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5 Reasons Why All Fleets Need Field Resource Management

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.

GPS Fleet Management Expert Appointed to CA Emergency Medical Services

GPS fleet tracking and fleet management solutions expert Aaron Hamilton was recently appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). Mr. Hamilton was chosen by the Governor to enhance EMSA’s ability to utilize emerging communications and GPS tracking technology to respond to serious emergencies and potential terrorist threats, according to a press release.

This is a very important appointment by the Governor, as it recognizes Aaron as a leader in GPS fleet tracking. According to the Governor’s office, ” Aaron very may well be the foremost expert in GPS-based fleet deployment and management technologies.”

Hamilton is CEO of GPS Logic, a California-based GPS software technology company. In this role, Mr. Hamilton is the lead technology engineer responsible for all GPS fleet management and mobile data communications architecture and software. Through GPS Logic, Hamilton’s software systems have been recognized by nationally known leaders from government and business for their cutting edge innovations and advancements in GPS tracking, web and mobile gateway technologies.

GPS Tracker Helps Police Catch Man on Burglary Spree

olice in Spokane, WA recently used a GPS tracking device to solve at least one recent business burglary. The suspect has been linked to more than 40 burglaries in the area. All the robberies targeted tattoo shops, hair and nail salons, and other types of businesses.

Witnesses reported seeing and hearing a Ford Bronco with a loud muffler. Local police and patrol officers had made several stops on a Bronco that matched witness reports and linked the vehicle to Robert Frates. Detectives then placed a GPS tracking device on both Frates’ Bronco and a Chevy Lumina. One of the vehicles was tracked to several locations in Airway Heights and investigators later learned that those locations had been burglarized.

US Gas Prices Increase 23 Cents in One Month

Gas prices rose again today. Today’s national average for unleaded regular is $3.60 per gallon, an increase of over 5 cents from last week, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

Alaska gas prices reached $4.06 and Hawaii is at $4.25. New Jersey has the lowest price in the continental U.S. at $3.40 a gallon and California the highest at $4.04 a gallon.

US Gas Prices Rise 22 Cents in 30 Days, Diesel Up 24 Cents

The current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the US is $3.595, the highest ever for this time of year. Prices have risen over 2 cents since last week and are up over 22 cents from 30 days ago, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, Wright Express and the Oil Price Information Service. The biggest increase was on the West Coast, where gas prices were up six cents and remained the most expensive of the major regions at $3.92 per gallon.

More Gas Price Increases Expected Through September

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA):

The recent rapid increase in spot crude and gasoline prices has led to a significant rise in retail product prices. Motorists currently experiencing a jump in pump prices will likely see further increases from now through the spring since the recent increase in crude oil prices has not yet been fully passed through to gasoline prices.

EIA expects the retail price of regular-grade motor gasoline to average $3.56 per gallon in 2011, 77 cents per gallon higher than the 2010 average and about 40 cents above the projected price in the previous Outlook. EIA projects gasoline prices to average about $3.70 per gallon during the peak driving season (April through September) with considerable regional and local variation.

How Can a GPS Fleet Management System Help My Company?

Reduce Operating Costs. By monitoring activities like speeding or excessive idling you can not only save fuel, but reduce damage done to the engine, brakes and tires. An added bonus is you can also reduce vehicle green house gas emissions. Reduce Fuel and Vehicle Maintenance Costs. The average operating cost per vehicle is about $1.50 […]

Gas Prices Reach Highest Price Ever in Month of March

Today the US average for a gallon of unleaded gas is $3.584, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices have risen 4 cents in the past week. Gas prices are up 74 cents from one year ago. Prices are at their highest level since 2008, in part because of the Japan earthquake and turmoil in the oil-producing Middle East. Gas price reached the highest price ever recorded during the month of March, according to ABC News. The state averages for a gallon of gas topped $4 in California, Alaska and Hawaii.

Oil futures settled today at $103.98 after reaching a high of $105.76 earlier in trading. On Friday, oil futures settled at $105.40 a barrel, the third consecutive day above $105, according to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group.

Continuing unrest in Libya as well as other North African and Middle Eastern countries has led to the highest crude oil prices since 2008. As a result, the US Energy Administration has raised its forecast for the average cost of crude oil to refiners to $105 per barrel in 2011, $14 higher than its previous price estimate.

200 Trucking Companies Sued Over GPS Patent Rights

Over 200 trucking companies were named as defendants last week in a lawsuit filed over patent infringement for GPS-based vehicle tracking technology by PJC Logistics. According to recent legal documents filed in 8 federal court districts across the US, PJC Logistics LLC is claiming to be the sole owner of the GPS vehicle tracking technology patent, and that other users of the GPS vehicle tracking technology are doing so without legal permission. PJC Logistics is claiming that each of the carriers they are suing either “uses or directs others to use its electronic location-based fleet management and tracking system in its fleet of vehicles.”

211 trucking companies are named as defendants in the lawsuit, but many more companies are reported to actually be using the fleet management technology. No one knows why certain companies are being targeted, while others are not. The legal documents do not disclose the basis for selecting carriers.

Increase Productivity With New Fleet Management Tech

Would you like to improve customer service, reduce your operating costs, have more control of your employees and assets, and “go green” by reducing your vehicle emissions? There are a number of cost-effective solutions available to help fleets increase productivity, improve driver safety, and ensure fleet operations run as efficiently as possible.

A telematics-based GPS fleet management system can increase the profitability and productivity of any company with mobile employees, vehicles or other mobile assets. A growing number of fleets are turning to GPS tracking systems as the most cost-effective tool to curb excessive idling and other fuel-inefficient driver behaviors.

Verizon Inc. successfully reduced fuel costs by curbing unnecessary engine idling, according to Automotive Fleet. Verizon estimates unnecessary idling costs the telecommunications company about $20 million annually. Verizon uses a combination of GPS tracking and employee education to curb unnecessary engine idling.

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