Category: Fleet Management

Fleet Management GPS Technology Increases Fuel Efficiency

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Increase Fuel Efficiency With Fleet Management GPS Technology

The cost of operating and owning a vehicle in the U.S. has increased by approximately 2% in the past year, according to “Your Driving Costs” study by AAA. In addition, the cost of fuel has also increased by almost 2% a year since 2013, on top of the 15% increase in 2012. For businesses with fleet operations, these increased costs can significantly affect the company’s financial outlook. Eliminating excessive fuel costs by reducing fuel usage can considerably impact a business’ bottom line. Fleet management GPS technology can help business owners run their business more efficiently and reduce unnecessary fuel usage.

When a business implements fleet management GPS technology, they are able to eliminate excessive fuel usage using the fleet management software. When the vehicles are driven off-route, they are wasting fuel. With a fleet management solution, fleet managers and business owners will be able to make sure their drivers are where they are supposed to be and that they are driving the most efficient routes. Drivers will no longer be able to drive miles out of the way just to get a cappuccino from their favorite coffee shop. Drivers making a few off route personal stops can add up to hundreds of miles over a year.

Fleet management GPS technology also can be used to eliminate drivers’ bad habits including excessively idling for climate control. This will reduce fuel costs as well as reduce wear and tear on the vehicles. As a matter of fact, when a vehicle idles excessively, for 5 minutes or more, fuel consumption can increase by approximately 5%. This results in reduced profits and has the potential of damaging the vehicles’ engines.

Another factor in fuel wastage is driver speeding. When drivers are speeding, business owners and fleet managers can be alerted in real-time via SMS text message or email message. In addition to reducing fuel usage, managing drivers’ poor driving habits increases the safety of a business’ drivers and the safety of other drivers on the road.

Vehicle Tracking Systems: Efficient Fleet Management

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Efficient Fleet Management With Vehicle Tracking Systems

Originally, GPS (Global Positioning Systems) was exclusively used for military purposes. Today, GPS is used by everyone as a way to navigate on the roads. Of course, GPS devices are helpful for private car owners; however, they are becoming an essential fleet management tool for business owners. Vehicle tracking systems are strategically important for fleet operations and could make the difference between whether a company succeeds or fails.



Business owners should not underestimate the importance of vehicle tracking systems. This fleet management tool can increase productivity, decrease costs, reduce fuel consumption and increase customer service. In an economic market with such tough competition, this GPS fleet management solution could be what you need to gain a competitive advantage.

Without the use of vehicle tracking systems, fleet managers can lose control over their fleet operations. Drivers could be taking advantage of the vehicle at your expense, aggressive driving could put the safety of your driver and others at risk, you could be wasting money on fuel, drivers could be making unauthorized stops and drivers could be putting in for work time that is not accurate. With vehicle tracking systems, you are able to get control of your fleet and optimize your operations.

Vehicle tracking systems are developed for fleet operations. They transmit a large amount of valuable data that is necessary for efficiently managing your fleet. You will always know the exact location of your vehicles, engine working hours, mileage, routes, stops, idle times, speed, driving behavior and more. Your fleet managers will be able to monitor your drivers and analyze your fleet operations. You will be able to make better informed business decisions.

Vehicle monitoring systems have become an indispensable tool for business owners and fleet managers. For more information about how a vehicle tracking system can enhance your business, Contact Us.

Live GPS Tracker: Fleet Management Benefits

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Fleet Management Benefits of GoFleet’s Live GPS Tracker

GoFleet’s live GPS tracker provides fleet managers with a deeper insight into properly managing their crews. It a valuable tool that allows management to efficiently manage day-to-day operations and control all fleet-related expenses. The benefits of GoFleet’s live GPS tracker far outweigh the affordable costs of implementing this fleet management technology in your vehicles.

System Integration

GoFleet’s live GPS tracker can be integrated with a wide variety of software that your business works with. This is a critical component for streamlining operations and keeping your fleet management uncomplicated. With system integration, you can view your vehicles locations on the same maps used by other software vendors. For example, a utility company can see their fleet’s location on the same map as their their power lines. GoFleet’s system integration capabilities can simplify dispatching for your business.

Reduce Fuel Costs

Fuel costs are one of the largest costs for businesses with fleet operations. The price of fuel continues to increase so fleet managers have to control the fuel usage in order to reduce the costs. GoFleet’s live GPS tracker can reduce your fuel costs significantly. Fleet managers are able to dispatch vehicles more efficiently. With live GPS tracker data, dispatchers can send the closest vehicle to a job site or to an emergency call. They can provide the fastest and shortest route to the drivers using audible turn-by-turn driving directions.

