FleetBeat

Fleet Tracking Unquestionably Beneficial for Operators

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

An article on Field Technologies Online.com discusses the many ways fleet tracking can improve the bottom line for fleet operators.  The article begins by discussing how fleet tracking makes drivers more accountable for costly behavior, such as unnecessarily idling, speeding, and performing personal errands on company time and with company resources. 

From there, author Brian Albright discusses how companies needing a fleet management solution must know in advance what functionalities they wish their installed system to have, instead of simply seeing what is available on the market. 

Albright then details how the most successful fleet implementations involve a cross-section of the entire company weighing in on what the system is needed to provide.  Billing, accounting, drivers, driver safety, maintenance, management, dispatch and customer service should all be present when examining possible wireless solutions to ensure the solution provides the functionality they need. 

Finally, Albright discusses how there are many hidden ROIs within a wireless solution: for example, more efficient vehicle management from computer-aided dispatch could prevent hiring a new worker and purchasing a new truck.  Electronic record-keeping also makes the company much stronger to withstand a federal audit should the situation arise.

To read the entire article about how field tracking improves business operations for fleet operators, click here.  

Mentor’s demo on the hidden and unnecessary cost produced by wasteful idling can be viewed here.

Fleet Safety Series: Six Ways to Improve Fleet Safety

Friday, July 24th, 2009

When 40% of workplace fatalities result from fleet safety issues, ensuring that effective safety measures are in place is essential. Here is a six-part series outlining ways in which technology can contribute to a safer work environment.

Technology #1: Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

Using Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology, dispatchers and managers can see the precise location of their vehicles, and access real-time location information for every vehicle under their care. Combined with GPS integrated with in-vehicle devices, location information is sent back to the office where dispatchers can track vehicle movement on electronic maps, and multi-level grouping and filtering capabilities allow them to focus only on the vehicles relevant to the current situation. AVL benefits both customers and workers. Call times are reduced, the closest available workers will be dispatched immediately, and 911 responders can be sent to the precise location in case of an emergency.