Author: Devin Johnson

Fleet Vehicle Tracking Increases Productivity & Efficiency

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Increase Productivity & Efficiency with Fleet Vehicle Tracking

You might not know that fleet vehicle tracking not only tracks vehicles’ locations, it also increases productivity and efficiency. GPS fleet management software automatically plans efficient routes which will reduce the amount of time your driver spends on the road.

Often times, drivers drive the route they are most familiar with even when it is not the most efficient. They usually do not realize that there is actually a faster way to get to the destination. When you use fleet vehicle tracking, you can provide your driver with the most efficient route each day before they start work. The driver will then drive that route to each of your customers’ locations. Less time on the road means your drivers will be able to visit more customers each day, increasing the driver’s productivity and your company’s overall efficiency.

If a customer calls in with an urgent service call, your dispatchers can easily re-route your drivers. The closest driver to the new location can be sent after they finish up at their current location. This ensures that the work is done efficiently because the appropriate driver will complete the job and not the first driver who saw the new job in the system. Without fleet vehicle tracking, dispatchers could end up sending a driver in another city to the job location when there was a driver located right around the block.

Fleet vehicle tracking also increases your business’ efficiency. With more efficient routes, your business will spend less money on fuel and labor costs. Your drivers are able to get more done in the workday without going into overtime. In addition, since they will be driving less, there are less miles used to get from jobsite to jobsite. Companies normally see an automatic reduction in fuel costs after they implement a fleet vehicle tracking system.

For more information about GoFleet’s fleet vehicle tracking system, Contact Us.

Fleet Monitoring Systems Watch Your Fleet For You

Fleet Monitoring Systems Watch Your Fleet For You

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Watch Your Fleet With GoFleet’s Fleet Monitoring Systems

GoFleet’s fleet monitoring systems can provide your business with many features and benefits that watch your fleet for you so you do not have to. There is no reason you have to spend your days obsessed with watching over your fleet when you have a fleet monitoring system. Your time can be spent taking care of more important aspects of your business. You can easily set up automatic alerts and customized reports to let you know if something is happening with your fleet.

Maintenance Monitoring

With GoFleet’s fleet monitoring systems, you no longer have to spend countless hours making sure each vehicle has received its preventative maintenance. You can easily set up triggers to create work orders for each of your vehicles maintenance activities such as oil changes, tune-ups, brake work, etc. based on engine hours, time and mileage.

Live Vehicle Tracking

With GoFleet’s fleet monitoring systems, you will always know exactly where your vehicles are and where they have been. You can set up instant alerts to notify you if a driver goes out of an authorized zone, speeds, drives aggressively, stops harshly, uses the vehicle after work hours or idles excessively. This will ensure your drivers are doing what they are supposed to be doing and are driving safely. Improving driver safety reduces unnecessary costs and liability associated with an accident.

You can also use live vehicle tracking to prevent theft. In the case of a theft, the GPS data can be used to recover the vehicle quickly. This will reduce the vehicle and drivers downtime in the event of a theft. It will also help you reduce the chance you will have to replace expensive stolen assets.

GoFleet’s fleet monitoring systems work like a monitoring system during working hours and a security system when you are closed. It is always keeping tabs on your fleet even when you can’t.

Truck TPMS Made Simple with Drop & Hook

Truck TPMS Made Simple with Drop & Hook

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Drop & Hook Makes Truck TPMS Simple

Finding the right truck TPMS can be a challenge when different trailers are constantly hooked up on the truck. It often creates extra work for the driver and the fleet to ensure all tires on the trailer are being properly monitored. With GoFleet’s true automatic drop & hook, the trailer sensors and the tractor are paired automatically and wirelessly through the transceiver.

Our true, automatic drop and hook system was designed for the trucking industry specifically to overcome the tire monitoring challenge. The driver does not have to do anything except the normal trailer changing procedure. The tractor recognizes the new trailer automatically as soon as the trailer is attached.

Your tractors can be paired with any trailer in your fleet and the truck TPMS will recognize it automatically. The tire pressure monitoring system sensors will send immediate alerts to the fleet manager if the tire pressure is high or low, there is a fast or slow leak and if the temperatures are high. The alerts can be sent via SMS text message, email or posted on the dashboard. This allows for proactive truck TPMS management.

The drop and hook saves your company time and money. Since your tires will be automatically monitored with the truck TPMS, your drivers will not have to manually inspect their vehicle’s tire pressure. You will also not have to rely on the driver to report any issues with their tire pressure or temperature. Receiving instant alerts will notify you of potentially dangerous and costly tire issues before they become a problem.

