Case Studies

Summary

Lewis Aquatech, a swimming pool contractor in Chantilly, Virginia, improved accountability and profitability and reduced billing errors by implementing Networkfleet. These results equate to a potential annual savings of $70,000.

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Problem

Lewis Aquatech is a family owned business with 61 years of experience in building, remodeling, and servicing swimming pools/spas and outdoor environments. The company’s attention to detail and focus on quality and customer satisfaction have earned it numerous awards for excellence in construction and design.

Lewis Aquatech also strives to ensure that customer invoices are accurate, a process that entails many hours of checking timecards against hours billed. “If a customer questions labor hours on a time-plus-material contract, we normally compromise and charge for fewer hours, which obviously reduces revenue and profitability,” said David Cox, Service Manager at Lewis Aquatech.

In addition to verifying timecards, Lewis Aquatech needed the ability to verify that employee hours worked were accurate. “It’s human nature to forget to fill out a timesheet at the end of the day,” Cox explained. “Workers were arbitrarily entering their hours, not remembering the delay at the gas pump on the way to the job site or extra time taken for lunch, and we were paying them for that down-time. When there’s more than one technician in a vehicle, it compounds the overpayment.”

Similarly, inaccuracies on timesheets for hours worked on fixed-fee projects were eating into profits. “We obviously make more profit on a $1,000 fixed-fee job if we pay an employee for five hours of work instead of six,” he said.

Solution

As a solution to its billing and payroll problems, the company selected Networkfleet, a wireless fleet management system that monitors vehicle location, stops, starts and run-time as well as speed, odd-hours use, fuel usage, idle time, mileage, and engine diagnostics.

Lewis Aquatech chose Networkfleet based on price and customer service. “Networkfleet was the only company that followed up -- out of the three that we contacted!” said Cox. “And the rep even let us try out the system on one vehicle before we made a commitment.”

After a short and successful trial period, Cox installed Networkfleet on six vans and trucks in the company’s 18-vehicle fleet. These vehicles typically transport 2 or 3 workers per job.

Results

By logging on to the Networkfleet system, the company can see exactly where each vehicle is stopped and how long it stays at a given location. “If there is a complaint about a bill, I can now email a report showing the hours a technician was at the job site,” said Cox.

Additionally, technicians that forget to fill out their timecards can use Networkfleet data to fill in the gaps. Networkfleet’s vehicle log usage report helps the payroll/billing manager ensure that timecards are accurate, thus eliminating timesheet and payroll errors that reduce profitability.

“Being able to verify timesheets using Networkfleet has saved us one hour per day per driver,” said Cox. “At an average wage of $18 per hour, that equates to $270 per day for 15 drivers --a potential payroll savings of more than $70,000 per year.”

Lewis Aquatech has also accrued savings from Networkfleet’s ability to connect to the vehicle’s engine computer. “When something is wrong with the engine, it sends a warning and diagnostic code to my computer,” said Cox. “If a sensor indicates that one cylinder is misfiring, I can fix it before the other cylinders fail or before it causes more expensive problems.”

Networkfleet provides other alerts as well. For example, Cox recently received an alert at 4 a.m. indicating a vehicle was speeding through North Carolina. The trip had been approved ahead of time. “But, for all I knew, the vehicle had been stolen,” said Cox. “Thanks to Networkfleet, we could have easily located it.”

Get a PDF of the full case study here.

For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Within the first month of implementing Networkfleet, Campbell Oil Company found it had saved $1800 as well as reduced speeding, increased on-time deliveries, and streamlined fuel tax reporting.

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Problem

Campbell Oil Company is a third generation, family owned and operated business based in Elizabethtown, NC. The company delivers fuel and lumber to customers whose needs range from fleet, farm and construction to industrial, quick-lubes, retail outlets, car and truck dealerships. Its delivery fleet consists of a combination of small delivery trucks and 18 wheel semi-trailer trucks.

Campbell Oil Company’s COO, Brian D. Campbell, wanted to increase the efficiency of the company’s delivery operations and reduce operating expenses due to rising fuel costs.

“We were dispatching trucks using cell phones, but we had to call every truck to locate one that was close to a customer location,” said Brian Campbell. “We needed a way to increase our routing efficiency and improve delivery times.”

Solution

Campbell Oil Company evaluated several solutions but ultimately selected the Networkfleet GPS fleet tracking system due to the combination of price, capabilities, and local support from Amerizon Wireless, a Networkfleet reseller in North Carolina. Networkfleet merges GPS technology with affordable wireless coverage and remote engine diagnostics. The result is easily accessible GPS fleet tracking that improves efficiency and reduces cost. Campbell Oil initially installed Networkfleet in 50 vehicles.

“We had a long standing relationship with Amerizon Wireless, and they recommended Networkfleet,” said Campbell. “Both Amerizon and Networkfleet offer great training, service and support and are known as reputable companies. That was important to us."

Results

When Campbell Oil reviewed the success of the Networkfleet system, they were very excited about the results.

“Our company saved more than $1,800 in the first month just by reducing our idling, and we are on track to save even more,” said Campbell. “Another significant benefit is that we have been able to monitor and control our speeds to ensure our safe driving policies.”

The company’s managers also found the Networkfleet system easy to use. Using Networkfleet to instantly locate any vehicle has helped them with scheduling and routing, which has expedited deliveries and reduced route time, resulting in cost savings.

Campbell Oil has even used Networkfleet as a sales tool to gain new customers. “We have a great reputation for fast service. Recently a prospect was concerned about how quickly we could get to him if needed,” continued Campbell. “I opened up my iPad, which was already on the Networkfleet web site, and showed him how it displayed the location of all of our vehicles in his proximity. If he needed product right away, our dispatcher could instantly see the closest truck to his store. And, that closed the sale!”

Networkfleet also helped the company identify a safety issue. An individual called the company to report that one of its propane trucks was dragging something and setting off sparks, a potentially dangerous situation. In just a few clicks on the Networkfleet web site, the company quickly located the vehicle and notified the driver. Before Networkfleet, the company would have had to call each of its trucks to identify the one with the problem.

Campbell Oil’s accounting department uses Networkfleet’s State Mileage Report to simplify fuel tax reporting required by the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) for commercial fleets. Managers can log on to Networkfleet’s online system and generate reports showing the number of miles traveled for each vehicle by state, including the distance traveled in each state, toll and non-toll distance, and dates of entry and exit. Previously this information had to be collected manually.

“Our business is built on providing exceptional service and Networkfleet helps us do that. In turn, we appreciate the great service that Amerizon and Networkfleet is providing for us.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Using Networkfleet to monitor driving behavior, vehicle use and idle time, the Markstein Sales Company reduced accidents by 50% and fuel expenses by $21,000.

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Problem

The Markstein Sales Company, based in Antioch, California, is a wholesale beer distributor whose roots can be traced to a family business founded in 1919. The company owns and operates a 126,000-square-foot warehouse and makes beer deliveries throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Markstein operates 28 diesel delivery trucks, 40 service and sales pick-up trucks and autos, and 14 merchandising vans. The company installed a GPS tracking system in its vehicles five years ago, but was not totally happy with the product.

“We had a lot of problems with our previous GPS tracking system so we decided to investigate other systems on the market,” said Dan Berkeley, Operations Manager at Markstein. “We were looking for something that was more cost effective, provided additional features, and was easy to use.”

Due to the large number of deliveries and sales calls Markstein’s employees make each day, sometimes as many as 3,400, the company wanted to monitor sales and delivery vehicles to ensure they were in the right place and for the right amount of time.

“If we send somebody out to make 10 deliveries and suddenly a delivery that should take 20 minutes takes an hour or two, we know something is wrong,” continued Berkeley. “We needed to be more efficient with our time in order to maximize the number of deliveries per day. We also wanted to analyze routes and overall vehicle utilization, including fuel costs and operating expenses.”

Solution

In the search for solutions, Markstein’s owner became aware of the Networkfleet wireless fleet management system. Networkfleet combines reliable GPS tracking and engine diagnostic monitoring with easy-to-use, intuitive web-based software. The Networkfleet website provides instant access to current vehicle location, routing history, idle status, vehicle speed, engine status and more.

“Networkfleet allows us to see where vehicles have been and better manage sales and delivery routes,“ said Berkeley. “I also receive an alert when a vehicle is speeding or has an engine problem. Our trucks are very visible and sometimes we are falsely accused of reckless driving. Networkfleet allows us to prove exactly what happened.”

Results

The Networkfleet idle time report allows Berkeley to compare an individual vehicle’s idle-time with others, identify vehicles that have exceeded a defined threshold, and calculate fleet-wide idle-time averages. By monitoring both speed and idle time, Markstein Sales Company has reduced fuel consumption by seven percent year-to-date. This equates to an approximately $21,000 savings in fuel costs alone.

“Using Networkfleet, we found that our vehicles were idling excessively,” said Berkeley. “Sales reps might stay in the vehicle to fill out reports and run the air conditioning. Diesel delivery vehicles are required by state law to idle for five minutes max, so we can track that using Networkfleet.”

Another factor that contributed to the fuel cost savings was the reduction in vehicle usage. By monitoring all vehicles, Markstein was able to eliminate unauthorized personal usage when employees took their vehicles home at night and on weekends. In addition, with GPS monitoring and reduced speeding, drivers are driving more safely. This has led to a 50 percent reduction in accidents from 2010 to 2011.

“With Networkfleet, our drivers are being more careful with the company’s vehicles. They don’t put themselves in dangerous situations, which is better for their own safety too,” continued Berkeley. “By helping us track the performance of our employees, we feel more secure and protected. At the same time, we get the two biggest cost savings in the budget – the reduction of accidents and lowered fuel expenses. We wouldn’t want to be without Networkfleet.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

The ability to fulfill unexpected customer orders with same-day deliveries while controlling overtime costs can be a challenge for any company. Pak West Paper & Packaging has been able to do both by implementing Networkfleet, a wireless fleet management system. Since implementation, the company has reduced driver overtime by half – at an annual savings of $100,000+.

