Category: Blog

Tow truck GPS trackers are used to answer many questions. When is service going to arrive? Who should take the job? How should they get there? The questions go on.

Towing companies often face these type of questions. For these companies, their industry is ultra competitive. Business is won by providing the best and fastest service.

Just how competitive is tow trucking? According to Hoover, the industry has opportunities for small and big companies. In fact, the top 50 companies only account for 15% of the total industry revenue.

Small companies are winning customers. To help them win customers, some businesses use tow truck GPS tracking to answer the following questions:

1) Who is the closest driver for the job?

Imagine a customer whose car broke down. After getting a towing company, the first thing on their mind is, “When is service arriving?”. Towing companies need to win business by providing the quickest response.

Tow truck GPS trackers can help answer this question. These devices locate the closest driver and assigns them to the customer site. Additionally, these devices tell drivers what is the quickest way to get to the job. As a result, trackers help tow truckers reach their customers in the shortest time possible. Queue the positive Google reviews!

2) Where are my drivers?

Let’s revisit the customer with the broken car. Of course, like a lot of customers, they hate waiting. Like a kid on a road trip, they might call and ask, “When is service coming?”.

This leaves tow truck companies to ask, “Where are my drivers? They better be on the job!”. Luckily, vehicle trackers can be used to instantly locate drivers. Supervisors can ensure that their drivers are on the job. Supervisors can also provide better customer service by updating customers on arrival time.

3) Are drivers properly representing the company?

One part of the towing is getting to an impatient customer quickly. Another part of the job is properly following traffic rules. Tow truck drivers are still responsible for driving at speed limits and avoiding bad driving habits.

Tow truck GPS trackers can also be used to measure drivers. It lets managers create driving rules and identify which drivers are breaking rules. It also provides live feedback by having an audible alert to remind drivers to correct bad habits.

4) How can I extend the life of my equipment?

Tow trucks and their equipment are valuable assets and needs to be maintained. Imagine the awkwardness if a tow truck breaks down while servicing a customer. In order to prevent a costly breakdown, many tow trucks go through a regular maintenance program.

Many towing companies improved their maintenance program with a preventative maintenance program. For example, one company created service reminders from odometer readings. This prevents breakdowns by wirelessly sending vehicle fault codes back to the maintenance department.

5) How can I measure PTO?

In some provinces and states, tow trucks can get refunds for PTO. For eligible businesses, one issue is how to get documentation to measure PTO usage.

A common add-in to vehicle tracking is being able to create PTO reports. These reports records time and fuel spent on PTO. It also provides proofs for tax refunds.

Click here for more info on tow truck GPS tracking.

Links

http://www.hoovers.com/industry-facts.motor-vehicle-towing.1926.html

https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/refund/pto/index.html

Charlottetown is the capital of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is a beautiful location that is popular with tourists and is a hub for transportation. As well, it is known for lots of snow in the winter.

The Salt Plowing Project

Charlottetown wanted to look at a salt monitoring system to track the city’s plows. The objective of the project was to know which roads are being salted, how much salt was used, and when salting was done.

This is where GoFleet came on the scene. GoFleet provided a live salt monitoring system. With this system, Charlottetown received live reports about which roads were salted, what time roads were salted, and how much salt was used.

As a result of this project, Charlottetown made sure salt was not overused. This is important because saving just 5% of salt leads to $40,000 in savings. As of January 2017, the city council voted in favour of investing in GPS for the rest of their fleet.

Update on Fleet Savings

Since equipping all public vehicles with GPS, city councilors estimate that they will save over $100,000 per year. In addition to salt savings, the city saved money in the following areas.

Fuel. The city has a no-idling policy. GoFleet devices are able to detect drivers who are idling. “I know in just idling alone we’re saving approximately $1200 a week so that’s nearly $5000 a month”, says Councillor Terry Bernard.

Preventative maintenance. Charlottetown is now able to schedule maintenance and know when oil changes are due. This extends asset life. “Preventative maintenance scheduling alone is projected to save us $70,000”, says Bernard.

Crew efficiency. Charlottetown is able to provide better service. The city can now look up the closest crew to a service call and provide quicker service. Also, vehicle tracking helps hold crews accountable by monitoring breaks.

