| Issues surrounding the environment have been | | | | concerning driver behaviour, MPG and route |
| high on everyone’s agenda in recent years | | | | tracking information. Whilst on the surface this |
| thanks to stark realisation that our fossil fuel | | | | may seem like information fleet managers would |
| supplies are quickly running out. Alongside financial | | | | have been using for years, advancements in |
| worries caused by the recent credit crunch, the | | | | vehicle tracking systems are now so sophisticated |
| environment is causing a particular stir amongst | | | | that they can even help managers save money |
| fleet managers and vehicle fleets as many find | | | | on road tax and toll road fees. |
| themselves faced with a difficult conundrum; do | | | | When it comes to GPS technology the impact it |
| they look for ways to help lower their carbon | | | | can have on any vehicle fleet is immense, |
| emissions by investing in more environmentally | | | | providing that the data is used efficiently by those |
| friendly vehicles or should they try to save | | | | in charge. Poor driver behaviour such as harsh |
| money and continue using their existing fleet | | | | acceleration, stops and starts, idling and so on can |
| vehicles? Or is it possible to have both? | | | | actually end up costing a company a great deal of |
| The solution is in fact very easy with the | | | | money in both fuel expenses and vehicle wear |
| utilisation of GPS tracking technology. Having | | | | and tear. GPS tracking systems can highlight |
| already established itself as one of the most | | | | where different drivers are going wrong leaving |
| significant inventions of the 21st century, GPS | | | | fleet managers with enough evidence to insist on |
| vehicle tracking systems are now helping to | | | | further driver training and education. |
| bridge the void between environmental concerns | | | | In an economical sense GPS tracking of driver |
| and the ever rising costs of operating a vehicle | | | | behaviour can help to reduce wear and tear |
| fleet. As a result thousands of UK companies are | | | | saving money on maintenance costs, reduce |
| now investing in tracking systems in order to help | | | | insurance premiums thanks to no accidents or |
| them meet environmental targets as well as keep | | | | damage, and also reduce fuel costs which in turn |
| fleet running costs to a bare minimum. | | | | should lead to less fuel being wasted thus |
| In order to explain how GPS vehicle tracking | | | | contributing to cutting carbon emissions. It has |
| systems can prove so effective it is first | | | | also been suggested that vehicles in poor condition |
| necessary to explain where environmental and | | | | are also likely to be less environmentally friendly |
| economical issues meet within a vehicle fleet. | | | | so keeping a track of miles travelled (MPG) and |
| When you consider a large vehicle fleet that has | | | | vehicle service dates can ensure that all vehicles |
| multiple vehicles in national locations across the UK, | | | | are operating to the highest environmental |
| moving in different directions at different speeds | | | | standard possible. Taken literally this should also |
| with drivers from all different driving backgrounds, | | | | result in a more economically friendly vehicle with |
| you can imagine that keeping track of each | | | | maximum MPG achieved and engines running |
| vehicle is hard enough without even thinking about | | | | more efficiently. |
| fuel usage and your company’s carbon | | | | Another environmental and economical advantage |
| footprint. | | | | of vehicle tracking systems is that sophisticated |
| But this is exactly the challenge that fleet | | | | tracking systems can also guide drivers on the |
| managers face daily and with the introduction of | | | | most direct routes from A to B allowing drivers |
| new ‘Duty of Care’ legislation and the | | | | to get more done and also saving money on |
| ‘Corporate Manslaughter Act’ there is | | | | those ever increasing fuel prices. |
| now even more pressure on transport companies | | | | More money can be saved considering that new |
| to have a tight grip on every tiny aspect of their | | | | rules have been introduced with regards to road |
| fleet, from working hours to unnecessary fuel | | | | tax where by vehicles that use less fuel and are |
| usage. GPS tracking has however stepped in and | | | | seen to actively contribute towards climate |
| come to the aid of many fleet organisations by | | | | change will have to pay less road tax than those |
| combining most of these elements within a | | | | that do not. |
| centralised software or Internet platform. | | | | GPS tracking then has many advantages both |
| A GPS tracking device will record, monitor and | | | | economically and environmentally and for most |
| relay data back to a central computer enabling | | | | fleet managers it is not a matter of priorities but |
| fleet managers to see exactly where their | | | | more a situation where less is more on both |
| vehicles are at any given time but also provides | | | | accounts, except for Miles per Gallon (MPG) that |
| them with additional but equally important data | | | | is! |