GPS Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management

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Open source fleet management and vehicle tracking system …

To eliminate cases like this from happening, it's good to implement a fleet management system (FMS) where vehicles (more…)

Technorati Tags: fleet management

Coordination of a fleet of vehicles can be challenging even on good days. I recall my days in the local drayage business when our only contact with the vehicles and drivers during the day was the phone call the driver made from each stop. From that point we would direct him to the next stop. Most of the routing knowledge was being held in the head of the dispatcher who had to mentally keep track of which vehicle was going to which destination and might be close to the next pick up point that called in. On some days it appeared to be nothing short of absolute chaos.

The world of technology has come a long way toward helping ease those tensions resulting from the guesswork of trying to be as efficient as possible. The global positioning systems (GPS) technology used initially by the government for a wide variety of applications including troop movements, aircraft and ship tracking, etc. has become a real friend of the corporate world. The capability provided by this technology has enabled efficient fleet operation.

The technologies have enabled:

• Logistic coordination
• Vehicle maintenance scheduling
• Driver oversight and management
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Reductions in the cost of operating the fleet

In the ramble scramble of the day of calls for package pick up, courier services, service calls, and yes, responding to emergency calls (rescue, police and fire) coordination to gain the fastest response time will save dollars and even lives. The ability to know location (where the vehicles are), speed (how economically the driver is driving), and maintenance data (when oil changes, tires that need attention, etc.) all result in significant cost reductions and increased customer satisfaction.

Increased customer satisfaction is realized when nearby vehicles can be quickly routed to attend to the customer’s needs faster. Improved response time helps not only paying customers but also those in need of emergency assistance. Police and fire dispatchers know where their vehicles are at all times.

Cost reductions abound from better maintained vehicles, nearest units assigned to calls, and the management of drivers’ vehicle operating habits. As a result of fewer miles and better behaved drivers, insurance savings are also realized. In addition, depending on the size of the fleet, it is not unrealistic to think that more efficient routing might also result in reduced staffing requirements. These savings can quickly pay for the cost of implementing this technology.

Technorati Tags: fleet coordination, fleet management, vehicle tracking devices

Fleet management using vehicle tracking devices is effective beyond just knowing where vehicles are at any time. The use of GPS tracking technology can maximize increased productivity, reduce fuel costs and insurance and streamline the effectiveness of fleet operations. By having the position of the vehicle in real time, you can accomplish all this without waiting for someone to analyze data from several days or even weeks earlier.

The real-time tracking systems, calculate the exact position of a vehicle at the moment and constantly updates changes in vehicle position over time. Information on the whereabouts of the vehicle is not delayed or stored for later analysis. Precise GPS positioning and mobile communications are used to update in real time using existing telecommunications lines. Systems using the GPS satellite network rather than the wireless cellular network have the advantage of broader coverage; very useful if your vehicles travel to remote locations.

Various technologies are used in real-time vehicle tracking systems, including tag-based AVI and image processing. Although these systems work well where traffic is moving well, they are less effective in situations of congestion in built-up urban areas where transitions from shadows to naturally lit areas can block the visibility to the location of vehicles.

Real time knowledge of vehicle locations put the fleet manager at a significant advantage. You can be more agile in operations by giving you the opportunity to make changes to planned routes in case of emergency, breakdown or other variables that may interfere with the normal routing of the vehicles. Something as simple as road work may mean an unplanned delay in collection from a client. With real-time GPS tracking, fleet managers are able to redirect the nearest alternate vehicle to the destination, saving time, money and above all, keep the customers happy.

Real-time monitoring can also help fleet managers have a view inside the cab of any vehicle on the road. Returned data advises of each deviation from the prescribed route, if drivers become lost or are speeding. Real-time monitoring can also be used in emergencies, to notify the police or other emergency services with the precise location of a vehicle whether it is stolen or involved in an accident. Vehicle tracking devices also give a fleet manager the ability to change the destination of other available vehicles to cover pick-ups and deliveries due to the change of status of a disabled vehicle.

GPS tracking enables management to track the cargo as well as the vehicle. GPS trailer tracking is a good way to keep track of goods transported on the vehicle. This is very important if the materials or products are perishable or time sensitive. These systems work well in the fleets of small and medium-sized enterprises, but can become complex when implemented on large fleets. Regional real-time tracking systems us a series of overlays to show an adjacent region in the image for each vehicle and tracks it over a period of time using a cross-correlated algorithm.

Modern real-time systems for monitoring the vehicles are increasingly complex, but the information they provide is invaluable for the effective management of the fleet. Although expensive to implement, the long-term savings afforded by vehicle tracking devices can be significant for all fleet sizes.

Technorati Tags: fleet management, GPS tracking, real time, vehicle tracking devices

Fleet management by definition means the oversight and control of a company’s fleet of vehicles. Those vehicles could include cars, trucks, vans, bicycles, ships, buses, and even airplanes. I know of one freight movement company that had a fleet manager for the corporate airplanes.

It is safe to say that any company’s fleet that involves two or more vehicles represents a significant investment. In those companies where delivery and pick-up services are a main part of their business, the coordination of those vehicles is essential. In these situations, knowing where the vehicles are at any point in time can help increase customer satisfaction. If one vehicle is caught in traffic, a nearby vehicle may be able to be diverted to make the pick-up so that the company can meet its commitment to the client.

The capabilities of today’s vehicle tracking systems also help monitor maintenance scheduling. Tracking the mileage of the vehicle can advise when maintenance such as oil changes, filter changes, and various adjustments need to be made. Having this information can save the organization significant expenses by avoiding break-downs (and they always happen at the most disadvantageous time) or keeping the vehicles operating efficiently.

Not only can these devices monitor for maintenance, they can capture information on the speed of the vehicle to highlight dangerous or inefficient vehicle operation by the driver. Under the basic principles of vehicle operation we know that each vehicle has an optimum speed for maximum operational efficiency. So the vehicle tracking devices can help reduce fuel costs by providing information on indicators that aid or limit efficient operation.

When all the functions are compiled and viewed as a composite picture, we can see which drivers know their routes and are being as efficient as possible in selecting the best routing, driving at the right speed and watching the key indicators for the maintenance of their vehicle. Combined these factors will save the company significant amounts of money in efficient routing, vehicle handling, and insurance costs. Drivers not exercising care in their handling of the vehicle are a higher risk for the company and for the insurance company.

Many companies provide vehicles for their sales and support staff as they work the territory. This has been a generally accepted practice for many years. The rules governing the use of these company-owned vehicles has varied widely in the past. However, more recently, the IRS has been clamping down on the personal use of company-owned vehicles, requiring them to withhold income taxes for all miles on the vehicle that are not business miles. This has helped reduce some of the abuse of these vehicles.

To further help reduce the personal use of these vehicles, vehicle tracking devices are able to report on usage regardless of intent. Wherever that vehicle goes, the devices will report the route covered, the miles traveled, the time of the travel and how it was operated. Armed with this information, companies are much better able to control fleet expenses, making solid contributions to the bottom line profit margins.

Because of the impact to the profitability of the organization, effective fleet management using vehicle tracking devices is critical to the success of any company. Effective monitoring of the fleet performance will pay big dividends for the enterprise that pays attention to the follow-on costs related to their investment. The initial investment is only the tip of the iceberg in relation to the on-going costs of fleet operations. Prudent managers will pay particular attention to this natty little detail.

Technorati Tags: customer satisfaction, fleet management, improved business operations, vehicle tracking devices, vehicle tracking systems