Scott Adams of Charlottetown Public Works summarized that the system is “definitely going to pay for itself and then some.”

Links

Click here to read “The Guardian” Article

Click here to read “CBC” Article

Many fleet managers are prioritizing green fleet management. Some people are challenging the fleet industry to go greener because the industry produces 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, many fleets answered the challenge and made great strides towards sustainable fleet management.

Benefits of Going Green

Green fleet management is not just about making the world a better place. It also helps businesses improve their bottom line.

1) Operational savings

Fuel is one of the biggest expense items for fleets. Green fleet vehicles mean that fleets are using less or even no fuel and are saving money.

2) Government benefits

Some fleets go green to avoid getting fined from regulations. The same regulations also provide opportunities. Fleets are getting grants for green investments and are receiving tax credits for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

3) Brand power

Responsible companies are winning over customers. Customers admire companies who are sustainable. For example, a taxi company in London openly advertises its green taxi fleet. Green Tomato Cars proudly tells customers that they only hire drivers who use hybrid vehicles.

Ideas for Green Fleet Management

Solar Power

Solar power is a clean alternative from using fuel and is rapidly growing. The demand for solar power has multiplied by more than sixfold over the past decade. Solar power’s growth is also making an impact in the fuel management industry. Let’s take a look at two examples.

A leader in the solar power industry is eNow. eNow developed several solar power technologies. One of their systems, for example, allows fleets to store solar power and use it to power truck and trailer functions.

Another application is GoFleet’s very own Solar Trax. Solar Trax is a trailer tracker that uses solar power. Green GPS fleet management tools such as Solar Trax is being recognized a way to make fleets sustainable. Rather than getting power from traditional sources, these trackers use a clean source.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are a big way to go green. Watch out for Tesla’s big reveal this fall. The ambitious manufacturer is scheduled to announce the Tesla Semi. The Tesla Semi is a fully electric truck and Tesla’s Elon Musk confirmed that there is already a prototype.

The Tesla Semi isn’t the only electric truck. Walmart is using hybrid electric trucks in urban areas. Urban areas have short enough routes to let trucks run on electricity before recharging. With these ideas, Walmart has increased fuel efficiency by 84% over the past few years.

Fleet Measurement

Several fleets use telematics to reduce fuel usage and create a cleaner Earth. Telematics allow fleets to measure different areas and to create strategies on how to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

3 focus areas for green fleet management includes:

Driving habits. Habits such as idling and aggressive driving waste fuel and increase greenhouse gas emission. Fleet managers use driver reports to identify areas for individual drivers to improve on.

Maintenance. An aging fleet vehicle also creates fuel wastage. Fleets use telematics to schedule check-ups and ensure vehicles are in good shape.

Smart routing. Another area of opportunity is figuring out what is the optimal route to take. Telematics help plan routes by assigning smart routes that reduce time on the road.

Links

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/sme-library/fleet-management/reasons-for-fleets-to-go-green/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/11/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking/

https://enowenergy.com/

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/everything-we-know-about-teslas-all-electric-truck

http://rockrivertimes.com/2017/09/14/walmart-embraces-green-trucking/

As we approach the last few months of an eventful year, let’s review some of the fleet management trends in 2017.

 

Some of the biggest trends this year include:

 

• Autonomous vehicles. Self driving vehicles are a hotly debated topic. According to industry experts, autonomous vehicles should readily hit the market by 2020.

• Driver shortage. The fleet industry is losing drivers. Older drivers are retiring. They are replaced by younger drivers and minority drivers.

• Compliance. As 2017 is approaching its end, so is the deadline to get in compliance with logbook regulations.

Autonomous vehicles

 

Self driving vehicles have been in development for several years. Some vehicles already have automated functions. Mobileye, a global leader in autonomous driving, specialize in installing computerized driving systems.

 

Mobileye outlines several levels of autonomy. In the lower levels of autonomy, Mobileye uses computer systems to assist with driving. These include systems that help drivers stay in a lane and brake before a collision. Mobileye is working on progressing through autonomy levels and installing fully self driving vehicles.