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Problem

Located in Santa Ana, CA, Pak West Paper & Packaging is a division of the Blower Dempsay Corporation, a fully integrated packaging solutions provider. Pak West’s product line includes custom corrugated and stock boxes, specialty packaging films, packaging equipment, office papers, cleaning and maintenance equipment as well as design and technical support.

“We pride ourselves on helping customers get out of a bind,” said Gary Smith, Operations Manager at Pak West. “When we receive a request for same-day delivery, we do what we can to accommodate our customer. It’s a constant balancing act between maintaining a high level of customer service while also keeping overtime and fuel costs down.”

With a fleet of 85 assorted vehicles, it became increasingly difficult to track drivers and locations. Time-critical requests from internal sources and “just-in-time” orders from valued customers were often difficult to schedule efficiently. Smith found that overtime costs were reaching an unacceptable level.

“We had to reduce driver overtime and ensure that our drivers were not operating outside of their routes so that we could be more efficient when last-minute requests came in.”

Solution

Smith went to work evaluating his options. After doing Web research on several companies that offer fleet tracking and management solutions, he received a personal call from Networkfleet, the provider of a patented technology that combines GPS-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology with remote diagnostic monitoring capabilities. An onsite demo of this technology convinced Smith to look no further.

“Networkfleet was extremely user friendly and cost effective. We could get a return on investment in a short period of time.”

Pak West went live with Networkfleet and the benefits of the new GPS and diagnostic-monitoring technology were introduced to the company’s drivers during a quarterly safety meeting. According to Smith, the drivers’ response was positive. “A few were intimidated, but they all stuck with us. There was not a single resignation that came as a direct result of the new technology.”

Results

A week after implementation, driver overtime at Pak West dropped dramatically – from 120 hours per week to 60 hours per week. More than a year later, it has remained steady. “On average we’re saving the company more than $100,000 in overtime each year. This doesn’t include savings from lower fuel usage and improved fuel efficiency from being able to monitor drivers’ speeds.”

With Networkfleet the company can handle time-sensitive emergency deliveries or pick-ups efficiently. “It is a great service tool for our customers,” Smith said. “It allows me to look at routes, locate the closest vehicle, and schedule unanticipated stops in the most efficient way.”

The new GPS capability has resulted in an increased volume of repeat business because the company can now give customers estimated delivery times.

Additionally, Networkfleet is an overall management tool. According to Smith, “The system offers reports that benefit the company and the drivers. I can see how much time was spent at each stop, the amount of idle time, and also if the driver went to an unscheduled location or is driving too fast.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

By helping All Clean Inc. focus on proactive maintenance, including regular upkeep and immediate repairs, Networkfleet saved the company more than 30% on major repair costs.

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Problem

All Clean Inc. is a residential and commercial cleaner of carpets and air ducts that serves Northern Utah, including Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo. During its 15 years in business, the company has made many improvements and refinements to its process and equipment, and its fleet of vehicles has grown to 19 trucks and vans.

When Gary Atwell was hired as General Manager in 2008, All Clean was already using the Networkfleet fleet management system on 11 vans to eliminate unapproved vehicle usage. “When I took over, technicians were no longer using vehicles for side jobs,” said Atwell, “so I began looking for ways to better utilize Networkfleet’s advanced technology.”

He didn’t have to look for long. “It was obvious from the beginning that no one had been taking care of our vehicles,” said Atwell. “Oil and filters weren’t getting changed regularly, tires weren’t being rotated, belts weren’t being checked. As a result, we had what I considered to be higher-than-normal repair bills.”

Solution

Atwell began using Networkfleet’s numerous maintenance alerts and sophisticated engine diagnostics to establish a regular vehicle maintenance schedule and proactively fix vehicle problems before they escalated into larger issues.

In addition to transmitting GPS location, Networkfleet’s in-vehicle unit wirelessly sends diagnostic data from the vehicle’s engine. Fleet managers access a Web-based application to troubleshoot engine problems and view specific vehicle data such as current location, fuel use, mileage, speed, and idle-time.

Results

Using Networkfleet, Atwell has been able to establish a regular maintenance schedule for the 11 vans. When he receives an alert that things like an oil change need attention, he prints it out from the Networkfleet site and places it in his “Inbox” to remind him to schedule the task.

He also depends on Networkfleet’s engine diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) to head off costly problems. When a vehicle reports a DTC, Atwell automatically receives an e-mail. In addition to the precise code, Networkfleet provides a description identifying the specific nature of the problem. For example, diagnostic trouble code P0171 indicates that the air to fuel mixture is sub optimal, which could be indicative of a faulty O2 sensor or a worn fuel pump.

“Using the DTCs, I can order parts ahead of time and begin working on the problem immediately instead of spending time trying to determine what is wrong,” said Atwell. Industry sources estimate that regular maintenance like oil changes and tire rotation, and non-regular maintenance like timing belts, water pumps, and transmissions, cost about $150 per vehicle per month. “That may seem like a lot,” said Atwell. “Until you compare it to the cost of having a vehicle breakdown at the side of a road or getting into an accident because something malfunctions or fails.”

In fact, according to Atwell, Networkfleet’s regular maintenance alerts and DTCs have reduced All Clean’s vehicle repair costs by 30% to 40%.

Atwell can also monitor miles per gallon, stop times, and idling using Networkfleet. “When MPG drops, I can try to determine why. For example, it might be due to too much idling during bad weather. Bottom line: Networkfleet’s alerts, DTCs, and other data pay off with better fuel economy, lower repair costs, engines that run well, and over the long term, longer vehicle life.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Britz-Simplot has trucks spread from one end of the San Joaquin Valley to the other – with two-thirds of the fleet always on the road. When the company needed to get a better handle on equipment use and idle time, it turned to Networkfleet.

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Problem

Britz-Simplot Grower Solutions is a full service California agricultural retailer and wholesaler of fertilizers, chemicals, seed, and a variety of on-farm services. The company maintains a fleet of 264 vehicles consisting of half-ton pickups, two-ton trucks and semi-trailer trucks. Delivering fertilizer and pesticides throughout the San Joaquin Valley requires most of its fleet to be on the road at any time. The inability to locate trucks sometimes caused trucks to pick up pesticides from the same location six to seven times per day.

“We cover a huge area, so it was difficult to locate vehicles and direct them to customers or trailers in remote locations,” said Tim Stone, Geographic Information Supervisor for Britz-Simplot. “We also did not have a good idea of how the equipment was being used, such as off-business usage or idle time.”

Solution

Britz-Simplot did an exhaustive analysis of GPS tracking solutions before choosing Networkfleet. “We tried about every competitor out there,” continued Stone. “Based on the dollars spent and the return on investment, we chose Networkfleet.”

Networkfleet merges GPS technology with engine diagnostics and affordable wireless coverage. The result is easily accessible information on a vehicle's location, stops, idling and mileage that can be analyzed quickly to yield benefits in efficiency and cost reductions.

Using Networkfleet, dispatchers at Britz-Simplot receive daily and weekly activity reports showing vehicle location and start/stop information. They also receive email alerts with vehicle arrival time and length of stay at specific locations. Now, when a semi delivers fertilizer and calls for the next pick up, they are able to route the truck to a nearby customer. In addition, they can give the driver precise information on where the trailers are located in huge farm fields.

Britz-Simplot also uses Networkfleet to place a geofence around locations where trucks pick up pesticides. By quickly pinpointing vehicles that venture into/out of these geographical areas, the company was able to consolidate the number of pickups and reduce some time by pre-ordering pesticides for delivery.

Results

Britz-Simplot soon discovered that for them, reducing idle time was the chief benefit of Networkfleet. The system provides an idle time report by vehicle and location that shows where and when vehicles are idling. For example, when picking up fertilizer, the company found that trucks often idled 30 minutes while running the air conditioning. Considering a semi burns 2.7 gallons of diesel per hour at idle, the company was burning a lot of fuel. Networkfleet helped the company to educate drivers and reduce idle time dramatically.

The idle time report also helped Britz-Simplot comply with the local Air Pollution Control District, which requires that drivers of any diesel powered vehicle should not idle the engine for greater than five minutes at any location, except under certain conditions.

For Britz-Simplot, the reduction in idle time and miles driven was quite dramatic. Overall, the company has reduced idle time for the entire fleet by approximately 30 percent, with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a savings of thousands of dollars in reduced fuel usage.

“It’s all about making more productive use of our equipment by reducing the miles driven, lowering idle time and improving routing,” said Stone. “Networkfleet helps us achieve that.”

Get a PDF of the full case study.

For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Coast Plumbing, Heating & Air, Inc. (Coast) is a professional plumbing, heating, and air conditioning service contractor located in Orange County, CA. When the company decided it was time to find an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) vendor they selected Networkfleet, a leader in remote diagnostics and wireless fleet management. As anticipated, they saw results soon after implementation.

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Problem

When Coast Plumbing began its search for a fleet management provider, the criteria was very simple – they wanted to be able to track their vehicles and improve response time. As the Fleet Supervisor, Jerry Herrington wanted to implement a system that would allow him to better manage his fleet and help his company reduce operating costs.

Solution

After installing the Networkfleet system into their 28 vehicle fleet, Coast Plumbing realized many more benefits than just AVL from Networkfleet. Since the system is completely hosted and requires no software download, Coast was able to quickly and easily implement this tool companywide. Coast’s managers in various locations were able to use the fleet application at any time because of its 24/7 online accessibility.

