Jackson Parker

625 posts
NAFA Opens Submissions for Green Fleet Management Awards 2011

The National Association of Fleet Management (NAFA) will be accepting nominations for the Sustainable Fleet 2011 Awards until February 28, 2011. The Sustainable Fleet Awards honor individuals and organizations that have implemented pioneering, innovative, and creative programs to help with their company’s overall sustainable initiative. Awards will be presented during the Association’s 2011 Institute April 9-12 in Charlotte, NC.

NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location, or fleet composition. According to NAFA, four awards will be presented. Two for a sedan/light truck fleet and two for a truck/equipment fleet. Entrants are grouped into two broad categories according to their fleet’s area of operation and whether or not those areas are considered mandated to improve their air quality.

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More Employers Using GPS Tracking System to Manage Workers

More and more companies and cities across America are using a GPS tracking system to keep tabs on where employees are during work hours. Privacy experts say it is totally legal. Across the US, little black boxes are being tucked into vehicle dashboards. Why? Because installing a gps fleet tracking system into a fleet vehicle saves money, controls costs and keeps employees on the right track. It is not the kind of GPS system most people have in their car, but a black box that tracks where a car has been.

Managers really like the ability to monitor employees in real-time during work hours. There have been several instances where a GPS fleet tracking system has helped catch employees doing things they aren’t supposed to be doing. One fleet manager found an employee on the golf course when he was supposed to be working! Another employer caught an employee moving furniture with a company truck during business hours. One employee was busted after he put his moto-cross bike in his 18-wheeler big rig truck and went to the motorcycle racing track while on the job.

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WikiLeaks Reveals Ongoing Satellite Battle Between US and China

New documents published by WikiLeaks have revealed an ongoing, heated satellite battle between the US and China. The US has not been involved in a Star Wars type battle like this, that we know of at least, in over 23 years. According to the leaked documents, both the US and China shot down their own satellites using missiles in separate shows of strength.

The dispute started on January 11, 2007 when China shot down one of its own weather satellites. The strike, which resulted in thousands of pieces of debris orbiting the earth, raised fears that the Chinese had the power to cause chaos by destroying US military and civilian satellites. Ever since, the US and China have been involved in an ongoing dispute over the development of anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities. The US has not taken part in an anti-satellite (ASAT) launch since 1985.

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Reduce Fuel Costs with FieldLogix Fleet Tracking System

With FieldLogix, fleet management is no longer left in the dark wondering where their drivers are or what they are doing. A real-time fleet tracking system can empower you to better optimize, manage and capitalize from your fleet’s activities. Different fleets have different reasons for using FieldLogix: fuel costs are reduced, drivers are more safe and also held more accountable, improved customer service, lower maintenance costs, tax reporting needs, increased fleet productivity.

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University Students Forced to Wear GPS Tracking Devices

Tri-Valley University was recently shut down by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to alleged fraud by the University Founder, Susan Su. Tri-Valley University is being called a sham by federal prosecutors who say the university was a front to illegally provide immigration status to foreign nationals. Over 90% of Tri-Valley University students […]

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Gas Prices Expected to Rise in 2011 Due to Egypt Turmoil

Gas prices have steadily been rising since December. Gas prices are expected to keep rising due to two primary reasons:

1) The cost of oil is expected to increase due to political upheaval in the Middle East, particularly Egypt and Tunisia. Egypt is not a major oil-producing country, but about 2 million barrels of oil pass daily through the Suez Canal, which is controlled by Egypt. The outcome of the political turmoil in Egypt will certainly have an effect on gas prices. The situation may end quickly or the uprising may spread, no one knows at this point.

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GPS System Technology Used By Doctors to Navigate in Operating Room

At Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, a new type of GPS technology is now being used by doctors to navigate in the operating room. The new procedure can help people with severe back problems walk again. It’s amazing to see how GPS system technology is being used to improve the back surgery process and the results.

During surgery, a computer-assisted GPS navigation system displays the position of the instruments inside the body onto a monitor, similar to the GPS system in your car. As the surgeon moves the instrument within the patient, a camera calculates its position and transfers that data to a computer in the operating room. Computer-assisted surgery provides visual confirmation and verification for the surgeon, and enables him or her to perform a more precise implantation.

