Using GPS is more than just navigating your way through towns, cities, and outlying areas. You will know where your car is at any time. For example if you need to track your teenager you can log on to the online interface and just find where the car is parked. Anytime your car might be stolen you are able to get the vehicle back more often than not. It used to be that a car stolen would be chopped, sold and never seen again. Now you don’t have to worry.

The vehicle tracking device in your car will be able to help you get your car back safely. You may even find out who stole the car as well as where they were taking the vehicle after the heist. By protecting your property with a GPS device you will always know where it is. GPS devices are about saving your money and time replacing a car that can be fully protected from now on with just a little expense.

Diesel is even higher than the fuel cost jumping about 30 percent from August 2007 to 2008. At the pump most were paying 126 pence per litre when it had been at 97 pence a litre. To fill a 50 litre tank as most trucks have it would take 14.30 pounds. This means if a fleet company is filling up trucks every day they are spending thousands of pounds just on diesel fuel and that increases the overall running costs of the fleet. Most have calculated that diesel this year is costing about 4,000 pounds.

Several of the individuals interviewed stated a fleet tracking system would help to track how an individual driver uses fuel and how they drive. This would allow the company to stop those speeding or taking trips that are longer than they should be. About 45.5 percent use a remote engine and fuel programme to monitor usage.

Tracking Vehicles

In the survey 54.5 percent of those interviewed already have a GPS navigation system to help their drivers. This cuts down on drivers taking a wrong road or getting lost. It also cuts down on running the engine while looking at maps or other devices for navigation. 69 percent also stated they use the equipment to review where their vehicles are and where they’ve gone.

Vehicle tracking has been implemented in companies without any flack from the employees. In fact about 80 percent of those using the devices said their employees were not concerned about the tracking devices. Some news and articles have created a “fear” that by using the vehicle tracking devices the employees will not be happy and no longer want to work for the company. It has been said it is an invasion of privacy. However, the companies who use the systems have not found this “fear” among their employees.

A few companies even started a trial in order to see how their employees would take the system. Those using a device that allows the tracking device to be switched off in the truck responded well. It allows them to signal when they are not working, and therefore the company doesn’t have the ability to track them.

Companies trying the vehicle tracking devices stated it was best to get the entire system at once then try to add other parts later on. For example if a company didn’t want remote monitoring because they feared the reaction of employees, it was not as simple to add it after the fact. Part of having the system is to get employee acceptance and therefore offering a system both parties can be satisfied with.

Urgent priority

Some of those who responded to the survey stated that they’ve been using older technology. These paper systems were not enough, and they felt it necessary to step up to remote monitoring of their vehicles. Doing their research they found it would take about 12 months in order to get the system up and running, then saving money would be easier.

Many of the service managers felt it necessary to get some type of programme to monitor their fleet as well as help save money on fuel. There was just 32 percent that felt proper recording of hours worked was extremely important. Among the tracking of their drivers for proper work hours they also wanted to implement a 48 hour work week as a maximum for their drivers to help increase safety.

Responders to the survey said that it is not easy to find qualified drivers, but once they have them it is easy to keep them on staff. This has led to the thought that the supply and demand is about even.

Long-term employment

There is certainly concern over the recession even with a nice balance in supply and demand. If costs are not cut there can definitely be reductions or closures for some fleets. It is best that companies offer some type of benefits and this also helps reduce the loss of employees in any one company. If they fear moving on or losing their job they are more likely to stick with the company they are at and offer the best work they can.

Many of the fleet companies do offer long term benefits for their employees. It is one of the reasons it is harder to recruit new drivers, but also why the drivers once found will stay on. They enjoy the benefits they have and it makes it worthwhile to stick around.

There were several different companies that were part of the survey. They were not just one industry. About 14 percent of those who responded have cars or vans in their fleets. About half stated they have 50 vehicles, while 11 percent have up to 100. 21 percent of the fleets carry between 100 and 500 in their fleet, with about 18 percent with over 500 vehicles. With that many cars in their fleet it’s important to have savings in any area and especially fuel.

A report from Digicore found there is a clear need for vehicle tracking systems because usage alone can be an issue of wasted money. For companies that use vehicle tracking devices it is clear that they have less shifty usage of vehicles. The study further showed that about 1 in 7 fleets actually have a tracking device.

For the utility fleets about 9 out of 10 companies use fleet tracking systems. They have been able to increase their resources, improve time, and keep track of the utility sector. In short they are not losing money to stolen vehicles or improper use of vehicles while on the clock.