The Networkfleet system is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and its robust functionality provides a comprehensive set of vehicle diagnostics data in addition to location data. With this special functionality, Coast can receive alerts whenever a vehicle has a diagnostic trouble code or is due for scheduled maintenance. In addition, Networkfleet is able to provide actual speed data, which aids in improving driver safety.

According to Herrington, “More than 50% of our drivers were speeding. One vehicle even hit 93 mph.” Networkfleet provides a histogram that graphs the various speeds of each vehicle, as well the amount of idle time. “Thanks to Networkfleet, we’ve been able to curb speeding and encourage safe driving, which reduces accidents.”

Results

“Networkfleet’s GPS and online mapping system has allowed us to more efficiently route service technicians to customer sites and provide the prompt service we are known for,” says Herrington. “By knowing where our technicians are at all times, we’ve been able to respond to more last minute service calls, which translates into better customer service and more revenue.” Better routing and faster response time has translated into a 15 percent increase in revenues and a boost in the number of jobs Coast can complete.

Using Networkfleet, Coast is able to accurately track the hours worked at each job to ensure that they match the hours reported on service technician timesheets. This significantly reduced unauthorized driving and overtime costs. Coast can also ensure that the miles driven correlate with the company gas card bills, which resulted in more than 20 percent reduction in fuel costs over the first two months of using Networkfleet.

Coast is now able to proactively address problems and increase vehicle uptime with diagnostic problem alerts. Managers are able to see exactly which vehicles are due for maintenance or have problems, saving them money on vehicle wear and tear costs. On average, Coast eliminates 80 miles per month per vehicle by eliminating non-business related vehicle use. According to AAA, wear and tear costs companies 16.2 cents per mile on average. This translates into a savings of over $360 per month for the Coast fleet. Combined with fuel savings, Coast saves a total of over $2,300 per month in operating expenses using Networkfleet.

“Networkfleet has paid for itself within the first month and it has helped us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. We’ve been extremely satisfied with the results and would recommend this system to anyone looking to improve their business,” states Herrington.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

With just under 400 field technicians on the road servicing residences, businesses and municipalities, Hoffman Southwest is the largest Roto-Rooter franchisee in the country. With six branches, the company felt it was vital to implement a fleet management solution that would streamline fleet operations and save the company money.

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Problem

Hoffman’s main considerations in choosing an AVL vendor were to improve dispatching/routing of vehicles, reconciliation of time sheets with actual hours worked, and preventative maintenance. Hoffman also required the vehicle location and diagnostic system to have low startup costs, a wide range of features, strong customer support, and easy installation.

Solution

Because the Networkfleet system is completely Web-based, Hoffman did not have to waste time downloading software. Monte Yoder, Chief Financial Officer of Hoffman, says, “We love the fact that we can use this system from anywhere. It was so easy to install – we were up and running in less than 20 minutes.”

The Networkfleet system has made a seamless integration into Hoffman’s fleet. Monte mentions, “The system has been well accepted by everyone, including drivers. By positioning Networkfleet as a system that can help our overall business, we have been able to avoid any concerns about ‘Big Brother’ tracking.”

Networkfleet’s routing and landmarking features have enabled Hoffman’s dispatching team to streamline driver routing by directing the closest vehicles to the next job. This helps their drivers get to the customer quicker, which translates into better customer service and the ability to take on more jobs. “Drivers really like the system because it helps them to spend less time getting to jobs and more time actually doing jobs!”

Networkfleet’s outstanding customer care department has contributed to Hoffman’s success. “I can’t say enough about the fantastic customer support we have received,” says Monte. He also raves about the addition of Networkfleet’s self-service customer portal. “We love this tool – it allows us more control over managing our fleet, and it reduces the amount of time we need to spend on the phone with customer support.”

Results

Networkfleet allows Hoffman to monitor driver speeding by viewing reports and setting speed thresholds. The system recorded speeds of over 80 mph on Hoffman vehicles when it was first deployed, but since then speeding infractions have dropped. According to Yoder, “Our drivers are safer, and we have been able to exonerate habitual speeders, which has decreased the number of accidents in our fleet.”

The fleet application has also helped Hoffman recover five stolen vehicles in the past few months. With Networkfleet’s detailed reporting, Monte could provide police with precise vehicle location information. During one incident, the police were not only able to retrieve the stolen vehicle, but also thousands of dollars worth of stolen equipment.

Hoffman has improved vehicle maintenance and purchasing by analyzing the frequency of diagnostic trouble codes on various makes/models of vehicles. Networkfleet instantly alerts fleet managers if there is a diagnostic problem within a vehicle. Hoffman now regularly tracks problem code data, which allows them to proactively repair vehicles and helps them make better decisions on future vehicle purchases. Networkfleet saves them $128 per vehicle in maintenance and service related expenses each year.

“I don’t know of a single manager within our organization that does not think this system is great. It helps us bring in more jobs and decreases our labor costs.” states Monte. With Networkfleet, Hoffman has achieved their goal of reducing overall operating costs. Their annual per vehicle return on investment is over $2,000 which equals more than $900,000 for their entire fleet.

Additionally, in one year, Hoffman is able to reduce vehicle emissions by $8,000 pounds. It’s no wonder Hoffman requires the system on all new fleet vehicles.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

As its name suggests, Same Day Service Plumbing considers fast response time and customer satisfaction top priorities. Since 2008, the company has used Networkfleet’s remote diagnostics and wireless fleet management technology to achieve these goals and increase the number of customers it serves each day.

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Problem

Same Day Service Plumbing provides plumbing services seven days a week to homes and businesses within a 45-mile radius of the West Sacramento/Vallejo area of California. In business for 25 years, the company depends on repeat customers and referrals for its continued success.

Looking to grow its customer base and reduce costs in the competitive plumbing industry, the company decided to equip all five service vehicles with Networkfleet’s award-winning fleet management system.

Solution

With Networkfleet’s GPS tracking capability, Service Manager Rafael Martinez has immediate visibility into fleet activity and can schedule vehicles for jobs in the same area on a given day.

“Unnecessary driving keeps fuel use down,” Martinez said. “Networkfleet has helped us schedule customer visits so that no one is driving more than 10 miles from one job to the next.”

Networkfleet’s alerting and report features also helps keep down costs. When a vehicle goes over a designated speed, idles too long, or is used during non-work hours, Martinez receives an alert on his phone. “This feature has reduced speeding violations and fuel costs, since driving fast burns more fuel.”

The Networkfleet idling report allows Martinez to pinpoint drivers who consistently post excessive idle times so that corrective action can be taken to prevent wasting fuel. “It’s normal to want to idle vehicles during hot or cold weather,” said Martinez. “I don’t blame anyone, but it costs money!”

Martinez also uses Networkfleet’s suite of reports to help improve customer service. With Networkfleet’s Activity Detail Report, he can verify how long an employee was at a customer site. “If a customer complains about labor charges, we can use data from Networkfleet to prove how long the technician was on the job. Or, if someone was at a site for only 15 minutes, I can bring in the technician and ask why.”

Results

Since installing Networkfleet, Same Day Service Plumbing has reduced fuel costs and gained complete control over the location and maintenance of its service vehicles.

Networkfleet’s service reminders and diagnostic trouble codes ensure vehicles are available when needed. “We can schedule maintenance during down times,” said Martinez, “and relay Networkfleet’s diagnostic codes to our repair shop so they immediately know what the problem is.”

This ability recently saved the company about $500 in repair costs. “The mechanic wanted to make repairs that weren’t necessary. When we gave him the diagnostic code from Networkfleet, he quickly changed his mind,” Martinez explained.

By reducing speeding incidents and idling times, Same Day Service Plumbing has lowered fuel usage and the associated costs. And, by assigning and routing jobs more efficiently, the company has improved customer service, reduced miles driven each day, and taken on more work.

Best of all, Same Day Service Plumbing teams can complete more jobs each day. On average, each team now completes one additional job per day due to more efficient routing. “At $500 to $600 per call, it adds up if you squeeze in one or two extra jobs a day. All in all, Networkfleet helps us live up to our name and save money at the same time,” said Martinez.

Get a PDF of the full case study.

For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

The Networkfleet wireless fleet management system has more than paid for itself during the first 12 months of operation at ServiceMaster Restoration and Construction in Springfield, Missouri. It has reduced fuel and labor costs by thousands of dollars and enabled the company to increase revenue by $156,000 per year by improving efficiency and controlling the cost of each job.

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Problem

As owner of ServiceMaster Restoration and Construction in Springfield, Missouri, Ken Hedgpeth is well acquainted with the frightening consequences of disasters. The company regularly deals with wild fires, hurricanes, floods and broken pipes, but now faces the challenges of a tough economy.

To survive the weakening economy, ServiceMaster needed a more efficient way to track drivers and costs, improve vehicle efficiencies, and increase revenue without adding staff resources. At the same time, since most disaster restoration jobs require a minimum of three employees, labor cost control was a must in order for ServiceMaster to remain competitive.

Solution

ServiceMaster addressed these challenges by installing Networkfleet on four of the most often used vehicles in its fleet. In addition to vehicle location information, Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management system monitors and reports speed, odd-hours use, fuel usage, run-time, idle time, mileage, and engine problems, among many other critical diagnostics.

Hedgpeth selected Networkfleet based on his previous experience with GPS. “We used lessons learned from a sister company in Kansas City. They had cellular phone GPS technology, but it didn’t meet all their requirements, which were similar to ours. Also, during Hurricane Ike in 2008 two of their vehicles, valued at a total of $100,000, were stolen from a parking lot and were not recovered because the drivers left their cell phones at the job site that day.”

In contrast, Networkfleet hardware connects directly to the vehicle’s on board diagnostics computer (OBD-II). Data is uploaded every two minutes to a remote database that Hedgpeth and his staff can access online, 24/7. Networkfleet also sends pertinent scheduled reports via email to designated users. When there is an engine problem, Hedgpeth receives an alert with the information needed to immediately troubleshoot the problem.

