Category: Vehicle Tracking Systems

312 posts
Gas Prices Remain Steady as Oil Prices Drop Below $93

Gas Prices Remain Steady as Oil Prices Drop Below $93 Due to Concerns About the Economy

After news was released of an eleventh hour agreement in Washington to raise the debt ceiling, the markets reacted positively in very early Monday morning trading – for a very brief period. The positivity was fleeting. By late Monday morning, the ending of the debt debacle had no more positive impact on the markets. The stock market reversed and has been declining for the last several days.

The way the markets have traded since the announcement of the debt deal suggest strongly to me that the majority of the selling last week was more to do with the faltering global economy rather than uncertainty over the US politicians doing a deal. There is speculation that the US may still lost its AAA credit rating, and that Europe may be on the brink of a financial meltdown.

Besides the debt problems both here and in Europe, there is also evidence that the US economy is not rebounding as many hoped it would be. Investors are also concerned that consumer spending is down and there is weak demand for oil and gas.

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Fleet Tracking System Features to Consider, Part One

Fleet Tracking System Features – Part One

If your business requires vehicles and mobile employees, and you are interested in finding ways to increase your company’s productivity and profitability, then you should consider investing in a GPS Fleet Tracking System.

A Fleet Tracking System can provide your company with numerous benefits at an affordable price. A fleet tracking system can help the average fleet reduce fuel costs by up to 20%. Most customers typically see a positive ROI in less than 6 months.

There are several factors to consider when researching and selecting the right Fleet Tracking System. Here are some of the fleet tracking features you should be considering in your purchase decision.

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New Satellite Technology Allows Planes To Fly Over Polar Regions

A new satellite communication for oceanic flights has been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Now airlines can use the satellite communication to fly through the Polar Regions instead of around them, while still maintaining communication with air traffic control.

Until now, airlines had no way of communicating in the Polar Region besides using a High Frequency (HF) radio, which is so unreliable that airlines decided not to use it because it was too dangerous. Now, being able to fly over the poles, airlines can save time and money. Plus they will produce less pollution.

According to Damien McCormack, director of Aircraft Solutions at SITA, flying over the poles can save approximately 30 minutes to an hour in flight time, depending on the size of the aircraft, flight route and exactly what points over the Poles the plane is flying.

McCormack also said that by saving one hour on an airbus 330, which can accommodate up to 335 passengers, it can account to a savings of 5.5 tons of fuel, which equates to 17 tons of C02 emissions. With a Boeing 747, which can accommodate between 416-524 passengers, saving one hour of flying time would account to saving 10 tons of fuel, which equates to 35 tons of C02 emissions.

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Survey Finds GPS Tracking Lowers Vehicle Operating Costs

A new vehicle tracking survey was released last month in the UK. Results of the study showed that businesses using fleet GPS tracking systems are saving money in several ways. The vehicle tracking survey showed that businesses can achieve measurable benefits in terms of fleet performance, service and legislative compliance.

The vehicle tracking study was conducted by CTrack. The company surveyed over 250 fleet decision makers in the UK. The survey was developed to provide insight into the uptake of vehicle tracking amongst UK-based businesses, how the technology is being used, what benefits are being achieved and what barriers are preventing more companies adopting a vehicle tracking solution. When asked about the primary purpose for vehicle tracking more than a third of the respondents using the technology stated productivity was the main reason, whilst cost reduction, asset management and customer service made up almost half of the answers.

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GPS Tracking System Busts County Employees at Golf Course

Earlier this year in Muskegon Cunty, Michigan, rumors were spreading that city employees were not working when and where they said they were. A county judge, John Ruck, became suspect after hearing rumors that a handful of city employees were misusing city vehicles and decided to take action.

He rallied enough support and money from the county and the state to purchase several vehicle tracking systems. Ruck then ordered someone to install the tracking systems inconspicuously in the trunk of several county owned fleet vehicles. The GPS tracking systems started gathering information in June.

Court administrators reviewed the vehicle tracking system data for several weeks looking for discrepancies. According to Ruck the process was simple – look at the employee’s time card and where the car they checked out was located.

Then lo and behold, the GPS tracking system data revealed that three county workers were not working while on the clock. One spent several hours at a golf course, another at the gym. Both resigned when confronted about the abuse. A third employee, whose error was not as egregious, is going to be disciplined.

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US Debt Concerns Puts Pressure on Oil and Gas Prices

US debt concerns are fueling rising gas prices. Now speculation that fuel prices could go much higher if the government cannot come to an agreement about raising the debt ceiling.

Currently gas prices are averaging $3.70 a gallon in the US. Oil prices fell below $97 per barrel as US leaders failed to agree to lift the government debt limit just hours from a deadline, leaving investors to consider worst case scenarios if a default occurs. By the early afternoon on Friday, crude oil rose 4 cents and closed at $97.44 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report: Default or a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating would have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy. These consequences would likely affect crude oil prices with pressure in two opposing directions. A weakening U.S. economy likely means a weaker U.S. dollar. As discussed, when the dollar weakens, crude oil prices are expected to see upward pressure as the product becomes relatively cheaper.

