Colkar sets itself apart from competitors by providing over 60 years of family knowledge in the haulage industry and employing only the most qualified and skilled drivers. The company takes pride in offering safe and on-time deliveries every time.

Unfortunately, as with many other industries in Ireland, the transport sector suffered dearly during the economic recession. As more businesses went out of business, the demand for transport services diminished. This forced haulage companies to lower rates in order to compete for ever diminishing business.

Colkar Transport realised that remaining competitive while offering the same high-quality haulage serviced meant they needed to drastically reduce costs.

With the FleetMatics GPS Vehicle Tracking Solution, Colkar has achieved its goal – and more.

Decreasing Overhead with GPS

“Initially, we looked into GPS to cut costs in overtime and fuel,” said Phelim Turley, Transport Manager of Colkar Transport. “We were facing extremely high fuel costs and too much overtime and we needed to decrease those immediately.”

Colkar Transport looked into several GPS tracking companies before settling on the FleetMatics GPS Vehicle Tracking Solution. To them, FleetMatics simply had the best features at the best price.

Colkar was particularly impressed with the Live Fleet and Route Replay features. These two powerful tools allows Colkar to ensure drivers are using the most direct routes to job sites. With efficient routing, fuel consumption is lowered and drivers can make more deliveries in a shorter period of time.

“We have no more problems with payroll and overtime,” said Mr. Turley. “Those days are long gone because with the efficiencies our drivers can get all their work done in a standard work day.”

Colkar Transport also utilises the Daily Reports to check for red flag alerts. The Daily Report includes information about ignition on/off times, arrival and departure of locations, idling time, drive time and distance travelled. In addition, red flag alerts appear on the report when a driver exceeds preset thresholds set by the system manager.

Colkar was especially concerned about high idle times for their vehicles. By looking for idling red flag alerts on the Daily Report, Mr. Turley could quickly determine major offenders and take corrective action.

“Once we started using FleetMatics, we noticed a significant reduction in fuel costs and idle times,” said Mr. Turley. “Without the system I don’t know where we’d be considering the high costs of fuel and the tight economy.”

Additional “Massive Benefits”

While controlling fuel costs and overtime drove Colkar to install FleetMatics GPS, the company soon realised a number of benefits that they did not expect.

FleetMatics GPS can serve as a powerful customer service tool. When Colkar’s customers know that their deliveries are being tracked down to the minute, it gives them additional reassurance that their goods will be delivered safely and on time.

Colkar Transport also uses the system to verify deliveries if a customer calls with a problem. Colkar can show the customer exactly when the driver arrived, when they left and how long they were at the site. The system even allows Colkar the ability to email clients proof of service.

“We are able to show clients exactly what we have done and can do for them using FleetMatics GPS,” said Mr. Turley. “This provides us with massive benefits.”

Colkar has made great use of the Point of Interest (POI) alerts to help keep tabs on delivery times. One of their clients has a high security facility, so deliveries there take longer and could cause a backlog.

“We get a POI email alert whenever one of drivers pulls into the site and when they leave the site,” said Mr. Turley. “That way we know how long they were there and can make any routing adjustments for the rest of the day.”

Colkar also benefits from regular mapping and software upgrades to the FleetMatics system. All the upgrades are free and introduced seamlessly into the tracking suite. Recent system improvements include the addition of Goggle Mapping, enhanced preference options and expanded archives of historic fleet data.

“We’ve been FleetMatics customers for nearly three years and we really appreciate how they develop the software,” added Mr. Turley. “Each new feature is like one of those things that you don’t realise you need until you have it. But once we’ve experienced it, we’d miss it dearly.”

Controlling the Fleet

With FleetMatics GPS installed, Colkar Transport now has complete control of their fleet. From routing and fuel usage, to location reports and delivery times, the company can optimise their fleet for maximum efficiency.

“I can come in and immediately check the reports to look at the previous day’s work,” said Mr. Turley. “And then, since some of our drivers take their vehicles home, I can check to see who has started working and if they are on their way to their first job.”

FleetMatics GPS has essentially put Mr. Turley in the passenger seat of every one of Colkar Transport’s vehicles. With this kind of presence, Colkar Transport has maintained viability while competitors fall to the tough economy.

For over 25 years, Ian Stirling Haulage in Renfrew has provided exceptional haulage services to its clients throughout Scotland. It’s a small, family-run business facing much larger competition in an industry that has felt the direct effects of climbing costs as the economy struggles.

For Ian Stirling Haulage, the FleetMatics GPS Vehicle Tracking Solution seemed to be the answer to all of their cost and control issues. Once the tracking system was installed, the results overwhelmingly impressed Mr. Stirling and the company has remained fully committed to FleetMatics GPS.

Curbing Vehicle Expenses

FleetMatics GPS has helped Ian Stirling Haulage significantly tighten their expenses through a variety of fuel saving features.

According to Mr. Stirling, his company utilises the Live Fleet feature to know exactly when drivers arrive at a job site and how long it took for them to get there. This eliminates any routing discrepancies and ensures drivers use the quickest route possible to a job.