The best part about GoFleet’s truck TPMS add-on is that it is fully integrated with our GPS fleet management software. The fleet manager is able to proactively monitor tire pressure and temperatures in the same place they manage their fleet operations.

For more information about our true drop and hook truck TPMS add-on, Contact Us.

GPS Fleet Management Solutions Make Life Easier

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Make Life Easier With GPS Fleet Management Solutions

A fleet manager’s job is usually stressful and complex. When the fleet is large, holds valuable cargo or is a critical component of the company’s operations, the task of managing the fleet is even more stressful. Regardless of the size of the fleet, GoFleet’s GPS fleet management solutions can make a fleet managers life easier through vehicle tracking, route planning, improved dispatching, Garmin integration, etc.

Vehicle Tracking

When people think about GPS fleet management solutions, they usually think about vehicle tracking. Fleet managers will be able to instantly see where each and every company vehicle is located from the convenience of their computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Not only are fleet managers able to see where each vehicle is, they can see were each vehicle has been, and the speed they are going.

Vehicle tracking also allows the fleet managers to see how their employees drive on the road. For example, they can see if their employees are driving aggressively, idling excessively, driving out of the authorized zone, deviating from the given route or making long stops. Instant alerts can be set up to notify the fleet manager or customized reports can be run at the manager’s convenience. These features help fleet managers improve productivity, save money and even improve customer service.

Improved Route Planning and Dispatching

With GoFleet’s fleet management solutions, automatic and efficient routes are created based on your drivers’ destinations. The routes are planned in a manner that reduces the amount of time the driver spends on the road and the total miles traveled. Drivers will be able to visit more customers in the same amount of working hours. In addition, efficient routing reduces the amount of overtime required by your drivers and the amount of fuel used.

Dispatchers will be able to see where each vehicle is when a customer calls for service. They will be able to send the closest driver to an urgent service call. Customers will no longer have to be given long service windows. Your dispatchers will be able to provide accurate estimated times of arrivals that your customers will really appreciate.

Garmin Integration

If your drivers are already using Garmin GPS devices for navigation, you can integrate them with your GoFleet GPS fleet management to improve your company’s efficiencies even further. It allows your drivers to get more done in less time and respond better to service calls. Garmin integration streamlines dispatching and communications, increases driver productivity, and boosts efficiency. Fleet managers love that it is simple to use, affordable and helps make their life easier.

For more information about how GoFleet solutions can make your life easier, Contact Us today.

Live Tracking Can Help Your Company’s Fleet Operations

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Help Your Company’s Fleet Operations with Live Tracking

Using live tracking for your fleet will allow you to see where your vehicles are directly from your computer screen at any time of the day. In addition to instantly locating your vehicles, you can see where they have been and how fast they were going. Instant alerts can be set up to notify you if the driver goes above a set speed, drives out of an authorized zone, drives aggressively or idles excessively. Live fleet tracking will help you increase productivity and lower fuel costs. Within a matter of weeks, your company will see a fast return on investment.

The saying is true, “You cannot manage what you do not measure.” Trying to keep track of your employees while they are driving can be a difficult task. Live tracking gives you a deeper insight into how your employees are using your mobile assets. Company inefficiencies can come in many forms, and GPS fleet tracking software can help you see them clearly so they can be addressed. Some of the inefficiencies that that fleet management software can help you uncover include:

– Poor routing

– Employee moonlighting

– Excessive idling

– Speeding

– Unsafe driving habits

– Gasoline theft

– Liability risks

– Theft of company assets

– Exaggerated or false time sheets

– Excessive breaks

– Late start times

Live tracking allows you to reduce your fleet’s hidden costs which can add money to your bottom-line. You will be able to easily monitor your drivers and your vehicles to find out information that was once unknown. The system works like a virtual manager. When your drivers are off the clock, it becomes a security guard watching after your vehicles.

Many companies are amazed when they uncover the percentage of their employees that are conducting personal business while they are at work. The tracking system provides valuable details about where your driver has driven, their start and stop times, total daily miles driven and much more. Many fleet managers uncover their employees stopping off with their company assets to service non-customers for cash.

Live tracking can also save you money on fuel. The system closely monitors how long your drivers are idling their vehicles. For each hour your vehicles are idling, one gallon of fuel is being wasted. This can really add up over time or with a lot of vehicles on the road. The fleet management software will send you an alert whenever a driver idles excessively so that you have time to have the behavior corrected immediately. You can also run reports with all of the drivers’ idle times.

