GPS in service vans

R Mannino

What about drug screens?

A little different than GPS, but what some still think is an invasion of privacy.

A good employer knows who is where they are supposed to be and also knows who it "dirty".

Any employee with half a brain knows that if they are not profitable for the company it is an issue.

Ron

[Deleted User]

Speaking for myself Techman, I own my company and can't remember the last time I stole from myself. Truck inventory is required for accounting purposes - bad example. Curfews for young drivers - again not an appropriate example. We're talking about grown men, guys. The argument that GPS can somehow be linked to more responsible workers just isn't there. An employer has no more responsibility for their crew as they did ten years ago before GPS. Nothing has changed. Drug tests can be for DOT purposes and/or vehicle insurance. My point is about how GPS DOES NOT solve the problem of theft, both materials and time. The only thing it could be good for is the efficient, logical dispatcher knowing where a tech is in able to quicken response time. Again, it will not solve the problem with a dispatcher that lacks common sense or is lazy and enters the jobs in the computer at 9 am and doesn't monitor it from there. GPS won't solve moonlighting unless the tech is really dull and uses your vehicle knowing that you have GPS. GPS won't solve stolen parts unless you attach a transmitter to each part. We're not talking about the fourth ammendment here. If you use GPS you risk the diligent, hardworking, honest tech from being insulted. I'm not saying they will quit. If you guys can just get to the heart of the matter, this is about the illusion of control. The GPS will cost you a good deal of money and will not be the panacea that you think it is. By the way, don't most cell phones come with GPS?

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Techman

Mike

Good Evening to you!I agree w/ some of your points. A thief is a thief no matter what! A thief DOES have to worry about the inventory check albiet once or twice a year. I know several grown men who use their bosses truck to install HVAC system's on the side.Some want to borrow parts from me to get the unit running.One long ago employee put in a system ,on the side,then "his customer"called my office and wanted me to repair the AC in warranty.WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Then an ex-employee{we are still very good friends} stopped by and I sold him a few parts at cost.His "customer" called because "Bob" was working his regular job and wasn't available until after 5PM, and he wanted in-warranty service because "Bob" had worked for me, in the past.WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

Techman, I agree that there are some brazen individuals in the world. Anyone that steals from the boss is no good and should be terminated. Anyone excessively goofing off on the job should be terminated. I think this is a good debate. Thanks for sharing all your ideas guys.

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Leo_13

JohnNY

Am I bragging, no. I'm just saying I don't tolerate crap. I feel GPS and things like it hurt the honest guy. If some bosses had a pair they would nip the problem before it got out of hand rather than making everyone suffer, I say this because I have seen it. Am I a model employee, nope there is always room for improvement. But I am a good employee and am loyal to the one who signs my check. But he doesn't own me and on the flip side if I were to leave I am not that arrogant to think his business would suffer. Would I have anything to hide with GPS, nope. I am just anti "big brother".

Leo

Darrell

Another twist

In this day and age with electronics so readily available every serviceman had better get comfortable with idea that anytime he is alone in a residence he is on camera...maybe...probably. Those images can be manipulated by the unscruplous to their own devious ends. Choose your customers carefully, and be absolutely above reproach in all of your actions. If you gotta go looking behind the doors for t-stats...you better look like you're looking for t-stats. Take a hint from the postal people and whistle or sing or talk to yourself while you're at it. Or better yet, talk to whomever might be reviewing the digital recording later and explain just what it is you are doing. A good idea given to me by legal counsel is to call the customers phone if they aren't home with my cell phone from inside their home...the time stamps all around will match if they happen to be recording. If not, it still provides a time frame for the customer and the nosey neighbor who just called the cops...kind of a courtesy call...I'm hear now...I'm leaving now.

It's no threat...f you're doing right.


