Take advantage of improved systems to capture critical data.
Managing large numbers of mobile crews and equipment at multiple jobsites has always been a labor-intensive task for construction businesses. Maintaining, operating and dispatching a construction fleet has never been easy even with a large management team, until recently. Many of the headaches have been greatly alleviated with the development of advanced GPS tracking technology.
Since its commercial introduction more than 20 years ago, GPS technology has dramatically reduced in price and improved in quality. GPS tracking software is now Web-based, allowing fleet managers to cheaply and easily access comprehensive information about their fleet’s status and activity from any PC or smartphone. GPS tracking has become an increasingly instrumental tool for construction fleets, driving control and insight into all fleet-based activity.
Monitor 24/7
GPS tracking systems monitor vehicles and assets 24/7. At any time, fleet managers can quickly locate the resources they need from a fleet list or map. Being able to see the entire operation—vehicles, trailers and equipment—from a single map allows the management team to stay on top of everything.
The location data provided by GPS tracking systems allows construction managers to better schedule and estimate the time of asset arrival so that crews know what to expect. This helps keep projects on schedule without delays.
Reduce Fuel Costs
When workers keep unused vehicles and other types of assets idling, this slowly adds up to a great deal of wasted fuel and money. Idling can be monitored and controlled with alerts sent to management as soon as the vehicle or other asset idles for more than a certain threshold of time.
Speeding also wastes fuel. GPS systems can provide alerts when a driver exceeds the posted speed limit. This makes management aware of problem drivers and keeps crews safer.
Eliminating unauthorized vehicle usage also saves fuel by reducing unnecessary miles driven. With GPS tracking, managers know when employees abuse take-home policies and use the vehicles for personal use. This capability can be custom-fit to work around typical working hours to be most effective.
Fuel card reporting allows the miles per gallon data to be calculated, and non-fuel purchases can be easily identified. This information gives management complete control over their fuel spending.
Extend Vehicle Life
Vehicle and asset usage can be monitored with GPS tracking, and the system can provide information about under-utilized and overworked equipment. Managers can effectively distribute equipment usage, keeping these valuable assets working longer.
Fleet managers can also schedule preventive maintenance, which will alert them to upcoming/overdue maintenance needed. Staying on top of maintenance keeps a company’s assets on the job longer and prevents future problems.
Vehicle diagnostic information can also be gathered from a GPS tracking system. Managers can receive an alert as soon as a trouble code comes up. The vehicle can then receive maintenance before the problem gets worse. These proactive methods will protect the company assets and your business.
Recover Stolen Assets Faster
Unfortunately, construction sites are highly targeted theft areas. GPS tracking technology can recover stolen assets faster, saving companies time and money. This includes powered and non-powered assets.
When any motion is detected during odd hours or when the asset leaves a particular area, an alert will be triggered, notifying management of a possible theft situation. This gives construction business owners peace of mind that their valuable equipment will be secure. Plus, insurance companies often give discounts to fleets that have GPS tracking.
Ensure Work-Site Compliance
Any construction site will have limited hours of operation and restricted access areas. With a GPS tracking system in place, management does not have to be on-site to know whether or not the crew adheres to these restrictions.
Reports can be generated to show when crews started and ended their days, and certain areas can be landmarked /geofenced to alert management if crew members work in an area they should not.
Improve Billing Accuracy
Detailed GPS tracking reports allow companies to determine the exact amount of time to invoice a customer, which saves time and unnecessary paperwork. If customer disputes arise, GPS tracking provides hard evidence to prove the total amount of time spent on the jobsite throughout the timeline of the project.
GPS fleet and asset tracking has become one of today’s most valuable tools for construction fleet management. Do not waste valuable time and resources with old management practices. Consider using a GPS tracking system to make your fleet more effective and efficient.
By The Numbers
4 Million
Research from C.J. Driscoll & Associates, a marketing consulting and research company for GPS and wireless applications, shows that in 2011, the adoption of GPS tracking has grown 15 to 20 percent in service, delivery, government and construction fleets despite a down economy.
