Using gps systems for fleet management

Gps systems for fleet management
If you are manager or an owner of a fleet management business you know you must do what you can to save time and money.  This is the only way you can get ahead in your business.  And, of course, the more money, the business makes, the more money you are able to spend on your employee’s wages.  For this reason and for many others, many fleet management operations are turning to gps systems to help manage their businesses to help make them more profitable.

What are two things that all businesses must do to survive and to grow?

Save time and save money.

By saving time, you and your employees can accomplish more goals in one day.  This means you can serve more customers and you can gain more accounts.  This in turn means you will make more money.

By saving money on things such as wear and tear on your vehicles, maintenance costs, costs of over time fees, and even fuel costs, you and the company has more money to spend on other things.  These things could include more supplies to make the business run more smoothly, more vehicles which in turn could mean more employees in which you can hire and more accounts you can take on and even pay raises for your employees.

A gps system for fleet management can definitely help you to accomplish these two goals.

A gps system is a global positional system.  It call allow you to pinpoint your employees whereabouts when they are driving your fleet vehicles.  This is great for many reasons such as:

Pinpointing them in emergency situations
Making sure that they are at or heading toward the right destination

The gps system for fleet management will also allow you to find out such things as:

The speed in which your drivers are actually driving.  This can help make sure that they are not driving recklessly, help to cut down on those high costs of speeding tickets, help ensure their safety as well as the safety of others on the roads.

The time each employee spends at each destination.  This can allow you to gauge whether they are clearly performing all the tasks at each spot as they should.  For instance, if they are assigned to the duty of unloading cargo, you can estimate the time it takes.  Are the employees staying long enough to accomplish this goal?  On the flip side, you can tell if they are wasting too much time in between stops, possibly by socializing by gauging how long it should take to unload products, pick up products or provide a service call.

The routes each employee drives.  This can help to ensure that each employee is taking the shortest routes possible.  By taking the shortest routes, he/she is helping to save the company time and money.  You can also make sure that the employee is stopping at each destination along each route.
You should follow the normal factors when choosing a gps system for your fleet management business.

First look at the amount of money your business is able to spend.

Remember the machinery can be a tax right off and you may even qualify for some deductions in your insurance by having these gps systems installed in each and every one of your vehicles.  Check your policy or your agent to be sure.

Next do some research on some of the capabilities and functions most of these systems have?  Which ones appeal to you the most?  These are the ones you need to buy, even if you do have to pay a little more for them, otherwise you will not be satisfied.

Finally, consider the ease of use of the gps system.  Is it one that you or your managers will easily be able to operate, without having to refer to a manual each and every time you turn on the system?  You will want also one with easy to use buttons, placed in ideal locations, a display monitor that is easy on the eyes and mapping features that are easy to understand.

No, you don’t want to be a Big Brother type of boss or business owner.  Yet, you must protect your business and sometimes you must even protect those who work for you.  A gps system for fleet management gives you the opportunity to do both of these things.  It may also help you to save time and money for your business at the same time.  These reasons alone should make you wish you had one today. 

If you are a person who constantly watches your local news for weather and traffic updates then you probably prefer to be informed about what is going on around you at all times. There is nothing wrong with that. Who doesn’t like to know what to expect when they’re either about to step outside or travel to a different location? But it can be difficult to get these kinds of updates all the time unless you keep your radio tuned into a specific station that specializes in keeping the public posted regularly. This is why it is a good idea to consider taking advantage of the Uniden Trax433 GPS unit, which not only offers real-time traffic updates available right in your vehicle, but you can also enjoy great navigation and mapping features as well.

The Road to Great Navigation Starts Here

So you’ve already expressed that you enjoy being updated with information on what’s going on around you no matter where you are. But how about getting information about where you’re going at the same time. There are tons of global positioning units on the market that specialize in helping you determine your exact coordinates on the map – a great feature! But what do you do if you want to get from one location to another and you’re not necessarily great with directions? If this describes you then the Uniden Trax433 GPS system is a great option for you.

