Vehicle & Equipment Tracking – Making it Work

February 8th, 2010 by admin

A major challenge for all fleet operators, whatever industry sector they operate in, is how to manage drivers, vehicles and other mobile assets when they are “out on the road” and effectively out of sight.

Telematics-based vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions, that utilise GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite technology, give vehicle and equipment operators control over their assets and employees, in a way never thought possible only a few years ago. Maximum optimisation isn’t the impossible dream that it once was, and businesses can now see at a glance exactly where their assets are and co-ordinate and protect them far more effectively.

MAKING IT WORK FOR YOU

Despite what some might tell you, vehicle tracking technology cannot be all things to all people, and installing a system won’t immediately solve all transport-related problems or optimise a vehicle operation overnight. Promises of data on every aspect of your fleet won’t help you either unless there is an effective means to transfer this into knowledge.

Not many companies in the telematics field are making money today – a major proportion of service providers go bust within the first two years of business. The field is overdue a shakeout and we will definitely see some consolidation in this sector. Make sure when you are selecting a supplier that it has a good track record, an excellent reputation and, not least, a sound balance sheet

Choosing a vehicle tracking system takes careful consideration. It is about businesses knowing what they really want, not just now, but also in the future. Focusing on what realistically can be achieved is essential, but businesses need to understand that their requirements will change, so any telematics solutions has to possess the flexibility to evolve and adapt to these changing needs.

Furthermore, no two businesses possess the same needs, so it is critical to select a solution that can be tailored to specific requirements. Imagine the varying needs amongst electrical contractors with every single one having individual requirements and operating with different working practises.

For example, protecting vehicles and assets against theft requires different functionality than a work flow management and job scheduling solution, but a vehicle tracking system needs to possess the flexibility to handle both should this be needed. It is worth considering the benefits of selecting a partner that can develop a bespoke tracking solution rather than procuring an off-the-shelf device that may lack sufficient adaptability and expandability.

To best utilise a vehicle tracking solution, there needs to be substantial levels of commitment from both the telematics service provider and the fleet operator itself. This doesn’t just mean financially, company’s need to also set aside some resource to develop and manage the process. A company also needs to communicate openly with all its stakeholders – whether this is directors, employees, drivers, customers or suppliers – to ensure everyone understands the reasoning for the solution and the potential benefits.

Vehicle tracking and telematics systems can fundamentally change the way companies do business, and if it doesn’t then the solution is not working. What is needed is clearer thinking to define what will add value to a business and how companies can work smarter using the knowledge that this technology offers.

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Vehicle Transport Companies Ensure Safety of Military’s Cars

February 5th, 2010 by admin

Vehicle transport companies ensure that military personnel’s vehicles will arrive at their new military base or housing in the same condition when they left.

Because of the military’s need to be mobile, transport companies work with military personnel on a regular basis. They will often ship multiple vehicles when soldiers are being shipped out of state to new duty posts. They also offer door to port services (from Hawaii to Alaska) which makes long-distance relocation easier.

Military Personnel Benefit from Cost-Effective Vehicle Transport

Military personnel benefit from the services that vehicle transportation companies provide:

• Cost-effective way for military to ship multiple vehicles to different locations

• Safe, secure relocation of personal automobiles and motorcycles

• Hassle-free order placement

• 24/7 online tracking of vehicles

Standard services that are offered (at no additional cost) include:

• Door to Door Open Car Carrier: Vehicle is picked up and delivered to designated location. The assigned carrier will place vehicle on a double decker auto transport truck. This is the most cost-effective way to transport vehicles promptly.

• Door to Door Enclosed Car Carrier: Vehicle is picked up and delivered to designated location. The Assigned carrier will place vehicle inside a covered truck (provides extra protection from weather and road conditions). Recommended method to transport luxury and more high-end vehicles.

Trained Technicians Take Hassle Out of Vehicles’ Paperwork

Military personnel don’t have the time to deal with the details of vehicle transportation. As a courtesy, these companies take the hassle out of paperwork and handle all necessary details to provide a smooth relocation of vehicles.

Trained transport technicians handle all the necessary paperwork and details of transporting vehicles including insurance and special needs of car. They are fully bonded, licensed insurance carriers. They also comply with the Department of Transportation’s regulations for all states nationwide and take care of all the stressful details for military personnel.

Guaranteed Safety of Vehicles and Customer Service Expertise

Vehicle transportation companies guarantee protection of military personnel’s valuable assets (their cars). Military personnel can trust that their vehicles will be safe and secure en route to their new locations.

They also offer customer service via a toll-free number and can quickly answer questions about order placement or vehicle shipping information. Trained auto specialists also help figure out the best possible route for shipment of military personnel’s vehicles. They offer free quotes on rates and work within military personnel’s budgets to provide the most cost-effective shipping rates.

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GPS Vehicle Tracking System

February 4th, 2010 by admin

With the advent of Global Positioning System (GPS) has come a host of consumer technologies, one of them being GPS vehicle-tracking systems. Most consumers are familiar with GPS direction systems which enable to user to find directions “on the fly” by identifying the vehicle’s current location, the desired end point and the fastest route between the two.  

However, the same system that is used by navigational systems can be levied to help track a fleet of vehicles. GPS vehicle tracking systems can be customized to track a large number of vehicles and provide a wide array of information to the system user. In addition to simply tracking the position of each asset in a fleet of vehicles, their route and speed can be monitored remotely. This can facilitate oversight of the fleet, as well as gather data regarding the driving efficiency of the vehicles.  

Related services may include disabling the ignition remotely to prevent theft. Information provided by the tracking system may be routed to cell phones, PDAs or a central computing system. Additionally, installation of the tracking devices may be done in such a way as to be invisible to the driver. The service is primarily used by the owner of a large fleet of vehicles whose position needs to be known, either in the interest of safety or efficiency.  

Delivery companies may use the services to monitor their fleet efficiency, or re-route drivers based upon the changes needs of their system. If speedy pick-ups are required, GPS vehicle systems can be used to identify the closest vehicle to the pick up location, thus saving time and gas.

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