GPS vehicle tracking

[PRF]

Be honest here,it,s not about fuel efficiency or theft protection you want to TRACK your employees to make sure they are not screwing ya correct?If you don,t trust them show up at there job from time to time and save your self a few bucks.

Not necessarily.. I can't speak for the OP but I'm in a similar situation looking at these as well.. In my case I have milk tankers on the road and like to know where they are, especially in the Winter when I often have to plow and sand the driveway before they get in.. I don't want the drivers using cell phones in the trucks while driving for obvious reasons, and this would be a good way to see where they are.. I trust them and have no other reason to track them..

 

[coobie]

Not necessarily.. I can't speak for the OP but I'm in a similar situation looking at these as well.. In my case I have milk tankers on the road and like to know where they are, especially in the Winter when I often have to plow and sand the driveway before they get in.. I don't want the drivers using cell phones in the trucks while driving for obvious reasons, and this would be a good way to see where they are.. I trust them and have no other reason to track them..

Get them a hands free Bluetooth device so you can call them?

 

[paulharvey]

I would think you should tell them that you will be adding GPS to vehicles. Yes, you have the right to track, but gives them fair notice to "tighten up". Unless you are wanting to catch them in the act. Use what you learn how you want, But keep in mind that if you watch Anyone enough, you see them leave 5 mins early, ect sometimes. I'm not excusing it, after all its your money, but just hate to see you fire everyone suddenly.

 

[coobie]

I would think you should tell them that you will be adding GPS to vehicles. Yes, you have the right to track, but gives them fair notice to "tighten up". Unless you are wanting to catch them in the act. Use what you learn how you want, But keep in mind that if you watch Anyone enough, you see them leave 5 mins early, ect sometimes. I'm not excusing it, after all its your money, but just hate to see you fire everyone suddenly.

My point also.I would believe there are a few of us here that are NOT WITHOUT SIN and may have a skeleton or two in our closet.I am sorry to say we have become a very distrusting society should it be at work or home.Very sad indeed that some of us cannot trust our employees or coworkers.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Now I'm getting somewhere. I look close at the Garmin GTU 10 Garmin | GTU™ 10 It's cheap, and simple, but I don't think it will give me the information I want.

I spoke to a friend who is also a landscaper and he has this system and really likes it.

Live GPS Tracking | Vehicle and Asset Management | US Fleet Tracking

He uses the OBD X5 which is also simple but gives lots of info. If you look at the live demo on their web site, it looks pretty detailed. It cost a little more, at $200 for the unit, plus $30 a month for the monitoring, but there is no contract, and it can be turned off at any time, but there is a $20 re-activation fee.

 

[PRF]

Get them a hands free Bluetooth device so you can call them?

Trouble is, they're in and out of the truck all day and most won't use hands free.. I'd rather they just not use cells driving unless there's an emergency (huge fines in big trucks) .. I'd tell my guys if I installed something, and I know it wouldn't be an issue.. We've got a small, but good team..

Now I'm getting somewhere. I look close at the Garmin GTU 10 Garmin | GTU™ 10 It's cheap, and simple, but I don't think it will give me the information I want.

I spoke to a friend who is also a landscaper and he has this system and really likes it.

Live GPS Tracking | Vehicle and Asset Management | US Fleet Tracking

He uses the OBD X5 which is also simple but gives lots of info. If you look at the live demo on their web site, it looks pretty detailed. It cost a little more, at $200 for the unit, plus $30 a month for the monitoring, but there is no contract, and it can be turned off at any time, but there is a $20 re-activation fee.

That looks like a cool unit.. I think that Garmin might be all I need..

 

[Travelover]

.......... but I don't think it will give me the information I want.
.........

I'm not sure what additional info you need from the GPS, but Garmin also has a deluxe plan (in addition to the $50 / year plan), that does more.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/shop-by-accessories/tracking-service-plans/deluxe-tracking-service-plan-u-s-/prod86038.html

 

[Wattsleft]

I agree with Bigfoot62. If I was working a outdoor job, I wouldn't appreciate someone wanting me to wear a tracking collar. That's more for a coondog. BUT,if I was lazy or undependable,I guess I wouldn't have a reason to gripe..
That being said, check this out - Linxup - GPS Vehicle, Fleet, Car Tracking Systems, Fleet Management | LINXUP. Only $23 bucks a month monitoring fee..
Personally, In today's economy, I would try to find the best employees that I could and pay them a decent wage so I wouldn't have to worry about them and could spend my time drumming up new business, Just my 2 cents....

 

[Complete Turf Care]

That being said, check this out - Linxup - GPS Vehicle, Fleet, Car Tracking Systems, Fleet Management | LINXUP.

Thanks for this link. I just ordered 2 of these units. I went with the 1 year contract, so the 2 units cost me $115.xx including shipping. My monthly fee will be $46 per month.

