? In industries where injuries are common, the boundaries should be narrow. Ron Parker, a leading Safety Professional, experienced incidents where unsupervised employees took advantage of their freedom.

Parker recounted a story where a carpentry crew played Cops & Robbers with live equipment. The crew shot nails at each other with their equipment. In the aftermath, several windows were broken and a young kid narrowly missed injury.

Story 3: The One Who Stole

In a remodeling business, a crew of 2-3 workers were sent to work sites. They recorded their working hours on a timesheet, which was then approved by the team’s supervisor.

The business owner noticed a suspicious trend. For several days, one particular crew reported working hours of 7 am – 4 pm. This was too perfect to be true. The owner started tracking this crew and found out that the team usually left around 2:30 pm but took credit for extra hours.

Both the workers and the supervisor were stealing steal time!

Story 4: The One Who Was Caught Red-Handed

A relatively productive landscaper started showing up to work late. When his kind-hearted manager asked for an explanation, the employee said that his personal vehicle broke down. The manager allowed the employee to use the company’s spare truck in the meantime, as long as the employee only used the truck to commute to and from work.

One evening, the manager left the office relatively late. The manager used the local gas station and noticed that the spare truck was parked. At this time of the day, the only open local venue was the bar. The manager coincidentally knew the owner of the bar.

Within the night, the manager found the employee drinking at the bar while wearing his company uniform.

And The One Who Wants to Solve this Problem

What is the best way to manage remote workers?

The Sure-Fire Method

The sure-fire method to manage remote workers is to personally supervise employees. Even the biggest slackers would not dare to slack off within eyesight of the potential terminator of their employment.

However, this is rarely feasible nor time-effective.

The Alternative

An alternative to personally supervising employees is to employ a superpower sidekick. Many managers use tracking devices in order to prevent similar productivity killers.

The Superpowers:

Location tracking & geofencing. This power allows managers to see exactly where vehicles are located. Furthermore, managers can set up zones and can receive notifications if the vehicles leave such zones. As a result, managers stopped slackers from leaving for unauthorized breaks.

Electronic timekeeping. This power allows managers to verify working hours with vehicle data to ensure workers are accurately compensated. With manual timestamps and manual approvals, there is an increased risk of time fraud.

Dispatching & route planning. This power allows managers to get direct updates on job progress and plan efficient routes. As a result, slackers cannot kill productivity with unplanned detours.

Sources:

Image by Freepik

Top 10 Office Distractions

TTC Employee Caught Slacking

Horseplay or Carelessness at Work

Workers Cheating on Time Cards [forum]

Solar Powered Asset Tracking Solution Benefits

Posted on May 3, 2017 | by Courtney redwell

Solar Trax

Solar Trax devices are self-charging which makes them the perfect asset tracker to support long-term remote deployments without the need to replace the battery. The devices use a highly efficient solar cell to continuously charge the battery and maximize operating life. With Solar Trax devices you can track your assets under extreme weather conditions, they are IP67-rated for resistance against water, dust, and impact. All firmware updates are done over-the-air, so there is never a need to remove the device from your assets.

Benefits of Solar Powered Asset Tracking

Advanced GPS Tracking Know the exact location of your assets and protect them from theft; devices are manufactured with an embedded and integrated GPS receiver.
Energy Harvesting Highly efficient solar cell to continuously charge and maximize operating life of the internal (and rechargeable) Lithium Ion battery.
Multiple Applications & Cheaper Alternative The solution is suitable for tracking dry containers, non-powered assets, heavy equipment, trailers, among many other items. It is also a much cheaper alternative to other asset tracking solutions.
Automatic Firmware Upgrades Upgrades to firmware are carried out over-the-air, automatically, eliminating the need to ever remove devices from assets.
Built to Withstand Track your assets under the most extreme weather conditions. The weatherproof case of Solar Trax is IP67 certified.
Extensive Inputs and Outputs Multiple inputs allow for interfacing with various sensors to further enhance the solution to be utilized in unique applications.

