Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/94279
alerting to ensure your vehicles get the right amount of attention in the shop. One USFT customer, Kirby-Smith Machinery, has had fi ve stolen vehicles in the last couple years, which they recovered within a matter of hours of the notifi cation. Identifying wasted man hours from vehicle usage data can im- prove overall productivity as well. It doesn't take a control freak accountant to realize guys showing up on time, taking appropriate breaks and leaving the jobsite at a time that actually matches time cards can be a big boost to the bottom line. TYPES OF DEVICES Vehicle tracking services off er a wide range of hardware to track vehicle locations, gather information or send messages to the driver. USFT devices integrate with Garmin nüvi and dēzl GPS units. They allow you to send and receive messages to and from your drivers from any computer connected to the Internet. Need a stealthy application? USFT has it covered. They off er tiny, portable, battery- About the author: Robin Walton has been a licensed contractor for more than 20 years and has 16 years of fi nancial ac- counting and systems experience. With a degree in accounting/economics and hands-on construction experience, she understands the day-to-day business of contractors and landscapers. powered units that require no installation and can be fi tted in Pelican Case or OtterBox protective covers. An 80-pound pull magnet secures the unit out of sight under the truck. ALERTS AND REPORTS USFT provides customers with live informa- tion from their 100-percent Web-based sys- tem, which requires no software installation, so you can access their system 24/7. The system allows you to set up virtual geo-fences and speed alerts that deliver no- tifi cation by text and/or email whenever the electronic map barriers are broken. You can run reports and analyze data, too, which can help you make changes to improve effi ciency. The idling time for vehicles in your fl eet and the mileage a vehicle travels in a single day are among the useful reports you can generate using the system. You can also run reports to help minimize risks to which your employ- ees may expose your business. For instance, an "aggressive driving" report takes parameters you select – such as a change of 35 mph in less than 10 seconds – to detect if drivers are accelerating normally to get onto the interstate or driving dangerously down city streets. You can run a speeding report to determine whether a vehicle is traveling at any speed greater than 65 MPH (or whatever speed you choose). Visit USFT's website (usft.com) and click on the Live Demo button to see exactly how the GPS system looks while tracking vehicles real- time, or go to our website's home page to see ProPickup's Big Red's location and speed. Fleet tracking systems like this are de- signed to let you monitor, control, report and analyze your fl eet. That's why when money matters, utiliz- ing such electronic tracking tools is a smart move because you can now keep an eye on those areas prone to wasting dollars. Helping you save money, no matter what you drive. No matter what business you're in, you could save with Progressive Insurance. To learn more about Progressive, and see why we are the #1 Truck Insurer in America, please visit ProgressiveCommercial.com. Call for a Free Quote 1-888-375-7908 Find an Agent ProgressiveCommercial.com United Financial Casualty Company and its affi liates, Mayfi eld Village, Ohio. Available in most states. No. 1 truck from Highline Data's 2009 written premium data. 09P00560.BA (06/12) Text INFO to 205-289-3781 or visit www.ppmrequest.com propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 7