 

Due to the advancing technology, the FMCSA hosted a listening session about self driving trucks earlier in 2017. There was heavy debate from both opponents and supporters. One side argues that self driving trucks will cost jobs and will pose security risks. Another side argues that self driving trucks reduces human error and increases traffic efficiency.

 

The debate makes it clear that self driving trucks need regulations. Suggested regulation includes outlining how trucks will prioritize human safety over property damage and how to increase cybersecurity.

 

Driver shortage

 

In the first half of 2017, the fleet industry noticed a major labour shortage challenge. Lane Jacobson, president of the Southern Alberta Truck Exposition Association, commented that the original projected shortage of 80,000 drivers was off. “They’re now saying shortages of 200,000 drivers in North America by 2020.”, said Jacobson.

 

A fleet management trend in 2017 is accepting more younger drivers and minorities on the driver roster. These groups are helping fill the labour gap. The American Trucking Association reports that the average driver age decreased to 49 and minority drivers increased to 38.75% of the driver force. How are fleet managers engaging new drivers?

 

One approach is to build a long term relationship. Many companies thought outside the box to engage new drivers. Some ideas include pairing younger drivers with an experienced mentor, establishing personal communication, and increasing training.

 

As part of increasing training, businesses are relying on driving behaviour reports. Some businesses use vehicle tracking reports to identify which drivers need more training. Another way of training is to use camera footage. Cameras, especially livestream cameras, are a great way to visually train drivers or provide live in-cab training.

 

Compliance

 

One of the biggest fleet management trends in 2017 is preparing for regulations. The year’s biggest regulation is the ELD mandate. There is still a significant number of fleets that need to prepare for compliance.

 

A reason for the delayed preparation is that some people thought the mandate would be overturned. It is apparent, however, that the mandate is here to stay. Over the summer, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal to overturn the mandate. Congress also denied a bill to delay the ELD mandate.

 

In the final quarter of 2017, remaining fleets are rushing to get compliant. Compliance “is not a simple flip of the switch”, warns Mike Millan, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada. “You need to research suppliers, schedule installations, train your operations, IT department, and drivers.”

 

Curious about keeping up with fleet management trends in 2017? Contact a fleet consultant to share your business objectives.

Links

http://www.overdriveonline.com/regulating-the-road-to-fully-autonomous-trucks-report-from-fmcsas-listening-session/

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/opinion-why-autonomous-trucks-wont-cost-jobs-anytime-soon

https://globalnews.ca/news/3604700/shortage-of-drivers-causing-a-crisis-in-transportation-industry-trucking-association/ http://fleetowner.com/driver-management/demographics-are-changing-truck-driver-management

https://www.trucknews.com/features/lets-get-eld-implementation/

http://fleetowner.com/research/fleets-wait-long-possible-deploy-elds-study-finds

GPS tracking for law enforcement is making the news. Earlier this year, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that they were using GPS tracking to help stop criminals.

GPS Tracking for Stopping Criminals

Batman is a beloved TV, movie, and comic series for many people. Some fans might remember Batman throwing a tracking device on a fleeing villain’s car. Batman can then track where are the bad guys. Police departments like the OPP are starting to use the same type of technology.Earlier this year, the OPP shared one of its new technologies. Some police vehicles are now equipped with GPS dart tracking technology. These darts can be fired from police cruisers. It attaches itself to a fleeing vehicle and tracks its location. From there, officers do not have to chase the suspect. Officers would simply see where the suspect stops and meet them there.The deputy commissioner of traffic safety, Brad Blair, is excited by the new GPS darts. He described it as “a new way of doing business in terms of keeping our roads safe”. The darts help keep roads safe by avoiding high-speed chases.

Not everyone, however, supports this way of using GPS tracking for law enforcement. Some people claim that it’s a way to “justify surveying us all”.It’s healthy to have skepticism on GPS darts. That being said, statistics on high-speed chases support that this technology improves safety. High-speed chases are dangerous for civilians, officers, and property. On an average year, high-speed chases costs over $1.3 billion in court awarded damages and over 55,000 injuries.

