A mom knew where and what was happening to her 15-year-old daughter when she was kidnapped. Her daughter was walking in their neighborhood and was suddenly threatened by a stranger to get in the car or face injury, a GPS tracking device saved her life. Right away the mom received an alert via email and SMS […]
Intuitively, you know that the faster you drive, the more gas you burn, but do you often wonder about about what that trade-off really is? Recently, three engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have calculated the answer to this question. For example, if you drive 60 mph on your next trip, […]
As of December 2012, McDonald’s delivery trucks in United Arab Emirates have reached a significant milestone; they have driven 800,000 miles on recycled cooking oil! 100 percent of the used oil from the UAE’s McDonalds restaurants is turned back into biofuel, through biodiesel producer Neutral Fuels. The UAE, however, is not the only country McDonalds […]
Write-Off 100% Of Your GPS Tracking System Purchase Plus Realize A 35% Savings. Now may be the perfect time to invest in a GPS tracking system since the federal government will essentially pay for a large portion of it. Thanks to the extension and increased deductions with IRS Section 179, businesses can write off up to […]
Fleet management and trucking company owners should consider investing in eco-friendly driver training for their fleet truck drivers. Running a green fleet will decrease your fuel costs, vehicle emissions, reduce fleet vehicle wear and tear, and improve your company’s image. Eco-safe truck driver education courses teach drivers how to eliminate identify and eliminate poor driving […]
The City of Dallas installed GPS tracking system into its garbage truck fleet at the end of 2009. At that time, many were unconvinced that the GPS tracking system would be worth the hefty price tag of $700,000. Several City Council members voted against the deal over concerns echoed by the sanitation drivers’ union and a rejected GPS bidder. […]
In some cases, if someone is caught doing something illegal, and 1) the GPS tracking system information was used to convict him or her and 2) the GPS tracking system was placed by law enforcement without a warrant, convictions are not possible or overturned. But in other cases, courts have upheld the use of evidence obtained by placing a GPS device on a suspect’s car without a warrant.
According to the latest ruling out of the Ninth Circuit Court, it’s perfectly legal for state, local, or federal agents to secretly plant a GPS tracking system on your car in the middle of the night, even if it’s parked in your driveway, and then use said GPS vehicle tracking system to track your movements as they see fit. BAscially the ruling says that federal agents can secretly install a GPS vehicle tracking device into your car without a warrant – and this doesn’t violate a citizen’s Fourth Amendment rights.
The ruling, which sets precedent for Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, holds that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures” doesn’t apply to driveways. But the Ninth Circuit doesn’t make precedent for the whole country, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently ruled that extended tracking via GPS requires a warrant. But, since conflicting precedent has now been set on the West Coast, this issue is bound for the Supreme Court.
In the case, DEA agents secretly planted a GPS vehicle tracking system on Juan Pineda-Moreno’s Jeep at night while it was parked outside his home, and then used it to pinpoint the illegal marijuana crop he was cultivating. Pineda-Moreno appealed the case on the grounds that the secret GPS tracking violated his Fourth Amendment rights, but a three-judge panel denied his appeal in January and a larger panel ruled this month against reconsidering the case.
Fuel costs are one of a fleet manager’s largest expenses. Applying the best fleet fuel practices such as idling reduction efficient routing are highly effective approaches to reducing fuel costs. Using a web-based fleet GPS management system, purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles, and relocating a key fueling station are also ways to reduce fuel consumption and employee hours.
Fleet Managers should apply the following basic principles of good fuel management because these are proven to be the most effective approach trimming fuel costs and consumption. Once these “best of” fleet management practices are implemented and consistently executed, innovative solutions can further promote control of one of fleet’s most expensive operational costs. The Best Fleet Fuel Management Principles include:
