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Protecting Your Fleet And Equipment From Theft

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One of the best chances you have of recovering your stolen vehicle or equipment is if it is fitted with a GPS tracker

If  your vehicle is stolen it can be much more than just a simple inconvenience; it can have much bigger implications. Firstly, the cost of replacing your truck or van is something everyone could do without. Even if you are covered for theft under your  insurance, you will still have to fork out the excess. Your  insurance premiums are also likely to go up once you make a claim for a stolen vehicle. The loss of your vehicle can also lead to you to miss important jobs or cost extra amounts of money in rentals!

Tens of thousands of businesses have vehicles and equipment stolen every year and the sad truth is, if your vehicle is stolen you are very unlikely to ever see it again. Thieves are constantly looking for new and more inventive ways to steal your vehicle and equipment with one of the most recent being breaking into a place of business specifically to get the keys to your your vehicles and equipment.

Vehicle GPS trackers

One of the best chances you have of recovering your stolen vehicle is if it is fitted with a GPS tracker. Vehicle GPS trackers transmit up to the minute location data allowing your vehicle to be tracked if it is stolen. This information can allow the police to track down your vehicle in the hope of returning it to you, the rightful owner.

There are many different types of vehicle GPS trackers available on the market, many of which can be installed discreetly and remain covert in the hope that they would go unnoticed by a car thief. You can even get GPS trackers that are so slim they can be fitted to sit behind the number plate. The more covert a GPS tracker, the less likely it is to be spotted and removed from the vehicle, rendering its tracking data useless.

You can purchase vehicle GPS trackers which can either be wired to your car’s power supply.  Even if a wired GPS tracker is disconnected from the power supply, by a thief who wrongly assumes this will turn it off, a good GPS tracker will also have backup lithium batteries to ensure it still emits tracking data.

Tracking your stolen vehicle

Many vehicle GPS trackers can be linked to an app so you can see in real time the exact location of your vehicle. This can be vital for the police to recover your stolen vehicle and make the difference between getting your vehicle back and never seeing it again. GPS tracker apps also store tracking information so that if your GPS tracker is discovered and removed, you will still be able to see the last known location of your vehicle which can give police a head start in tracking it down.

If your vehicle is stolen in the middle of the night you may not realize it has been taken until hours later. This gives the thief plenty of time to get as far away as possible, making them much harder to find. One big benefit of having a GPS tracker on your vehicle is that you can set it up to alert you should your vehicle leave a pre-set designated area. For example, you may set a geo-fence around your property using your tracking app and if your vehicle is moved out of that area then you will be notified immediately. The quicker you know a crime has been committed then the quicker action can be taken and the more likely it is that your vehicle will be recovered

GPS TRACKERS are priceless when it comes to recovering a stolen vehicle. Whether it is your personal car or for your fleet of company vans, GPS trackers can drastically increase your chances of getting a stolen vehicle recovered.  Special trackers are available for heavy duty equipment and trailers.  These trackers have long life batteries and are weatherproof.

Additional advantages to a high quality tracking system are: alerts to poor driving behavior, maintenance alerts, and IFTA reporting (mileage by state).

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5 trends that are sparking a renewed interest in GPS for commercial vehicles.

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How a GPS Tracking System Overcomes Common Challenge.

More and more companies are turning to GPS for commercial vehicles. They need to know exactly where their fleet is at any moment of the day. But what is driving their decision to implement a commercial GPS tracking system? We have identified 5 trends.

#1 – The Need to Prolong the Life of Vehicles and Equipment.

What is one of the most expensive aspects of your business? Your fleet of vehicles and equipment. Which means, as a business owner, you want to get the most out of each piece of equipment before replacing. Vehicle tracking systems are one way to do that. With these installed, you receive real-time data on things like usage hours, driving habits and more. You can better manage your vehicle and equipment life cycle to determine whether it’s time to invest in new ones.  The ability to create maintenance reports and reminders enhance the system.

#2 – The Need to Improve Worker Safety

Another one of your biggest assets is your people. The company must ensure that employees are operating equipment and vehicles properly at all times. With a GPS tracking system, you can monitor for things like excessive speeding and reckless operating habits. You can then act on these insights to prevent any harm to your people. Or to your expensive equipment. Additionally, many companies have an emergency button installed which enables instant location information when an issue arises.

