Dude, Where are My Company Cars?

For managers in charge of the company fleet – whether its cabs, tow trucks, shuttles, rental cars or service vehicles – it’s difficult to tell whether delays in getting from point A to point B are because of traffic, or because the driver decided to play hooky for a little while.

But new technologies are emerging that can help managers keep an eye on not only where the vehicles are, but how they are driving and how long they are stopped.

Most GPS navigation devices are commonly used to get a user from point “a” to point “b,” but the new technology expands that basic capability with a live web based tracking unit that updates vehicles positions every 10 seconds. The vehicle’s position can then be viewed from any web enabled computer

This new technology can provide parents of teens who borrow the family car more peace of mind than ever before, and ensure the safety of their children, according to George Karonis, CEO of LiveViewGPS (www.liveviewgps.com).

“As the recession tightens everyone’s belts, companies need to maximize the time that their vehicles are in the field,” Karonis said. “You may be losing money simply because of man-hours wasted by drivers goofing off, or taking too much time on service calls. Being late to a customer call can sometimes cost you their business, so it’s imperative for companies to know where their vehicles are at all times.”

Some of the capabilities of the new technology, used in LiveView GPS products, include:

• Track the vehicle live – Anyone with a Web connection can track a vehicle live online, with the view of the vehicle’s exact position being updated every 10 seconds.

• Track the vehicle’s speed – A pre-set maximum speed can be programmed into the unit, so that an email and SMS text message is set any time the vehicle exceeds a predetermined speed.

• Track the vehicle’s territory – If a vehicle is not supposed to leave a certain area, a geographical safeguard can be programmed into the unit, alerting the tracker if the vehicle leaves the area.

• Stay in contact with drivers -- The new units allow for two-way communication with drivers, saving on cell phone bills. It allows companies much tighter control over their vehicle deployment, and the ability to answer questions and mitigate issues drivers may have in the field quickly, efficiently and cheaply.

• Historical Playback – Records all positions the vehicle has been, where it stopped for how long, etc….Available for 90 days. If there ever was a question – User could retrieve data. A Host of online reports can be emailed in excel format to the user….

The new technology in LiveViewGPS products greatly expands on the technology available in other devices, Karonis said.

“Speed thresholds can be set online, as well as zone or area alerts,” Karonis explained. “Anytime your vehicle exceeds your set speed threshold, you will get a SMS text message to your cell phone, as well as an email, notifying you of the speed violation. Moreover, when your vehicle exits or enters a specified geographical zone, you can configure the system to also send you a cell phone or email alert.”

Also, it is more reliable than a cell phone-based GPS widely used by parents to keep track of their kids, because the battery cannot run out like a phone.

“A GPS vehicle monitoring system will act as a powerful deterrent for any deviation from business activities,” Karonis said. “It is imperative that company vehicles be used only for company business, if only to comply with most corporate vehicle insurance policies. If a vehicle is involved in an accident at a time when the driver is not legitimately on the job, the company may find themselves paying out of pocket to repair damage not only to their vehicle, but to any other involved in the accident.”