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tommyoil

A little surpised

here Leo. To see you categorize anyone who utilizes GPS as a dickless boss is inappropriate in my mind. Did you categorize certain "groups" when you were on the streets as a policeman?? Something tells me theres a certain mindset here. I know alot of people who utilize GPS in both their professional and personal lives. My buddy keeps an eye on his kids through their phones with GPS. He's not dickless, hes CONCERNED about the things that are near and dear to him. While trucks and employees are not in the same breath as your children, the desired result is the same. You know where your valued possesions are at all times. The government is whats considered big brother in my mind. The guy whos paying my salary??? Thats not big brother, thats my boss who pays me to make them money. If GPS makes him more and that in turn makes me more...... I give up. Paranoid is the only word I can think of here.

Tekkie

Leo - cops & gps

Here is SE PA there are several departments that have had gps on the cars for years and the chief does review them. In fact the PA State Police are integrating it into their statewide radio system. Being added to other emergency services as time and money permits. This is for response and location of calls.
I think this discussion MAY be summed up as; does the co. have a right to protect it's investment? Can it insult workers? Is it a panacea? It's like every new rule from the boss - get over it or leave.

Leo_13

TommyOil

I am not saying if one uses GPS they are dickless, what I am saying is there are many who are dickless and with a backbone current problems could be solved without GPS. JohnNY and I am at odds on this but he sounds like his business was under control prior to GPS.

My mindset is there is just too much intrusion into people's lives these days. Funny thing is, I am a Marine turned cop. Prior to this line of work my working life was very structured and I am very anal. I am such a creature of habit my boss knows where to find me without any electronic devices. If I were forced to work under GPS none of my habits would change. It's just the principle of the thing.

Leo

Leo_13

Tekkie

The use of GPS has come into being since I left the job. The town I live in got it under a federal grant. There are benefits for officer safety. As far as discipline, when I was a Police Sergeant if we had a problem child there were ways of dealing with them. One very basic procedure of supervision was, Car whatever, what's your location, what's your mileage. Stay there I am coming to meet you. It was the supervisors job to keep his guys/gals doing their job.

Leo

Rocky_3

Leo, I am not lacking in testicular fortitude

I have hired and fired many employees in the 16 years I have been doing this. It unfortunately is not a matter of black and white. Employees are not 100% straight up, nor are they 100% straight down. If it was overt and obvious it would be a no-brainer. Fact is I bend over backwards to give my employees the benefit of the doubt, even to the detriment often of this business. I just know human nature. Too often we get lazy about tracking our labor, our time, our parts etc. If no one is watching and making sure, its easy to do. I have really good techs now because I have weeded out the ones that I know were dishonest etc. Again, I am not trying to make a dishonest person honest, nor am I trying to keep an honest person honest, because by definition, an honest person is..well..honest. I am simply trying to overcome human nature that basically gets lazy when there is no accountability. A few minutes per tech each day that is not billed because they forgot to look at their watch when they finished a job, or forgot to call in after their job, when adddd up over a year, c'mon...that is HUGE! Unbilled time is THE largest source of overhead you have. Capturing that time via GPS or whatever can result in dramatic profit increases, employee compensation, lower hourly rates etc. Just trying to be more efficient is all.

Peace,
Rocky

Leo_13

Well Rocky

You started this thread. It has gone back and forth with various view points. Now it's up to you to sort them out and decide what is best for your particular situation. No matter what you decide just by being here and looking at new procedures I am sure your business will prosper. It's good to hear you have cut out the dead wood. Around here there are companies who are constantly hiring and others who rarely hire. That speaks volumes about the management.

Leo

Rich Kontny_3

Another harmless monitoring tool

Like drug tests,daily time cards,accurate material lists, inventry control etc, GPS to me is a great tool to weed out those who abuse priveledges and rules.

In 39 years of contacting I have ran across alcoholics,thieves,drinking on the job, tons of moonlighters and others who quite frankly shed a bad light on any company with high stsndards.(We for the most part let them go,unless they had and addiction and agreed to get help.

If GPS can accurately monitor truck positions and time frames why is that a threat? I consider them a tool to make a company better!


Rich