Harvesters in the Blue Hill Bay sea urchin experimental management area in Maine who’re intending to fish for sea urchins will soon need to have a global positioning system tracker installed on their vessels to enter the zone. There have been problems with overfishing of sea urchins in the area. It’s, therefore, hoped that this measure will help protect the species from becoming endangered or even extinct.

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) recently held a meeting to demonstrate and distribute the electronic tracking devices to sea urchin harvesters in the area. The units must be continually turned on to enable the tracking of vessels for the whole duration of the urchin harvest season. The DMR has decided on a 45-day season from which harvesters can choose as many as 38 days to fish.

It’s hoped that DMR scientists will collate crucial data on the behavior of the fishery. Over the coming four fishing season, the DMR plan to close off different reefs or ledges to ascertain how  the seas urchins thrive in their natural habitat.

The DMR also plans to conduct annual meetings with industry insiders to help decide where these experimental closures should be. If there is not enough tracking data collated this coming year to provide the information needed, the DMR plans to carry out the tracking for a second year.

Although sea urchins are not currently endangered, they could become so in the future. The creatures are delicacies in countries like Japan and others. Sea urchins are comparable to oysters in terms of their flavor. They are often served raw as an appetizer. The Italians tend to create pasta dishes with sea urchins.

The spiky creatures are prized for their rich orange roe known as uni in sushi restaurants. Although this food is most associated with Japan, sea urchin has become a staple on many stateside menus. Due to its popularity, the creatures are being overfished.

According to an article in The Atlantic, the stocks have diminished $35 million per year and are currently only $5 million in Maine. It’s hoped that this mandatory GPS tracking will help pinpoint any overfishing. It will then be easier for experts to create a plan for maintaining sea urchin colonies in the area.

As much as you want to trust the men and women working for you, fuel card fraud happens every day to fleets just like yours. When you entrust your employees with fuel cards, you’re providing them with the means to take advantage of your organization. You need more than hope to keep them in line and avoid paying for items that aren’t fueling your fleet.

These are a few things you can do to reduce faulty fuel card charges in your organization.

What is Employee Fuel Card Fraud?

Anytime employees use their employee fuel cards to purchase fuel for personal vehicles or items unrelated to the operation of their vehicles (motor oil, coolant, etc.) it is essentially fuel fraud. In some cases, drivers use their fuel cards to pay for fuel for others in exchange for cash – at your expense.

It doesn’t matter how well you pay your employees, how long they’ve worked for you, or anything else. Some employees are always looking for opportunities to maximize their income. Fuel cards, and the relative freedom they experience, make for tempting combinations.

Preventing Fleet Fuel Card Fraud

The good news is that there are steps you can take that will help you reduce your risks when it comes to fuel card fraud from your drivers. These small steps can save your organization thousands of dollars, if not more, annually, by deterring this particular crime among your employees.

• Explain the consequences of fuel card fraud to your employees. Let them know, in no uncertain terms, what will happen to employees who are caught stealing fuel from your company.
• Require employees to have unique PIN numbers they use whenever fueling their vehicles and track spending from one employee to the next to look for signs of problems.
• Install GPS fleet tracking systems that provide daily reports about how much fuel drivers should consume. This will not only help with the collection of evidence against drivers who are stealing, but serves as an outstanding deterrent for those who are considering it.
• Set daily spending limits on the cards. With strict laws governing the number of hours trucks can spend on the road each day, it makes perfect sense to set daily limits that allow a little wiggle room for fuel and other emergencies, but little else.

Now is the perfect time to take control of fleet spending and reduce your risks of fuel card fraud by your employees. These practices will help raise awareness and improve your bottom line.

Emissions are growing concerns for today’s fleet owners as consumers are constantly shifting toward preferences for businesses that operate in a more environmentally friendly capacity. Reducing fleet emissions is not only good for creating cleaner air to breathe, but is also necessary for the sake of the planet. These practical methods will help you reduce your fleet emissions without compromising productivity.

1) Keep Vehicles Properly Maintained

Depending on the number of vehicles in your fleet, it can be tricky providing proper maintenance for all of them. Failing to do so, though, can result in higher emissions, and a shorter span of usefulness for all the vehicles in your fleet. Maintaining your vehicles properly can save your organization a ton of money by reducing accidents, increasing fuel efficiency, and extending the lives of all your vehicles. At the same time, it will allow your vehicle to generate fewer emissions when in operation.

2) Choose Hybrid Vehicles When Possible

Hybrid vehicles produce far fewer emissions than standard gasoline burning vehicles. If hybrid vehicles for your fleet are out of the question consider the option of improving the aerodynamics of your entire fleet so that you are not required to burn as much fuel in the process of going about your daily travels. Burning fewer fossil fuels in your operation can save you money and goes a long way toward helping you reduce your carbon footprint.

3) Enforce Safe Driving Practices

Believe it or not, safe driving is good for the planet too. Creating and enforcing policies that encourage driving the speed limit and the avoidance of aggressive driving behaviors can go a long way toward securing the planet for the future and reducing your emissions. It also happens to reduce the amount of fuel your fleet burns while operating – saving you money in the process.

4) Use GPS Fleet Tracking

GPS fleet tracking can help you plan more efficient routes, monitor driver behavior, schedule maintenance, and more so you can focus on more efficient fleet operations with confidence that your trucks aren’t harming the planet in the process.

5) Consider Investing in Carbon Offsetting

While it is nearly impossible for large-scale trucking fleets to operate in a completely carbon neutral capacity, it is possible to offset the emissions you create daily by investing in carbon offsetting, which works to offset some of the emissions you generate in your business by investing in organizations that do good things for the planet.

These practical steps can help you reduce your carbon emissions while also lowering the carbon footprint your organization leaves behind. Incorporate them today and enjoy huge benefits for your business and for the planet.

Are you looking to reduce your fleet’s emissions? Contact us here at LiveViewGPS to learn more about GPS fleet tracking.