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Columbus installing 2,000 GPS devices to monitor fleet

March 1, 2013 – 2:12 pm

Columbus began installing GPS fleet tracking systems in city-owned vehicles in order to accomplish two things, save on fuel and eliminate misuse by employees.

Close to 840 vehicles, including those in the police and fire divisions and Recreation and Parks Department, have been equipped with GPS fleet tracking devices that monitor speed, idling, location and the vehicle’s path. They will send alerts to the fleet managers when the vehicles are exceeding the speed limit or if a vehicle is left idling, two main fuel wasting driver behaviors.

A total of 2,000 city vehicles will be equipped with these GPS tracking devices by the end of this year, costing the city about $1.5 million, said Kelly Reagan, the fleet administrator. “This helps fulfill Mayor (Michael B.) Coleman’s ‘green’ action plan, and the GPS is one small piece of that,” added Reagan.

City officials also pointed to GPS sensors as an answer to  last year’s finding that showed nearly 450 employees logged 5.6 million miles in vehicles they use for work and to commute to and from home that the administration could not account for at that time. The tracking system will will monitor all the city’s vehicle to also ensure that the miles logged correspond to actual miles driven.

 

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/02/28/city-installing-2000-gps-devices-to-monitor-fleet.html

Image Source: http://www.government-fleet.com/fc_images/news/aq.jpg

By admin | Posted in Fleet Tracking, Gas Prices | Tagged | Comments (0)

Buncombe County to Save $13,000

February 27, 2013 – 3:37 pm

The Sheriff’s Office in Buncombe County, N.C., will save more than $13,000 per year by running their fleet of ten Ford Crown Victorias on propane. This will result in reducing close to 20 tons of greenhouse gas emissions! Buncombe County received funding under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program (SPADP), administered by Virginia Clean Cities.

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan wants to do both, boost their bottom line by saving on fuel costs and also reducing emissions by utilizing cleaner burning cars – “We were looking at two main things when it came to switching to alternative fuel vehicles.”

It should be noted that the Buncombe patrol cars travel an average of  25,000 miles per year per vehicle, and the fleet is using more than 17,000 gallons of propane autogas annually. Fleets in western North Carolina are supported by the Asheville-based Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition.

It’s great news to learn about alternative fuels such as propane saving on fuel costs and lowering greenhouse emissions. I would add that vehicle fleet managers who are considering alternative fuels should also consider adding a fleet tracking system to go even further in their fuel saving efforts. Those systems provide additional operational cost reductions by managing driver behavior such as idling and speeding, a known factor in reducing fuel costs.

 Source: http://www.fleetsandfuels.com/fuels/propane/2013/02/buncombe-county-to-save-13000/
By admin | Posted in Fleet Emissions, Fleet Management | Tagged | Comments (0)

Company Saves 1,100 gallons of Fuel 2 Weeks after Installation

February 26, 2013 – 3:31 pm

Most clients start seeing positive results from using the FieldLogix GPS fleet management system within 30 days.

Prior to implementation, Keil Southworth of Albertina Kerr Centers was unsure whether the FieldLogix GPS Green fleet tracking system would really help him to cut costs. So he decided to start with a trial unit to evaluate the product. He quickly realized how valuable and useful the system would be for his fleet. Once the trial period was over, Keil purchased 88 FieldLogix GPS fleet tracking devices for his entire fleet.

According to Keil, “Our fuel usage dropped by 1,100 gallons the first two weeks after installing the FieldLogix GPS units. The following two weeks our usage remained at 700 gallons under our average.”  The fuel savings is typical of fleets that implement GPS fleet management systems. The Aberdeen Group surveyed users of GPS fleet management systems and found that they were able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 13.2 percent.

FieldLogix is an advanced, yet affordable GPS fleet management product that provides real-time location updates for vehicles. It automatically monitors activities such as excessive engine idling, speeding, and personal use of company vehicles. It scores drivers based on their “green” driving habits and includes alerts for afterhours use, excessive speeding, and deviations from a specified operating schedule. In addition, it provides real-time location updates for vehicles and sends maintenance reminder alerts when they are due for service.

Additionally, FieldLogix offers a free trial program for companies that are interested in seeing the fuel savings benefits of the system first-hand. A trial unit can be ordered at trial.fieldtechnologies.com.

