Car and Accessories

When people ask about my business, I tell them, "My company offers GPS vehicle tracking systems." Their response lets me know whether they are an employee or a business owner. The first words out of the mouth of an employee is: "Sounds like ‘Big Brother’ to me." Oh no, not ‘Big Brother!’

Visions of mind-controlled drones working like slaves come to mind and they quickly walk away. ‘Big Brother?’ What is wrong with a business monitoring their vehicles? Or making sure their employees are doing what they’re being paid to do? Who owns these vehicles, anyway? Does the owner have a right to know how they’re being used? Now, don’t get me wrong.

I believe employees should be trusted and treated as adults. But, if you’ve ever driven a rental vehicle differently than the car you own, then you understand how an employee may mistreat a company vehicle. Take the speeding employee, for example.

Employees who drive too fast waste your gasoline, wear out your vehicle prematurely and sooner or later, drive up your insurance rates. A GPS vehicle tracking system can alert you when someone exceeds your pre-set speed limit. It’s your vehicle, your fuel and your insurance premium; a tracking system helps you regain control of them. Who uses your vehicles after hours and on weekends? Is an employee using your vehicle to moonlight? Is he using your gas to move his brother-in-law into a new apartment? You’ll know if you install a GPS vehicle tracking device in your vehicles.

How do you verify overtime claims? Maybe you can verify the work was done, but when? With a GPS tracking system, you can cross-check a vehicle’s location with the time of day it was there. Have you ever been tempted to take an extended lunch hour? Think your employees might be tempted, especially if they’re out of the boss’s sight

GPS tracking system records how long each vehicle remains at one location; use it to keep them honest. Another benefit of GPS vehicle tracking systems: you’ll never make another phone call to find out where your employees are–you can just look on the map displayed on your computer screen.

Also, your GPS tracking system will remind you when it’s time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled maintenance. And, many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with GPS tracking systems. The employee also benefits when their company vehicle is equipped with a GPS vehicle tracking system.

1. Hand-written driver logs are replaced with data from the tracking system.

2. Using info from the gps tracking system, each employee’s productivity can be quantified and compared; an employee’s performance can be more objectively measured.

3. Your dispatcher can look on a computer screen and locate all your vehicles immediately. Customers also benefit from GPS vehicle tracking systems. Businesses can provide precise arrival or delivery estimates, because the estimate is based upon the actual location of the tracking device-equipped vehicle at the moment they call.

If a customer questions when your employee arrived or left –prove it to them using data from your tracking system. Still think GPS tracking systems are tools of ‘Big Brother?’ I guess it depends upon your point of view. The concept of ‘Big Brother’ never comes up with business owners.

The business owner will say: "How will tracking my vehicles help my business make more money?" They want to know what GPS vehicle tracking can do for them. Are GPS vehicle tracking systems ‘Big Brother?’–You tell me.

It is no secret that police cars are equipped with GPS tracking theft recovery devices. These items are meant to allow a stolen police car to be found rather easily by simply using GPS tracking technology to locate the car. Then further police are dispatched to the location to apprehend the criminal and recover the car.

The good news is that it is possible to use the same technology to protect your car. GPS tracking is not a very new technology. It has been around since the 1980s, when it first began being developed for the military. It was originally meant to help keep track of troops and movements; as well as create a sophisticated mapping system to help commanders find their way over rough and unknown terrain.

Today that same technology is so advanced that it is possible to track in real time and create histories of where the device has been. And GPS technology is available to anyone, and at a fairly reasonable price. When you use GPS tracking in your car, you receive more than just driving directions in an unfamiliar city. You can also know where your car is.

While it is nice to have this information to keep tabs on partying teenagers, it can also help you in the event that your car is stolen. When you have a tracking system, and your car is stolen, you are more likely to get it back relatively unharmed.

This is because you can find it immediately, rather than having it discovered in pieces weeks later as part of an illegal car parts ring. Your GPS tracking system can help you get your car back and have the satisfaction of knowing that the person who stole it is off the streets and headed to jail.

You can let the police see where your car is (and where it is headed) and this is an immense help to them. One of the best ways to protect your property is to know where it is. And you can always know where your car is when you have it equipped with GPS tracking. (c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: GPS Tracking.

GPS vehicle tracking systems are more affordable and more popular than ever before, but do you need one? Take this short quiz and keep track of your ‘yes’ answers. I’ll help you total your score and decide after you finish.

Step One: Take Quiz
1. Do I use vehicles in my business? Yes/No (The definition of ‘vehicles’ includes heavy, medium and light-duty vehicles, construction equipment (dozers, graders, backhoes, etc), cars, motorcycles, RV’s, pick-up trucks, vans, tractor trailers, buses, trailers, dump trucks, snow plows, limousines, taxis, etc.)

2. Have any of my vehicles been stolen in the past? Yes/No

3. I’d like to know what is going on and where my employees/vehicles are during the day: Yes/No

4. I’d like to reduce my fuel expenses and know if any of my vehicles are wasting gas: Yes/No

5. Being able to give my customers accurate and precise arrival/delivery estimates is important to me: Yes/No

6. It is important to know if any of my vehicles are used after hours or on weekends for non-business purposes: Yes/No

7. I’d like save up to 30% on my vehicle insurance: Yes/No

8. It is important to know if my employees are speeding or otherwise abusing my vehicles: Yes/No

9. If any of my employees are using my vehicles to ‘moonlight’ or do work without my knowledge, I’d want to know: Yes/No

10. Knowing about mechanical problems before they become expensive to fix is important: Yes/No

11. If any of my vehicles are ever stolen, I’d like to locate them within minutes: Yes/No

12. I’d like to have vehicle use data to compare with overtime requests as a way to guard against errors and fraud: Yes/No

13. I’d like a reminder when it is time to do routine maintenance on my vehicles: Yes/No

14. Occasionally, customers question when we were at their location, having the exact date and time recorded in our tracking system would really help in those cases: Yes/No

15. I’d like to help my employees be more productive by seeing where they go each day: Yes/No

Step Two: Total Your ‘Yes’ Answers Add up your ‘yes’ answers.
* Fewer than 7 ‘yes’ answers:
Thanks for taking the quiz, you don’t appear to want/need a vehicle tracking system.
* 7 to 11 ‘yes’ answers:
Thanks for taking the quiz. You could greatly benefit from a vehicle tracking system.
* More than 11 ‘yes’ answers:
Thanks for taking the quiz. You need a vehicle tracking system. By the way, every question above (except question 1 & 2) is answered by using GPS vehicle tracking systems.

Step Three: Cost vs. Gain The average business owner recoups their investment in GPS vehicle tracking systems within 6 – 12 months after purchase. Of course, your ROI may vary. Recovering one stolen vehicle may pay for your entire tracking system.

Vehicle tracking helps you reduce operating costs and boosts productivity. Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by putting a spotlight on speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and drive up insurance rates.

Vehicle tracking systems will also remind you when it’s time for preventive maintenance, like oil changes, helping you keep your vehicles on the road and making you money.

GPS vehicle tracking systems improve productivity by:
* documenting long lunch hours,
* exposing unauthorized breaks,
* comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity,
* highlighting unauthorized vehicle use after hours and on weekends,
* eliminating driver logs. Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.

Step Four: Due Diligence GPS vehicle tracking systems are outstanding tools for vehicle and fleet management, but you need to find the right system for you.

Take a look at the different types of GPS vehicle tracking systems. Check a company’s hardware and software, as well as their monthly data access plan. You’ll also need to decide whether to buy or lease your GPS tracking system.
Good luck.