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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.
The high cost of gas is expected to continue to have a major impact on business operating expenses in 2011. Truck fleets will be feeling the most pain at the pump, since the cost of a gallon of diesel is predicted to remain higher than unleaded gasoline. Higher fuel prices will have a domino effect on increasing prices for other oil-based products, such as replacement tires.
Fleet management is looking at technology, tires, vehicle maintenance, and downtime to find ways to cut costs. One of the best ways to cut fuel costs is with a GPS vehicle tracking and fleet management system.
In 2008, BLS Trucking installed a GPS vehicle tracking system in its fleet of approximately 200 diesel trucks. By eliminating unauthorized use and unnecessary idling time, BLS Trucking saved $188,539 in fuel consumption alone during the first year, amounting to more than $900 in savings per vehicle.
At the end of 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed a new safety regulation that would specifically prohibit interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle. The DOT says fleet management and approximately 4 million commercial drivers would be affected by this proposal.
FMCSA research shows that using a hand-held cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several risky steps. In particular, commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Drivers dialing a hand-held cell phone while driving increase their risk by six times.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) says it supports the proposed legislation, which would put an end to the use of handheld mobile phones by commercial truck drivers. According to the ATA website, ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said “Recognizing the risks of hand held mobile phone use, it simply makes sense to prohibit their use by all motorists to make the highways safer for everyone.”
n light of today’s economy, most people are looking for ways to save money. People have become more conscientious and realize that saving a few extra dollars by changing their behavior can really pay off over time.
Upgrade the cell phone after two years? I doubt it. Exchange the flat-panel TV for an even thinner model? Maybe next year. Replace the pants with the hole? Maybe next month! People have cut back on eating out, shopping, traveling, you name it.
Recently, consumer spending has picked up, but for many Americans the recession has left something behind: a greater desire to make stuff last. Every dollar in a budget counts and must be stretched.
For a wide variety of goods — cars, phones, computers, even shampoo — the data shows a slowing of product life cycles and consumption. In many cases the difference is mere months, but economists and consumers say the approach just may continue due to the strong impression the downturn made on consumers. It’s similar to the Depression-era mentality when people stored canned goods and sewed clothes rather than replacing them for years.
In a recession, sometimes spending a bit on technology can actually end up saving your business money over the long term. Investments in Web conferencing, fleet management, and other technologies can pay off. There are countless ways technology can save organizations money. After all, technology is meant to be a tool and by definition is supposed to increase efficiency which always translates to saving money.
How to Save on Fuel Costs, Despite Rising Gas Prices
High fuel prices are putting the squeeze on drivers, especially small businesses. Instead of worrying about gas prices, we should focus on consuming less gas. Gas prices are rising and there’s not much you can do about it. But you can take control by investing in more fuel efficient vehicles and developing driving habits that burn significantly less amount of gas.
Due to the economic recession, many small businesses are already suffering from razor-thin profit margins. With gas prices this high, it makes sense for small businesses to invest in a fleet GPS tracking system. Tracking and managing fleet vehicles can significantly reduce fuel expenses. The Aberdeen Group, an independent research firm, concluded that a GPS fleet tracking system can reduce fuel costs by 13.2% on average.
Record High Gas Prices February 2011
Over the past week, the cost to fill up your gas tank has sky-rocketed. Gas prices increased 17 cents a gallon last week, which is a huge increase. Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, said gas prices’ 6-cent jump reported Friday was the largest one-day increase since at least 2008. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose, for the 4th day in a row, to 4.6 cents to $3.33 on Friday, according to AAA. That brings the national average to the highest level since October 2008.
Turmoil in the Middle East is largely contributing to the rapidly increasing gas prices. Oil prices shot as high as $103 a barrel on Thursday as chaos in Libya disrupted crude supplies from the OPEC nation, and traders worried instability could spread to other oil-rich countries in the Middle East. The spike in oil last week could translate to an increase in gas prices of 37 cents per gallon in the coming weeks, according Moody’s Analytics economist, Chris Lafakis. He estimates that for every $1 increase in the price of oil, retail gas prices typically rise 2.5 cents a gallon. “This will definitely be the most expensive February gas prices ever,” he said, adding that gas prices are typically lower during the winter months. Many analysts are predicting drivers will see $4-a-gallon gas by summer.
A mysterious object used in a high-tech GPS-based treasure hunt caused parts of the Downtown Disney Park in Anaheim, CA to be temporarily closed down this week. Police were notified of a black box located on a bridge near the Disney shops and restaurants. No one knew what the object was, so police and the bomb squad were called in to figure out if the black box posed a threat.
A couple hours later, they realized the mysterious black box was part of a high-tech GPS-based scavenger hunt. The object was actually one of the hunt’s geo-caching sites, an essential component of these types of scavenger hunts. The treasure hunt uses GPS tracking devices to find objects left in specific locations. It’s like playing hide-n-seek with a GPS tracking system.
Telematics usage based auto insurance, aka Pay-As-You-Drive auto insurance programs, are becoming very popular. Why? Because it saves drivers money! Pay-as-you-go insurance can provide drivers big discounts, up to 54% according to GMAC. Usage based insurance, also known as pay as you drive (or PAYD) is a type of automobile insurance whereby the costs of auto insurance are dependent upon type of vehicle used, and measures against a driver’s time, distance and place. Pay as you drive (PAYD) means that the insurance premium is calculated dynamically, typically according to the amount you drive.
What is Pay As You Drive Auto Insurance?
There are a few different types of coverage for usage based auto insurance:
1. Coverage is based on the odometer reading of the vehicle.
2. Coverage is based on the number of minutes the vehicle is being used as recorded by a vehicle-independent module transmitting data via cellphone or RF technology.
3. Coverage is based on other data collected from the vehicle, including speed and time-of-day information in addition to distance or time traveled.
According to driving safety experts, the average vehicle crash costs an employer more than $16,000. When the incident involves an employee injury, that figure spikes to $74,000, then up to $500,000 if there is a fatality. However, most auto accidents are preventable. Here are some easy to implement driving tips that all fleet management can use.
1. Fleet management communication with drivers and training. A good safety driving initiative requires the involvement of owners and top managers as well as drivers and other employees. Driver safety training and communication should be provided on an ongoing basis. Even experienced drivers benefit from repeated training and reminders. A driver reward and incentive program can help make safe driving part of your business culture. Employees should understand that safe driving behaviors affect the bottom line.
Hughes Telematics Inc. has raised $5 million, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing. Hughes Telematics is transitioning from development to operational mode. The company, which offers emergency services and remote vehicle diagnostics for wireless fleet vehicle management, is transferring its technology to the health sector and other automotive markets.
In 2011, Hughes Telematics is expected to launch a mobile personal emergency response service aimed at seniors and their caregivers. The product consists of a wearable device with one-touch access to an emergency assistance call center. Inside the device, a cellular modem will enable wireless voice and data communications, and an embedded GPS combined with other sensors will allow location-based GPS tracking and monitoring of the person wearing the device.