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Gas Prices Up 15 Cents in Last 30 Days

Currently a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline is averaging $3.70, up one cent from last week and up 15 cents in the last 30 days, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Diesel gas prices are currently averaging $3.89 per gallon, up one cent in the past week and up 6 cents in the past month.

This was the third consecutive week crude oil prices were under the increasing influence of worldwide debt concerns. Crude has traded near USD 97 for the last few days as investors wait for an outcome of the debt limit talks. Most analysts said that US debt default is still very unlikely but if it happened would devastate the economy.

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Habitat for Humanity Selects FieldLogix to Improve Customer Service

Habitat for Humanity Selects FieldLogix Fleet GPS to Improve Customer Service and Reduce Fuel Usage

Habitat for Humanity Charlotte announced last month that it has installed FieldLogix Fleet GPS Tracking Systems in its entire fleet of vehicles. Since deploying a fleet GPS tracking system, Habitat for Humanity has reported an improvement in customer response times, the amount of job orders completed, and reduced fuel consumption.

Improved Customer Service

Now Habitat for Humanity dispatchers can keep a close eye on the exact location of every vehicle in its fleet in real-time. According to Habitat For Humanity manager, Jon Huffman, “We can make last minutes changes with just a few clicks. If drivers are running late, we can call ahead of time to let someone know. FieldLogix gives dispatchers the ability to assign jobs in a way that maximizes productivity and service, since vehicle stops are constantly being added or changed throughout the day.”

Reduced Fuel Consumption

Jon Huffman also added, “We have experienced significant savings in fuel expenses since installing FieldLogix. We are quite pleased with that. The initial improvements have been so good that we haven’t had time to see everything else the system can do for us!”

Eco-Friendly Driving

Huffman further stated, “FieldLogix is a Green company with an eco-friendly product. It was important for us to choose a company with same core values as Habitat for Humanity.”

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US Drivers Waste $155 Billion Dollars A Year Idling in Traffic

When a vehicle is left idling, it can consume one gallon of gas each hour. “Traffic congestion costs the U.S. economy upwards of $155 billion dollars annually,” said Kleiner Perkins partner Michael Linse in a statement. “Last year alone, U.S. drivers wasted 3.9 billion gallons of fuel sitting idle in traffic, and the U.S. is a small part of a much larger and growing global traffic problem.”

No one likes wasting time and money sitting in traffic. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but sometimes it isn’t. With today’s high cost of fuel and the growing awareness of our need to protect our planet, the amount of idling vehicles must be reduced. Drivers can and should be doing something.

A GPS navigation system with real-time traffic updates such as FieldLogix can absolutely help to reduce the time and money drivers waste sitting in traffic. Reducing idling time by only 15 minutes a day can reduce fuel use by over $84 per year. If you reduce idling time by 60 minutes a day, it would result in a fuel savings of 90 gallons at a cost of over $339 per year.

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US Debt Dafult Could Cause $5 A Gallon Gas Prices

Gas prices could climb to more than $5 per gallon this year if Washington can’t reach an agreement by August 2. Yesterday oil prices increased to nearly $100 per barrel as legislators battled over an agreement on the U.S. debt limit and the American dollar weakened over uncertainty about the economy.

While congressional leaders bickered over spending and raising the borrowing limit ahead of an Aug. 2 deadline, the dollar fell sharply against the euro and other currencies on Tuesday. That tends to raise the price of oil, since crude is priced in dollars and a weaker dollar makes oil more of a bargain for traders using other currencies.

“A U.S. government default that causes institutional investors to dump U.S. government bonds, triggering a plunge in the dollar, pushing up oil’s price,” according to the International Business Times. The report said the bickering could push oil prices higher, which would eventually show up at the pump and trickle to other parts of the economy.

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Gas Prices Up 11 Cents in Past Month

Currently the average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $3.69, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Today’s price is up 11 cents from one month ago, and up 96 cents from one year ago. Gas prices typically rise in the summer as demand for gas increases because more drivers are on the road.

Historically prices are highest in July and August because Americans drive the most during these two months, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Additionally prices also rise in the spring and summer as refiners switch to more expensive summer blends of gasoline. Federal and local laws require different additives in summer to preserve air quality, but more expensive additives tend to drive up the price.

There are several other factors that could push gas prices even higher. If the U.S. defaults on its debt, it would send shockwaves through oil markets that could push fuel prices even higher, analysts said Monday.

Many are also hoping that the hurricane season is mild this year, as a big storm could decrease the output by refineries. This would absolutely increase prices.

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Inrix Raises $37 Million to Become the Google of Traffic Info

Real-time car traffic data company Inrix announced yesterday that it has raised $37 million in series D financing. Inrix generates traffic information based on speed and location information provided by GPS-enabled devices in more than 10 million vehicles, including cars with participating telematics systems and fleet vehicles. The company is using the funding to support continued growth opportunities.

Currently the company offers traffic data in 22 countries across North America and Europe and has over 100 million users. Inrix’s partners include Audi, Ford Motor Company, MapQuest, Microsoft, NAVIGON, Tele Atlas, Telmap, TeleNav, and Toyota. For example, Inrix currently powers the popular Ford SYNC traffic and navigation services. Audi and Toyota currently use Inrix traffic services in some of their vehicles starting with such as the new Audi A6 in Europe and Toyota Entune-equipped Prius V and Camry in North America.

