gps tracking

Mitch_4

what was he driving? the Enterprise NCC 1701?

maine rick

gps tracking

just looking to see how other company's handle this . do you tell the techs it's on the trucks first or do you track them for say a week then tell them and warn them that they will have to pay for gas they use for personal stuff. we let them take the service trucks home but there is a big differance in gas use from one thats on a job site say for 2 1/2 days per week then one that do's service calls all week. thanks for your in put.

Bill_14

Decisions

You have to decide why you want to use GPS tracking. How will the tool be used? In my opinion, you have to know the type of guy you have working for you and decide what your policy is going to be.

I feel that GPS tracking should not be used for the purposes you mentioned, but rather to assist with the dispatching in your service department while attempting to make things as productive and efficient as possible.

Addresses tell you where they are, but there is nothing like seeing on a screen exactly where your guys are located when you need them. I wish these devices were more affordable.

Geo_5

GPS

It's amazing, don't even need the "box" on the truck anymore, just a high end nextel phone will do to track anyone.Have faith in and trust your Tech's,they will tell you were the Bad apple's are.Yes you should tell them there being tracked.... they will love you for it!.My 2 cents.

lchmb

well

My take on it is you trust them to take care of your customer's. I would think that is the most important thing out there. If you can trust them to do that then tell them if you add one. I would also tell them that they are responsible for the gas if used for personall thing's or in the case of the company I work for you get to find a new job!

Don \"Grumpy\" Walsh

Why?

Why on earth would a contractor accept the added exposure of his vehicles being on the road for non-business reasons? Think of the liability issues you are inviting upon yourselves. If it is not on company business, it stays parked!

Leo

Trust?

You give me keys to the building, trust me with a van full of inventory, then have the gall to track me. If you distrust me that much fire me cause I have no respect for you.

Leo

Mad Dog_2

I agree with Leo

I wouldn't subject my employees to BIG BROTHER and wouldn't want to work for a company that used gps. Mad Dog

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Scott Gregg

Too smart by 1/2

I think that if you are worried about your people you have more serious issues. IF you want to track to provide better serive...fine.

People DO personal things while on the job. Anyone who says they don't is a LIAR!

The difference is most folks do their job, some better than others. Some worse. The worse need to go period. People who do a good job and take of the company should not be concerned with picking up a loaf of bread. (or whatever)

Take care of your people for the right reasons and fire some for the right reasons. Just be sure everyone knows the difference and you'll do fine.

Pat K

The truck is not enough .I say you chip all your techs.

Drug test them, Polygraph, and make sure they go to church
on Sunday.

jeff_51

most of our service co's have used GPS for yrs

The guys didn't like it a first, but now realise it benefits them as much as it hurts. It weeds out the dishonets guys and the co's that misuse it have a hard time getting anybody to work for them. It is sure great when a cust calls up griping about the price and saying the tech was there only twenty mins, and the boss can go check and finds out exactly when you got there and when you left. I don't know about you guys, but I usually get to the job site early and rarely get out on time. When the boss sqwuaks about your leaving a little early one day, just have him run the tracker for the last week or two and then tell him you want all the overtime he owes you. That will put a quick end to it. Its no better or worse than punching a time clock.

tommyoil

Speaking of big brother

I cant believe this post came up. I was followed, yes followed, this week. They did a poor job of hiding and I think they knew I spotted them. It ended up with two managers walking in on my job with some b.s story that they were "in the neighborhood". It felt a little wierd and awkward. They stood there like a couple of suit dummies for a few minuets without so much as a word and then walked out. Its one thing to follow guys around, I can almost understand that. But the thing that bothered me is that this "manager" didnt have the balls to be up front about why they were there. I do my job and go from place to place without delay. I may stop for an occasional cup of coffee once or twice a week but thats about it. When I eat lunch its usually in the customers driveway. I wonder why they dont go follow the guys who do 1/2 hour yearly services and dont even so much as wipe the boilers down nevermind actually cleaning them. I have only been with these guys a little over two years and already have SEVERAL letters of commendation in my file on my work from satisfied customers,(some of them have fifty years with the company). What the hell are they following me around for? I'm not sure what to do here. I want to voice my aggravation( which I'm sure you can all sense) to my boss but I'm holding my tongue right now. I want to be level headed when and if I say anything. Should I be looking for a new job here? Any words of advice offered here will be carefully considered. I value all of your opinions. Again, they can follow me until the cows come home, but dont lie about why. I'd rather have the GPS. It doesnt lie.

John R. Hall

GPS will be a way of life for everything

Get used to it.

As soon as the medical world makes implant GPS chips, sign me up. I want to know where my children are when they are not around me. I want to know that my wife is safe when I'm out of town. Think of the deterrant to kidnapping and crimes against people if the would-be criminals know the person is being tracked. Big brother? Sure? Piece of mind? Priceless.

Sorry, on this one don't play the "trust" card. Trust has nothing to do with common sense.

My two sense.

Leo

Trust

John Hall said,"Sorry, on this one don't play the "trust" card. Trust has nothing to do with common sense."

Sorry John I have to disagree on this one.
Leo

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
-Benjamin Franklin

Mad Dog_2

Good common sense advice

Scott. I'll tell you this too: Employees who think they are going to "keep guys honest" et cetera are foolish. I know of many guys who work for companies with it, that screw that "get back" at the company in a whole host of other ways. Distrust is usually met with even greater shenanigans. Mad Dog

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Mad Dog_2

Yes, it does have its bennies, John

Like in young kids. However I'll trust good ol' fashioned watching my kids closer. I will never give in to big brother! 1984 is all too real Mad Dog

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Geo_5

It doesnt lie?