#3 – The Upcoming ELD Mandate and IFTA Reporting

Beginning on 12/18/17, a new electronic logging device mandate takes effect. Companies will be required by law to log driving time and hours of service (HOS) electronically. Many companies are trying to stay ahead of the curve, and install the electronic logs, or Elogs as they’re often called, sooner rather than later.  The benefit of these systems includes a lower crash rate, and less time and manpower spent completing paperwork.  Electronically recording mileage by state saves time and money for IFTA reporting, no waiting for drivers logs or inaccuracies.

#4 – The Need for Better Theft Protection

Unfortunately, your equipment is a target for theft. In a recent Dewalt study, over 50% of those surveyed responded that they have experienced equipment theft in the last 12 months. Asset tracking can prevent this. Tracking devices can be installed on both non-motorized and motorized equipment. They then send out specific signals on specific frequencies. Non-motorized units usually send a signal at least one time per day. If you notice something wrong, this frequency can be increased to better serve your current situation. Motorized equipment send signals every 30 seconds, allowing for real-time location information.

#5 – The Need to Cut Costs to Save Money

As a business owner, you’re always trying to save money and cut costs. GPS for commercial vehicles can do exactly that. First, it allows you to reduce fuel usage. By understanding things like acceleration, harsh braking, idling and routes better you can increase your fleet’s fuel efficiency. Additionally, many times it will lead to lower insurance rates due to a decrease in accidents and the additional theft protection provided by asset tracking.

Ultimately, commercial vehicle GPS will help maintain your vehicles and equipment safely and efficiently. It arms you with the data and insights you need to optimize usage – there’s no need to ask, you know. If you’d like to learn more, consider signing up for a demo of Boston Global Tracking. Let us show you how to take your fleet to the next level.

Purchasing New Technology: When to pull the trigger

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Technology moves so fast today that making a technology purchase for your business or for personal use can be horribly mind boggling.

“When I purchase will I find what I just bought obsolete?” “Will the price drop?” It seems today either the next greatest is thing is coming out next week or the price is dropping by 20%.

Gone are the days of technology changing every few years. Today it is down to months or even weeks.

“The next iPhone is due out in 3 months do I wait?” “Next week a new Android phone is coming out, is that a better choice?” “What do I do?”

Here are some tips on how to evaluate when to purchase the next new technology.

1. First determine if the technology is actually right for you. Is this something that is going to be just a toy or will it be something that will enhance your life or business?
2. Is there a return on investment? Does it do everything that I want it to do now or are there predicted improvements down the road that you really want.
3. Next step is to do your research: Consumer Reports, friends, co-workers and reviews on the internet are all good sources.
4. Once you have evaluated your needs set yourself a price limit. If it is within your budget go for it. If not wait, as the newer technology comes out the price of what you really want will drop.
5. If the need and the price are right for you, pull the trigger and buy. Don’t look back or re-evaluate your purchase. Enjoy it because it is right for you. Do not get caught up in the have to have the latest and greatest just because everyone else has it.

As a personal example my iPhone 3 works fine for me, it gives me what I want and I have no interest in moving to the 5. When I purchased the 3 I made the decision because I wanted internet access to my phone for business purposes. It was the best purchase I ever made and I got it cheap because the 4 had just been released.
I find so many people wait on making decisions because they are not sure. Do your due diligence and if it is right for you now, don’t wait. Just make the decision and go on with your life. You will be glad you did.

Kids are Back in School: Drive Safe!

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As we turn the page from summer to fall it is time again to be aware that the kids are now back in school.  I would like to remind everyone, from individuals to fleet managers, the importance of being aware of your surroundings and paying extra special attention in the morning and afternoon when the school buses are picking up and dropping off.

For fleet managers I would strongly recommend that you speak with your drivers about the importance of being careful driving around our neighborhoods.   As we normally drive 10 mph over the speed limit on the highways doing this on local streets could mean the difference between life and death.  In addition to being the right thing to do, driving slow in neighborhoods has the added effect of making your company seem more responsible.  The effect is better customer perception of your company.  Better perception = more sales!

It is also a good time to remind drivers the dangers of using cell phones while driving.  Many times I have observed drivers on the phone go right by the stopped bus with warning  lights flashing: no clue to what they just did.

Let’s keep our kids safe by driving slower, dropping the phone and paying more attention to our surroundings.  Parents and kids will really appreciate it.