“We recently received a fault code from a vehicle that had broken down 60 miles away,” said Hedgpeth. “Our mechanic narrowed the problem to two possible parts, which he took with him to fix the problem on the spot. This was a huge savings because we didn’t have to tow the vehicle or send out a replacement truck.”

Results

Networkfleet reports made the company aware of excessive idling, a problem Hedgpeth didn’t know he had. At the same time, by receiving Networkfleet alerts when drivers exceeded speed thresholds, ServiceMaster has also been able to reduce the average speed of vehicles.

“Our trucks travel about 750 miles each week,” said Hedgpeth. “An improvement from 10 mpg to 12 mpg means a fuel savings of $1,300 per vehicle annually.”

The Networkfleet vehicle log usage report has helped Hedgpeth reduce unnecessary stops, schedule jobs more efficiently, and thus lower labor costs. Regular and overtime hours have been reduced by 30 hours per week. Using Networkfleet, he can also validate timecard reports if a customer has a complaint or if there is a discrepancy in labor charges.

“I can’t wait to install Networkfleet on the rest of our fleet,” said Hedgpeth. “It has not only reduced our labor and fuel costs, it has allowed us to handle one extra job per week with the same number of vehicles and employees. At an average of $3,000 per job, or $156,000 per year, that will more than help us weather the economic storm.”

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Summary

When the owner of Tri City Glass & Door realized his drivers were keeping vehicles idling during customer visits, he didn’t overreact. Instead he came up with a solution that benefits everyone: Networkfleet, a wireless fleet management system.

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Problem

In business since 1960, Tri City Glass & Door is a second-generation run company with 75 employees, three locations throughout Wisconsin and a sense of family spirit and shared ownership that has passed from one generation to the next.

“If we have a good year, our employees benefit,” said CEO Chuck Bender. “But if a few people take advantage of the system, everyone suffers.”

So it came as a real shock when a customer told Bender that a Tri City employee had kept the motor of his vehicle running during a 90-minute site visit. In fact, he soon discovered this was a common situation during cold winter days.

It made Bender stop and think. “If a vehicle is driven two hours a day, but idles six hours that same day, that’s equivalent to traveling 15,000 miles over the course of a month. Until we installed Networkfleet, we couldn’t take this into account so we weren’t doing routine maintenance often enough.”

Solution

Tri City management decided to investigate a GPS solution that would help them keep track of the fleet and report on idle time, maintenance schedules, mileage, speed and other factors. After evaluating several solutions, the company chose Networkfleet, the patented wireless fleet management system. Networkfleet offered everything Tri City wanted at a reasonable price. Moreover, there was a local representative to walk them through the deployment process.

Since Networkfleet’s patented technology connects directly to a vehicle’s engine, it has both a GPS-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) capability as well as diagnostics monitoring, a function that proved to be more valuable than anticipated.

“Shortly after we installed the system, we received a multi-cylinder misfire alert,” Bender recalled. “We forwarded the report to our maintenance company, and they said they would have missed the problem if it hadn’t been for Networkfleet.”

Results

Networkfleet has come through in other areas as well. When a vehicle exceeds 75 miles per hour, Networkfleet sends an email alert for follow-up by a company employee. Bender can generate reports that tally idle time, odd-hour usage, locations, fuel usage, and other measures that help him manage his fleet.

“We haven’t eliminated idle time, nor would we want to,” Bender admitted. “Trucks carrying auto glass often have to run idle while parked, because the glass will lose its adhesive properties at lower temperatures. But, by tracking idle time, we can schedule maintenance more accurately and keep repair costs down.”

With Networkfleet, Tri City can now dispatch drivers more cost effectively. And it even brought a happy ending to an attempted truck theft. “Fortunately, our driver saw his truck leave the parking lot. He called our office and we were able to locate the truck right away. Within ten minutes the police had caught the thieves and returned the truck intact.”

Taken together, these results have yielded a two-to-one return on investment. “For every dollar we spend on Networkfleet, we save two dollars in reduced costs. That’s good for our employees as well as for the company.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

During the first ten days of using Networkfleet, Triple ‘S’ Services thwarted a truck thief and received an immediate discount on insurance. This wireless fleet management solution has also reduced labor and fuel costs and eliminated the use of vehicles for non-business purposes.

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Problem

Triple ‘S’ Services, Inc., is an environmentally conscious organization located in Manassas, Virginia. In business for 27 years, Triple ‘S’ began as a pest control company, but now also offers home improvement and landscaping services. After a recent spike in operating costs, Triple ‘S’ owner Tony Sfreddo asked the technology consultants at Falcon Communications Solutions, Inc. to identify ways to improve productivity, track vehicle use, and lower fuel and labor costs.

Solution

Falcon Communications recommended the installation of Networkfleet, a wireless fleet management system, on 30 vehicles in the Triple ‘S’ Services’ pest management fleet. In addition to providing continual vehicle location information, Networkfleet monitors and transmits data relating to vehicle operations, including stops, run-time, idle time, mileage, and engine problems. Using wireless technology similar to a cell phone, this information is automatically uploaded every two minutes to a remote database. Designated Triple ‘S’ Services employees log in to a secure Web page to view vehicle information and are automatically emailed pertinent scheduled reports.

Although Falcon Communications reps were confident that Networkfleet would have a positive impact on Triple ‘S’ Services’ bottom line, no one predicted the added benefit that resulted. Within ten days of implementation, Networkfleet proved it had even more might than expected.

Results

“One of our technicians arrived one morning and found the vehicle he was supposed to be driving was missing,” said Sfreddo. “He contacted me, and we immediately logged in to Networkfleet.”

Within minutes, they knew the exact time the truck had been stolen and located it parked in a nearby neighborhood. When the thief drove away with the truck, the employees and police were able to track his route using Networkfleet’s GPS location.

The recovered truck had been stripped of company logos and specialized equipment, but it was basically in good condition. When Sfreddo notified his insurance company about the incident, they immediately applied a three percent discount, a savings of approximately $4,000 per year.

Triple ‘S’ was also able to assist the police. Using Networkfleet’s vehicle history reporting capabilities, Sfreddo printed out details of where the vehicle had been from the time it left the lot until it was recovered. The benefits continued beyond that specific instance, however.

“It was great to recover that vehicle, but our biggest savings has been in labor,” explained Sfreddo. “Networkfleet records the start and stop times of each vehicle. It has significantly improved the accuracy of timesheets, reduced idle time and entirely eliminated inappropriate use of vehicles. A few of our drivers have gone from an average of 48 hours per week to 40. Eight hours reduction per week multiplied by 52 weeks represents a considerable savings – nearly $9,000 per driver per year.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

The City of Napa has used Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management solution since 2004. To date, Napa has 66 vehicles equipped with the system, which includes full-size sedans, police cars, and light duty trucks used by city employees and officials. Over the past 5 years, the City of Napa has seen so much value from Networkfleet, the organization plans to install the system fleet wide by the end of 2009.

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Problem

Networkfleet was originally purchased as a preventive maintenance tool to monitor the city’s fleet operations. The ability to track accurate odometer readings and DTC alerts was critical to proactively addressing maintenance issues.

Solution

Networkfleet’s plug-and-play technology, user-friendly application, and 2 minute updates allow the city access to fleet data on demand. Compared to the city’s previously purchased AVL system, which did not continuously update vehicle information, the Networkfleet system provided data whenever they needed it.

Even though Napa initially purchased the system for odometer readings, they also found Networkfleet’s diagnostic trouble code alerts to be extremely helpful in preventing vehicle break downs, while simultaneously saving the city a great deal of money. The fleet manager for the City of Napa, Chris Burgeson, stated, “What separates Networkfleet from other AVL providers is their ability to link directly into the vehicle’s onboard diagnostics. That’s what makes this system right for us.” The combination of location data and OBDII diagnostics has proved useful not only to fleet operations, but to many other city departments as well.

Each day, Chris and his team utilize Networkfleet’s reporting capabilities to monitor excessive idling, vehicle utilization after work hours and mileage discrepancies. “Reviewing daily reports helps us ensure our fleet is operating at maximum efficiency,” states Burgeson.

Results

Since its inception, Networkfleet has helped the City of Napa significantly reduce maintenance and vehicle replacement costs. Additionally, the city’s enrollment in California’s Continuous Testing Program (CTP) has saved them nearly $3,500 per year in annual smog checks. Since Networkfleet continuously monitors vehicle emissions, the City of Napa is exempt from having to perform routine smog checks on each vehicle. Aside from the monetary benefits, not having to perform these checks reduces labor costs and increases the amount of time the city’s fleet technicians have to perform other tasks.

With a strong endorsement from the City of Napa Police Officers Union, Networkfleet was also equipped on police vehicles as a safety device. If a police officer isn’t answering a call, dispatch will look up their vehicle to get a location. The ability to access fleet data 24/7 is a useful tool in ensuring the police officers’ safety.

Burgeson mentioned that Networkfleet’s precise vehicle location technology has helped in a handful of post accident reviews. “The reports gave us a clear picture of what our vehicles were doing seconds before the accident.” This information allowed Burgeson to properly address risky driving behavior and in other cases avoid penalty when his drivers were wrongly accused.

The return on investment for the City of Napa is evident. Each time Networkfleet saves the city from performing a vehicle repair or smog check, there is an instant payback. Eager to get Networkfleet installed in their remaining 234 vehicles, Burgeson mentioned, “We are big fans of this system, and we can’t wait to use more of it!”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

After implementing a GPS-enabled wireless fleet management system from Networkfleet, the Johnson County Highway Department improved operations and efficiency, saving more than $15,000 in fuel costs the first year.

