Author Archives: Michael Golberg

Electronic Logging Device or ELD Facts

Electronic Logging Device Facts

The purpose of this blog is to provide an easy to use source for facts and requirements for electronic logging devices. Please refer to the FMCSA’s ELD rule page for more details.

All CDL drivers who keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) will be required by the FMCSA to use an ELD by December 18, 2017. Click here to see the official implementation timeline.

For carriers and drivers that are using AOBRDS (automatic onboard recording devices) before the compliance date must transition to ELDs no later than December 16, 2019.

Click here to download a copy of the ELD rule.

What Is An ELD?

An ELD is an electronic solution that allows a CDL driver to easily comply with the HOS regulations.

All ELD’s are required to have certain technical and performance specifications.

ELD Requirements

Connect to the truck’s engine
Driver must be able to log in and select On-duty, Off-duty, or On-Duty Not Driving
Automatically set Drive status when the truck begins to move
Display graphically a Record of Duty Status, so a driver can quickly see hours in a day
Provide data in a standard format that can be sent to law enforcement in a number of ways, such as wireless web services, USB, or Bluetooth 2.0
Be provider-certified that the device meets the proper specifications
Be listed on the FMCSA website

What Is HOS?

The Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to govern how many hours a driver can operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The rules limit the number of daily and weekly hours that a commercial driver can spend working and driving. The purpose of the rules are to increase safety by reducing the amount of accidents caused by fatigue.

The FMCSA is responsible for enforcing HOS regulations. To comply with the regulations a CMV driver is required to maintain a log book indicating the amount of hours spent driving and resting.

How To Reduce Engine Idling With GPS Tracking

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Reduce Engine Idling and Save Money

Excessive engine idling is expensive. It wastes fuel, causes additional wear and tear on the vehicle, and is bad for the environment. In this blog we discuss the impact of engine idling and how GPS tracking can help reduce it. At the end of this blog there is a list of online resources for more information.

Engine idling is when the vehicle’s engine is running and the vehicle is not moving. There are many reasons why your vehicles might be idling. For example, stuck in traffic, doing paperwork inside the vehicle, sleeping, eating lunch, etc. Unfortunately, engine idling comes with a cost.

How Does Excessive Engine Idling Impact Your Business?

Excessive engine idling can impact your business in two ways. First, it is expensive. Excessive idling can cost you big money. One hour of engine idling can burn up to 1 gallon of gasoline. Multiply that over the course of a year or with a large fleet and the costs go up very quickly.

Two, excessive idling is bad for the engine. It causes additional wear and tear on the vehicle without any benefit. The cost for maintaining your vehicles will go up because you will have to perform routine maintenance more frequently.

How Can GPS Tracking Reduce Excessive Engine Idling?

GPS tracking can help reduce engine idling in 2 ways.

1. The GPS tracking unit records the idling event.

2. You can review the idling events in an easy to read report.

1. Develop Company Policy for Engine Idling

2. Discuss Engine Idling Policy with Drivers

2. Use the Engine Idling Report

3. Setup Engine Idling Alerts

What Next?

If you already are an Efficient Fleets customer then you do not need to do anything. The Milo GPS system is already setup to monitor engine idling. All of the GPS tracking equipment that we sell automatically records idling. Whenever the vehicle is idling for more than 5 minutes the GPS unit sends that information to your GPS tracking account.

Engine Idling Resources

Below is a list of online resources related to engine idling.

Ford – How Idle Time Impacts Engine Maintenance

U.S. Department of Energy – Idle Fuel Consumption for Selected Vehicles

Garmin Dispatch – Milo GPS Tracking

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What is the Garmin Dispatch?

The Garmin dispatch is an optional add on to the Milo GPS tracking system. The Dispatch system allows a dispatcher (or anyone else) to send and receive messages to any vehicle that has a Garmin navigator attached to their GPS tracking device. You can also send stops and routes to the driver.
Note: not all Garmin navigators are supported. Click here to see a list of Garmin navigators that are supported by the Milo GPS tracking system.

