When we hear the term “fleet tracking” we often think of company trucks or vans. While this is accurate, it is not the full picture of what a fleet vehicle is and therefor what fleet tracking entails. Limos, Taxis, Tour Buses and other vehicles for hire are all a company’s “fleet” of vehicles.

The appropriate term for this group of for-hire vehicles is called livery. And just like other fleet vehicles these limos, taxis and tour buses can greatly benefit from fleet tracking.  Increased driver accountability allows for improved customer service and comfort, while ensuring safe practices and proper utilization of your vehicles.  Managers and business owners now have an easy to use technology to:

Verify client pick-up and drop-off times
Reduce fuel costs costs by monitoring idle times and speeds
Eliminate side jobs (Also allowing the driver to not be pressured to “stop the clock” since it is out of his control
Proper activity tracking if customer dispute ever comes up
Enhance  customer experience by providing accurate ETA’s 
Dispatch drivers with directions  send vial email or text on the fly to customer pick-up locations

The livery industry is the first step of tourism and commute for travelers and in many places,like NY for example, a necessity for things to run smoothly. Separate yourself from the pack and discover today what GPS fleet tracking can do for you.

Schools across the nation are getting out, Memorial Day has passed, the beaches are starting to get crowded- that could only mean one thing- Summer is here. If the heat is already taking it’s toll on us, imagine what our fleet vehicles are going through.
One of the GPS fleet tracking features Virtual Fleet Supervisor offers is the maintenance feature with built in alert option. You can create, assign and track maintenance tasks and even be notified via email or text when they are coming due.We suggest using this feature to help prevent a vehicle from going down unexpectedly.

Here are five summer maintenance tips to help you summer-proof your fleet vehicle:
1. Service the AC
The most important element for both your car and your driver is the air conditioning. If yours isn’t running as cool as it used to be—or if you’ve been experiencing trouble—don’t wait to repair it. Use the schedule maintenance to keep track of when it was done last and when repairs are coming due. A stitch in time…

2. Protect the Paint
Especially during the summer and high refractive UV rays and high temperatures beaming your car’s paint, it’s important to take the steps necessary to protect your paint. It is imperative that amid the bustling schedule of dealing with clients and customers your driver sculpts out some time for a basic but regular car wash and wax. This will help protect the finish and seal any miniature cracks in the paint. Try to encourage drivers to park in the shade or inside if possible.
3. Look Closely for Cracks
High temperatures can wreak havoc on hoses, belts and other small but important parts. Examine your hoses and belts for any cracks-(especially if there are whining noises emanating from under your hood.- we can’t do anything about the whining noises in the backseat during those trips in your personal vehicles) Replacing these items quickly is imperative to avoiding major damage or inconvenient breakdowns later.
4. Plenty of Fluids
Many of us trust our fluid levels to be maintained when we get an oil change. Ensure that your coolant system is good. You may want to conduct a coolant system flush and fill. A fresh fill will keep things cool and will help prevent corrosion.
5. Get Amped Up
Take a look and make sure your battery is clean. Clean away any corrosion buildup to avoid any problems down the road. A clean battery will take some of the workload off of the alternator—keeping your car happy.

One additional tip about summer.  Have a policy about how the vehicle is to be used in regards to climate control. Is it okay, when it is hot, if your contractors are inside the vehicle with the AC running and the vehicle is idling? Idling usually increases during the summer for that reason. Our application allows you to track and alert you to idling times as well.
For other useful tips about how to get the most out of your fleet contact contact us today.

When we talk with clients this question often comes up. Fleet Tracking is a subset of fleet management. Fleet management is the complete system of  management of a company’s vehicle fleet. Fleet management can include a range of functions which includes vehicle fleet tracking (and diagnostics), driver management and fuel management. Fleet tracking is an important and valuable tool to any fleet management program.

What are the benefits of fleet tracking to a company looking for complete fleet management?

There are numerous benefits of fleet tracking and each company has different aspects they see as most important relative to the pain point they are trying to solve. (For example, a company with high fuel cost may appreciate the fact that they can now track speed and routes someone took)

1) Driver Safety

Not only will drivers be more responsible because they are aware of the GPS monitoring, but fleet managers will know exactly where a vehicle is if it requires any assistance. Whether it’s a broken down engine or any emergency situation, fleet managers can send roadside assistance to help their driver.

2) Minimize Fuel Cosrs

While no company can completely cut fuel cost, GPS fleet tracking allows a fleet manger to observe a vehicle’s fuel consumption. The monitoring software will cut down on the amount of money spent on fuel by eliminating vehicle idling, driver speeding, any unauthorized usage, and gives dispatch the ability to optimize driving routes.

3)  Increase Productivity

Because of the ability to track drivers’ hours worked and routes taken, fleet managers can now make better use of an employee’s time. The GPS tracking software shows exactly where your drivers are at all times and keeps record of what work they are doing at that time.

The benefits of GPS fleet tracking are numerous.  Get a better grasp of how employees are performing and find better ways to manage workloads with a comprehensive fleet tracking system. Not only will you save time and money, but your drivers will be safer and perform to their full potential. All of which adds up to a smoother business operation and improved customer service that each of your customer’s will love. If you are responsible for the fleet management and are looking for your fleet tracking partner to fill that component, contact us today and learn what we can do for you today.