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Fleet management systems have been around a while and have become so complex that it has evolved into Field Resource Management. This article explores 5 reasons why all fleets need at least a basic Field Resource Management system.
Ryder is working hard to expand its Green Fleet. The company recently announced it has ordered over 200 trucks powered by compressed natural gas. Ryder’s all-new fleet of hybrid trucks will help the company and its customers to maximize fuel efficiency while minimizing costs, and reduce vehicle emissions – a win-win for the environment and the bottom line.
When traveling at low speeds, the hybrid electric motor supplies power to the truck, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions. According to Ryder, natural gas is a domestic resource and it is 25 percent cleaner than the cleanest diesel. When your company commits to going Green, you demonstrate corporate and environmental responsibility and business savvy.
The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in the US on April 8, 2011 is $3.73, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices have risen 12 cents in the past week. One week ago the average gas price was $3.61. Gas prices have risen 21 cents in the past month. One month ago gas prices were at $3.52.
Typically Hawaii and Alaska have the highest gas prices in the US, but today California gas prices are higher than in Alaska. In California, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $4.12, the highest price in the continental US. Only Hawaii has higher prices at $4.38 a gallon. In Alaska, gas is averaging $4.11.
The world’s largest automaker, Toyota (TM), and the world’s largest software company, Microsoft (MSFT), recently announced they are teaming up to bring a cloud computing telematics system to vehicles in the US. The goal of the new partnership is to complete a global cloud platform by 2015, combining groundbreaking technology with an affordable telematics system for Toyota drivers.
The new system isn’t an entertainment package, but rather a means of sending content and information to and from vehicles, computers and mobile devices. The new telematics-based system will give vehicles access to streaming music, telecommunications information, GPS navigation and energy management. The idea is to connect vehicles to servers around the world, eliminating the need for a lot of hardware and software in the vehicle.
Back in 2008, FairFax County Police were investigating a slew of sexual assaults, when David L. Foltz Jr., a registered sex offender, became a person of interest in the case. Detectives then covertly placed a GPS tracking system on a vehicle that Foltz was driving for work, without first obtaining a warrant.
After placing the GPS tracking device on the suspect’s vehicle, the data revealed that the suspect was in fact near the scene of another sexual assault. With this knowledge, officers began trailing Foltz.
While he was being followed by police, Foltz attempted to sexually assault a woman. The trailing officers intervened and stopped the act. They caught Foltz forcefully trying to unbutton the victim’s pants.
Anyone who has seen a friend or family member struggle with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can tell you that seeing someone you know and love mentally deteriorate is heartbreaking. But what can be of an even greater concern is their tendency to wander off and get lost. There have been many studies reporting that over 60-70% of all patients with these diseases will become lost at least once. Even more shocking is that nearly 50% of them can die if they aren’t found within 24 hours.
Families of dementia patients are turning to GPS tracking technology to monitor loved ones. Many families have reported that using a GPS tracking device gives them peace of mind because they know their loved ones are safe and sound. GPS tracking devices can help to keep those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s safe 24 hours a day, without being too invasive or making the patient feel inadequate.
The cost of owning and operating a vehicle in the US is increasing, according to a AAA Driving Costs Report released this week. Anyone who has filled up their gas tank recently will not find the data in this report a big surprise. The Driving Costs Report said the cost to own and operate a sedan in the U.S. has risen 3.4 percent the past 12 months to 58.6 cents a mile for a small sedan, 73.9 cents a mile for a medium sedan and 96.4 cents a mile for a large sedan, assuming 10,000 miles driven per year.
It is important to note that gas prices were much lower at the time this report was being put together. Today the costs to own and operate a vehicle are actually much higher than the AAA Report indicates.
The AAA Driving Costs Report also says drivers are paying 1.9 percent more than last year to keep their cars on the road. The average yearly price tag is now up to $8,776, which works out to 58.5 cents per mile based on a 15,000 miles per year average. AAA calculates the cost of a year of ownership at 58.5 cents per mile for 15,000 miles. Owning a small car costs an estimated $6,758, while owning a large sedan costs $10,982. A mid-size sport utility vehicle costs an estimated $11,239.
FieldLogix today announced the launch of a new version of its GPS fleet management system called FieldLogix Lite, an entry-level, real-time GPS vehicle tracking system. You can track one vehicle or manage your entire fleet with FieldLogix Lite at a lower monthly cost than the standard plan.
FieldLogix Lite is an entry-level GPS fleet tracking system that offers a perfect set of features for those who just want basic GPS tracking information at a lower cost. FieldLogix Lite has a basic set of GPS fleet tracking features for companies that want to experience FieldLogix, but are not ready to commit to the full-featured offering. Best of all, FieldLogix Lite users can upgrade the more advanced versions of FieldLogix without having to replace the GPS vehicle tracking devices.
The Lite plan includes:
– Google maps with real-time traffic and satellite views
– A closest vehicle to address search tool for improved dispatching
– Breadcrumb history report
– Stop details report
– Start-end report
– Mileage report
– Idling report
– Restricted zone (geo-fence) alerts
– Device tampering alerts
AT&T (NYSE: T), FedEx (NYSE: FDX), PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) are the charter members of the US National Clean Fleet Partnership, announces last week by Obama. The US National Clean Fleet Partnership (CFP) is a public-private partnership between the US Government and several of the nation’s largest fleets.
The primary goal of the Clean Fleet Partnership is to assist large companies in reducing their diesel and gasoline use by utilizing electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-saving measures into their daily operations. President Obama said the Clean Fleet Partnership includes a number of measures to help the US shift to a clean energy economy, reducing our dependence on oil, protecting our planet, and spurring economic growth through cleaner and more efficient, cars, and trucks.
Telecommunications giant AT&T (T) helps approximately 300 million people around the globe stay connected 24/7, every single day of the year. In order to service such a vast amount of customers worldwide, AT & T utilizes extensive telecommunications networks and a large corporate fleet.
AT&T’s fleet is huge. The company operates approximately 78,000 fleets vehicles in total and is one of the largest private fleets in the US, according to Fleet Owner Magazine. There is a growing trend in the industry to operate an eco-friendly, green fleet and AT&T is leading the way.
AT&T’s corporate fleet is made up of vehicles that use compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of traditional petroleum or gas. On Friday April 1, 2011, AT&T announced that its use of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in its corporate vehicle fleet helped the company avoid the purchase of more than one million gallons of fuel in 2010.