In addition, fuel can also be reduced by eliminating unnecessary mileage. Fleet managers will be able to see if drivers go out of the authorized area to make personal stops or take a longer route. An automatic alert can be set up to notify fleet managers if a driver goes off route.

Fuel costs can also be cut by improving your drivers’ driving habits. With GoFleet’s live GPS tracker, fleet managers can be notified if drivers are speeding, driving aggressively or excessively idling. All of these driving habits contribute to unnecessary fuel usage. The alerts can be sent to the fleet manager even when they are offline via SMS text message or email. This enables the fleet manager to address the poor driving habit immediately so fuel does not get wasted.

For more information about GoFleet’s live GPS tracker, Contact Us.

Fleet Management Company: Manage More Than Just Vehicle Locations

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

GoFleet Fleet Management Company Is So Much More Than Just Tracking Vehicle Locations

GoFleet is the fleet management company that does a great job at tracking fleet vehicle locations but that is only the beginning of what they can do for your business. GoFleet’s GPS fleet management system provides information crucial to managing your fleet, making your services more efficient, reducing operation costs and managing your drivers.

GoFleet fleet management company provides GPS fleet management services that reach further than a simple GPS device inside of your company vehicle. The data you will receive will help you improve customer satisfaction, reduce the chance of theft, improve driver safety, and increase productivity. GoFleet is helping companies run more efficiently and safer.

This fleet management company gives companies the ability to track vehicles and improve routing. The GPS fleet management system can be used to get drivers to the job faster and ensure your jobs are completed. Improved productivity and safety translates to improved customer service. Business are able to get a better grasp on allocating work appropriately and providing efficient routes.

GoFleet fleet management company gives you the ability to monitor your drivers and track any unsafe driving practices such as rapid acceleration, speeding, hard breaking and turning the corners too fast. Fleet managers are able to ensure that their drivers are acting in a safe and responsible manner while they are on the road. In addition, safe driving practices reduce fuel costs and maximize your vehicles’ life.

GoFleet’s GPS fleet management helps managers uncover and understand underlying issues with their fleet so they can address the problems head-on. Addressing issues in this manner leads to more productive employees, better drivers, and high customer satisfaction rates. When a company improves customer satisfaction, they can differentiate themselves from the competitors, increase business and retain customer for the long-term. When you choose GoFleet as your fleet management company, the opportunities are truly limitless.

Fleet Management Services: Common Myths

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Common Myths About Fleet Management Services

There are several common misconceptions about implementing fleet management services based on assumptions made by companies with no GPS fleet management experience. Actual fleet management service users tell a much different story based on their experience with the technology. The following misconceptions have been disproven by actual users of GoFleet’s fleet management services:

Our Company Does Not Need GPS Tracking Because We Trust Our Drivers

The purpose of fleet management services is not to monitor your drivers’ every move. It is about making your business more efficient and reducing unnecessary operating costs. It has been proven that GPS tracking systems reduce maintenance costs, increase fuel efficiency, increase dispatching and routing efficiency, improve driver safety and improve customer service.

Our Drivers Will Quit Working For Our Company If We Use Real Time Tracking

GoFleet’s experience with their customers contradicts this myth. Once GoFleet’s fleet management services are implemented, your drivers will find that they depend on the additional roadside assistance, routing information, and automated time card entries. The GPS tracking system eliminates a lot of time-consuming paperwork. It also provides additional driver and cargo security while on the road.

Fleet Management Services Are Too Complicated To Install And Use

GoFleet’s tracking system is easy to install and even easier to use. The fleet management software is user-friendly with easy to understand management data, vehicle tracking and maps. GoFleet has many knowledgeable technicians available 24/7 to answer any questions you might have both before and after the system is installed.

GPS Fleet Tracking Is Not Necessary Because Our Drivers Have Cell Phones

Unlike cell phones with GPS capabilities, GoFleet’s fleet management services provide a lot of valuable information for fleet managers including start and stop times, engine status, vehicle location, fuel consumption, mileage and driving patterns. In addition, cell phones can cause safety issues on the road when drivers are trying to read them.

It is time to join GoFleet’s customers and start making your business more efficient. There is no reason to be wasting hard earned money on unnecessary expenses such as high fuel costs and inaccurate labor costs. For more information, contact one of our fleet consultants today: 1-888-998-1122.

