Posts By: JC Strodula

Endangered Tiger Killed By Poachers Found By Tracking System

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Tigers are one of the Earth’s most endangered species. At the beginning of this century there were about 100,000 wild tigers. Today there are less than 5,000 of these beautiful creatures alive, making tigers one of the world’s fastest disappearing species.

Two weeks ago a very rare tiger was killed by poachers on the Indo-Nepal border, according to wildlife officials. The adult male tiger’s body was found last week, approximately June 1, 2011. A WWF survey carried out in 2008 found just 121 adult tigers of breeding age in Nepal, so this is a real tragedy.

The tiger had been fitted with a collar carrying a GPS tracking system. The GPS tracking system enabled scientists to monitor the tiger in the wild.

According to Tikaram Adhikari, a warden at Bardia National Park in Nepal, the endangered tiger was last traced by the tracking system on May 9.”Next two days, we could not locate it. Then, early this week, we found that it had been killed by poachers,” he said.

“The tiger was moving towards human settlements. After seeing the tiger, the poachers offered him poisoned beef. It died after consuming the food… Four locals have been arrested on suspicion of poaching,” Adhikari said.

Gas Prices Expected to Continue Decreasing

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Gas prices have continued to decrease this week. Many experts are expecting prices to continue fluctuating with an overall downward trend.

Drivers and businesses affected by gas prices have been pleasantly surprised because gas prices typically rise during the month of May. The current peak national average price for this year was $3.98 on May 5th, 2011.

In mid-May, Neil Gamson, an analyst for the Energy Information Administration, said “It is possible we have reached our peak.” However, that could change if the violence in the Middle East gets worse or if there is a bad hurricane season.

Currently the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.78, down 3 cents from last week and 18 cents from one month ago according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Although this month’s decreases are good news, prices are still up over $1.00 from one year ago. Diesel fuel is currently averaging $4.00 per gallon, down 16 cents from one month ago.

Electric Vehicles Drive Green Fleet Growth By 2015

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Managing a fleet used to be much more simple. Nobody bothered much about carbon emissions or the environment, or even fuel efficiency or leasing costs. It was all about status or, at best, about getting the job done, rather than any consideration for the environment.

Fast forward to 2011 and things have definitely changed. Environmental considerations are now at the top of the agenda for any corporate or government fleet manager. Creating a green fleet is not only good for the environment, but it is good fro the bottom line as well. Reducing fleet emissions typically means burning less fuel and running the most efficient fleet possible.

Traditionally hybrid electric vehicles have played an important role in creating a greener fleet. But more and more fleet managers are turning to plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as a solution. A recent report from Pike Research titled “Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Fleet Markets” forecasts that between 2010 and 2015, more than 1.3 million PEVs will be purchased for use in fleet operations, with nearly 400,000 vehicles being sold annually by the end of the forecast period.

AT&T Launches New Fleet Tracking Solutions To Help With CSA Compliance

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AT&T (NYSE: T) recently announced the launch of three new dispatch management and mobile transportation applications from Complete Innovations and Xata Corporation (NASDAQ: XATA). Designed to streamline operations, optimize fleet and mobile workforce performance and facilitate fleet manager’s adherence with the CSA 2010 initiative, these new features will enhance AT&T’s portfolio of fleet tracking solutions.

Businesses that use these new fleet tracking features can get valuable insight into fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance needs, asset location and more, while drivers can find destinations more easily to deliver products on time. Over the last several years, the number of companies using fleet management solutions has grown substantially, fueled by advanced technologies such as powerful smartphones, GPS location services and machine-to-machine solutions. Frost & Sullivan industry analysts noted in a 2010 report that the subscriber base for Field Asset Management has increased from 1.4 million subscribers in 2008 to 2.4 million in 2010.

Xata Turnpike from AT&T helps private and for-hire fleets and owner-operators to comply with CSA 2010, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative intended to reduce commercial motor vehicle-related accidents. Xata Turnpike makes it easy for businesses to abide by hours of service (HOS) and International Fuel Tax (IFTA) reporting requirements, while simultaneously helping them to optimize their fleets’ performances. Users can install Xata Turnpike from AT&T in just minutes and then run the application on their existing mobile devices.

Fleet Tracking System Saves Company Hundreds Each Month

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One of the UK’s largest providers of port-a-potties, Toilets+, recently installed a GPS-based fleet tracking system in all 32 of the company’s vehicles. The real-time fleet tracking system is saving Toilets+ as much as £400 ($650 USD) per month in fuel costs, cutting engine-idling times throughout its entire fleet.