GPS Tracking for Law Enforcement Vehicles

Aside from tracking fleeing vehicles, many police departments are tracking their own vehicles. GPS tracking for law enforcement vehicles is becoming more common because it helps improve response time, productivity, safety, and maintenance.

Response time

One of the most useful applications of vehicle tracking is assigning the closest vehicle to an emergency. It’s a great way to quicken response time, which is critical in protecting the public.

Productivity

Vehicle tracking is also useful to ensure that fleet operations stay within budget. Fuel expense is a big part of the budget. Fleet tracking identifies wasteful behaviours such as idling or aggressive driving. Many police departments successfully used this data to train officers and reduce fuel cost.

Safety

Officers should set an example for other drivers on the road by following traffic rules. Some tracking devices help officers with onboard feedback. For example, if the officer is speeding, there is an audible alert that reminds drivers to slow down. This ensures that officers are obeying standards that they enforce.

Maintenance

Maintenance is also an important cost to control. Many police departments moved towards preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is the process of scheduling checkups based on vehicle alerts and collected data. It helps extend asset life and prevents costly breakdowns.

Sources:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-police-darts-1.4124229

www/toronto.citynews.ca/2017/05/19/opp-to-fire-gps-darts-at-fleeing-vehicles-to-avoid-high-speed-chases/

www.starchase.com/solution.php

Fleets in the “Run On Less” program are showing off their fleet fuel savings by participating in a national roadshow. These fleets invested in technologies that reduced fuel consumption. 

The Run On Less participants are measuring their fuel consumption with Geotab. They set an ambitious target of 9.0 MPG and receive a live report on their performance. How are they doing?

Since our last update, the fleets are still exceeding their targets. As of the start of Day 15, the cumulative average MPG is 10.1. Overall fleet savings have already exceeded $6,000. Let’s explore a few technologies featured in the roadshow.

Downspeeding

 

Downspeeding is a system where engine speed is reduced. Mark Kuhn of Ricardo Strategic Consulting explains that “you get significant benefit when reducing a traditional 1800 rpm”. Reducing engine speed directly leads to fuel saving.

 

In fact, most fleets save around 2-3% on fuel when implementing downspeeding by itself. Downspeeding is most effective, however, when combined with other initiatives. Mike Roeth, Trucking Efficiency Lead at NACFE explains, “when you do a downspeeding strategy, you need to think about other technologies”.

 

When combined with other technologies, downspeeding effectiveness almost doubles. Combined with tools such as electronically controlled transmission or 6 x 2 axles, fleet fuel reduction is now 3-6%.

 

Lightweighting

 

Trucks are carrying more and more loads. Trucks are also adding driver amenities and other truck features. All of this adds thousands of pounds of weight to the truck. Fleets are balancing added weight with a process called lightweighting.

 

Lightweighting takes weight out of trucks. This involves using cheaper materials or integrating parts to get rid of excessive equipment. Andrew Halon, project manager of lightweighting at NACFE, listed a few examples. “Air suspension systems would save you 275 lbs, a 6×2 [axle] saves 400 lbs, and aluminum frames can save you 1000 lbs.”, said Halon.

 

Reducing unnecessary weight directly leads to fleet fuel savings. Lightweighting increases fuel savings by 0.5 – 0.6% for every 1000 lbs of weight reduction.

 

Platooning

 

Platooning is a way of driving where one truck drives directly behind another truck. This formation improves airflow and reduces fuel by 4% for the lead truck and 10% for the trailing truck.

 

Although platooning is a valuable fleet fuel saving tip, it also presents some challenges. How can trucks drive at a safe distance to one another? How will public drivers react?

 

Recent safety advances made platooning feasible. Some trucks are equipped with distance sensors. These sensors allow trucks to maintain a safe distance and alerts drivers to impending collisions.

 

Solar Power

 

Solar power GPS tracking is becoming more popular in the trucking industry. Solar panels are being mounted on top of tractors and trailers. These panels power in-cab amenities such as HVAC units or power outlets.

 

Solar power is much more efficient than using batteries. “Dead batteries are a real problem,” said Roeth. “Going out to charging batteries and powering the trucks can be a huge expense”.