For more information about how live tracking can help your business, Contact Us.

Fleet Maintenance Software: 4 Important Benefits

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

4 Important Benefits Of Fleet Maintenance Software

Businesses with fleet operations can benefit greatly from utilizing fleet maintenance software. That is why GoFleet offers Maintenance Assistant CMMS as an add-on to their quality GPS fleet management solution.

1. Manage Your Vehicles

In addition to being able to manage and track all of your vehicles with GoFleet’s GPS fleet management system, you will be able to keep up with the critical preventative maintenance of your vehicles. The fleet maintenance software automatically tracks insurance and licenses information, warranty information, past work orders, vehicle usage and manufacturer reports. Automatically tracking this information will save you time as well as money.

2. Work Orders

With the Maintenance Assistant add-on, you can instantly create work orders for vehicle service and repairs. You can set up multiple triggers for any vehicle maintenance activity based on vehicle mileage, engine hours or time. Once the trigger is hit, the software will automatically create the work order on the maintenance task. You will never forget a preventative maintenance activity on one of your vehicles ever again.

3. Tire Management

When you are maintaining a healthy fleet, properly maintaining your vehicles’ tires and using a TPMS is a critical aspect. Our unique software add-ons will allow you to track PSI, tire history, tread depth, tire size, cost per mile, purchasing information, warranties and leasing information. In addition, it provides vital information including predictive failure analysis so you can take care of issues before they occur. This saves time, money and improves driver safety.

4. Improve Performance

Using fleet maintenance software will help your business adhere to the best maintenance practices for your fleet. This will help you improve your company’s performance because it will mean your drivers and vehicles will spend more time on the road and less time in the shop. It also improves driver and vehicle safety. When your vehicles are properly maintained, they will be less likely to break down or need service when your drivers are behind the wheel.

For more information on our GPS fleet tracking and management systems, and our Maintenance Assistant add-on, contact a fleet optimization specialist today.

Should Fleet Managers Repair Or Replace Damaged Vehicles

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Damaged Vehicles: Should Fleet Managers Repair Or Replace?

When a fleet vehicle gets in an accident, the fleet manager must decide if the vehicle should be repaired or replaced. Unfortunately, this can often occur several times during the year. Although getting a call from the driver saying he was in an accident is a dreaded call for all fleet managers, they must be ready to get the situation taken care of quickly. If the fleet manager knows the value of the asset and collects the right data, the decision can be simple.

Of course, the first thing the fleet manager needs to do is make sure that nobody has been injured. Next the manager must begin gathering information about the parties involved, physical damage to the vehicle and what has to be done to get their driver back on the road. Once that information is obtained, the fleet manager must make the critical decision of whether the vehicle should be repaired or replaced.

Know The Basics

Fleet managers must know the market value of their mobile assets. Once the vehicle is in an accident, the damage will reduce its market value. If the vehicle is leased by the company, the unamortized principle balance is the remaining company investment in the vehicle. If the vehicle is owned by the company, the balance is the undepreciated value on the balance sheet.

Fleet managers must ask themselves, “If we repair the vehicle, will the investment value be greater, less than or equal to the value of the vehicle if it was not involved in the crash?”

Gather Critical Information

The next step for the fleet manager is to gather all information that is necessary to make the decision including:

– Repair estimates

– Book value

– Salvage value

– Used vehicle value

Calculate Your Options

The basic financial consequences must be determined for both options. Remember, if you choose to repair the vehicle, the investment in the vehicle will be increased by the amount of the repairs. If you replace the vehicle, you company would have to declare a total loss of the damaged vehicle.

It is important to move quickly and make the decision as soon as you have all of the data. Your goal is to keep your fleet moving. The decision should be treated more as an investment decision than a “car decision”.

Automobile Tracking Devices: Improve Your Business

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Improve Your Business With Automobile Tracking Devices

GPS uses satellite signals to track your vehicles’ location. It is such a precise system, it is able to pinpoint your vehicles’ actual location within only yards. Over the years, GPS automobile tracking devices have played a huge part in fleet management.

Improved Dispatching

The automobile tracking devices is used with a web-based software that your dispatchers can access from their computer or mobile device. It allows for better dispatching of drivers because the dispatchers no longer have to make judgment calls as to when the vehicle will arrive and where the vehicle is located. If a customer calls regarding the status of a driver, the dispatcher will be able to give an accurate estimated time of arrival. Furthermore, the dispatcher can send the closest driver to an urgent service call. The automobile tracking devices makes the dispatching more timely and improves the quality of service you deliver to your customers.