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Problem

Johnson County, Indiana was established in 1822 and is home to more than 100,000 residents. The second fastest growing county in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Johnson County offers urban amenities using the latest technology while maintaining a friendly, hometown attitude.

In early 2009, the Johnson County Highway Department put this forward-thinking approach to work. Using knowledge acquired at the Department of Public Works in Indianapolis, Director Gary Vandegriff initiated a program aimed at improving performance of the vehicles assigned to his department.

“Our primary reason was to pinpoint areas where we could improve fleet performance and thus reduce fuel costs and wasteful usage of vehicles,” said Vandegriff.

Solution

After viewing a demonstration of Networkfleet given by a colleague at the Indiana Department of Transportation, Vandegriff formulated a plan. Like other GPS-based fleet management systems, Networkfleet collects and transmits data wirelessly from a global positioning system (GPS) and provides alerts and reports regarding vehicle location, speed, stops/starts, idle time, and odometer readings. However, Networkfleet’s capabilities extend well beyond others.

“I saw right away that Networkfleet had other advantages,” said Vandegriff. “I had kept up with GPS technology since the mid-1990s, so I knew what the technology could do. What cinched the decision to buy Networkfleet was the systems’ direct connection to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic computer.”

Vandegriff installed Networkfleet on his own sedan plus 15 Highway Department vehicles, including ten heavy dump trucks, one mini-van, one Ford F250, and three pickups. Immediately, the department began using Networkfleet to manage operations and fuel consumption. Armed with four years of data on fleet fuel usage (diesel and unleaded), Vandegriff knew he had a good baseline for comparing performance and costs before and after implementing the solution.

“Managing fuel consumption involves tracking and controlling operation of your vehicles,” said Vandegriff. “Thanks to Networkfleet, I now have fuel and idle reports, which are delivered to me automatically every Monday. If idle time is above the four-year trend average for a given vehicle, I can drill down immediately to determine the context and take reasonable action.”

Results

As shown in the following graph, diesel fuel usage for 15 vehicles declined from 7,098 gallons in January 2009 to an average of 4,931 gallons per month for the remainder of the year. This compares to the 5,555 gallon-average per month for the previous four years. Unleaded fuel usage also declined during the first year as compared to the four-year monthly average.

“At an average $1.85 per gallon for diesel and $1.80 per gallon for unleaded gas, we calculated our fuel consumption savings at nearly $15,000 for the first year,” Vandegriff said. “Most of the savings was due to operational efficiencies such as reduced idling time, odd-hour use, and speeding.”

Even though Vandegriff’s primary interest was not the GPS functionality of Networkfleet, he soon discovered how valuable it was to be able to track vehicle locations.

“We didn’t implement Networkfleet to keep careful watch on everyone,” he said. “But the ability to track where our employees are and where they’ve been has saved us money and helped us back up our employees when an erroneous claim is made.”

For example, Vandegriff received a call from a customer during a blizzard, claiming that the Highway Department wasn’t providing the level of service necessary to keep roads clear. Using Networkfleet, he was able to show that they had been plowing appropriately but heavy winds and back-to-back storms had undermined their efforts.

“Based on plowing times, locations, and weather patterns in the area, I could also explain to the customer that as soon as we removed the snow, it came back, making it appear we weren’t doing our job,” Vandegriff explained. “Without Networkfleet’s data, we wouldn’t have been able to prove otherwise.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

The Marine Forces Reserve takes it mission to serve the community very seriously. The organization uses the Networkfleet fleet management system to reduce speeding and maintain its reputation for high standards while improving the safety of its drivers and those around them. At the same time, Networkfleet has helped to reduce repair costs and lower fuel expenses.

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Problem

The Marine Forces Reserve is the headquarters command for approximately 100,000 Reserve Marines and 187 Reserve Training Centers located throughout the United States. The mission of Marine Forces Reserve is to augment and reinforce active Marine forces and provide service to the community.

At Marine Forces Reserve centers, on-site personnel use government vehicles for a variety of administrative tasks. Consequently, the organization needed a way to ensure that these vehicles are being used safely and for the specific purposes that they are intended.

“We wanted to get a better handle on how the vehicles were being used and how fast they were going,” said Jeffrey J. Peters, Director of Safety for the Marine Forces Reserve. “Also, it’s Marine Corps policy that these vehicles are only to be used for their mission, to support the reserve unit and the administrative staff there.”

Solution

The Marine Force Reserve looked at several solutions and selected Networkfleet’s GPS fleet tracking system because it provides precise information in real-time. They installed Networkfleet in approximately 415 vehicles at 184 locations.

“We looked at other solutions, but it was important for us to be able to monitor speed and usage in real-time,” said Peters. “This gives us the ability to address issues quickly, before they escalate into larger problems.”

Networkfleet connects directly to the engine’s on-board computer and monitors speed, idle time, emissions, and diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, the system provides GPS tracking functionality, giving Peters the ability to view vehicle location on satellite, hybrid, and street maps. Peters can also schedule real-time alerts for vehicles that exceed user-defined thresholds, such as speed, geofence, and odd-hours violations.

“When we first started using Networkfleet, I set up an email alert for a specific speed,” said Peters. “In the first week, 62 vehicles exceeded 90 miles per hour (mph). The email alert identified the specific vehicle, the location, and how fast it was moving.”

Results

Since installing Networkfleet, the number of vehicles exceeding 90 mph each week has dropped from 62 to less than three. Reservists are driving more responsibly, resulting in fewer accidents. This has lowered overall repair costs by 15 to 20 percent.

To monitor vehicle utilization, the Marine Forces Reserves also tracks vehicle use at odd hours to determine unauthorized usage. Peters tracks hours in six time zones, from Hawaii to Puerto Rico. Vehicles are generally to be used between 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only, unless there is a special event. Peters also monitors vehicle location using geofences to lower fuel expenses.

“We lease the vehicles from the Government Services Administration (GSA) and pay for mileage, so we use the geofence feature to restrict vehicles to a specified distance from their home reserve centers. If they travel outside the geofence, we are notified. This has helped us control mileage and reduce fuel costs,” said Peters.

When an employee was accused of speeding and causing an accident, the Marine Forces Reserves used Networkfleet to verify the exact speed and exonerate the driver. They have also used Networkfleet to provide location and directions when reservists serve as color guards for funerals in rural areas.

“Our main purpose is safety and to reinforce the high standards of the Marine Corps. If you are driving a government vehicle, you need to maintain the vehicle in a safe and appropriate manner,” said Peters. “Networkfleet helps us do that.”

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Summary

A customer since 2003, Polk County Fleet Management Division in Bartow, Florida has Networkfleet installed on approximately 400 vehicles in its fleet. Bob Stanton, Director of Fleet Management, oversees fleet operations and the motor vehicle rental pool for 42 departments and over 2,000 vehicles across the county. Polk County selected the Networkfleet wireless vehicle management system to help it reduce fuel expenses and improve driver safety.

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Problem

Stanton sought out a system that would help him raise employee awareness of important issues such as speeding, idle-time, and vehicle usage. It was also paramount that the system was cost-effective so that it could be quickly deployed throughout the entire county fleet.

Solution

With its plug and play design, Networkfleet requires no wire splicing or drilling of holes in the vehicle. Unlike other systems, installation time is less than 30 minutes per vehicle. Because the Networkfleet software is completely hosted by Networkfleet, Polk County did not have to worry about downloading the application. They could also easily have different department managers using the software simultaneously from various locations since the application is accessible via the internet 24/7.

Networkfleet is easy to use yet provides a powerful system for monitoring both vehicle location and diagnostics. With diagnostic monitoring, Polk County could receive alerts whenever a vehicle had a diagnostic trouble code or was due for scheduled maintenance. It would also allow fleet managers to get valuable idle-time, mileage and fuel efficiency data for each vehicle. In addition, Networkfleet was able to provide actual speed data, which aided in improving driver safety.

Using Networkfleet as a catalyst, the County launched a No Idle-Zone Program in an effort to reduce fuel consumption and associated expenditures. The No Idle-Zone Program encouraged drivers to turn off their vehicles instead of letting them idle for extended periods of time while doing jobs. On a weekly basis, Polk County fleet managers reviewed the Networkfleet idle-time and fuel consumption report to monitor for high idle patterns and were able to reduce fleet-wide fuel consumption by simply increasing employee awareness.

Results

Using Networkfleet, Polk County was able to promote safer driving. By setting custom speed thresholds for each department, fleet managers were able to monitor excessive speeding behaviors on a daily basis. Since installing Networkfleet, the County has seen a reduction in speeding and an overall improvement in driver safety.

“Networkfleet has helped us in ways we hadn’t envisioned in the past,” said Stanton. One of those ways was meeting vehicle utilization targets. By monitoring the actual mileage driven and several other factors for motor pool vehicles, the County was able to identify underutilized vehicles and consequently reduce fleet size by 12%. Networkfleet provides accurate odometer information directly from the vehicle which is a significant improvement over the 25% error rate on odometer readings recorded at the fuel pump.

Like other government agencies, Polk County utilizes Networkfleet differently in each county department, but has seen improved efficiency across the board. In the Building Division, the County is able to verify that building inspectors have visited their quota of sites for the day. In the Mosquito Control Division, the County reviews the precise locations of where employees have sprayed mosquito pesticide. In the Fleet Management and Utility Operations, the County documents the length of the service calls for reconciling billable hours.

According to Stanton, “When we first piloted Networkfleet, the County Manager was so impressed with the device that he said it should be put on every vehicle going forward.” Polk County continues to outfit vehicles with Networkfleet and is reaping the benefits of using Networkfleet through safer and more productive employees.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

When the Wichita-based Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center needed to improve vehicle utilization and offer faster roadside assistance to its fleet, it turned to Networkfleet.