Garmin Dispatch Tips

The list below is a helpful set of tips and tricks that we have compiled on how to operate and troubleshoot the Garmin Dispatch.

1. Make sure the vehicle is on when sending a message or a route to the vehicle from the tracking website. The vehicle does not have to be running. The key can be in the “on” position.

2. Disconnect Icon on Garmin Screen. If the driver sees the disconnect icon in the top left corner of the Garmin screen then the GPS tracker and the Garmin are not communicating. Turn the vehicle’s ignition off for at least 10 seconds. Then turn the ignition on. This will reset the GPS unit and should reestablish connection between the Garmin and the GPS tracker.

3. Blank Garmin Screen. Sometimes the Garmin does not turn on automatically. Press and hold the button on the top left corner of the Garmin to turn it on.

Efficient Fleets

We are a GPS tracking company that makes your vehicles safer, more efficient, and less expensive. To learn more about how GPS tracking can prevent side jobs and improve customer service please contact us for a free demo.

How To Prevent Side Jobs & Personal Errands

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How Do Side Jobs and Personal Errands Affect Your Bottom Line?

Side jobs and personal errands are a huge problem for service companies, such as plumbers, landscapers, electricians, and other similar businesses. The impact that this type of activity can have on your bottom line is huge. Your technician is using the company’s resources (fuel, equipment, time) for his or her personal gain.

The driver has a degree of freedom that your office staff does not have. They are allowed to drive an expensive asset loaded with thousands of dollars in tools and equipment. There is very little control that an owner or manager has without a monitoring system.

A GPS tracking system gives the control that you need to effectively manage your field staff. It monitors the vehicle’s movement 24 hours per day. You can easily review a vehicle’s history to see if a driver was off task.

GPS tracking can give you peace of mind and more profits.

5 Ways GPS Tracking Can Help Prevent Side Jobs and Personal Errands

1. Inform Drivers That They Are Being Monitored

Observed Behavior Changes

2. Put a Landmark Around the Driver’s Home

Receive Alert If Driver Goes Home

3. Create a Landmark Around Customer Locations

Accurately Record Arrival and Departure Times

4. Review Trip Report Periodically

Look For Inconsistencies

5. Compare Daily Mileage Report

Check For Spikes In Mileage

Efficient Fleets is a logistics company that uses GPS tracking and mapping to make your fleet safer, more efficient, and less expensive. To learn more about how GPS tracking can prevent side jobs and improve customer service please contact us for a free demo.

Recover A Stolen Vehicle with GPS Tracking

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Stolen Vehicle

I was speaking to a customer the other day about their GPS tracking system and he told me an interesting story. He said that he had a stolen vehicle recovered because of his GPS tracking system. As a matter of fact he had two stolen vehicles recovered and almost one more. The third one had been stolen from a mechanics shop. It was not discovered for more than a week. The last location showed the vehicle or GPS unit (it had a backup battery) at what appeared to be a chop shop on a seedy side of town.

Milo Fleet Management System

When the customer discovered the vehicle had been stolen he immediately logged into the Milo Fleet Management System. He was able to quickly locate the vehicle. He immediately called the San Antonio Police Department. Police were soon following the vehicle and it was recovered without incident.

Remain Efficient

By recovering the vehicle so quickly the customer saved potential damage to the vehicle and prevented a possible increase in insurance premiums. Not to mention any possible injuries that could have occurred in an accident.

The quick recovery allowed the customer to remain productive. He was not spending his time dealing with insurance, securing a new vehicle, or upset customers. The business kept going and his customers were not affected.

In conclusion, the Milo Fleet Management System allowed our customer to quickly recover two stolen vehicles. The GPS system saved our customer both time and money. I think this story is a great example of the power of GPS tracking.

Thank-you for visiting our blog!