Using A GPS Fleet Management System Proves Profitable

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Using A GPS Fleet Management System
Proves Profitable

More and more companies are realizingthe potential benefits of using a GPS based fleet management system to monitor their fleet.
In addition to providing quality control and efficient routing, there are many benefits of having this technology at their disposal. A fleet management based of GPS provides labor savings, cost savings, driver safety, and a reduction in a company’s carbon footprint.

With fuel costs through the roof, implementing a GPS Fleet managementsystem can lower your fuel costs and improve vehicle efficiency. For small to medium-sized business with fleets, delivery trucks, transport supplies and equipment, it is likely high fuel costs are eating into their profit. In general, companies that use a GPS Fleet management system save at least 10% in fuel in comparison to companies who do not use the technology. Most companies find that the cost of the GPS real-time tracking system pays for itself within a matter of months in fuel savings alone.

GoFleet helps companies reduce their operating costs of their vehicles using GPS tracking technology. Our system combines GPS real-time tracking units installed in all fleet vehicles with fleet management software that analyzes the data. This will enable fleet managers to improve dispatching and routing efficiencies. They will be able to see where their vehicles are in real-time, optimize maintenance schedules and
identify any issues including unauthorized vehicle use or driver speeding.

All businesses with vehicles on the road can benefit from installing a GPS based fleet management system including service companies, construction equipment and delivery companies. GoFleet has a wide range
of satisfied customers such as waste haulers, commercial trucking firms, school transportation services and pest control services. Fleets can be any size from three to over ten thousand.

In the United States alone, there are more than 20 million commercial vehicles and only 2 million are currently using a GPS Fleetmanagement system. This number is rising quickly as businesses become aware of the system’s benefits.

 

Fleet Management Flexibility with Automatic Geotab VIN Detection

Posted on | by Courtney redwell

The Geotab GO GPS tracking device can automatically detect vehicle identification numbers, also known as VIN. This enables fleets to easily determine the vehicles they’re looking up, and also to cross-reference with their records should the need ever arise.

From an operational stand point, the collected data by the Geotab GO GPS tracking device is not directly coupled with the vehicle identification number. This means that companies, such as vehicle rental businesses, who transfer their Geotab GO device(s) between different vehicles, can easily manage a fleet of vehicles that are periodically used. Further to this, Geotab’s intelligent VIN detection is being used in new and interesting ways with smart decoding to understand both the model and make of vehicles, along with corresponding specific vehicle engine data.

For example, there are many differences between diesel, electric and gasoline engines that describe the types of engine diagnostics reported. This allows managers to make informed decisions about their fleet-based, real-world vehicle information instead of simply “dots on a map”.

See Device Editor below, VIN is highlighted:

Geotab-auto-vin-detection

Graph of the odometer over time where the device owner bought a new vehicle and it drops off with the new odometer:

Geotab-auto-vin-detection

As a fleet manager we understand your job is hard enough; at GoFleet we want to do whatever we can to make your job easier. To learn more about the Geotab GO GPS tracking device contact one of our fleet consultants today.

Original Article From Geotab:
Fleet Management Flexibility with Automatic Geotab VIN Detection

Accidents Happen, Fleet Management Services Can Help

Posted on | by Courtney redwell

Fleet Management Services Help Protect In Case of an Accident

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2012 317,000 large trucks were involved in crashes in the USA alone.

  • 65% of accidents involving two vehicles were front impact crashes
  • 12% right side
  • 17% left side
  • 6% rear impacts
  • 46% of these crashes involve both vehicles proceeding straight

These numbers suggest that vehicle collisions have cost these organizations a large sum of money, in personal injury and vehicle damage. However, the truck or vehicle driver may not be at fault, and there may be an opportunity to avoid costly repair and insurance fees. To accurately uncover what occurred and re-create a trip is to leverage fleet management services provided by a GPS fleet tracking company.

While the goal of fleet management services is to eliminate accidents from happening in the first place by being proactive, such as improving driver behavior, bottom line is accidents can still happen. Even the carefullest drivers can find themselves in an unexpected problem on the road. The key thing is to be aware that an accident does not always have to have an effect on your bottom line. With the use of our fleet management software, My.Geotab, fleet managers and business owners can use the tools provided to instantly analyze accidents.

Reports and Data
Looking at the trips history report and the map in My.Geotab has been the traditional way of looking at an event. There are more tools however, that provide insight into different occurrences, from acceleration graphs to point of impact graphs.