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Problem

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, KS provides monthly transportation to more than 500 veterans and to hospital staff on jobrelated work assignments. The hospital’s engineering department maintains a fleet of 45 vehicles that includes cars, vans, light trucks, an ambulance, bus, and RV. If a vehicle breaks down, getting help quickly is critical, especially if the vehicle is carrying a disabled veteran or delivering staff and supplies to one of the hospital’s six community-based outpatient clinics.

To prevent reductions in fleet size and services, the hospital is required to document vehicle usage. “We have to show that every governmentleased vehicle is regularly used and not sitting in a parking lot,” said Danny Schepis, vehicle manager for the engineering department. “The vehicles that we own are donated by veterans’ organizations for veterans, so maintenance is also a concern. We want to extend the life of these vehicles and make sure they don’t break down while transporting patients.”

Solution

To meet its needs for reliable roadside assistance, accurate data for monthly utilization reports, and better diagnostic capabilities, the VA Medical Center installed Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management system. Designed by Networkfleet’s experienced telematics engineering group and built in the U.S., Networkfleet merges GPS technology with affordable wireless coverage. It also connects with the vehicle’s engine computer to provide remote diagnostic information.

Results

Roadside Assistance — Networkfleet is the only automatic vehicle location system that offers emergency roadside assistance to all vehicle classes at no additional cost. The 24x7x365 service (provided through a partnership with Allstate) includes stolen vehicle recovery, towing, locksmith services, battery boost, fuel delivery, and other critical services to get vehicles back on the road.

“This service gives us greater peace of mind,” Schepis said. “If a veteran has a medical emergency while en route to an appointment, roadside assistance would immediately contact an emergency medical crew and guide them to the vehicle’s location.”

Utilization and Safety — Using Networkfleet’s online reports, Schepis has seen an improvement in vehicle utilization, which jumped from 70% to 93% after Networkfleet was installed. The report captures starting and ending odometer readings for each vehicle, eliminating the need for manual recording of this data.

“I run a trial utilization report on the 15th day of the month,” Schepis said. “If we are approaching our utilization goal for a vehicle, we start using a vehicle that has traveled fewer miles for the rest of the month. In addition to spreading out usage, this report has saved me an immeasurable amount of time.”

Schepis also uses other reports, such as the speed report, to alert him when drivers exceed predefined thresholds. “The speed report was also an eye opener,” Schepis said. “Not long ago, in the middle of a rainstorm, Networkfleet sent me an email indicating that one of the vans was traveling 92 miles per hour. I got on the phone immediately and made the driver aware of his dangerously high speed.”

Remote Diagnostics — Networkfleet’s diagnostics capabilities have turned out to be a bigger benefit than Schepis expected. He recently received an email alerting him that a “check engine” light had appeared in one of the vehicles. Networkfleet’s diagnostic codes indicated a potentially serious problem, so he immediately sent the driver to a dealership for repair.

Other VA Hospitals are similarly benefitting from Networkfleet. Sara Felix, a program specialist for fleet management at the VA Central California Health Care System in Fresno, gave high marks to Networkfleet’s roadside assistance and diagnostics capabilities. “We used to wait anywhere from one hour to four hours for roadside assistance, compared to an average of 15 to 30 minutes using Networkfleet. Additionally, every time we use Networkfleet’s diagnostics codes, we save between $60 and $140, which is what a repair shop would charge for diagnostics.”

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For more information on purchasing Networkfleet for your government vehicles, call 866.869.1353. Purchases can also be made through GSA Advantage using Networkfleet's GSA contract number GS-07F-5559R.

Summary

In late 2003, the Southwest Region Fleet Transportation (SWRFT) organization of the U.S. Marine Corps began to equip their vehicles with Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management solution across San Diego County. The system has proved to be invaluable to the fleet operations at SWRFT.

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Problem

Every day, thousands of drivers use fleet vehicles on and off the bases in Southern California, including the Marines, Navy, and Civil Service employees. With so many vehicles to track and maintain, it was imperative for the SWRFT to find a fleet management system that would quickly and easily integrate into their daily operations. SWRFT sought a solution to monitor vehicle performance and increase driver safety on bases.

Solution

After evaluating other fleet management systems, the SWRFT chose Networkfleet as their preferred GPS and telematics provider. With thousands of vehicles to manage, locating missing vehicles is often a challenge for military fleet managers. In the past, some vehicles were never recovered and replacement vehicles needed to be purchased. In one example, a vehicle was found covered in dust in the same spot that it was left three years earlier. Now with Networkfleet installed, they have been able to locate and recover vehicles both on and off the base.

With Networkfleet, fleet managers can also review the mileage of their vehicles on a more detailed basis to ensure proper utilization. “The number of man-hours it would take to make this determination previously would have outweighed the purchase value of the vehicles we would have cut. With Networkfleet, we have this information at our fingertips. This feature will help us manage our fleet size more effectively, and most importantly, reduce costs,” said Bill Martine, Camp Pendleton Fleet Manager and regional maintenance coordinator.

Results

Since SWRFT has deployed the Networkfleet solution, there has been a cultural shift on bases. Networkfleet monitors real vehicle speed directly from the engine computer to ensure accurate data and reports that information every two minutes. Fleet managers receive daily reports and alerts showing if any vehicles exceed the speed threshold set by the facility. “If a vehicle is tracked and is somewhere it shouldn’t be or is going too fast, the driver’s supervisor will receive a report for disciplinary measures,” said Vince Sablan, Motor Transport Fleet Manager for MCRD San Diego. In the first three months of installation, over-speed incidents dropped by more than 30 percent.

“Networkfleet’s system helps us increase safety and security on the bases,” Martine said. From the beginning of the program, in order to deter misuse, notification stickers have been placed on vehicles so drivers know they are being monitored. “People are taking better care of their vehicles and are being more responsible," he continued.

In addition, Networkfleet notifies fleet managers via email when vehicles are due for maintenance, based on mileage or on vehicle trouble code detection. This enables fleet managers to bring their vehicles in from the field on a timely basis for maintenance and repairs. “The system helps us improve maintenance since we now have up-to-the minute information on the operating condition of each vehicle,” Martine said. By identifying any issues early, fleet managers can proactively fix vehicle problems before they escalate into larger issues.

GSA Fleet, a federal leasing organization, requires that accurate odometer readings be collected and reported monthly, which has traditionally been a manual, labor-intensive process. Networkfleet automates the process and eliminates reporting inaccuracies.

To date, more than 1,000 SWRFT vehicles are equipped with Networkfleet. The system has significantly impacted SWRFT’s fleet operations strategy, helping the organization increase driver safety and improve fleet vehicle utilization and maintenance.addition, SWRFT saves on the labor costs involved with manual reporting and crosschecking of vehicle readings.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

In the field of emergency medical services (EMS), efficiency and performance directly impact the safety and well-being of residents. Networkfleet empowers Washington County EMS professionals to deliver the very best service while also reducing fuel and repair costs.

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Problem

Serving approximately 21,000 residents spread across 391,000 acres, Washington County EMS is a high performance organization that operates in a region of Florida that has a disproportionate share of natural disasters.

Response time isn’t an issue for this group of 47 professional emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics who drive a fleet of five emergency response trucks and ambulances. But in late 2009, Randy Truette, Director of Ambulance Services for Washington County EMS, grew concerned about rising fuel and repair costs of the heavily-used EMS vehicles.

“These vehicles take a lot of abuse because of the urgent nature of our business. We were replacing brakes every five months,” said Truette. “We needed to lessen the wear-and-tear on our vehicles and gain more control over maintenance.”

Solution

Truette researched fleet management solutions for about six months and ultimately narrowed his list of solutions to eight companies. After talking to a sales representative from each GPS fleet tracking provider, he chose Networkfleet.

“Service and support after sales was a top priority,” Truette explained. “Networkfleet was one of the only vendors with a local presence, and their monthly costs after the sale were very competitive for the services they offered. Other vendors with similar costs didn’t have diagnostic monitoring or roadside service. It was an easy decision.”

Networkfleet combines reliable GPS fleet tracking with an easy-to-use, intuitive online fleet management system. The Networkfleet devices installed in each vehicle are rugged, automotive-grade devices with a simple, one-plug installation. Backed by Networkfleet’s full service and support, the wireless system provides vehicle telematics, GPS tracking, engine diagnostics, and complimentary 24x7x365 roadside assistance.

Results

First Communications Inc., a Networkfleet reseller with offices in Florida and Georgia, installed the devices on each of the five EMS vehicles and helped Truette set up reports and alerts to monitor idle time, speed, and mpg.

“Legal protection is very important to a public agency such as ours,” Truette said. “If one of our vehicles gets in an accident, we can now verify the exact speed and position of the vehicle. If someone complains that it took too long for a vehicle to arrive at the scene of an emergency, I can provide details about the route.”

Since installing Networkfleet, Truette reports an average savings of $300 per month (or $3,600 per year) in fuel costs alone – despite higher gas prices. Networkfleet’s maintenance reminders have also cut costs. “Because vehicles are operating at lower speeds and not idling as long, we now replace brakes every eight months instead of every five. At $300 per job, that’s an annual savings of $1,350.”

But it’s Networkfleet’s engine diagnostics that have attracted the most attention. In three separate instances, Networkfleet transmitted a code for an engine problem that was serious enough to cause the vehicle to break down. “If we hadn’t been made aware of these malfunctions and fixed them right away, the vehicles would have required towing and costly repairs.”

Overall costs dropped nearly $5,000 in one year (not including savings from proactive repairs), and Truette estimates a six-month total return on investment.