Dispatchers now have the ability to locate the vehicles nearest to any job site, thus further cutting fuel usage. The automated reports also allow Mr. Stirling to see any excessive mileage and unauthorized vehicle usage on off-days.

In addition, the idling reports show which drivers waste fuel by running their vehicles as climate control during hot or cold days. Ian Stirling Haulage effectively used the information from this report to significantly reduce idling times.

“We have cut our fuel costs dramatically,” said Mr. Stirling. “In fact, the fuel savings alone more than cover the costs of the system.”

Validate and Control Payroll

Ian Stirling also makes extensive use of the FleetMatics reporting features to verify payroll. Prior to FleetMatics, Mr. Stirling had no way to verify when his drivers started work or if his drivers took unauthorised breaks.

The first thing Mr. Stirling looks at when he logs into the FleetMatics system is check Live Fleet to locate every vehicle. Then throughout the day, he knows exactly when an employee arrives on a site, how long they stay there, and when they leave.

“Without FleetMatics, you really have no idea where your vehicles are or what they are doing,” said Mr. Stirling. “Now I know where they are every minute.”

Combined with data from the Daily Report, Mr. Stirling can now ensure employees work efficiently during all their required hours without worrying about overtime. In fact, his employees now work shorter hours during the day because of their increased productivity.

“The system is incredibly accurate,” said Mr. Stirling. “I can see exactly what’s going on at any given moment.”

Improved Safety and Customer Service

As a result of FleetMatics, Ian Stirling Haulage has also improved safety for its drivers. Using the speeding alerts, Mr. Stirling is immediately notified if one of his vehicles exceeds a pre-set speed threshold.

“Drivers can sometimes get distracted out on the road,” said Mr. Stirling. “FleetMatics helps them keep their speed down and has even changed their driving style.”

Customers of Ian Stirling Haulage have also realised the benefits of GPS. The company’s customers are made aware that Stirling’s trucks are tracked. They can get down to the minute estimates on when the trucks will arrive. In addition, delivery times are shorter since FleetMatics GPS makes it easy to choose direct routes and avoid traffic congestions with Google Mapping.

“We implemented the FleetMatics system to control our vehicles, reduce costs and make our business more efficient,” said Mr. Stirling. “The system has helped us do just that. We are quite happy with the cost savings and will never be without FleetMatics GPS tracking.”

Signature Car Hire in Middlesex, UK offers a wide variety of prestigious vehicles for hire. The company prides itself on providing clients the latest performance and luxury vehicle models. Signature Car Hire’s professionalism and meticulous attention to service has helped them achieve recognition as a leader in the prestigious car hire market.

But according to Deepak Bhatia, Managing Director of Signature Car Hire, ensuring the security of the company’s vehicles and providing a measure of safety for clients quickly became a major concern. The company turned to FleetMatics GPS vehicle tracking to meet the security and safety needs for 27 of their high-performance vehicles.

Securing Peace of Mind

With FleetMatics GPS installed, Signature Car Hire knows the exact location of every vehicle in its fleet. This is especially useful considering that their vehicles are very expensive and highly desirable to would-be thieves.

“We highly value the peace of mind we get from knowing where all our cars are at any given time,” said Mr. Bhatia. “We get an enhanced feeling of security from FleetMatics because the system offers many functions which are beneficial to our business.”

The FleetMatics GPS system notifies Signature Car Hire if a vehicle goes outside areas specified for client use. For example, if a client says they are in Cardiff but the GPS tracking shows the vehicle located in Scotland, Mr. Bhatia can closely monitor the client and contact them for clarification.

In addition, should a vehicle move to a port – a sure sign of possible theft in progress – Mr. Bhatia would know immediately and be able to contact authorities for quick action.

Ensuring Client Safety

Signature Car Hire holds special concern for the safety of its clients. While the company makes sure every car is thoroughly maintained and inspected for safety, clients also must take responsibility for the safety of the vehicles by obeying speed limits.

“When a client exceeds any speed limit, I receive email alerts,” said Mr. Bhatia. “This is invaluable and prompts us to call the client so we can advise them to take more care while driving.”

The speeding alerts also provide evidence in the event a speeding ticket is issued against one of Signature Car Hire’s vehicles. And if a vehicle has been driven at excessive speeds, staff can pay extra attention in inspecting the vehicle for the next client.

Service and Savings

According to Mr. Bhatia, FleetMatics GPS offers a wide range of benefits that extend beyond security and safety.

“Service is key in the car hire industry,” said Mr. Bhatia. “FleetMatics GPS has proved to be a powerful customer service tool for us.”

On the rare occasion that a vehicle breaks down, Signature Car Hire can quickly locate the client and send help. This reduces the amount of time a client waits to get back on the road and further proves the company’s commitment to quality service.

Mr. Bhatia has also used FleetMatics GPS to allocate unpaid speeding tickets or congestion charges to the offending clients. Using the route replay feature, Mr. Bhatia can review the entire journey of any vehicle to determine when and where a violation occurred.