 

Measuring Fleet Fuel Savings

 

After adding technologies, a key question is, “how can I measure the results?”. In order to see if fuel saving initiatives are effective, many fleets rely on telematics.

 

Vehicle trackers create fuel reports. These reports provide data on how much fuel was saved. A great example are the reports from the Run on Less program. In those reports, managers can see their fleet’s MPG and how much fuel was saved each period.

 

 

References

http://www.truckingefficiency.org/powertrain/downspeeding

http://www.truckingefficiency.org/tractor-aerodynamics/weight-reduction-tractors

http://www.truckingefficiency.org/operational-practices/two-truck-platooning

Geotab recently sponsored the “Run on Less” roadshow to show how trucking is improving on fleet fuel efficiency. 7 fleets are participating in this roadshow. Check out this introduction video:

How it works:

Each of the 7 fleets invested in forms of fleet fuel management. These trucks are equipped with new technology, are designed with aerodynamics, and are driven with efficiency. The fleets are being monitored as part of a cross-country roadshow.

In order to measure fleet fuel efficiency, each of the trucks are equipped with Geotab GO7 tracking devices. Geotab collects real-time fuel consumption data. At the end of each day, this data is summarized into a fleet fuel economy report.

As of Day 9, the cumulative results show that the 7 fleets have an MPG rating of 10.2. This exceeds the fleet fuel efficiency target of 9.0.

Run On Less

Let’s meet some of the drivers & how they are increasing fleet fuel efficiency.

 

Henry Albert @ Albert Transport

 

Run On LessHenry Albert is the business owner and one of the drivers at Albert Transport. Albert drove since 1983 and noticed huge advancements in fleet fuel management. He commented that “smoothness of the ride, the amount of torque that today’s engines have, and automated manual transmission” have all helped him save fuel.

Example of initiatives at Albert Transport

Trailer license plate. Albert noticed that the placement of license plates makes a difference to fuel consumption. Albert and his team of engineers calculated that mounting the license plate below the tail light helps with windflow and reducing fuel consumption.

Thin soled shoes. What are the best shoes for driving? Thin soled shoes are ideal for driving because it allows the driver to feel the pedal and to apply the right amount of pressure. This improves fuel efficiency by reducing harsh stops and harsh acceleration.

 

Brad Long @ Hirschbach

 

Run On LessBrad Long has been driving for over 10 years. This caused him to appreciate fuel efficiency. Long says, “Fuel efficiency is important for me because that’s more miles I can drive before I need to fuel again.” He adds, “Also, I receive a fuel bonus for saving that fuel!”.

Example of initiatives at Hirschbach

Asset Management. Hirschbach closely manages the age of its equipment. All of their trucks are 3 to 4 years old while all of their trailers are 5 years old. This reduces the fleet’s maintenance cost and reduces fuel expense.

Adaptive Cruise Control. ACC is a system that keeps a safe distance between the truck and the vehicle ahead by adjusting the truck’s speed.

Tire systems. Another part of Hirschbach’s fuel strategy is to use a tire pressure system. Its current system does two things. Firstly, it measures what the current tire pressure is. Secondly, it auto inflates or auto deflates tires based on the tire pressure. This improves tire life and decreases fuel expense.

 

Tommy Revell @ Frito-Lay

 

Run On LessTommy has been driving for over 30 years. He noticed that fuel mileage has changed dramatically to when he started Frito-Lay. The company increased their performance from 4-5 MPG to over 9 MPG over Revell’s employment.

Examples of initiatives at Frito-Lay

Idle Shutdown System. Idling management is an important part of fleet fuel reduction. Idle shutdown systems save fuel by shutting down the engine after the truck idles over a specified amount of time.

Aerodynamic Fleets. Another initiative is choosing aerodynamic fleet models. Some of these add-ons may include bumpers with lower dams, side skirts, and wheel covers. These add-ons redirect wind around the truck and increase the easiness of driving.

Source: Run on Less

 

Fleet Managers: Top Challenges They Face

Fleet managers face many challenges when managing a commercial fleet. The top challenges in 2017 are cost-reduction initiatives, increasing productivity, and safety, fuel price volatility.