Michael Goldberg
President, Efficient Fleets

Efficient Fleets is a logistics company that uses GPS tracking and mapping to make your fleet safer, more efficient, and less expensive. For more information please contact us.

GPS Tracking Can Help Stop Unauthorized Vehicle Use

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Do you know how much unauthorized use you have?

If a company owns a fleet of vehicles there is a good chance that some drivers are using the vehicle for personal use. This could include running errands, going home during work, or worst of all doing side jobs. Most managers are aware of this, but have a hard time managing it.

The unauthorized use is costly in time, money, and liability. If a company loses control it could cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year. Personal errands are a waste of company resources and expose the company to additional risk. Side jobs cost the company more money because in addition they are taking revenue that should be going to the company.

GPS Tracking Can Help Stop Unauthorized Vehicle Use

One of the best ways to make sure that your fleet is being used properly is to use a GPS tracking system. A tracking system will tell you every location that your vehicles have visited. You can mark unauthorized locations and receive an alert if a vehicle visits it.

A GPS system provides an accurate record of the vehicle’s activities. A complete log is kept that can be searched at any time. This can help eliminate disputes between the employer and employee.

Most GPS tracking systems are web based and easy to use. You can monitor your fleet from any computer and in most cases from your smart phone or tablet.

GPS Tracking Tools

There are some basic tools in any GPS tracking system that are useful in preventing unauthorized use. They are geofences and landmarks. A geofence is a boundary that is drawn on the map. The GPS system will track when a vehicle enters and exits all the geofences. A geofence can be drawn around any location that you do not want your fleet to visit. An alert can then be sent to your phone or email.

A landmark is similar to a geofence, but instead of a boundary it is a marker. A landmark is easier to create, but is less accurate than a geofence.

In most cases the unauthorized use will stop almost immediately once the drivers know that GPS tracking has been installed. A quick review of the GPS logs will indicate if any unauthorized stops occurred. The logs can be shared with the driver to help correct the behavior.

Efficient Fleets is a logistics company that uses GPS tracking and mapping to make your fleet safer, more efficient, and less expensive. For more information please contact us.

Automate Mileage Reports

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Automate Mileage Reports

Trucking companies need to calculate the miles each truck drives in their fleet for a variety of reasons. They need to keep up with routine maintenance, calculate trip cost, pay IFTA fuel taxes, and much more.

Traditionally calculating mileage was a tedious, manual task. It often involved a paper, pencil, and clipboard. The driver would write the odometer at the beginning and end of his trip. Someone in the office would have to enter the data into a spreadsheet and then calculate the miles driven. This could take hours or days depending on the size of the fleet.

The amount of time spent recording and calculating mileage is both inefficient and costly to the company. The time spent could be used in a more productive manner.

GPS Tracking Automatically Calculates Mileage

A GPS tracking system can eliminate the time and money wasted in manually calculating the miles each truck drives. The system automatically calculates the mileage. This eliminates the time spent collecting, storing, and calculating mileage.

GPS tracking makes mileage calculations:

1. Easy
2. More Accurate
3. Less Time Consuming

Easy to Use

The user simply runs a mileage report to see how many miles each truck has driven. There is no need to work with a complicated spreadsheet. The report can be run at anytime to check on mileage.

More Accurate

GPS calculated mileage reports are more accurate than mileage collected and calculated by hand. Paper logs depend on the driver to write down the odometer and for someone else to enter the data into a spreadsheet. The manual data entry can allow errors to creep in. With a GPS tracking system the entire data entry process can be eliminated.

Save Time

Automated GPS mileage saves time. Both drivers and office staff will no longer have to spend time collecting, calculating, and storing odometer values. This can reduce operating expenses and increase efficiency.

GPS tracking provides many benefits to trucking companies. One of the greatest benefits is automated mileage reports. They are easy to use, more accurate, and they save time. If you own or manage a trucking company without using GPS then you are leaving money on the table.

