GPS Tracking Devices Reveal What Roads Have Been Plowed

18 Feb 2016

Less than 100 years ago, there was no such thing as GPS tracking on snow plows and it could be days before the snow plows made it to your streets. These days, this is no longer the case. Now, it only takes a few clicks of your mouse to see if the state roads have been plowed yet. And more and more municipalities and counties are employing GPS tracking for their snow plowing and the benefits it provides.

For instance, earlier this winter, weather forecasters anticipated that around 16 inches of snow was going to fall on Madison County. The predictions of when the snow storm would begin and what the accumulation would be varied, however, prior to the storm, the three local governments of the county spent a full day preparing for it. Snow plows were lined up in their garage filled with fuel and salt ready to tackle the roads. Next to the garage off Madison Ave was a shed filled with loads of salt for refilling the trucks.

Residents were finally able to track their county roads and see when they were going to be plowed or if they have already been thanks to an Internet connection and GPS tracking.

According to Paul Fontecchio, Director of Brown County Interim Public Works, each truck can be tracked by GPS to see where they have been, where they are going and how long their work takes. Route data can be recorded and analyzed by GPS so they can be changed if needed.

In another case, almost 700 of nearly 2500 statewide vehicles through PennDot were equipped with GPS tracking that provided up-to-the-minute data through the Pennsylvania state’s 511PA site and mobile app.

This technology is expected to not just help officials review truck material usage and movement following a winter storm, but also help them while the storms are happening, says Leslie Richards, Transportation Secretary.

Residents will be able to see all plows that are equipped with GPS that are presently on the streets simply by going to the 511PA website and selecting ‘Plow Trucks”. They will have the ability to see a snow plow’s route over the last couple of hours by selecting any individual snow plow icon and then clicking on “View Historical Route.”

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.