This system comes equipped with turn-by-turn voice-prompted navigation that offers instruction on how to get from point A to point B. By entering the destination that you would like to reach in the system, it will then tell you how to get there, street by street, with voice automated instruction. When you reach a turn that you need to make a left or right onto, the system utilizes its text-to-speech technology to verbalize the actual street you should be turning onto. And if you are driving along the highway, the system will guide you to which exit to take. Pretty impressive!

4.3-inch Color Touchscreen

There is nothing better than being able to look at anything you want on a wide screen. Looking at maps of streets on the Uniden Trax433 GPS is no exception. It offers a great visual experience with a large 4.3-inch color touchscreen with a wide color LCD display. Also, the screen is daylight viewable, which means that you never have problems seeing its contents, even if the Sun creates a glare.

Traffic Updates

The Uniden Trax433 GPS unit will be a great buy for you if you like to take advantage of features like real-time traffic updates. And as mentioned before, this system can offer you just that. So whether you’re just getting started on your journey and haven’t left the driveway, or you’ve been on the road for a while and sense that with rush hour approaching there may be some problems on the road, you can utilize the system’s traffic updates to tell you what areas you may want to avoid.

Preloaded Maps

The Uniden Trax433 GPS also boast being able to supply you with great map data for any city in the United States. Because it contains 2GB of map memory, you can rest assured that there is plenty of data available for you. In other words, it is likely that you will complete all of your traveling for a lifetime and still not have used every bit of map data that has been stored in the system.

POIs

If you are driving along with this device in your car and feel that you need to pull over in the nearest city though you have no idea what that city has to offer, you can utilize the system’s POI database to not only learn what ATM’s, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, museums, hospitals, amusement parks and more are found there, you can also get guided directions to one of those locations. To take advantage of this feature, you scroll navigate through the device’s touchscreen until you reach this database then scroll to the city you’re approaching and find a location you would like to stop at. Once you find that location, select it and let the unit then calculate a route that will get you there from where you currently are located.

Now that you’ve had a chance to explore the Uniden Trax433 GPS, you see that it offers much more than traffic updates. So if that’s all you wanted in a navigation system you’re in for a treat. Just make sure that when you buy your Uniden Trax433 GPS, you don’t overlook all of the other great ways to take advantage of this unit.

Understanding and using reviews of handheld gps systems

reviews of handheld gps systems

Reviews of handheld gps systems are a great way to learn about them.  By reading them you can learn the good points and the bad points of some models.  You can also learn what to watch for when it comes time to shop for your own.  Yet, understanding reviews can be a little confusing.

Where should you begin?

You should begin by identifying whether the review is an actual review or a sales pitch for a product.  How can you tell the difference?

Your first clue may be the fact that the only things told about the handheld gps system is good points.  There is no discussion at all about the negative points.  Lets face it, even the best devices will have one negative aspect or two about it.

Your second clue may be the web address of the review itself.  If the web address link ends up looking like a sales site chances are it is.

Of course, if the site gives you the option to buy the product in question it is a sales site.

Yet, some sales sites will give real customers a chance to voice their opinions of a product. These opinions and comments are usually located at the bottom of the pages. The top of course is devoted to praises and sales pitches of the product.  One site that is built like this is amazon.com.

Are you having trouble finding real review sites?  Try searching at consumerreports.com.  This site is built to give honest opinions and facts about the products they cover.  The people who are writing the opinions and the facts are experts on the products.  They are not sales people.  They do not receive money if you buy or don’t buy a product. 

Now that you have found a good review or two to read about the handheld gps system that interests you the most, what should you look for first in the review?

You may want to begin with the rating the system got.  Most sites will break down the reviews by a rating system.  Sometimes this system will be based on stars.  The higher the number of stars a product gets the better ratings it received. 

Now begin reading the comments one by one.

Do they cover the items that matter to you most?

Be sure to pay close attention to how the gps system works.  How easy it is to use.  How accurate is it?  Does it give exact addresses? 

What about performance?  Is it quick at finding those exact addresses?  Does it have a long battery life?  

Does the functions perform accurately and easily?  Do maps load as they should?  Can you easily download more maps onto your computer or can you change a route of a course easily? 