Efficient Fleets is a logistics company that uses GPS tracking and mapping to make your fleet safer, more efficient, and less expensive. For more information please contact us.

Enforce Speed Limits on Drilling Sites

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Easily Comply with Speed Limits on Drilling Sites

Speeding on drilling sites is unsafe and expensive. Most of the roads on a drilling site are unpaved and not safe at high speeds. To ensure safety drilling companies enforce speed limits on their properties. They tend to use security companies to monitor the speed of trucks operating on their sites. The companies often enforce compliance through fines and sometimes removal from the well site. As a contractor you are responsible for your driver’s behavior. Unfortunately, it is difficult to enforce safety rules such as speed limits when you are not in the vehicle. The next best thing is to use a GPS tracking system to remotely monitor the speed of your fleet.

Create A Geofence to Monitor Speed Limits

One of the best tools a GPS tracking system provides is the geofence. A geofence is a virtual fence or boundary that can be used to monitor the activity of your fleet on a drilling site or any other location. You can set a speed limit within the geofence to make sure your fleet does not violate that rule. If the rule is broken an alert can be sent directly to a mobile phone or email. The violation is also recorded in a report so it can be retrieved at any time.

The Eagle Ford Shale encompasses a large section of South Texas. It spans 30 counties and is considered the most active shale play in the world. As of April 19, 2014, there are 267 rigs running. With such a large area to cover you need to have the right geofence tools. Make sure the GPS tracking system you are considering has the ability to draw polygon geofences and can import geofences from Google Earth or other sources.

GPS Tracking Makes Compliance Easy

A good GPS tracking system can help make compliance easier and more efficient. There are many rules that have to be enforced and speeding is one of them. One of the most basic functions of a reliable GPS system is monitoring the speed of a vehicle. The system should report the speed and location of the vehicle. You should also have the ability to set a speed alert so you can monitor unsafe driving.

Efficient Fleets is a logistics company that uses GPS tracking and mapping to make your fleet safer, more efficient, and less expensive. For more information please contact us.

Efficient Fleets Welcomes Cleer Transportation!

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Welcome Cleer Transportation to the Efficient Fleets’ Family

We are proud to announce that Cleer Transportation of San Antonio, Texas is part of the Efficient Fleets family. Cleer Transportation is a non-emergency transport company that safely transports patients from their home to a doctor’s visit, clinic, or hospital. A typical day starts around 4:00 AM for most of their drivers and can easily last 12 hours. Their day is spent picking up and dropping off patients. As one patient is dropped off another one has to be picked up. Dozens of patients are transported every day. This can put tremendous pressure on the dispatcher and the driver to be on time and safe. With a fleet of over 10 vehicles this was becoming very difficult to manage.

How Does Efficient Fleets Help

Cleer was looking for a cost effective and easy-to-use solution which they found with Efficient Fleets. Our fleet management and GPS tracking solutions have provided great benefits, such as a safer fleet, better productivity, and improved customer service. They are now able to dispatch more effectively and control fuel costs. With the click of a mouse they know the current location and speed of every vehicle. They can also determine exactly when a van arrives and leaves from any location.

Please contact us if you have any questions about how we have helped Cleer Transportation become more successful. Our mission is to deliver the most innovative fleet management solutions based on GPS, wireless communication, and easy-to-use software.

Happy Holidays!

Michael Goldberg

How to Create Landmark or Point-of-Interest

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A landmark is a point-of-interest (POI) that can be displayed on the map. They are useful when your vehicles visit the same locations on a frequent basis and you want to know when they arrived and how long they were there.

1. From the Dashboard, click on a group to enter the Group Editor.
2. Click on the Landmark tab.
3. Click on Add New.

4. You should now see the Landmark Detail page.
5. Enter a Landmark Name.
6. Enter an address, city, state, and zip code (optional).
7. Click on the Map Location button. You should now see the location of the landmark.
8. Click on the Save button.