Useful Asset Information

Solar Trax provides real-time tracking for large and small assets and makes it easy to create geofences around job sites or other areas. There is no limit to the number of assets the system can support. You can easily run reports around your assets using Geotab Exception logic and identify how long assets have been stationary. Generate custom reports by filtering via asset group and date range.

Customers who require frequent data for location, health, and monitoring of their remote assets can be assured that our solar power GPS solution will provide more frequent data for longer periods compared to other asset tracking devices in the market today.

National Heavy Equipment Show Follow-Up

Posted on April 25, 2017 | by Courtney redwell

Heavy equipment professionals filled the halls of Mississauga’s International Centre for the 2017 National Heavy Equipment Show – and we had a blast as a first-time exhibitor!

This year was the show’s 20th-anniversary edition and welcomed 13,370 buyers – roughly on par with the last show in 2015.

“We were pleased to once again break 13,000 attendees. It speaks well of the state of the industry. Business is coming back. And we’re very excited about the next show in 2019, which is sure to be even bigger and better!”

– Mark Cusack, National Show Manager

Show attendees this year included a mix of industry professionals with leaders of construction, land improvement, infrastructure, and road building industries – along with students, job seekers, and those training for specific trades. We even saw some families come through with young children who were in absolute awe of the massive equipment.

One of the big highlights for us? When we showed up to the show we realized we were right next to one of our awesome clients – Joe Johnson Equipment!

How Crowdsourcing Tools are Building More Powerful Maps

Posted on April 24, 2017 | by Victoria Gole

These days most people are constantly followed by GPS wherever they go, whether the tracker is in a phone or installed in a vehicle. This, of course, creates some privacy concerns, but if used correctly the GPS data can also create amazing maps.

Volkswagen and Mobileye Combine Efforts

Some of these efforts are aimed at making money. For example, vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen announced a partnership earlier this year with Mobileye, a company that develops technology for computer vision, machine learning, data analysis, localization, and mapping. Mobileye’s main product is a mapping service called Road Experience Management, and it will be installed in all new Volkswagen vehicles starting in 2018. The devices will collect real-time data on road conditions that is aimed at giving autonomous vehicles more information to help them better navigate the road.

The Road Experience Management devices have front-facing cameras that collect information on things like lane markings and sign placement, and that data is then used to update maps. Eventually, Mobileye hopes that virtually all vehicles on the road will be collecting this type of data and that will create incredibly accurate maps built on passive uploads from everyday drivers. Autonomous cars rely on redundancy created by maps. They have sensors looking forward to ensure a clear path but they are also simultaneously reviewing map data to make sure the path forward is expected to be clear. If a map is outdated, perhaps by not showing a road closure, then the sensors on the car become the only thing telling the car that it needs to stop and the redundancy is gone. Crowdsourced data can improve both the underlying maps for autonomous car purposes and also provide a stream of road condition information, like updates on traffic congestion, that can be used for drivers today.

Nonprofit Crowdsourced Maps

Crowdsourced maps are not all about making money, though. OpenStreetMap is a nonprofit organization made up of a community of mappers who built an open source map that allows people from around the world to add information about roads, trails, cafes, railway stations and more. Anyone is free to use the map for any purpose so long as it is appropriately credited. Financial support to make it possible has come mostly from a number of universities and technology companies. Another example is Missing Maps, a nonprofit built on OpenStreetMap that uses crowdsourcing to map out roads and other features in vulnerable places in the developing world so that aid workers can respond better to crises.

Geotab Helps You Find Fuel

Hundreds of thousands of Geotab devices are on the road collecting GPS and other data every day. One particularly interesting piece of data that many Geotab users collect is fuel fill-up information. Geotab collects this anonymized data on about 60,000 fillups each day and can correlate that information with GPS coordinates. This data can help mapping services to locate fuel fill-up stations that have not already been incorporated into their maps. It can also help companies tinker with their fill-up policies to allow drivers to spend the shortest amount of time possible at the station.

IFTA Reporting and the ELD Mandate

Posted on March 21, 2017 | by Victoria Gole

The trucking industry appears to be slowly moving closer and closer to due date for trucker compliance with a new regulatory burden requiring them to use electronic logging devices (“ELDs”). Some companies may have thought they received a reprieve when new U.S. President Donald Trump issued a “regulatory freeze” memo. That memo contains an exemption for regulations related to “health” and “safety” issues, so there is some disagreement over how it should apply. There is also some additional uncertainty because Congress has also acted in recent weeks to rescind many regulations installed at the end of President Barack Obama’s term.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration now appears set to move forward with the December deadline. This ELD rule is all about the federal government moving beyond piles of handwritten records into more reliable, automatically-generated data. ELDs will ensure trucker compliance by generating computerized records. Many trucking companies are already using electronic logging devices, as the federal government has been accepting ELD certifications since early 2016. If you want to learn more, download our whitepaper entitled Understanding the FMCSA’s Final Rule on ELDs. The paper explains the ELD equipment requirements and time-frame for trucker compliance.

The 2019 ELD mandate need not be seen as just a regulatory cost by trucking companies. A high-quality ELD can capture a great deal of information and that can be used for multiple purposes. One example would be collecting data for International Fuel Tax Agreement (“IFTA”) compliance. IFTA is an agreement between most of the United States and the Canadian provinces to help address the tax disparity between the two countries. Basically, when a trucker fills up at the pump he or she is paying some fuel taxes. The trucker may fill up in a state or province with a very high tax, but then actually burn most of the fuel in a low-tax state. In order to clear up the disparity, the trucker files a report showing how much tax was paid and how many miles were traveled in each jurisdiction. The trucker will basically calculate how much tax should have been paid to each jurisdiction and then the trucker will either have to make an additional payment or receive a refund to pay the correct amount of tax.

Geotab Drive can easily ensure trucker compliance with IFTA by using GPS data to automatically track the truck’s route. That means that instead of logging odometer readings at every border crossing, a driver can simply drive on while the onboard sensors collect the miles logged in each state. This is simpler for the driver and his or her company, but perhaps more importantly, it is also more accurate. Automated systems are less likely to have errors and less likely to be audited by regulators. Our add-ons can also track fuel purchases and automatically populate tax forms to further ease trucker compliance. Our wide variety of solutions can go much further to help simplify maintenance records and more.

Contact one of our fleet consultants for more information.

Spring Forward with GoFleet’s Management Software

Posted on March 19, 2017 | by Vishal Singh

GoFleet’s Winterproof Management Software

Icy storms were upon us this year making roads quite dangerous to drive on! With one of the biggest threats being slippery and hard-to-spot black ice, it became harder for drivers to gain control causing repair expenses to become a nuisance for fleet organizations. Along with bad weather came the inability to control negative driver behaviours due to negligence. According to Marty Roberts from the Classic Accident Repair Center, the average repair cost this year hovered around $3,900 per vehicle. Proving to fleet management companies that it is important to prepare for hazardous driving conditions and implement solutions that look after you!

GoFleet is designed to help operational managers maximize fuel savings and manage driver behaviour effectively. The added benefit of this fantastic solution is the ability to coach drivers in real time, promote preventative maintenance and measure fleet performance all at once. Although the solution is equipped with other benefits, driver coaching and preventative maintenance are two key examples of maintaining operating expenses when driving in hazardous winter conditions.

In-Vehicle Driver Coaching:

Driver coaching makes it easier to immediately improve on road driving behaviour through in-vehicle audible alerts. The in-vehicle beeps will notify drivers of potentially risky driving habits encouraging them to fix their behaviour immediately. The beeping feature can be customized based on your fleet operating manager’s preference as shown below. Fleet managers can easily develop a fleet-wide safety program that works without intervention.

Enable Speed Warning: The device will beep constantly when the vehicle reaches the speed set in Start Beeping, and will not stop until the vehicle slows down below the Stop Beeping speed.

The software solution is also capable of showing management information about how well the drivers are performing with the help of Driver Score Card reports.These reports can be set up to be emailed immediately if need be allowing management to compare weekly/monthly/yearly safety improvements.