By admin | Posted in Fleet Tracking, Gas Prices | Tagged | Comments (0)

Company Pays Less For Fuel Now Than One Year Ago

February 21, 2013 – 4:36 pm

With the rise of fuel costs and a sluggish economy, companies throughout the country are continually seeking for ways to reduce their operating costs. One way to reduce costs dramatically is through the use of a GPS fleet tracking system. These systems have long been known to save companies thousands of dollars in fuel each year. In fact, the Aberdeen Group recently surveyed users of fleet management systems and found that they were able to reduce fuel costs by an average of 13.2 percent.

Ron Dunphy, president of Dunphy’s Extermapest in Palm Springs, California has also seen a  significant reduction in fuel costs since implementing FieldLogix. “Before implementing FieldLogix, and when gas prices were lower, I was spending $3,400 a month on fuel for my 10 vehicles. After installing FieldLogix on my vehicles, I now spend $2,700 per month on fuel, even with higher gas prices!” These savings total $700 per month (or $8,400 per year), which is more than double the amount he spends on the tracking system. These savings are realized before factoring in the additional revenue that FieldLogix is bringing to his company. He states, “I no longer have to turn down jobs because my guys tell me they are too busy when, in fact, they are just sitting at home having a beer. By knowing where they actually are, I can determine who can take what service call and bring in more revenue for my business”.

FieldLogix is an advanced, yet affordable fleet management product that provides real-time location updates for vehicles and construction equipment. It automatically monitors activities such as excessive engine idling, speeding, and personal use of company vehicles. It has been described as “GPS on auto-pilot”, because users can create operating policies in the system and they will receive e-mail alerts when operators do not comply with these policies. This includes alerts for after hours use, excessive speeding, excessive idling, and deviations from a specified operating schedule. In addition, it provides real-time location updates for vehicles and equipment and sends maintenance reminder alerts when they are due for service.

Companies that have implemented FieldLogix have also seen significant reductions in labor costs, overtime costs, and maintenance costs. The Aberdeen Group study reports a 13.4 percent reduction in overtime costs by implementing a fleet tracking system.

Now is a great time to implement a fleet tracking system. It helps companies cut waste and run a “tighter ship” when costs are high.

Image Source: http://voyagercsifleet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FuelSavings.jpg

By admin | Posted in Fleet Management | Tagged , | Comments (0)

How your fleet can flourish using eco-friendly vehicles

February 20, 2013 – 3:02 pm

With the cost of fuel still being unpredictable, it has become more and more critical to come up with alternatives to mitigate this continued risk. Additionally,  petroleum consumption has now been shown to be very dangerous for the Ozone layer, and so, eco-friendly cars must be one of the ways to go to solve that problem as well. And its not just the environmental aspect, but also, there are several other benefits the transportation companies can derive from utilizing more eco-friendly vehicles.

Cost is one consideration. You might be concerned about the higher prices of the hybrid vehicles.  The electric and hybrid cars may seem expensive on the face, but you can easily estimate the ROI of investing in green cars by calculating the overall fuel savings.

But more importantly transportation companies should consider a more futuristic approach and paving the way to achieve benefits of green fleets for the next several years. It is very important to start thinking outside the box and going with more eco-friendly vehicles as an ideal option. Additionally, this way you may also attract more customers with your “green” initiative.

As you already know, you also have to pay road tax. If the fuel emissions of your fleet are lower, then you have to pay considerably less road tax. If the transportation companies change the gear by having the green cars, then they can end up paying no road tax. It is because of the fact that emissions under 100g/km are not taxed, so the eco-friendly cars may offer a way to reduce these costs as well. Also, paying fuel tax can be a problem for the transportation companies and switching to greener cars can help in reducing the fuel tax they have to pay otherwise.

Using a Green fleet tracking solution can help also, especially if you’re not sure about implementing an all out hybrid or electric vehicle strategy. By monitoring your drivers’ habits behind the wheel and training each to drive safer, more efficiently will reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Additionally, it saves you money by reducing unnecessary fuel use when idling, speeding, or driving a circuitous route.