There is a concern that the technology for telematics is not up to snuff. This lack of confidence is one reason many fleet operators are not using the technology. However, a report has shown that those using the devices are happy and have found the devices solved their problems. The 35 percent of companies who do not trust the industry is not a positive note, but hopefully more will understand soon.

Another concern is that overselling and technology are dominating the negative aspects. Privacy is also a major issue with companies. They don’t want to cause privacy issues with employees because of the surveillance needed on the drivers. 76 percent of the fleet companies do find the vehicle tracking systems are valuable and worth the cost. 54 percent stated they found increased productivity, with 44 percent finding better costs, and 46 percent saw a performance increase. The responsive in the positive quarter were all very similar for all types of fleets. The fact is the devices do work.

It is a concern that many companies don’t understand the consequences they could find themselves in. Corporate manslaughter can lead to fines of 10 percent of the business revenue. It is nice to see some of the companies are already making changes to help improve their fleets. This way they are covered because they have duty of care procedures.

Vehicle tracking systems help with managing a fleet. In fact these systems can tell which drivers are speeding, what trucks need to be serviced, and much more. They are a cost effective option for getting a company in line with the new act for 2009.

The companies who are going to improve their procedures said they would take a significant look at their safety procedures for maintenance on the trucks. As many as 51 percent of fleet companies stated they would have more quality safety checks on their vehicles.

44 percent stated they would also work out a new schedule for employees to make sure no one is overworked or has too many hours on the road. 42 percent stated they would have a working time directive that would be enforced and followed. 27 percent of the companies surveyed in the study stated they have vehicle tracking devices and are still hoping to make improvements. The improvements will help reduce issues with their fleet and hopefully prevent any issues with the new law coming into effect.

The director of Trackstar, a GPS manufacturer, stated that they have a 90 percent recovery rate for all stolen vehicles. This is the highest recovery data in the UK and industry. They have not seen an increase of jamming tools. Pat Gallagher, the director, stated that the police and Thatcham have both assured the company Trackstar that jamming devices have not increased in use and that GPS systems are safe.

The survey found some key points that might make the decision for all fleet companies to instigate the tracking equipment. Vehicle tracking devices are now used in more than a quarter of the UK fleets. Most of the tracking devices are used with commercial vehicles. The results totalled 30 percent for commercial vehicles, with 31 percent of operators dealing with more than 100 vehicles in the fleet. Utility companies or vehicles have 86 percent coverage with vehicle tracking systems. Logistics and road transport vehicles have about 40 percent of companies using the systems, with service management at 38 percent.

Those interviewed who use the vehicle tracking devices stated that the technology of the device helped their business. In fact 76 percent said they found an increase in value with a range of benefits. For example they were able to reduce costs according to 44 percent, and increase production and fleet performance at 46 percent. Fleet companies stated they are now making about 12 percent savings on their fuel and lowering their overtime costs by 13 percent.

Companies who have not invested in fleet tracking devices were asked if they would consider the systems. More than half of the respondents stated they would like to make that investment. About a third are not sure of the benefits they would reap. About 48 percent of the operators believe they could benefit from vehicle tracking devices, and 44 percent think a return on their investment would occur.

85 percent of the companies using tracking devices are very satisfied with their product. There is still a negative of 35 percent who don’t use the vehicle tracking device. These 35 percent believe there is a problem with financial use for the operators, over selling occurs, and the technology is not what it should be. The survey is showing that overwhelmingly most operators do find value in the vehicle tracking systems and definitely find benefits each year from the systems.

The new devices will link the police vans with the central command post. They will institute a mapping device that can be viewed on a screen at the centre. The map would be provided by the National Information Centre. The PCR vans would be equipped with wireless connections that will enable them to receive data from the command centre.

The use of the tracking device would allow the calls to be received and then find the best vehicle in terms of proximity to the call. This would cut down on travel time for the person needing help and cut down on the costs for the department. The time savings for all involved is not the only benefit though; the process would be entirely done through the system and this means no paperwork to be filled out. The electronic process records everything and this means fewer man hours will be necessary.

The process of updating the system is a welcome addition to the New Delhi police force and the rewards in getting to the scene quicker may save a life. The command centre will be able to track all the vehicles that are dispatched and will be able to update any information as it comes in. The most direct route will be seen on the map in the command centre and this can help if there is a traffic snarl in the van’s path.