Category: Driver Performance

There will always be a part of the population that wants to “fly under the radar” and attempt to conquer GPS tracking devices with GPS jammers. GoFleet and Geotab are dedicated to maintaining a stable and robust system and will continue to make GO GPS devices as tamper-proof as possible.

A GPS jammer is used by a person in a vehicle being tracked trying to hide his or her position to try and remain undetected. The jammer can be set to operate continuously or can be turned on and off, so a specific part of a trip is not tracked.

Harsh Penalties for Jammers

Canadian and U.S. law both prohibit jamming devices. Sections 4, 9 and 10 of the Canadian Radiocommunications Act prohibit the manufacturing, importation, distribution, offering for sale, sale, possession and use of radiocommunication jamming devices in Canada. In the U.S., the federal Communications Act of 1934 outlaws the sale, marketing, or use of a jammer. There are harsh penalties related to the use of jammers in both countries, including fines (up to $112,500 in the U.S.), seizure of equipment, and even imprisonment (in the U.S.).

Where in the World Am I? How a GPS System Works

To understand how a jammer functions, we must first understand how the global positioning system (GPS) works. A GPS tracker receives microwave signals from an array of satellite transmitters orbiting the Earth at an altitude of approximately 20,200 km. Once the tracker receives signals from four or more satellites, it determines its position through a series of time calculations and trilateration.

The receiver depends on these specific and precise satellite signals to determine where it is located in the world. The GPS tracking device then transmits this position and velocity information to a monitoring location. Normally, this data is communicated over a cellular network.

Figure 1: GPS satellite broadcasting signals.

In some cases, satellite malfunction or solar flares can temporarily disrupt the transmission of GPS signals. A GPS jammer sends out radio signals or signal noise with the same frequency as the GPS device, to distort or override the GPS satellite signals. The GPS device can then no longer calculate its position because the satellite signal is masked by the interference.

What is a GPS Jamming Device?

A GPS jamming device or GPS jammer is typically a small, self-contained, transmitter that generates a 1575.42 Mhz interference signal over a 5 – 10 meter radius.

Usually, the user will plug the jammer into a cigarette lighter and place the unit close enough to a GPS tracker to disrupt the GPS satellite signal. Once powered up, they become fully operational in less than 20 seconds. The relatively low power and quick start up time allow the jammers to be used only when required. Criminals will switch them off as soon as possible to avoid detection. These jammers can be purchased on the Internet for pretty cheap (less than $100).

It must be noted that the use of jammers is not only unethical but is also illegal and potentially dangerous. In one case, a New Jersey driver used a jamming device to disable a tracking device in his work truck. He was working on a job at Newark Liberty International Airport when his jamming signal interrupted air traffic control information. An FCC investigator was able to locate the jammer using radio monitoring equipment and prove that it was causing interference. The offending driver, Gary Bojczak was charged and fined $31,875.20.

How GoFleet and Geotab Detect and Eliminate GPS Jamming Threats

Fortunately, the negative effects and usefulness of jammers are minimized with our devices.

MyGeotab picks up GPS signal disruption. When a GPS signal is not received, the Trip History map will show a missing or interrupted trip — clearly calling attention to an issue.

If GPS jamming happens mid-trip, a straight line will be displayed from when the jamming starts to the point where the jamming device is turned off. Anyone monitoring the vehicle will quickly see this and can investigate the cause of the missing trip information.

Figure 2: A straight line in MyGeotab indicates GPS disruption.

More immediate jammer detection is also available. The GPS module in our GO6 and GO7 devices have a jamming detection function that will trigger our device to report a debug log. This can be found in the log details of MyGeotab, appearing as: GpsJammingDetected.

For simplified monitoring of jamming and other GPS issues, an exception rule can be created in MyGeotab. This rule will generate an exception report and can trigger an alert or email for the event.

It is important to note that a GPS jammer disrupts GPS receiver functionality but all other functions are unaffected. The Geotab GO device will continue to gather and send information such as engine data, error codes, and auxiliaries, etc.

Source:
Original Article By: Vincent Scime, RMA Manager at Geotab
https://www.geotab.com/blog/combating-gps-jammers/

What is the Driver Scorecard & Why is it Important?

What is the Driver Scorecard?

The Driver Score card report helps measure risk and safety scores based on various key indicators such as, speeding, harsh braking, over acceleration, and after-hours vehicle use. Designed with advanced safety technology, users can gain incredible insight into driver’s on-road behavior and make changes that will benefit the company in more ways than one. With the use of rules, the solution is designed to calculate the number of infractions and display data as shown in the chart below. The report, can be customized to each user’s preference to help identify safe or dangerous practices and further develop a fleet-wide safety program.

Why It’s Important?

Lack of safety can be crippling to any business, whether it’s fuel costs, labor costs, or just vehicle wear and tear. Driver safety is often overlooked as it’s tougher to gain quantitative data over behaviours and performance. This causes many companies to learn the harder way through higher insurance costs, maintenance costs and negative business reputation; proving that nothing has a greater impact on operating expenses than driver performance.

The margin of error within driver safety and compliance becomes narrower every year. Any tickets, accidents or claims impacts the entire company and forces harsher penalties, liability, and ultimately higher overall operating costs. There are numerous ways through which companies can implement measures as discussed below. These actions will not only help improve customer satisfaction but have a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.

Action Steps:

• Post a weekly driver scorecard report for drivers and management. Allow drivers to self-evaluate and make efforts to improve poor driving habits.
• Define penalties around unsafe driving which puts your company at risk. Communicate that unsafe driving will not be tolerated.
• Develop baseline measurements of driving habits through a driver scorecard. Evaluate current liability and insurance costs. Set goals for improvement based on the measurements and measure against these goals at 3-6-12 month intervals.
• Implement driver training for high risk drivers. A study by SAFED showed that the average driver reduces fuel consumption by over 10% following fuel efficient driver training. Additionally driver training reduces risk and claims by as much as 50%.

This Article Was Provided By GoFleet Support

Best Practices For Comprehensive Fleet Driver Monitoring

When you want to take an integrated approach to driver monitoring, you must consider driver’s license data, traffic violation information, Motor Vehicle Records and telematics information. However, alone this take gives an incomplete picture of a driver’s safety.

Today, business owners and fleet managers have access to an unbelievable amount of information about their drivers. The trick is you need to play connect the dots with all of the information and driving records to get a comprehensive view of your employee’s driving record.

The best practices for comprehensive fleet driver monitoring include:

Establish An Initial Baseline

Monitoring your drivers has to start with a clear, complete and accurate baseline. Get an official 3-year Motor Vehicle Report provided by the state. All of your future driver monitoring activities will then be compared to the initial baseline.

Frequently Monitor

At the absolute minimum, drivers need to be monitored monthly. In 30 days, many things can happen that could lead to potential problems and increased risk of negligent driver entrustment.

Take Action

Once you have insight into your driver’s habits and behavior, you now have the ability to take action. Corrective action includes enrolling employees in additional driver training or having them ride with another employee for a specific period of time.

Separate from the additional costs of an unsafe driver, understanding your driver’s performance is the best thing to do to improve safety. It creates a culture of safety with safer employees and promotes a safer community.

Comprehensive fleet driver monitoring best practices require commitment and diligence; however, it has never been as easy as it is today. There are so many advances in fleet management technology that are making it easy for you to manage your fleet and take corrective action if it is needed. It is unbelievable how much more efficient, productive and safer implementing these best practices can make your business