To help your region and your company reduce carbon emissions, incorporate a sustainable fleet tracking solution today.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/automotive/how-businesses-flourish-utilizing-eco-friendly-vehicles-0384252

Image Source: http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/files/2010/11/plug-in-hybrid-car-phev1.jpg

By admin | Posted in Gas Prices | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Electrifying your fleet could save you 75 percent on fuel costs

February 19, 2013 – 9:00 am

According to a recent survey, switching to electric and plug-in hybrid cars in your fleet could reduce your fuel costs by as much as 75 percent.

The Energy Saving Trust-backed study explores the potential savings available to 20 organisations in the UK. It’s finding show that while the pure electric vehicles are very attractive for regular and predictable trips averaging 100 miles a day, installing charging points on premises significantly boosts the range these cars can travel.

For longer trips, however, the report argues that plug-in hybrids offer the better alternative, since they offer very good fuel savings without the distance range restrictions of electric vehicles.

Plug-in hybrids may also be more cost-effective than all-electric cars where trips less frequent and used for a variety of  of roles, allowing companies to reduce the overall number of vehicles in their fleet.

Whether you decide on electric or hybrid, your fleet will more than ever require more optimized route management to ensure your vehicles don’t run out of charge! Fleet tracking systems allow you to monitor your fleet real-time and will allow you to view your vehicles on the map and alert you when they our close to reaching their range maximum.

Source: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2238726/electrifying-fleets-could-cut-company-fuel-costs-by-75-per-cent

Image source: http://blogs-images.forbes.com/uciliawang/files/2012/01/PGE-eREV.jpg

 

By admin | Posted in Fleet Emissions, Fleet Management | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Research: How to Increase Fuel Efficiency by Changing Driver Behavior

February 15, 2013 – 2:29 pm

There of course, are many ways you can reduce fuel consumption. You can reduce the weight of the vehicle, as well as making the vehicle engines more efficient and use alternative fuels. But what if fuel economy could be improved simply by changing the way drivers behave? That’s exactly what researchers at the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CERT) are working on. This group of scientists is conducting research to find ways in which the changes to our driving behavior can maximize ileage and improve fuel efficiency up to 30 percent.

Lead researcher Kanok Boriboonsomsin decided that the first stage of the study is to examine how gps tracking can help determine fuel efficient routes and how “infotainment” systems can provide real-time feedback without distracting drivers. The key is, though, that drivers would have to listen to the feedback and adjust their driving accordingly.

By examining and validating these tracking and infotainment  systems, the CERT researchers plan to create the best system that both emphasizes fuel efficiency and isn’t annoying the driver, which is very  important, because you don’t want a system based only on negative feedback.

Almost all hybrid and electric vehicles today come equipped with some system notifying drivers about their fuel economy. “Even though our cars are fuel efficient, we don’t want that to stop at the factory,” said Fiat brand manager Andrew Waterhouse to CNN. “We want people to continue to be mindful of how they’re driving and how to improve their driving.”

CERT’s lead researcher, Boriboonsomsin says that a large part of their research will focus on GPS systems finding the most fuel efficient routes. Instead of a negative reinforcement system telling drivers what not to do , he suggests that the ideal system would relay helpful real-time tips in a positive way, like “make a right to avoid unnecessary idling at a stoplight.” As it turns out, this type of positive encouragement is missing in most driver information systems.

This type of system will also work well for commercial fleets where saving on fuel is number one concern! Fleet tracking systems that include a driver training component as well as offer ways to monitor drivers’ behavior and offer support for implementing fuel efficient driving should be considered by fleet managers as the best system to get for their fleet.

Source: http://inhabitat.com/researchers-studying-how-to-increase-fuel-efficiency-by-changing-our-behavior/

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Smarter Truck Driving Saves Fuel Over the Long Haul

February 14, 2013 – 12:20 pm

Nearly 35 years ago 33 truckers competed for three days in a fuel saving contest called  “Double Nickel Challenge.”  Truckers from all over the United States gathered in East Liberty, Ohio, to watch as drivers navigated laps around a track—first at 55 mph, and then at any speed of their choosing. The results were that they burned less fuel in the first, speed-limited, trial.

Today,  the 55 mile per hour U.S. speed limit, which was originally enacted as a result of the 1973 Arab oil embargo, has faded into history on most highways.

There are new technologies implemented in today’s long-haul trucks, such as electronic engine controls that limit driver speed. In the United States most large fleet operators electronically limit their drivers to 60 to 63 miles an hour, because they understad that safety is one consideration, but the other aim is to save on the cost of fuel.