According to Toilets+ managing director, Mick Bowman, “Through the fleet tracking system, we discovered some staff were reaching a site and leaving their vehicle’s engine running, often for very long periods. Now drivers are required to switch off and remove the ignition key on arrival….We also use the fleet tracking service to check drivers’ start and finish times to aid the monthly payroll.”

High Gas Prices Affecting Businesses Large and Small

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For many businesses, this year’s increases in gas prices are taking its toll on profitability. Corporate giants such as Walmart all the way down to family owned flower shops are dealing with the consequences of $4 a gallon gasoline.

Today’s high gas prices are also especially hard for those who rely on commercial vehicles as a large part of their business. For these companies, even a small increase in gas costs can be detrimental. Many are absorbing the costs and carrying on business as usual, hoping that the reports saying gas prices will drop again this summer are true. Other companies have been forced to raise prices.

Companies that rely on house calls or deliveries have been affected more than most. Pizza delivery, flower delivery, plumbers, HVAC – anything you can think of that has to be there in person to complete a transaction.

Fleet Management Biggest Concern is Volatile Gas Prices

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Recent increases in gas prices over the past 6 – 12 months are taking its toll on the fleet management industry. According to a recent survey conducted by GE Capital Fleet Services, 29% of respondents said the recent surge in fuel prices is their number one concern, up 12 percent from one year ago. The other two major concerns for fleet management was driver safety and cost savings.

Concern for driver safety increased in 2011 to 28 percent from 21 percent in 2010, while cost savings fell as a priority but remained important at 23 percent, down from 36 percent in 2010. cost savings are now a bigger focus for executive management according to fleet managers. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed indicated that executive management’s main focus for fleets is cost savings, up from 48 percent in 2010.

FieldLogix Launches Fuel Efficiency Driver Training

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FieldLogix, an industry leading GPS fleet tracking system, recently launched an online Fuel Efficiency Driver Training Program. Training that targets fuel efficiency can help drivers recognize and change driving habits that waste fuel. Even highly experienced truck drivers can boost their skills and enhance driving performance through fuel efficiency driver training programs.

A few simple changes in driving techniques can produce sizable fuel savings of 5 percent or more, according to the EPA. Fleets that improve fuel economy by at least 5 percent through driver training and monitoring programs can save more than $1,200 per truck each year in fuel costs and eliminate 8 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per truck each year.

GPS Fleet Tracking System Saves Alzheimer Patient’s Life

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Many people are aware that a GPS fleet tracking system can help companies save money on fuel, increase productivity and improve the bottom line. Some fleet tracking systems even help companies go green by reducing vehicle emissions. But a recent story proves that fleet GPS systems can also provide a myriad of other benefits – including saving a father’s life.

A woman in Louisiana, Joyce Rawls, was concerned about her father because his mental facilities were deteriorating due to Alzheimer’s disease. Anyone who has seen someone they love suffer from Alzheimer’s knows how painful and difficult this must be. The woman decided to purchase a GPS fleet tracking system and had it installed in her father’s vehicle in 2008. Turns out this decision may have saved her father’s life.

The fleet tracking device was installed in her father’s truck for two years before they needed to use it to find him. Then, in April of 2010, her father left the house and either forgot where he was going or forgot how to get back home.
According to a recent press release from TrackNet, the woman said, “My mom called and said that he had not made it back home,” Ms. Rawls reports. “I immediately knew something was wrong and pulled him up on the computer, with our tracking system.” She found her father’s truck in Shreveport, LA, over 30 miles south of his home in Plain Dealing, La. Ms. Rawls immediately called the police in Shreveport, La. and they were curious as to how she knew her father was there. “When I told the police about the tracking unit in my father’s truck and that he has Alzheimer’s, they were very impressed and said it was a smart idea.”

Man Drives Into a House, Blames GPS System

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This weekend a man in New Jersey was driving in heavy fog with his wife and children in the car. Unsure of where he was going, and with very limited visibility, he was blindly relying on is GPS system….and ending up driving straight into someone’s house.

The accident happened on at an intersection where drivers could only turn left or right. Instead, the driver told police he was relying on his GPS system, which said to go straight at the intersection.

Not only did the driver miss his turn, he also went through a stop sign without stopping and then continued off-road for 100 feet before hitting a house. The driver and his son were unharmed but his wife and 13-year-old daughter, neither of whom were wearing seat belts, both reportedly suffered serious neck and head injuries.