Many employees are slow to embrace change — any change. Business owners who have attempted to introduce small changes in safety protocols or even dress codes understand this all too well. In the eyes of many employees, GPS tracking on company vehicles is a change that’s anything but small. However, if you introduce it the right way, you’ll discover that it’s not that difficult at all to get employees to embrace the change as something positive for everyone.

Show Your Hand from the Start

Don’t surprise them with the news after the fact. Let them know it’s going to happen. Give them the facts and allow them an opportunity to air their feelings on the issue. It you hide it from them, or they feel you’re hiding it from them, you might find the plan met with resentment rather than acceptance and compliance. Read the rest of this entry »

With the help of GPS technology, researchers now know how a group of koalas in Australia survived a nearby brushfire.

If the researchers from the University of Queensland hadn’t fitted koalas with global positioning systems (GPS) trackers prior to the brush fire that broke out in Queensland, they might not know how they managed to survive the fire.The koalas were being tracked by GPS tracking devices to learn more about their natural habitat, eating habits and food sources, and their general movements throughout the day.

In January, when a brushfire made its way through Stradbroke Island in Brisbane, the researchers expected their study to be over and the koalas be a victim of the fires. However, when they returned to the area once the smoke had cleared, they found their koalas safe and well.

With the help of the GPS tracking technology, we not only know that koalas are cute and cuddly. But they’re smart too. The scientists figured out that the koalas were astute enough to escape the fires by hiding out near a stream until the fires were out. Read the rest of this entry »

Just like distribution and delivery businesses can benefit from incorporating GPS tracking into their business vehicles, seasonal businesses, such as lawn care services, pool-cleaning companies, and snow removal companies can too. In fact, these services may benefit more than other similar services.

Why is that? Because the window of time for these businesses to operate is so limited that every dollar must pull double duty.

Lawn Care Services

The landscaping services industry is estimated to become an $80.6 billion industry by 2015, according toLandscapeOnline.com. Most landscaping companies rely heavily on service routes that they work week after week in order to maintain lawns during the summer months. In states that have more months of summer-like weather, the seasons are longer, but most U.S. states have some sort of winter, where this industry is less widely utilized. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers use GPS tracking to find out more about the newly increased population of Snowy Owls in Maryland.

The Snowy Owl is an elusive bird that is native to Canada, though it can be found in various locations around the United States as well. It is also the official bird for Quebec, a province in Canada. While its classification is still not confirmed, experts believe it to be closely related to the Bubo horned owls. They can travel thousands of miles on their own and typically do when the seasons change.

One of the snowy owls being tracked, Hungerford, did just that when she traveled from the Arctic tundra to the coast of Maryland in the fall. In the winter, researchers found her and have been tracking her activity, along with other owls involved in a study.

While they are some of the largest birds that can be found in North America, there is little information about them. They don’t generally like to be around humans and spend most of their time in the Arctic Circle, only moving to the United States in the winter. Read the rest of this entry »

According to theBureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 1.25 million delivery drivers employed in the U.S. in 2012. That’s a lot of deliveries made and delivery vehicles on the road each and every day. One thing that a vast majority of these vehicles have in common is that GPS tracking technology could help them operate more efficiently. The benefits of GPS delivery tracking below are just the tip of the iceberg.

Real Time Delivery Notifications

Delivery alerts in real time offers a huge benefit that adds value to your company over other delivery companies when customers are making their choice. Companies want to know when their customers receive the goods. They want proof that the items they sent were delivered and where those items were delivered in case issues ever arise.

Monitor Delivery Employees

GPS monitoring of employees works. It’s as simple as that. In fact, it works on many fronts. First, it keeps the lead out of their feet. If they know you’re going to get a report every time they go above the posted speed limit, they’re going to keep their speeds on target. This means fewer speeding tickets and lower insurance rates. Read the rest of this entry »