These outstanding results have made Truette a strong advocate for Networkfleet. Based on his experience, other agencies of Washington County are now getting ready to install Networkfleet on more than 60 vehicles.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

When Affiliated Transportation owners decided to test Networkfleet wireless fleet management system on a single vehicle, they expected to gain better control over their operation and save money on fuel costs. What they didn’t expect was a $6,600 savings in repair costs in the first month – which was enough to pay for their entire fleet to be outfitted with the system.

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Problem

Indianapolis-based Affiliated Transportation is a limousine company specializing in airport transportation services as well as weddings and other special events. Owned by Larry Roberson, Managing Partner and Angela Windell, CFO, the company has been in business for more than six years, with most of its business being hourly contract work for corporations and individuals.

In investigating wireless fleet management technology, the company’s initial goals were to better serve its clientele while also reducing fuel costs.

“We wanted to give our administrative and dispatch staff more upto- the-minute information about the location of our vehicles and chauffeurs,” said Roberson, who specializes in the customer service, sales and operations side of the business. “Another priority was to control operating costs by reducing idle time and monitoring the speed of our drivers.”

Solution

The partners decided to try out Networkfleet wireless fleet management system, which combines patented remote diagnostic monitoring with GPS-based location technology. The system reads near real-time diagnostic information directly from the vehicle’s engine and transmits it wirelessly. Fleet managers log on to a secure Web page to continuously monitor fuel consumption, idle time, exact speed and emissions status for all vehicles in order to make appropriate adjustments.

After a personal onsite demo of the system, Affiliated Transportation implemented Networkfleet on a single vehicle as a “test case.” The company knew it would benefit from the GPS-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) capability of Networkfleet. What the owners didn’t expect was the immediate cost savings they would reap during the first month of use.

Results

Roberson said it best. “About a month after installing the Networkfleet unit in the trial vehicle, we received an alert that there was a serious malfunction in the vehicle’s transmission. We took the vehicle to our service people and found that if we had waited, the vehicle would have sustained major transmission damage costing some $6,600 to rebuild. At that point I realized we had made the right decision to install the system.”

Shortly thereafter, Affiliated Transportation installed Networkfleet in all of its vehicles. In addition to diagnostic monitoring, the company now has a way to help drivers who can’t find an address. If a driver is lost, Networkfleet can produce overlay maps of the driver’s current location and destination to pinpoint their exact location and find the fastest way to get back on track. Additionally, customer service staff can tell customers how far away a driver is, and dispatchers can more efficiently determine where to dispatch drivers.

Networkfleet helps Affiliated Transportation increase operating efficiency in a number of ways by reporting on idle time, odd-hour usage, fuel usage, speed and other data. “We do a lot of hourly charters, and drivers were in the habit of waiting for their customers with the engine running,” said Roberson. “Networkfleet reports have enabled us to significantly reduce idle time and help our drivers maintain a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour – both of which have reduced our fuel usage and costs.”

Roberson continued, “Networkfleet even tells us if there’s a recall we should know about. It is a brain inside the brain of the car that communicates with us via the computer. Thanks to Networkfleet we are driving down our costs despite today’s difficult economic times.”

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Summary

When gas prices, vehicle theft, and false claims against drivers sky rocket at the same time, it gets your attention. At BLS Trucking, the solution was a wireless vehicle management system from Networkfleet which paid for itself within a year.

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Problem

Based in Dayton, Ohio, BLS Trucking Inc. operates a fleet of 210 trucks within 40 locations throughout six states. In business since 1988, the company’s reputation for reliable, on-time delivery and competitive pricing has helped it become the largest independent delivery service for one of the region’s biggest lumber companies.

During recent record-level gas prices, the company felt the pressure of high fuel expenses. BLS also experienced three truck thefts during a six-month period and a rash of unsubstantiated complaints against its drivers.

Solution

After evaluating various solutions to these challenges, BLS implemented Networkfleet, a wireless fleet management system. Networkfleet merges patented remote diagnostic monitoring with GPS-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology. Initially, the company wanted to rein in fuel costs and automate maintenance schedules to reduce breakdowns in out-of-the-way places and save money on avoidable repairs. But the company soon realized Networkfleet offered additional benefits.

“Networkfleet is attached to the truck’s engine and is able to read information directly from the engine,” said Josh Zimmet, Executive Administrator at BLS. "Having this type of diagnostic data at a competitive price sold us on Networkfleet. The technology can track and report on speed, idle time, odd-hour usage, locations and fuel usage, among other types of data. Additionally, when something is wrong with the engine, it sends a warning to my computer. We knew tracking our trucks and knowing where they were at all times would eliminate unauthorized use and reduce costs.”

Results

By lowering fuel and repair costs, Networkfleet paid for itself in less than a year. By the end of the second year, Zimmet projects a savings of $220,000. “That is like having 55,000 gallons of free fuel,” he said.

Just as critical, Zimmet said, it has protected drivers against false claims and deterred theft. “We’ve had drivers who, because of the GPS data provided, have not been ticketed at the scene of an accident," said Zimmet. “Additionally, we’ve had many claims that our trucks have caused damage at a particular location. By having the GPS data with timestamps, we proved we were nowhere near the location where we had been accused of causing damage. These savings are ‘hidden’ savings, but they defenitely are evident.”

This last point proves there’s more to Networkfleet than a better bottom line. As Zimmet explained, “What is good for the company ends up being good for our employees.”

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Summary

When you’re running a shared-ride shuttle service, safety and customer responsiveness are key to success. After implementing Networkfleet, SuperShuttle has enhanced both.

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Problem

With operations in 38 states, SuperShuttle, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global-transportation leader Veolia Transportation, is the premier shared-ride airport transportation service in the United States.

Nowhere is this more evident than in San Diego, California, where SuperShuttle serves an average of 400,000 customers and travels six million miles per year. Looking to further increase its strong competitive position and customer service, the company decided to implement technology that would improve vehicle routing and utilization.

“In a tourist mecca such as San Diego, shared-ride transportation is a competitive industry with slim margins,” said Mike Patton, Director of Operations for Veolia Transportation and SuperShuttle International. “Only the best customer service at the best value will ensure repeat business.”

Solution

In 2005, SuperShuttle San Diego (then an employee-based company operating as Cloud 9 Shuttle) implemented Networkfleet on its fleet of 110 vehicles. SuperShuttle is now a franchisee-based operation with a strong commitment to providing a proven structure of support for its franchise owners and their vehicles.

“Networkfleet is one of the most critical benefits we provide our owner/operators,” said Patton. “And it’s also vital to my job of managing resources and making sure we can serve SuperShuttle’s customers in a cost-effective manner.”

With 40% of the business comprised of contracts with corporations and government organizations, SuperShuttle San Diego must provide the company’s franchise owners and their combined fleet of 95 vans and sedans with operational assistance, technology infrastructure, marketing, sales support, and, perhaps most important, with tools that foster superior customer relations.

SuperShuttle selected Networkfleet for its exceptional GPS capabilities and originally implemented Networkfleet to help efficiently route passengers by geographic zone. “Thanks to Networkfleet’s GPS tracking, customers enjoy the cost savings of a shared-ride service while still reaching their destinations quickly,” said Patton.

Results

In addition to more efficient routing, SuperShuttle has benefited from the diagnostic maintenance and safety features of Networkfleet and from the added accountability that is a natural by-product of its tracking and monitoring capabilities.

San Diego SuperShuttle franchise owner Robert Grosz describes the accountability aspect in this way: “The hard part of managing my shuttle business is making sure operators aren’t doing runs ‘off the book.’ It gives me peace of mind to know how the vehicle is being used and where it’s been. I can see the vehicles are traveling within the speed limit and that all trips on the trip sheet match actual runs.”

Grosz also credits Networkfleet with helping him reduce repair and maintenance costs. “Because Networkfleet connects directly to the engine’s diagnostic unit, I receive live notification of trouble codes, so I can immediately jump on it before the problem worsens. Also, I can communicate more efficiently with my drivers when a code comes in and make sure they take the vehicle to their nearest repair shop. This saves money on repairs.”

Additionally, owner/operators and SuperShuttle benefit from Networkfleet’s automatic smog check feature. The Networkfleet system continuously monitors vehicle emissions and sends reports to fleet managers when a vehicle is out of compliance. In California, Networkfleet customers like SuperShuttle use the service to bypass physical smog checks, which prevents vehicle downtime and the cost of a smog test.

“The ROI for Networkfleet is instantaneous because the smog feature alone gets you over the investment hurdle. With Networkfleet continuously monitoring emissions, we no longer need to bring vehicles in for a physical smog inspection,” said Patton. “This saves thousands of dollars a year because time does not have to be set aside to get the smog test done.”

Networkfleet also helps SuperShuttle increase advertising revenue by documenting where vehicles travel and how much time is spent in specific neighborhoods on a weekly and monthly basis. SuperShuttle is able to use Networkfleet’s historical tracking reports and the geofence feature to show advertisers specifically where their advertising is being seen on SuperShuttle vehicles.

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Summary

Benfield Electric Co. Inc. is saving approximately $10,000 each year by using Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management solution to reduce idling, speeding and off-hour usage.

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Problem

Benfield Electric is the largest residential and commercial electrical contractor in Maryland, with five offices in the tri-state area, and one of the leading 400 electrical contractors in the nation. The secret to the company’s success is doing quality work at a fair price. Keeping costs down while providing top customer service is essential.

In 2006, the company’s Manassas, VA location noticed increases in operating expenses that couldn’t be explained. “We needed to get a better handle on what was going on within our fleet of 54 vehicles,” said Jim Tharp, Service Manager at Benfield Electric. “The GPS fleet tracking system that we installed that year wasn’t doing the job. The units kept breaking down. We had spotty data and no reliable way to flag problem areas.”

Solution

Tharp asked Falcon Communications Solutions, Benfield Electric’s telecommunications provider, for a solution. As a Networkfleet Platinum Partner, Falcon Communications knew the Networkfleet system well and vouched for the system’s reliability. Falcon Communications invited Tharp to a Networkfleet demo so he could see for himself.