Efficient Routing

Using automobile tracking devices also provides more efficient routing. Automatic routes are provided using your customers address data. Drivers will be given the smartest route to each customer’s location. With efficient routing, your drivers will be able to arrive at more customer locations each day ultimately adding money to your bottom line. Improved routing will save time, increase productivity and reduce fuel consumption.

GPS Navigation

Automobile tracking devices have another great benefit, navigation. You no longer have to worry about your drivers getting lost in a remote location or unfamiliar territory. Drivers can end up wasting a lot of time if they get lost, ask for directions or keep stopping to check the map. Automobile tracking devices provide turn-by-turn audible directions to save time, fuel expenses and improve driver safety.

For more information about how automobile tracking devices can help your business, Contact Us.

New Fleet Management Technology Options

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Technology Options For Fleet Management

Fleets today are constantly under pressure to be as efficient as possible when they are delivering services or products to the customer. While this can be difficult, there are many new technological options that can be used to keep a fleet productive and efficient.

Web-Based Analytics

Fleet managers can monitor where the vehicle is driven and how it is being driven using web-based analytics. The data derived from the web-based analytics can be used to monitor safety as well as efficiency. Fleet managers can provide feedback to the driver using customized reports or automatic alerts to monitor the drivers’ behaviors such as speeding, excessive idling, deviating from the authorized route, aggressive driving, and long stops. Additionally, a beeping alert can be set up in the vehicle to warn the driver that they are driving unsafely or inefficiently. This helps identify at-risk behavior and helps to coach the drivers.

Fleet managers get instant insight on how drivers are behaving when they are on the road. Each driver can be scored so the managers will know immediately which drivers performing well and which drivers need more training.

Preventive Maintenance Monitoring

When you have a large fleet of vehicles, it can be complex and difficult to perform the proper preventive maintenance on each vehicle. With preventive maintenance monitoring, fleet managers can set up reminders for each vehicle for all maintenance activities based on engine hours, time and mileage. The maintenance activities can be customized based on the companies individual needs for their vehicles.

One of the most recent innovations is a vehicle diagnostic tool. The goal for this tool is to predict engine failure or major maintenance before it occurs. This way the vehicle can be serviced before the vehicle is down for an extended period of time. This not only can save time and money, it can improve the safety of the vehicle because the maintenance issue will not occur when your driver is behind the wheel.

Vehicle Fleet Management Software: Forestry Industry

Posted on | by Devin Johnson

Using Vehicle Fleet Management Software Benefits Companies In The Forestry Industry

The forestry industry produces over $200 billion in sales each year in the United States alone. Companies in this industry have many trucks and heavy equipment to produce forest products. These companies can benefit greatly from GoFleet’s vehicle fleet management software.

Reduced Operating Expenses

Companies in the forestry industry can reduce many unnecessary overhead costs by eliminating unnecessary overtime, unauthorized vehicle usage, excessive fuel consumption and discrepancies with billing.

Maximize Labor Costs

With GoFleet’s vehicle fleet management software, you can increase efficiency and employee productivity with improved routing, reduced downtime, prevented dispatch inaccuracy and reduced tardiness.

Efficient Routing

Automated efficient route planning provides predictable schedules allowing you to reduce costs, reduce fuel consumption, increase driver productivity and stay competitive.

User Friendly Dashboard

GoFleet’s vehicle fleet management software has a user friendly dashboard that is extremely easy to use. The data can be accessed from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Customized reports and alerts can be set up based on your individual business needs.

Improve Driver Safety

Vehicle fleet management software allows you to closely monitor your drivers’ behaviors even when they are away from the office. You can set up customized alerts to be notified if your drivers are speeding, driving aggressively, breaking hard, accelerating fast or idling excessively. This gives you the opportunity to contact the driver immediately to correct the behavior.

Asset Location

When you use GoFleet’s vehicle fleet management software, you will always know where all of your assets are. You will not have to waste valuable time calling your drivers to find out their location or waiting for them to check in.

Maximize Vehicle Usage

Eliminate authorized use of vehicles and excessive idling to get the most from your fleet. Making sure your vehicles are only used on the job will increase their useful life.

For more information about how GoFleet can help your business’ fleet operations, Contact Us.