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High-tech Graffiti Tracking System Records and Catches Taggers

Right here in sunny San Diego a brand new technology is being used to catch graffiti vandals. The high-tech tracking system tracks graffiti in a database, allowing law enforcement to keep track of individual vandals. This makes it easier for prosecutors to seek jail time and restitution after the taggers have been arrested. The tracking system is called Graffiti Tracker.

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How to Stop GPS On Your Phone from Revealing Where You Live

Did you know that GPS tracking data can be recorded when someone takes a picture of you? Browser plug-ins and certain software programs can reveal the geotag location information of your photos and movies to anyone who wants to see it. Location information (GPS tracking system coordinates) stored inside photos can reveal your home address, work address, places you visit often, etc. Geotags can make it very easy for people – friends, family, bosses, spouses, parents – to know exactly where you are.

Here’s How to Protect Your Privacy:

Modern cameras can track information such as where and when a photo of you was taken and on what type of camera. It is important to make sure that your camera is not revealing more information than you would like. Also be aware when photos of you are uploaded to websites where the public may see such as Facebook, Twitter, Ebay, Craigslist.

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Sacramento Saves $60,000/month in Fuel with GPS Fleet Tracking

The City of Sacramento recently spent over $100,000 on a GPS fleet management system. Many tax payers questioned if the new fleet tracking system was a luxury or a necessity? Turns out, that within the first month of using the fleet management system, the City identified ways to cut fuel costs by over $60,000 in just one month.

According to Keith Leech, City of Sacramento Fleet Management, “The analysis identified savings in excess of $60,000 a month in fuel costs alone, quite an impressive figure considering the cost to equip those 184 vehicles was just over $110,000. Simply stated, the system paid for itself in just two short months making it an excellent investment for the City and a real money saver for the tax payers.”

A real-time GPS Fleet Tracking System can help to Cut Fuel Costs and other Fleet Management Costs. It can also help to:

* Save time and reduce paperwork
* Quickly identify wasteful activities
* Accurately track and measure operating efficiencies

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EPA, DOT & CARB to Create New Vehicle Emissions Standards

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) announced they are coordinating with the California Air Resources Board to set fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for model year 2017-2025 cars and light-duty trucks. All three agencies will simultaneously release the proposed rules for vehicle fuel economy and carbon emissions on Sept. 1, 2011.

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Google Maps Adds Fuel Cost Calculator to Driving Directions in Europe

Google Maps (GOOG) just launched a Fuel Cost Calculator to driving directions for Google Maps in Europe. Google’s new Fuel Cost Calculator can be used to estimate the average fuel cost for your journey. When a user asks for driving direction between two locations on the map, it shows an estimate of how much cash your have to spend in order to procure fuel for the journey. The estimated fuel cost appears at the bottom of the list of driving directions.

This new tool can be very helpful for many reasons. With rising gas costs on the horizon (Oil is expected to top $100 a barrel this year.) it would be nice to be able to plan your trips taking gas costs into consideration. If utilized properly, this new tool can help you to become aware of your carbon footprint, and gives you the opportunity to really cut your gas costs, which is a great incentive to take the time to plan your trips more efficiently.

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Gas Prices Could Reach $4 by Spring as Oil Prices Continue to Rise

There has been a steady rise in gas prices over the last year. According to AAA, the national average for regular unleaded gas is $3.11 a gallon. Over the last year, prices are up 39 cents a gallon, or 14%. Crude oil is up by a similar percentage, currently trading at just under $90 a barrel.

“Unless we see increases in supply, it’s hard not to see a tighter market,” John Felmy, the American Petroleum Institute’s chief economist, said in a conference call with reporters. Felmy said worldwide oil demand in 2010 hit a record of more than 87 million barrels a day.

New reports out this week show demand for oil and gas is up according to API and some analysts say that could mean paying more at the pump. Many experts are saying drivers could be paying $4 a gallon of gasoline this spring. There’s also claims some experts have been under-estimating prices for months.