Cost Reduction Initiatives

The number one challenge for all fleet managers is managing costs. Every year, the pressure is on for fleet managers to save as much money as possible. The weak economy is currently driving most of the extreme pressure to reduce costs associated with fleet operations; however, even when the economy is great fleet managers still feel the pressure. Many fleet managers are tasked with a specific cost reduction percentage goal and it is up them to determine how that will achieve that goal.

Increasing Productivity

It can be very difficult to implement a productivity strategy in a business especially one with large operations. There are so many programs that must be reported and managed. Using GPS fleet management systems, fleet managers have access to valuable tools to increase both operational and route efficiency.

Increasing Fleet Safety

Fleet managers are always looking for new ways to prevent accidents and reduce downtime, associated repair and liability. Some fleets are focusing on improved training for the drivers while others are focused on using a GPS tracking system to improve drivers’ poor behavior. Fleet managers are looking to implement the best fleet management practices to increase safety.

Fuel Price Volatility

The pressure is on for fuel managers to reduce fuel costs; however, most businesses do not provide any capital to get this done. That is why many businesses are turning to Vehicle GPS tracking systems to help address driver behavior and routing. In addition, they are choosing high-mileage vehicles and using fuel cards to examine the fuel purchases. The largest issue, however, is that fleet managers do not know what the future prices are going to be.

Recent hurricanes have spotlighted the importance of utility asset management because utility companies are often the ones who help rebuild regions that are affected.

Hurricanes are ranked from a scale of 1 to 5 in terms of their severity. One of the most recent hurricanes, Hurricane Irma, was ranked as a Category 5 storm – it even set history records! Irma entered the record books for being the longest lasting hurricane in recorded history.

In its aftermath, Irma destroyed 95% of structures in Barbuda, left millions in Florida without power, and killed residents across multiple countries.

Who are some of the people leading the recovery process?

Utility fleet services. These hardworking responders travel to sites to help residents rebuild and recover. Their jobs may range anywhere from restoring power to clearing trees. Here are some ways where utility tracking systems are helping with the recovery process.

Communication

After a major hurricane, there are tons of jobs utility businesses need to track. It is unmanageable for field technicians to call their operation center and report all finished jobs; a better option is to work smart by communicating with an effective dispatch system.

Dispatch systems allow utility businesses to keep track of jobs – here’s how the process would work: When a driver finishes an assigned job, they can use the system to confirm completion. The manager can then assign the next job by tracking the nearest job site.

This creates a lean utility asset management process. It shortens communication time and allows technicians to finish more jobs. Ultimately, this quickens recovery for the areas most affected by hurricanes.

Smart Routes

Utility workers need to know what is the quickest route to take to a job site. This is particularly challenging after a hurricane. Roads are often flooded, blocked, or otherwise inaccessible.

How can drivers avoid these roads and finish jobs quicker?

With dynamic routing. Dynamic routes are created using utility fleet management solutions. Dynamic routes are routes that are updated based on live conditions. For example, if there is a reported road closure, the system re-routes the driver away from the closed road. This prevents drivers from getting stuck or lost.

Man Down Systems

After a hurricane, cell service may be unavailable. This brings up the question – if the helpers need help, how would they call for it? Utility work could be risky as many roads are still flooded and are surrounded by unstable trees.

Utility workers can use man down systems to call for help in case there is no cell signal. These systems use satellite to ensure the device is online at all times. If technicians need help, they can press a button to directly call the operation center.

Satellite Tracking

Utility asset management is usually serviced through cellular networks.

What if cell signals are lost? How can utility managers keep up with vehicle location and keep track of jobs?

When cell-based vehicle tracking is not possible, a reliable alternative is using Iridium satellite tracking. Satellite tracking uses what is known as a “failover system”. Failover systems continue to give updates on vehicle location when cell signals are lost by switching over to satellite tracking. Utility companies can then get updates on vehicle location and job progress at all times.

For more information on utility asset management, check this out!

Sources:
Fleet Owner: Technology in Disasters: 3 Ways Today’s Telematics, GPS Capabilities Shine
DC Velocity: Florida Truck Fleets Triple Activity as Hurricane Irma Approaches
Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Irma: Don’t Have Internet, Cable or Cell Service? Here’s Why