Acceleration Graph:
Below you will see a side-to-side acceleration graph. Negative represents right in this case. The graph shows the vehicle accelerated to the right at the point of impact, indicating to us the vehicle was hit from the left side.

acceleration graph fleet management services

Point of Impact Chart:
This is a speed profile chart that shows the speed of the vehicle during the time of the accident. In the case shown below, the yellow section indicates the vehicle was stopped before the impact occurred.

Point of Impact Fleet Management Services

Engine Data:
The data from the device after the accident can also be looked at to assess any internal system damage. The key here is to look for any Engine Fault Codes. These codes will refer to problems in the vehicle reported through the engine computer. Anything from ABS (Automatic Braking System) to transmission issues. Engine status data can also be used to identify issues with the vehicle. An increase in coolant temperature, for example, can indicate possible coolant leaks or damage to the engine. Engine status data is displayed under Engine and Maintenance within MyGeotab.

engine-diagnostics-fleet-management-services

Original Article From Geotab: Accidents Happen

Onboard Diagnostics, Remote Mechanic With Fleet Management Systems

Posted on | by Courtney redwell

Fleet Management Systems Provide Diagnostics

Everyone who owns a vehicle has at some point taken their car to the mechanics after noticing unusual system operations. Sometimes, when you’re lucky, the issues can be immediately detected, while other times the technician is unable to determine the exact problem, or one thing will get fixed only to learn that something else has also gone wrong. Electronic diagnostic tools are a standard piece of equipment found in a mechanics toolbox. These tools are normally the first line of defense in determining probable causes and estimates of any motor or system issues.

Fleet management systems that communicate with a back-office system can eliminate the need for seeing a mechanic to discover vehicle problems. Maintenance checks and vehicle diagnostics can be done remotely and automatically with the use of a fleet management system. Summary reports that clearly show you exactly what is going on with your vehicles are also provided on-demand within the fleet management system, which can easily be set up to auto-email you reports at any time. Diagnostics information includes emission and engine while maintenance information includes mileage, tire pressure, and oil life.

The main benefit of always being in the know rests in the rapid responses that highlight whether or not you have a major issue that could have a negative impact on driver safety. Looking for vehicle trends gives you a heads-up on any situation that is likely to occur if not addressed quickly. Also, trained technicians can use this data to make informed and confident repair decisions. The future of the “remote mechanic” is continually evolving and being re-shaped through collaborative insights adding greater value.

If you are interested in learning more about how a fleet management system can benefit you, and help optimize your business, get in touch with one of our fleet consultants today!

 

Original Article From Geotab:
Car Technology, Onboard Diagnostics and The Remote Mechanic

 

Fleet Management Solutions: Intangible Value

Posted on | by Courtney redwell

The Intangible Value of Fleet Management Solutions

The decision to make a technology investment purchase can be complex and often dictated by pricing. Financially, a firm would likely label the purchase as a business expense, as denoted on the income statement, rather than as an asset on the balance sheet.

Expenses are shown on the income statement for management as the “bottom line” of the company. Business expenses are subtracted from incoming revenues to show how much was earned (or lost) over the period. However, lasting benefits (such as future cost reductions) of a new technology is not typically taken into account when processing the original expense.

The upfront costs may be accounted for but one must also examine the intangible future benefits of the technology. Using fleet management solutions provides numerous paybacks to a business. Acting as an intangible asset, one that adds economic benefit and value over time, the fleet management solution has a direct impact on businesses bottom lines.

Savings can be easily seen in multiple areas. At GoFleet, partnered with Geotab, the savings have been identified as coming from 4 core pillars:

Fleet Optimization:
This includes making the best use of all assets available and optimizing driver management. Costs savings, in turn, can be realized from reduced fuel usage and greater MPG consumption.

Driver Safety Maximization:
Through our interactive driver training methods, drivers are constantly reminded of the best safe driving practices. For example, in-cabin ‘beeps’ will inform the driver to reduce their speed and/or put on their seatbelt if it is forgotten. Not only will this cut down on costs but it also helps businesses reduce vehicle damage and employee injury claims.

Enhancing Driver Productivity:
Getting more done during the day leads to long-term loyalty and customer satisfaction. This allows businesses to reduce their churn rates and improve their gross profit margins.

Ensuring Compliance:
For businesses operating inter-state, being HOS compliant is not an option; the value comes at no surprise as damaging and costly penalties can be avoided. Fleet management solutions provide vast savings in many ares of the company making it so much more than a little black box.

Investopedia Definition: Intangible Asset

To speak with an experienced Fleet Management Solution Consultant, and learn more about GPS fleet tracking fill out this contact form.

Original Article From Geotab:
The Intangible Value of Fleet Management