Preventative Maintenance:

It is evident that some vehicle preparation is required to avoid making outdoor checks in the cold but if that is never off your check list then our solution might just be right for you. With GoFleet’s tracking solution, management can keep track of scheduled maintenance by recording fault codes and engine diagnostics. Managers will have every bit of information needed so, when complications do arise, they will have immediate access to the problem to take immediate action.

Remembering when to perform oil changes, rotate tires and other minor vehicle services can be time consuming if you manage more than one vehicle. So, to help with this process the software allows for recurring reminders to be created letting you know when a vehicle is due for service.

Benefits of the Fleet Management Software

Organizations often struggle with rising vehicle maintenance costs due to behaviours that could have been avoided if corrected immediately. Monitoring driver behaviour and being able to correct negative habits are two different approaches to management. With our software solution you can view negative driver behaviours and also fix them in real time; allowing your company to maximize savings through reductions in fuel usage and accident liability as a result of improved driver behaviour.

It is difficult to absorb unforeseen expenses due to uncontrollable factors such as, frigid winter conditions causing many companies to avoid outdoor routine checks. Gofleet’s management software is designed to help stop engine issues before they turn into costly repairs or lead to vehicle down-time by managing your engine fault code information. These vehicle codes explain the engine issue and where to locate it, helping you save on vehicle inspection time and costs. The solution is also future proof with maintenance reminder features to help lower expenses on any vehicle breakdowns. Preventative maintenance helps maintain the health of your vehicle, identify core problems immediately and also offers a higher resale value once a fleet has completed its service life.

Sources:
Fox News: Icy Conditions Causing More Accidents & Car Repairs This Winter

Improve Field Worker Management with GoBeacons

Posted on March 15, 2017 | by Victoria Gole

Keeping track of activity on a busy site can be a challenge for any manager, but GoBeacon asset tracking tags can be easily attached to pretty much any asset or worker to track locations and other relevant data. Together, a cluster of asset tags and data collection points can paint a picture for a manager of what is happening on the site.

Meet the GoBeacon Asset Tracking Tag

Each beacon is a small flat tag that is just over an inch long on each side (32 mm by 32 mm). It collects data from a variety of onboard sensors, including a GPS location tracker. It can also measure temperature, light exposure, and impact. The GoBeacons have a battery of two years and broadcasts their signal via Bluetooth over a radius of about 650 feet (200 m). That signal can be collected via a GoFleet Asset Tracker, a Bluetooth WiFi Hub, or any common Mobile Device. The information is then collected into the cloud where it can be easily accessed through the GoFleet software system from a computer or mobile device.

Attach The Small, Rugged Beacons Anywhere

The beacons can be attached to almost anything you need to keep track of. Common examples are trucks, trailers, and other vehicles. This can allow fleet managers to know exactly where the vehicle is and be alerted if it leaves its work area. Major pieces of equipment or expensive tools can also be tracked by the GoBeacons. Perhaps the greatest value of the beacons, however, is for field worker management where they can be use for employee location tracking. The small beacons can easily clip onto a shirt, clipboard, cell phone, keychain, or any other number of places that allow a worker to easily carry the beacon without constraining his or her work.

GoBeacons Have a Variety of Uses

GoBeacons can help with field worker management by monitoring personnel on a construction site or similar location. The beacons are weatherproof and they can easily provide notifications when a worker enters and exits the site. That data can be used to track work time and the beacons can also help rapidly locate a particular employee if needed. We also offer various integrations to help optimize scheduling and communications related to deliveries to the job site, and a man down system that can ensure managers become aware of injuries on the work site.

The beacons are also an inventory-management tool that can drastically reduce losses due to theft or simply misplacement of tools by field workers. Managers can set a geofence around a worksite and then set up alerts so that they are notified if a tool leaves the site unexpectedly. The beacons can also measure proximity to a smartphone and give off light or sound signals, and that allows field workers to find a missing tool if it has been tagged. This can result in huge time savings.