And because of the additional safety and security that FleetMatics GPS provides, Signature Car Hire has obtained favourable insurance policy premiums on its vehicles.

“Ensuring we have maximum safety and security for our fleet is a primary goal,” said Mr. Bhatia “With the FleetMatics Vehicle Tracking System on our prestigious supercars, we have achieved that goal.”

Daily Report

The Daily Report provides information on the daily movement of any vehicle. Data includes: ignition on-time, ignition off-time, arrival and departure of locations, idling time, drive time, and distance travelled. Use this report to detect improper vehicle usage, problematic driving behaviors and actual working hours on any given day for a specific vehicle.

Detailed Report

The Detailed Report provides the minute-by-minute GPS location of any vehicle. Data includes: location of vehicle throughout the entire day, engine-on times, idling time, drive time, distance travelled and costs of operating vehicle. Use this report to detect inefficient routing, pinpoint exact vehicle locations throughout the day and investigate questionable driving times.

Idling Report

The Idling Report provides true idling times (when ignition is on and vehicle is not moving) for every vehicle in your fleet. Data includes: idle start and stop times, location of idling, total idling time and alerts when idle times exceed threshold. Use this report to minimize idle times, reduce fuel usage, improve routing and decrease engine wear.

Hours Worked Report

The Hours Worked Report provides information on actual hours a vehicle is in operation and can be used as an electronic timesheet. Data includes: daily actual start and finish times, hours worked, days worked, average daily hours and weekly totals. Use this report to record accurate work hours, improve back office efficiencies and eliminate payroll disputes.

Red Flag Report

The Red Flag Report allows you to instantly recognize when and where a vehicle has exceeded a specified speed threshold. Data includes: date, time and location of occurrence, along with exact speed travelled. Use this report to detect problematic driving behavior, improve safety and reduce liability.

Location Report

This report provides information on how long your vehicles spend at a specified point of interest (POI). Data includes: identity of vehicle at POI, arrival time, departure time and alerts when time spent at any POI exceeds threshold. Use this GPS report to increase productivity, tighten controls and implement best management practices.

State Mileage Report

The Fleet State Mileage Report provides GPS information on the total mileage driven by state for each vehicle. Data includes: miles driven by state, non-toll and toll miles driven by state and total miles driven. Use this report to reduce paperwork, increase overall efficiencies and streamline back office accounting operations.

Activity Report

The Vehicle Activity Report provides information on each vehicle’s performance within a specified date range and compares the data against operating costs. Data includes: total mileage, cost per mile, cost per hour and total operating costs per day. Use this report to determine ROI of every vehicle, identify inefficient drivers and vehicles, and improve overall efficiencies.

Customer System Usage Report

Monitor system usage by user including logins and reports run.

Fleet Summary Report

The Fleet Summary Report provides a complete overview of your fleet with totals by vehicle activity. Data includes: total idling time, total drive time, total distance travelled and total engine on-time. Use this report to gain a clear picture of your overall fleet performance as determined by the activities of each vehicle.

GPS Management Reports

The FleetMatics GPS Reporting Suite includes a variety of powerful management tools you can use to accurately control and monitor your vehicle fleet.You specify acceptable threshold limits when tracking your vehicles with GPS including work hours, idling times, speed and mileage. All exceptions to these limits are flagged throughout the reporting suite allowing you to instantly identify and rectify inefficiencies.The management reports can be run on the fly or scheduled to run automatically with the results emailed to any number of recipients on a daily or weekly basis.With the FleetMatics Reporting Suite, you gain complete control of the management and costs of your fleet.

Fleet managers are empowered to monitor their vehicles on an immediate basis. This is real-time monitoring folks and worth every penny, because the information provided is indispensable. You can follow each vehicle, know where they are at any given moment, know how many stops they made, and even help your drivers get through traffic problems. Fleet GPS tracking streamlines the entire process, and cuts way down on unprofitable wait and idle times. You will also be alerted, should employees use their vehicles for other than the stated purpose, i.e. personal use.

The savings in fuel and maintenance are substantial, companies like FleetMatics provide precision reporting so you know when each vehicle is due in for service.

Yes Fleet GPS Tracking is indispensable for fleet managers!

All this comes about with the simple installation of Fleet GPS Tracking!

Here’s how it works. Fleet GPS tracking monitors your vehicle activity and records everything from location to precise time the vehicle arrived, how long there and when departed. If you are in the service industry, this helps with billing as you know how long your crew was at any given location. In other words you have an accurate tracking system recording date, location and time. No guess work, no estimates, just a precise report. Should a customer complaint come in you have irrefutable proof to handle it.

For freight haulers, once again GPS Fleet tracking comes to the rescue as you can prove when your truck arrived at a given location, should any claims be submitted. Of course, this should help your insurance bills.

Fleet GPS Tracking takes care of business – yours and your customers. One the most highly evolved systems comes from FleetMatics, test drive it today!