The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority in New Hanover County, NC has racked up significant savings after putting GPS trackers in vehicles.

An audit showed that the organization saved over 19,000 gallons of gas, reducing the fuel budget by $54,189. Less fuel was used because supervisors were able to monitor speed and location of all vehicles.

Safety and Efficiency

It also keeps drivers more aware of safety issues like speeding. Chief Communications Officer Mike McGill was pinged by the GPS tracking software when he was driving too fast up Chapel Hill. He calls it a “gentle reminder” to himself and other drivers that the authority cares about their safety.

It also adds to overall vehicle efficiency, saving money for the group. One example is the ability to send out the truck that is closest to a repair site, saving both time and money.

The county is considering using the devices on school buses and country, fire, city and police vehicles. New Hanover County Commissioner Woody White calls the GPS fleet software an innovative way to save “every possible dollar.” Read the rest of this entry »

Driving green helps the earth and helps your bottom line. Earth Day is April 22. It’s a good time to investigate ways to make vehicles more efficient and to save on fuel.

Can I Make a Difference?

Yes! Every single truck can make a difference. Consider this fact: each gallon of fuel a vehicle burns can put as much as 20 pounds of unwanted carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. Gallon by gallon, you can save the planet from the damaging effects of pollution.

This also helps you budget. Though fuel prices are in a downward trend, they are volatile. Costs will go up. Each gallon of fuel you don’t have to buy adds to profitability.

7 Tips to Drive Green

1)   Plan routes for efficiency. This is where GPS fleet tracking shows its worth. Avoid delays and detours by checking for the best way to your pickup point. Your vehicle will use less fuel. Each delivery will also take less time, letting you fit more work into the same number of work hours. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers have found a way to use GPS tracking technology to obtain more information on jellyfish.

Tracking animals is not a foreign concept; for several years, scientists have been using GPS tracking technology to watch the behaviors, habits, and movements of everything from tigers to whales. However, jellyfish have always been somewhat elusive because they were impossible to track

A new study, though, is revealing insights about the mystical jellyfish from a GPS tracking data that didn’t track the jellyfish itself, but the ocean currents.

Researchers were very curious as to how jellyfish are able to adapt so well in the ocean, especially considering they have no brains, bones, or even a heart. Through this tracking study, they were able to gather a lot of useful information on their adaptation abilities.

When looking through the data they received, researchers discovered that jellyfish have the ability to automatically detect the ocean waves. Once they detect the waves at a certain current, they know it is time to swim against those currents. Read the rest of this entry »

Sales fuel growth and keep your bottom line healthy. One of the most effective tools for bringing in new business is your GPS fleet tracking software.

Here is a look at how GPS tracking for fleets can fuel your company’s growth.

Increase Your Area of Operation

Increasing the area where you offer service opens you up to a new and larger customer base. But it can be a risky venture, involving:

• Different weather conditions like ice, snow and storms, that are unlike your traditional area of service.
• Unfamiliar highway systems.
• Breakdowns miles from home base.

Read the rest of this entry »

Buzz Lightyear becomes a real hero when the toy helps track down thieves of local charity donation bins.

In Atlanta, the Mid-Atlantic Clothing (MAC) Recycling center has noticed a severe drop in donations over the past several months. They have several donation bins around Atlanta, in places like shopping centers and churches. People bring clothing, toys, and other items to donate to the organization by placing them in these bins. Unfortunately, donations are up, but the items in the bins are still going down.

What’s up with that?

The territory manager of donations, Tim Peck, told reporters of the issue with their donations:

“Our donations were down, and down a lot, as much as 35 percent. It’s tens of thousands of dollars if not more. It’s a lot of money.”

They believed the severe drop in donations was because of items being stolen from the donation bins. There are often bags of clothing and toys left in the bins overnight, which is when there is little security in the surrounding areas and puts their bins at risk. An experienced thief can easily get into these bins and remove items to later sell on their own. It has become a major problem not just for this organization, but many other recycling bin drop-off locations in Atlanta. Read the rest of this entry »