Curbing driver speed is perhaps the most widely recognized behavioral change that can save fuel, with the low 60 to 65 mph  range being the “sweet spot” for many of the 18-wheelers on today’s highways, said Glen Kedzie, vice president of environmental affairs for the American Trucking Associations, a trade group headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

A truck that travels at 65 mph instead of 75 mph can, on average, improve fuel consumption by as much as 27 percent! With today’s higher fuel prices, that can really add up.

Today we are in an era of  intelligent and connected vehicles and trucking technologies for better fuel economy now include wireless sensors, GPS modules, algorithms, and sophisticated fleet tracking software that provides real-time data analysis. With these technologies, operators can collect detailed information about a given driver and vehicle that includes locations where they stopped, how long they rested, how hard and how often they braked, and how long they allowed the vehicle to idle.

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/09/110923-fuel-economy-for-trucks/

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Why you should invest in fleet technologies

February 12, 2013 – 3:02 pm

In order to increase the productivity of your fleet while also ensuring that all the vehicles are properly maintained and utilized, businesses involved in fleets need to examine the implementation of an effective fleet management program that will create the needed efficiencies. Fleet tracking systems should include the following core areas in order to be considered as a comprehensive solution:

  • Fuel Cost Management - the most critical aspect of fuel management is your drivers’ behavior. They are the ones who can control fuel consumption every time they start the vehicle!  Proper training, which the fleet tracking system should include, can improve fuel efficiency and emissions. Hard acceleration, speeding and excessive idling are the biggest causes of fuel waste.
  • Repair and Maintenance – fleet maintenance is an essential part of fleet management systems. A proper fleet management solution sends fleet managers alerts reminding them of upcoming  repairs and maintenance required on each vehicle, making it easier for you to keep track of the maintenance schedule and ensure all vehicles are being serviced regularly.
  • Utilization – a fleet tracking system should provide you with  insights into how your vehicles and equipment are being used, how often, and what is their exact location. Poor vehicle utilisation can result in wasting money on buying unnecessary new equipment and also you may miss potential business opportunities because you think you don’t have the resources to take on additional work.
  • Better Customer Service - A real-time GPS fleet management system should allow you to remotely view the delivery status and real-time location of all vehicles. Your dispatcher can then provide accurate responses to customer queries regarding the schedule of their work.
  • Increased productivity – a fleet management system we have described here should then also help you increase your daily number of jobs by making your fleet operations more efficient. You should be able to create more efficient routes which means assign the next job to the driver who is the closest to the site and you can also provide the driver with the shortest or most direct route thus saving time, resources and fuel costs.

Source: http://www.technologyspectator.com.au/five-reasons-better-fleet-tech

 

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A Safe Driver is a Cost Effective Driver

February 11, 2013 – 4:38 pm

With rising fuel prices combined with the current economic climate, it has become even more important to address the cost related issues of fleet management. Reducing operational costs is at the top of the managers’ agenda. One can accomplish this through more efficient fuel monitoring, maintenance management, and driver behavior by implementing fleet tracking systems.

2013 is going to be a year when many companies still plan to do more with less. This won’t be easy, but fleet managers can maximise the performance of their drivers and extend vehicle life while also saving on operational costs. Here are some of the ways to get this done:

  • Lower maintenance costs – fleet tracking systems can help with managing your maintenance schedules.
  • Reduce carbon emissions and save on fuel – fleet tracking systems will allow you to monitor driver activities such as speeding, excessive idling and route deviation, which will lead to fuel savings.
  • Manage productivity – optimise the use and number of vehicles and equipment needed to complete work efficiently.

Monitoring your drivers will also result in safer drivers, which in turn will create cost-effective drivers. By driving less aggressively and at slower speeds, they will have fewer accidents and their efficiency will show on lower fuel bills.  But monitoring needs to be preceded by a comprehensive training on economic and safe driving techniques.

Equipped with the driving metrics from the telematics systems, recommendations on training can be made for individual drivers, resulting in lower accidents and help to manage the risks and costs associated with work-related driving.

Source: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/blog/entry/managing-fleets-in-difficult-economic-times/46137/

Image source: http://drivingmba.com/wp-content/uploads/VanDriver-300×198.jpg

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