What about the display feature?  Does it work in many forms of lighting?  Does it work at night?  Does it have easy to locate buttons and are they made for most people (even those with bigger fingers)?  Does it work by a touch screen?

How are addresses given?  Do the turn by turn directions actually take you to the exact address you wanted?  Are the speak to text directions easy to understand?

Of course, you should also look at what other’s are saying about the price of the system.

Do most people seem to think it is worth the money they paid?  Do they say it is a deal or that they could have known better if they would have waited and purchased else where?

Are most people saying positive or negative things about the handheld gps system in question? Do their comments and responses sound reliable?  Do they use the correct terms in describing the gps system?  Do they seem to be using the gps system in the same ways as you would be using one? 

Can you believe each comment?  It probably would be wise not to believe every one.  Yet, if there are ten comments stating that the gps system failed to load or that it couldn’t find most addresses requested (and these were addresses that should be easy to find).  Then something inside of your brain will tell you to be weary of that system.  It may pay to listen to that something and those comments.

Reviews can give you a better since of which handheld gps system would suit your needs and wants the best.  They also can pinpoint when a possible good deal isn’t a good deal. 

For these reasons and more, if you have the time before purchasing, consider checking some reviews of handheld gps system. 

It is a known fact that gas prices are soaring higher and higher all the time. As a result, we’ve seen various factions of the automotive industry – as well as the airline industry – shut down, resulting in thousands of people losing their jobs. As a person involved in the trucking industry, gas prices have been no less harmful as you rely largely on it to help you transport goods from one location to another. Unfortunately however, gas prices may not be decreasing anytime soon. So how can you lowering the cost when the prices are not lowering at the pump? Many companies and individuals are finding that truckers save fuel with GPS units. Sounds impossible? Well, before you reject the idea, read on to learn more. 

Features That Can Help You Save

So when was the last time that you had an all-knowing companion sitting right by your side who could guide you turn by turn to any location in the country, whether you were in the largest city, or the smallest farm town? Who do you know that could predetermine which routes to take to avoid truck restrictions? And who could help you find any public point of interest in the United States, no matter what city you were in? If you knew this person, you would be definitely reducing the cost of gas for yourself, but since this person doesn’t exist (that we know of, at least), you can at least benefit from a navigation system to be able to confirm from your own experiences that truckers save fuel with GPS units. Let’s look more closely at these gas-reducing features.

Turn-by-Turn Voice Navigation – While this is a feature that is offered with many navigation units, it is still a great price saving in regards to gas. Imagine traveling to multiple locations for deliveries with either a paper map or printed directions to each one. Of course, this is the way many people handle their travel, but sometimes street signs can be hidden behind a tree or exits or not very obvious, still leaving you with tons of work to do in determining exactly how to get to your destination. However, with a navigation system with turn-by-turn instruction, the system itself determines when you’re close to the street then tells you exactly when to turn, eliminating a large portion of the work. Of course, with perfect guidance to your location, you never get lost. And with not getting lost, you never have to burn extra gas. In short, you can see that turn-by-turn voice navigation is a major reason that truckers save fuel with GPS units. 

Truck Restriction Routing – Another cost saver for the trucking industry is a navigation system with truck restriction routing. This feature was specifically created for large vehicles as it takes into consideration routes that cannot be taken due to height or weight limitations. In order take advantage of this feature, you would simply type the truck’s dimensions into the system to have it calculate the perfect route that will help you avoid clearances, bridge heights, one-way road designations, allowances, load limits, tolls and much more.

POI Databases – A third reason that truckers save fuel with GPS units is that many systems offer point of interest (POI) databases with listings of millions of ATMs, restaurants, fuel stops and much more right at your fingertips. So instead of having to pull over to call a location for directions, burning gas while you wait – or even worse, getting lost looking for a place on your own – you can use the database to find the type of POI you want in the city you’re in then have the navigation system guide you to that location. This feature for many is very time and cost friendly.