They had to throw out some(GPS) evidence they had on Scott Peterson because it had him traveling at 16,800 miles an hour one time.

RonWHC

In 1962,

long before some in this discussion were born, the Oil Company I worked for put a recorder in my truck. I pulled the disk, and laid it & my keys on the owner's desk. Told him to select one. He crumpled up the disk & tossed it in the trash.

That's the appropriate place for GPS Tracking.

maine rick

the feed back is good and bad it's not a problem when you go to the corner store for bread but can't account for 200 extra miles. we do alot of houses so in a weeks time they may be on three different jobs, we can keep better time for billing. there's more to it then i want to say here.the way i was looking at it is noughing to hide not a problem. when i work in a customers home i let them watch and ask questions all the time.

Mad Dog_2

Hmmmm I thought all new technology was far superior

to all the old ways. Mad Dog

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Boiler Guy

GPS and you

I have been on both sides of this issue.

First question: Will the expense justify the improvement(or lack thereof) in efficient use of resources? (vehicles and staff)

Second question: Why does an organization suddenly see the "need" for this information? A real good logical explanation is required to convince their people. If this is not forthcomming ... assumptions WILL be made!!

Grumpy made a good point about liability exposure.

I personally know of at least 5 cases where a Company vehicle was identified as being involved in a situation where without GPS information, the Company would have been hard pressed to convince the authorities otherwise.

Alternatively, I know of instances where the technology was put to good use: 1 - In a situation involving questionable time cards, side work and material shrinkage that involved months of countless hours of surveilance only to be finally solved within a week through the use of GPS tracking. 2 - A stolen service vehicle was tracked to a warehouse full of stolen trade materials and equipment through the use of GPS records, after it was found abandoned only 6 blocks from where it was initially taken.
3 - A "chronic complainer" about excessive PM time charged was taken to task by their employer after being shown in black and white the charges were correct. This person has since become unemployed as a result.

Fact: Trucking companies have used this technology for many years, with great success. Some have had a problem with drivers "becomming lost" in transit. VERY SMALL problem to incurr large expenses to correct. Customers wanted to track shipments in real time because as we all know, NOONE wants to carry large inventories today. EXCELLENT use of technology expense -- to serve the customer needs.

If used as intended, for improved customer service and time efficiency, I see no problem with the use of this technology. However, if intentionally abused because "the opportunity presents itself", I believe the abuser(s) will eventually suffer the consequences of their actions.

Just my 10 cents worth.

Boiler Guy

Like you need more aggravation, Tommy!!

John R. Hall

That's okay Leo

We agree to disagree. But like mandatory seat belts, which took many of us a while to get used too (me included); this is a next evolution of business management that will continue to grow until someday -- God forbid -- we will be mandated to use GPS rather than doing so voluntarily. If you think it is an invasion of privacy and Big Brother mentality, think again. We all gave that up the first time we used a credit card or applied for a loan.

I respect the resistence to GPS but as the famous saying goes, "resistance is futile."

David_5

Gps is nothing to fear

We have Gps and I bought it. If you are honest you have nothing to fear. I know people stop on the way home for milk and bread. I know people stop during the day for coffee. I don't worry about that. I want to trust people. Factory and office workers have worked under the bosses eyes all along and they don't complain. This is no different.
Unfortuneatly some people are untrust worthy. Some become untrust worthy. I can't always tell who to trust. No one can. Since weeding out abusers the best advantage is customers disputing the bill. 99% of the time the customer is wrong. We even had one say the van was on their security tape for less time than on the bill. When we explained our gps agreed with the bill they backed down and paid.
The GPS we use is passive. The box stores its position every 2 min. Each day the truck comes back to the office the file is automatically downloaded. Once the equipment is bought that is the end of the expense.
I told the techs about the Gps upfront. They each installed it in their trucks. Out of 5 guys 4 were caught using the truck when they should not have.

David

Gordy

Maybe

Maybe they are trying to figure out how you get those kinds of letters ? Mangement Lol

Rest easy

Mark Eatherton1

I think you tell them up front...

Locks keep honest people honest. GPS keeps honest people honest. Ain't nothing going to keep dishonest people from being dishonest. At least you have a record...

I have actually had my bacon saved by a GPS system. The LoJack in my Jeep that got used once is a prime example of useful GSP packaging. One of many.

Blond Star is a GPS based system. It lowers the insurance cost on your car.

They used a cell phone tracking system and caught a notorious rapist recently here in Denver. THey knew he was headed to Glenwood Spriings becuase they were tracking a cell phone he'd taken from his last victim, who was still with him in the car. She got out alive. She's lucky...

I've had employees, during an EXIT survey tell me I ought to have my trucks wired with it...

Heck, it lowers the commercial insurance if its on there...

I'm thinkin' it's here to stay, like it or not, use it or not.

JMHO

ME

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Gary Reecher

Heard this on Kim Kommando

A woman is watching a little blue beetle move across her computer screen. She then makes a phone call. Her daughter answers and she tells her daughter that if she is going to be driving 85 MPH that she can just turn around and come back home.

EJW

GPS

Wearing your seatbelt is just common sense, or did you want to launch out the windshield? EJW