What made me pull the trigger is that I will be able to see exactly how long my crews are on each job site. This will help me know if I am charging the right amount for each job, based on time they are on the sight. I will also be able to compare how much time they are on each site with 2 men vs. 3 men. This should help me get a better handle on what I need to charge, and what is most efficient.

 

[tractortom55]

I work for a Chevy dealer and there is a bulletin that those GPS trackers can cause problems with data line on the vehicle.
I have had vehicles shut down and radio turn off and on due to a tracker plugged into the data link connector so it they have a hard wired version I would go that route.

 

[coobie]

Thanks for this link. I just ordered 2 of these units. I went with the 1 year contract, so the 2 units cost me $115.xx including shipping. My monthly fee will be $46 per month.

What made me pull the trigger is that I will be able to see exactly how long my crews are on each job site. This will help me know if I am charging the right amount for each job, based on time they are on the sight. I will also be able to compare how much time they are on each site with 2 men vs. 3 men. This should help me get a better handle on what I need to charge, and what is most efficient.

So your purchase is not really about the theft protection and fuel efficiency you posted in a earlier post?#16.NOW it,s based on how long your crews are on the jobsite.LOL.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

So your purchase is not really about the theft protection and fuel efficiency you posted in a earlier post?#16.NOW it,s based on how long your crews are on the jobsite.LOL.

It's about all of that. I just feel more justified buying it now that I better realize the value it will have.

 

[coobie]

It's about all of that. I just feel more justified buying it now that I better realize the value it will have.

Well know at least your finally honest about your intentions.

 

[brain55]

I was a fleet manager for a large landscape contractor and we had about 100 trucks all with GPS. They were about $600 per plus the $25 or so per month data fee. We used it for making sure guys were at the job on time and at the job they were supposed to be, we also got alerts about speeding. We caught guys doing side jobs on our clock, using their gas cards when their truck wasn't at the gas station, saying they were on the job when they weren't, and speeding. We even helped the cops track a truck while it was being stolen. The insurance company also gave us a break on using the features.

Brian

 

[paulharvey]

So your purchase is not really about the theft protection and fuel efficiency you posted in a earlier post?#16.NOW it,s based on how long your crews are on the jobsite.LOL.

There his trucks, his employees, his customers. If he wants to track weather they shake two times or three its his business. In all honesty, tracking how long on each job sounds to me much more useful. If they are spending 50% longer on one yard then the rest, but hes charging the same amount, this allows him to at least think about a price raise for that one home.

I dont like the idea of being tracked but I know that I either am, or can be at any moment. Only real down side is that if your not paying drive time (if required by your situation) this could be used against you later.

 

[aczlan]

There his trucks, his employees, his customers. If he wants to track weather they shake two times or three its his business. In all honesty, tracking how long on each job sounds to me much more useful. If they are spending 50% longer on one yard then the rest, but hes charging the same amount, this allows him to at least think about a price raise for that one home.
I dont like the idea of being tracked but I know that I either am, or can be at any moment. Only real down side is that if your not paying drive time (if required by your situation) this could be used against you later.

I agree (other than I dont think that its his business how many times they shake). As long as they are on the clock driving a company vehicle, they have no expectation of privacy.
That said, if he starts micromanaging them via GPS, I can see people getting annoyed with that, but that's a micromanaging issue, not a GPS issue.

Aaron Z

 

[coobie]

There his trucks, his employees, his customers. If he wants to track weather they shake two times or three its his business. In all honesty, tracking how long on each job sounds to me much more useful. If they are spending 50% longer on one yard then the rest, but hes charging the same amount, this allows him to at least think about a price raise for that one home.

I dont like the idea of being tracked but I know that I either am, or can be at any moment. Only real down side is that if your not paying drive time (if required by your situation) this could be used against you later.

I agree his trucks,his customers.Myself I would not work for someone who did not trust me or my skills to get the job done.I like to know what he really pays his employees per hour?You get what you pay for IMHO.Heck the next thing you know they will be putting GPS chips in our necks.LOL.

 

[PRF]

I agree his trucks,his customers.Myself I would not work for someone who did not trust me or my skills to get the job done.I like to know what he really pays his employees per hour?You get what you pay for IMHO.Heck the next thing you know they will be putting GPS chips in our necks.LOL.

Hey, they already put them in dogs :laughing:

 

[coobie]

Hey, they already put them in dogs :laughing:

I hear ya work like dogs for minimum pay no benefits and be GPS tracked.Gota love it, the new wave of the future of business practice.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I hear ya work like dogs for minimum pay no benefits and be GPS tracked.Gota love it, the new wave of the future of business practice.

I know this is a discussion for a different thread, but.....

I pay my people what they are worth to me.
If they would:
1. show up on time
2. show up every day
3. take care of my equipment
4. learn how to do a good job
5. get a driver's license
6. not fight with each other
7. shave every day
8. not smoke and throw cigarette butts all over my yard, and my customer's yards

Then I would, and could afford to, pay them more. I could easily double my business if I could find good workers.