GPS fleet tracking has become an increasing popular method of maximizing productivity and minimizing excess spending for commercial fleets. However, as local governments and municipalities are under more pressure to decrease tax dollar expenditures, they are beginning to recognize the potential of GPS tracking for governmental fleets. In order to stretch municipal budgets, elected officials are beginning to enact stricter regulations on the use of public vehicles. Implementing a GPS vehicle tracker with Rhino Fleet Tracking gives government fleet managers the ability to enhance fleet performance and lower costs.
For most government fleets, the most significant budget strain is fuel costs. A GPS tracking system helps government fleet managers monitor the location, drive times, and behavior of drivers to curb the waste of fuel. With real-time location insight, fleet managers can ensure that optimized routes are being used across their fleet. This will prevent excess mileage, gas usage, and wear on government vehicles. Studies show that for every 5 miles an hour driven above the speed limit, fleet managers are forced to spend an extra 20 cents per gallon of gas. With a sizeable government fleet, this can add up quickly. However, by tracking government vehicles, fleet managers have the ability to identify unnecessary speeding and idling. With this in mind, drivers are motivated to honor posted speed limits, which can lead to an increase in average miles per gallon by as much as 25 percent. This will save municipalities thousands of dollars in fuel costs every year and help to reduce governmental fleets’ carbon footprints.
Not only does monitoring driver behavior save money, but it also protects the safety of municipal fleet drivers and the general public. With GPS fleet tracking, “How’s my driving?” bumper stickers have become obsolete. Tracking data provides much more hard data for fleet managers, including proof of unsafe breaking and excessive speeding at specific times. Not only can this be used to promote and enforce responsible vehicle operation, but it can also protect your fleet in the case of an erroneous lawsuit. With irrefutable knowledge of drivers’ working hours, fleet managers are able to ensure that drivers are not working excessive overtime hours. Not only would this lead to unnecessary overtime pay, but it can also exhaust drivers, which can lead to dangerous vehicle operation. GPS vehicle management also allows for real-time route optimization, with up-to-date knowledge of harsh weather or other hazardous conditions that would threaten driver safety. After beginning GPS fleet tracking in 2008, the city of Augusta, Georgia experienced a 30 percent decrease in accidents caused by city vehicles within the first year. Tracking government vehicles helps keep city streets safe for government employees, other drivers, and pedestrians.
If you have further questions about how fleet tracking will benefit your commercial or municipal fleet, contact Rhino Fleet Tracking today!