Inrix also offers traffic apps for smartphones and provides data to others, including nine of the top 10 traffic apps for the Apple iPhone and Google Android platforms. With all these partnerships and licensing agreements,the company’s CEO Bryan Mistele said that his goal is to “be the Google of traffic info.”

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Gas Prices Rise for Third Straight Week

Temperatures aren’t the only that’s been heating up across America this weekend. AA is reporting that gas prices have risen for the 3rd straight week. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was slightly more than $3.70 on July 22, an increase of 8.58 cents in the past two weeks, according to the Lundberg Survey released this weekend.

A year ago, the price per gallon was $2.73, about 96.72 cents less than the current price. The average price for a gallon of gas in the United States rose for the first time since early May following an increase in the price of crude oil, according to the latest Lundberg survey, which includes data from over 2,500 gas stations across the continental US.

Prices in Tucson, Arizona were the lowest in the nation at $3.28 a gallon. Chicago drivers are currently paying the highest gas prices at $4.07 per gallon.

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FieldLogix Helps 4 Seasons Landscaping Reduce Fuel Expenses

Fleet GPS tracking technology can be one of the most cost effective means to manage fuel consumption. A GPS fleet management system can help the average fleet reduce fuel costs by up to 20%.

FieldLogix fleet GPS can put a spotlight on a driver’s habits that consume excessive fuel and emit unnecessary pollution.

According to Jonathan Haar of 4 Seasons Landscape Services, “I am so pleased with FieldLogix. It is an awesome product with an excellent installation process and incredible service…. We initially focused on drivers’ habits such as speed and idle time that have a huge impact on fuel usage. However, we were also able to use FieldLogix to improve routing. By making more efficient use of our vehicles, we lowered the average number of miles driven per vehicle, further reducing our fuel expenses.”

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Gas Prices Up 5 Cents in Last 30 Days

Gas Prices Up 5 Cents in Last 30 Days, Good and Bad News for California Gas Prices

Gas prices are currently on a slightly upward trend. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is currently $3.68, up 5 cents since 30 days ago, and 3 cents since one week ago, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. The reasons gas is slowly creeping back up after a two-month decline include: the faltering Greek economy, a weaker US dollar, unrest in Libya, increasing demand for gas and limited production from refineries.

Gas prices in California have remained unusually low, when compared to other states in the US. Typically California has the highest gas prices in the continental US, but several other states currently have higher prices such as Connecticut, Washington, New York and Washington D.C. The average price in California is $3.782 today, a 2 cent increase since last week.

For Californians there is good and bad news, gas still costs 14.4 cents less than it did a month ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. However, it’s still 67.3 cents more expensive than it was a year ago.

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Gas Prices Remain High As Oil Prices Increase

The current national retail average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline is $3.67. Today’s average price is 4 cents more than the price one week ago, and two cents more than one month ago. Currently three states have an average retail price for regular unleaded of more than $4 per gallon – Hawaii, Alaska and Connecticut.

Oil reversed direction for the fourth straight trading day on Tuesday and climbed about 2 percent, as traders faced uncertainty about the direction of the economy and a weaker dollar.

Crude oil is used to produce gasoline and other fuels, and it’s also a major investment commodity. Prices can swing with the collective mood on Wall Street. Recently benchmark oil has fluctuated between $95 and $99 a barrel as investors gauge how Europe deals with Greece’s debt crisis and the debate goes on in Washington over spending and the U.S. debt ceiling.

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TomTom Launches Fleet Tracking System in Australia

An all-new fleet tracking and fleet management system was launched last week in Australia by GPS giant TomTom (AMSTERDAM: TOM2.AS). Fleet managers in Australia can now improve the efficiency of their on-the-road operations with easy to use fleet tracking products and web tools that benefit management, dispatchers and their mobile workforce.

Fleet management systems have been proven to help businesses optimize their fleet’s performance. In fact, most managers see a huge difference in cost savings within days of purchasing a new GPS fleet tracking system.

A fleet tracking system helps businesses with a commercial fleet better manage some of today’s most pressing challenges including driver safety, fuel efficiency and compliance. TomTom’s WorkSmart fleet tracking solutions include professional navigation, traffic avoidance, vehicle tracking, job dispatch, time management, environmental responsibility and management reporting.

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July Gas Prices Continue To Rise Across the US

Gas prices have continued to rise during the month of July. This week, a gallon of regular unleaded is averaging $3.67 per gallon, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. This price is 4 cents higher than one week ago, one cent higher than a month ago, and 95 cents higher than one year ago. One week ago, gas was averaging $3.63 a gallon.

Gas prices have been rising across the entire US, according to AAA. In Florida the average price of $3.66 per gallon is a 6 cent increase from last week. Gas prices in Rhode Island are on the rise, up seven cents from last week, averaging $3.82 per gallon. Massachusetts gas prices are up for the second consecutive week. Regular gas jumped a nickel in the past week to an average of $3.71 per gallon.

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