The gas price increase may be due to several reasons including:

1. Global demand for oil is increasing as China, India and the Middle East are rapidly expanding.

2. Rising interest in crude as an investment can cause higher prices.

3. Winter weather has been extra cold in many parts the US and Europe, creating more demand for heating oil, which can cause an increase in gas prices.

4. The BP oil spill resulted in Obama administering an oil drilling moratorium, which means no more offshore drilling on the Gulf Coast, further reducing the oil supply.

5. OPEC continues to restrict supply.

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GPS Tracking With No Warrant Keeps Two Home Invasion Suspects in Jail

Last week there were more legal disputes involving GPS tracking without a warrant and 4th Amendment rights. The highest courts in New York, Oregon and Washington have ruled that warrants are required when law enforcement officers want to track someone with GPS tracking technology, but the Ohio Supreme Court has not yet decided on the issue.

GPS Tracking Without a Warrant

In Ohio, two men accused in a number of home-invasion robberies in Franklin County are trying to get the evidence thrown out court because the sheriff tracked them by placing a GPS device on their car without a warrant. A judge in Fairfield County, where the last of the home invasions occurred, ruled in July that investigators didn’t need a warrant to attach the GPS tracking device to the car. The two men pleaded no contest in that case, and each was convicted and sentenced to prison. They are appealing the convictions, based largely on the GPS tracking issue. Trial dates are tentatively set in May.

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School District Spends Over $1.5M on GPS Tracking System

SSchool districts across the US are realizing the value in a school bus fleet GPS tracking system. In Nashville, TN, a school district just spent $1.5 million for a new school bus fleet GPS tracking system.

A GPS tracking system can be beneficial to a school district for many reasons. A tracking system can especially be very helpful in reducing conflict between parents, drivers, other school employees.

How School Bus Fleet GPS Tracking Works

The GPS tracking device automatically triggers when the ignition is turned on. The system can be used to determine if buses are hitting routes on time, or even if they’ve missed a stop. Some advanced tracking systems will do a fingerprint scan of your child every time he or she gets on and off the school bus. This is an excellent way to keep track of a child’s whereabouts. Using the website for the GPS tracking system, parent’s can view the real-time location of the school bus and know whether or not their child is on the bus.

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How to Fly Safely with Electronic Devices on Airplanes – FAA Law

Every time a plane lands or takes off, all passengers are asked to shut off all electronic devices – laptops, cel phones, iPods, GPS tracking devices, DVD players.If you don’t put your electronic devices away, then technically you’re breaking an FAA law. The FCC put the electronic devices rule into effect many years ago in order to rule out risks involving interference with the aircraft’s navigation GPS system. But many people question whether the law is really necessary. After all, can an iPod or GPS system enabled smartphone such as an iPhone really interfere with an airplane’s navigation system?

I’ve seen many people ignore this law and continue to use their cel phone or iPod during landings and take off. Chances are using an electronic device will not do anything. Therefore, no your iPod will not do any damage. But, it is a federal law to make sure your devices are shut off. The theory is that they COULD do something the aircraft’s electronics.

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Apps That Prevent Texting While Driving

We all know that texting and driving is very dangerous. Drivers should always stay focused on the road ahead of them. A very famous and successful plastic surgeon drove off a cliff in Malibu last year (2010) because he was texting while driving. The accident demonstrates the very real danger of texting while driving, an activity that has reportedly spiked in recent years.

“I hear, almost daily, accounts of people who are injured while texting,” said Dr. Angela Gardner, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Gardner said “It has stopped being an oddity when we hear that someone was texting and has a wreck. Now it’s more of a fairly common occurrence…While sending out a status update during a leisurely drive may seem innocuous, it only takes a moment for distracted drivers to become vulnerable.”

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Portable Navigation Device Better Than A Factory Installed GPS System

The debate over whether portable a GPS navigation device is better than a factory installed in-vehicle GPS system has been going on for years. It appears that portable GPS navigation systems are starting to win the battle, according to a recent article on the Wall St Journal Blog.

While some people may always prefer to find their way using the satellite navigation systems built into their vehicles, the shift towards portable units began several years ago when people didn’t want to pay $1000 – $3500 for a factory installed GPS system when they could buy a portable GPS system for $100 – $500. A portable GPS system comes equipped with comparable GPS technology for a fraction of the price.

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