Units You May Like

A couple of units that can help truckers save fuel with GPS units are the Teletype Worldnav 710060 Truck Navigation and CoPilot Truck Laptop systems. Teletype Worldnav 710060 Truck Navigation is a very popular award-winning unit with a large 7-inch screen, truck restriction routing, turn-by-turn voice navigation instruction, over 12 million POIs, as well as an MP3/video player for entertainment. Or if you don’t want to buy a whole new unit, you can purchase the CoPilot Truck Laptop system which offers full-featured navigation features, digital street maps, a multiple stop itinerary and a trip optimizer.

After reading this article, I’m sure you can see how truckers save fuel with GPS units. So maybe you would like to learn for yourself how cost saving one of this devices can be. If you purchase one, you’ll be able to tell others why truckers save fuel with GPS units.

Top rated gps systems may mean better quality gps systems

Top rated gps systems

Are you in the market for a new gps system?  Would you like to buy a top rated gps system?  Do you realize that those gps systems that are top rated may actually be better quality systems?

What goes into rating a gps system?

Price

Of course, price is a big factor when you purchase or sell anything.  Are the higher priced merchandise items always the best?  No, not necessarily.  Yet, you should be aware of the fact that if a product is made out of quality grade materials, then the product will have a higher price tag just because those materials cost more than inferior grades.

If this is the case, wouldn’t you rather pay a little more for a product? 

A higher grade product may last longer, may wear longer, may be more durable, etc.  It may be a product that you will also live up to your expectations.
Functions and capabilities

Of course, functions and capabilities are a decision factor when it comes to rating gps systems.  If a system does not have all the basic functions, it won’t meet a consumer needs.  Plus, if it has more than the basic functions it could actually over pass the consumers’ expectations and end up being a product that is more loved than the consumer first imagined.

Accuracy

Accuracy is above all the most important decision factor when rating a gps system.  If the system cannot find the exact addresses or cannot stay on route what good is it to the consumer in the first place? The system will essentially be useless.

Gps systems with poor accuracy levels should never be considered a top rated system.

Ease of use

The gps system needs to be a system that most consumers can easily use, even those without a lot of computer knowledge.  If they are too complicated to use, the consumer will often times give up and possibly even return the gps system to the dealer.

Yet, there are a few other factors that make a gps system a top rated one and a better quality one such as:

The display features

Are they easy to read?
Are they easy to understand?
Is the lighting easy on the eyes and able to function and various settings
Is the color the settings most consumers prefer?
Are the buttons placed in pivotal locations?
Are the buttons large enough for both men and women to use comfortably?

The map features

Does the system hold enough maps to satisfy most consumers?
Can more maps be added, easily and quickly?
Does the system have the main points of interest that most consumers need?
Can the consumer add his or her own customizable points of interests?

What about the basic features

Does the system easily show such things as?

Speed
Distance between points
Estimated time of arrival

If the gps system is used for navigational purposes and mapping courses in sporting activities does it provide such things as:

The ability to have current and past speeds
The ability to track back if you get lost or stray off course
The ability to change your course at any given moment
Durability to withstand many climates
Waterproof ability
The ability not to sink if it gets into deep water
The ability to function as a dual purpose device such as an audio player
Also those bells and whistles, those extra functions we all love, is another reason a gps system may become top rated, especially if it includes such items or functions as:

Built in audio player
Audio book reader (may require a subscription fee)
The ability to hook up to an automobile’s speakers for voice commands
JPEG picture viewer
Compass
Clock
Alarms
Several audible alarms
Measurements

On your quest to finding these wonderful top rated gps systems, you may begin to wonder who are the actual people who rates them in the first place.  This is definitely a question to ponder.  Some sites and magazines are devoted to rating electronic equipment, including gps systems and the reviewers who do the ratings are unbiased.  They may be trained experts.  They may actually performed tests on various models or they may actually be consumers and customers like you.  

But be warned some reviews are not actually reviews but sales pitches written by writers and sellers, to sale their gps systems.   You can usually tell the difference by looking closely at the source, the website or the magazine.

Top rated gps systems are generally top rated for a reason.  They are better quality gps systems.  They are gps systems that most consumers would enjoy owning and operating.