Networkfleet’s web-based technology combines vehicle diagnostic monitoring with an online GPS fleet tracking system, including reporting tools and alerts for tracking vehicle locations, trip details and driving habits.

“I was impressed with the Networkfleet units,” Tharp said. “They seemed much more robust than the units we’d been using and had all the features we needed to identify our problem areas.”

In October 2007, Falcon Communications installed Networkfleet units on all of Benfield Electric’s 54 vehicles, most of which are vans and light trucks.

Results

Using Networkfleet’s GPS tracking capability, Tharp has immediate visibility into fleet activity and can schedule vehicles for jobs in the same area on a given day. Since 35% of his drivers are allowed to take vehicles home, he can also make sure no one uses company vehicles for personal reasons.

“Using Networkfleet, we can monitor speeding, idling and odd-hour usage – habits known to increase fuel consumption,” said Tharp. “It was easy to create thresholds and set up three Networkfleet reports that would flag these factors on a daily basis.”

The Networkfleet idle time report identifies drivers who consistently post excessive idling (defined by the company as either more than 2 hours per day or 10% of driving time) so that Tharp can take corrective action. “It’s normal to want to idle vehicles during hot or cold weather,” said Tharp. “I don’t blame anyone, but it wastes fuel and costs money.”

The Networkfleet odd-hours report highlights which vehicles are used outside normal work hours. Similarly, Tharp uses the Networkfleet speed violation report to determine drivers who habitually speed (defined as 72+ mph).

Tharp also uses Networkfleet for more efficient routing and to verify drivers’ timesheets, which eliminates billing for work not performed. “Drivers no longer take back roads to a site,” said Tharp. “Networkfleet ensures that each driver is taking the shortest route and that they are charging only for work performed. If half of our field employees left the job 15 minutes early every day, we would be paying $425 in unearned wages, and that’s being conservative.”

By using Networkfleet to monitor and change drivers’ habits, Benfield Electric saves money on fuel and hourly labor costs and reduces wear-and-tear on vehicles. Tharp estimates that Networkfleet paid for itself in 18 months and continues to save the company money.

“Eliminating unnecessary driving keeps fuel use down and extends the life of the vehicle,” Tharp said. “So does reducing speeding and idling, which are both fuel wasters and hard on the vehicle. Altogether, I estimate we save about $10,000 in fuel costs simply by changing these three behaviors.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Using Networkfleet’s diagnostic alerts and activity reports, Cavalier has improved maintenance, reduced mileage and fuel consumption, and maximized customer service – for an estimated savings of $243,000 in the first year.

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Problem

Virginia-based Cavalier Telephone, LLC (also known as Cavalier), is a full-service provider of reliable and efficient telecommunications solutions for business, consumer, and government customers. From landline voice to managed network services, customers depend on Cavalier for a wide range of communications products that drive their businesses and simplify their lives. The company’s field services staff and fleet of 200 vehicles serve thousands of customers spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeastern US.

Like many telecommunications companies, Cavalier has focused on saving money while also being a conscientious ‘green’ company. “But in these tough economic times, our main priority is responsiveness and accountability to our customers,” said Dan Springston, Vice President of Field Services. “This can be a challenge with simultaneous projects occurring in geographically dispersed regions of the country. Having vehicles in the shop unexpectedly wreaks havoc with project schedules and undermines customer service.”

Solution

With greater customer accountability and lower costs as his primary goals, Springston made a decision to install Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management technology initially on 112 Ford F150 trucks and Rangers in his fleet. Networkfleet merges GPS technology with affordable wireless coverage to put critical fleet information at the user’s fingertips via the Internet. Location, stops, idling, mileage, speed – all can be quickly accessed and analyzed over time to improve efficiency and cut costs.

“Implementing Networkfleet meant an investment of about $500 per vehicle,” Springston said, “but we soon found it was money well spent.”

Falcon Communications, a Networkfleet Platinum Partner in the telecommunications industry, helped Cavalier deploy the system in several stages. The implementation took place within 20 regions of the country, from Michigan to Georgia.

“Falcon did an amazing job. They minimized the downtime of our fleet, completing the job within the targeted time frame with no failures,” Springston commented. “We couldn’t have done it as efficiently without them.”

Results

By reviewing Networkfleet reports, Springston and his team of four regional managers and 15 supervisors were able to analyze fleet statistics such as maximum recorded speeds, idle times, number of stops, and distance traveled. Based on the data, they implemented new procedures for cutting unnecessary mileage and set alerts to reduce speeding, idling, and off-hour usage. Because Networkfleet connects directly to an engine’s onboard diagnostic system, Springston’s team also relies on Networkfleet data to proactively schedule maintenance and identify potential vehicle malfunctions.

Mileage declined almost immediately despite an above-average workload. In just 60 days, the distance the 112 vehicles traveled cumulatively per day declined from 9,100 to 8,000 miles, for a projected decrease of 275,000 miles per year. At 48 cents per mile (the industry estimate on what it costs per mile to operate a vehicle), Cavalier will save $132,000 annually on operating costs.

The fleet also used less fuel since implementing Networkfleet. “We documented an increase of two miles per gallon within 60 days, from 15.3 to 17.3 mpg,” said Springston. “If you figure about $2.50 per gallon, that’s a $37,780 savings in one year.” In addition, Cavalier has started phase two deployment to 48 more vehicles, which will provide an anticipated added savings of approximately $73,000 annually.

Moreover, vehicle idling time dropped from 32% to 22% in the same time period. “Less time spent on the premises, sitting within an idling vehicle, means more time spent with our customers,” said Springston.

According to Springston, customer accountability is also much higher now that his vehicles are equipped with Networkfleet. When a technician shows up for a job and cannot gain access, Networkfleet provides proof that the Cavalier employee was there at the scheduled time and place.

Networkfleet’s speed alerts have also contributed to a reduction in average miles per hour, resulting in greater fuel efficiency. The maintenance and real-time engine alerts have improved vehicle availability and customer service. “We can now schedule maintenance when the technician isn’t busy with a customer instead of waiting until a problem worsens and inconveniencing everybody,” said Springston.

Springston summed it up: “In a tough economy and a fragile environment, it’s important to be careful with all resources. Reducing mileage, idling time, and being more conscientious about resources translate to using less fuel. Networkfleet is good for our bottom line, and it’s also good for the environment.”

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Summary

Faced with reduced revenues from lower water consumption by customers, the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) needed to shrink operating costs while still carrying out projects required by state and federal laws. Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management solution helped reach those goals – and paid for itself in just three months.

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Problem

Located in drought-stricken Riverside County, California, EMWD provides fresh and recycled water and wastewater services to a 555-square-mile area. Forced to establish mandatory water usage restrictions, EMWD needed to reduce operating and labor costs to make up for shrinking revenues from lower customer consumption.

According to Mark Iverson, EMWD Maintenance Director, one of the agency’s initial goals was to make more efficient use of its 350-vehicle fleet. “When the district extended the criteria for vehicle life from 10 years/200,000 miles to 12 years/250,000 miles, we began a study that covered all aspects of fleet management and efficiency. This assessment resulted in changes that have already yielded substantial cost savings and will undoubtedly prolong the life of our fleet.”

Solution

After evaluating 25 fleet management products, EMWD installed Networkfleet on all 1996 or newer vehicles. In addition to the potential savings in operating costs, EMWD chose Networkfleet for its plug-and-play installation capability and 24/7 roadside assistance, which is included in the cost.

Iverson explained, “Unlike other GPS products, Networkfleet connects directly to the engine’s onboard diagnostic unit (OBD-II) without cutting or splicing wires. After a brief training, EMWD employees completed the installation of Networkfleet on 300 vehicles – without hiring additional staff. It took less than 30 minutes per vehicle.”

Because Networkfleet connects to the engine’s OBD-II, EMWD can now remotely monitor engine diagnostics, fault codes, and emissions control system status. For example, EMWD staff receives an immediate alert when there is an engine problem, allowing them to proactively repair the vehicle before the problem worsens. “Networkfleet also automatically collects emissions data, which eliminates the need to bring vehicles in for biennial smog checks,” Iverson noted. “Proactive maintenance and automated smog checks save both time and money.”

Return on Investment

EMWD initially focused on drivers’ habits such as speed and idle time that have a huge impact on fuel usage. For example, supervisors receive alerts from Networkfleet if drivers exceed a certain speed limit. This simple measure has improved miles per gallon while reducing speed-related accidents.

Since supervisors can now log into Networkfleet to view a GPSbased map of vehicle locations, they can dispatch the vehicle closest to an emergency or other work not scheduled in advance. With more efficient vehicle usage, EMWD has lowered the average number of miles driven per vehicle. In fact, within the first six months of operation, employees drove about 165,000 fewer miles, and fuel costs declined by about $79,000 (as compared to the previous year’s data for the same period). this new capability is also vital when there is an accident in the field, because we can pinpoint the location and better direct emergency services to the accident scene.”

Summary

With 200+ employees and more than 20 route trucks, OC Communications, Inc. (OCC) needed a system to help improve vehicle maintenance and employee productivity. Since installing Networkfleet, the company has seen a significant return on investment, especially in terms of safer driving and a reduction in fuel expenses.

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Problem

OCC is a full service telecommunications contractor specializing in the installation, project management, and maintenance of telecommunication networks throughout California and Nevada. “We knew that we needed a solution that would help us maintain our new fleet and keep track of our drivers. Networkfleet was an easy decision,” said Mike Harding, Operations Director for OC Communications, Inc.

Solution

Networkfleet’s user-friendly system, easy to navigate application, and robust functionality enticed OCC from the start. One of the main reasons Harding selected Networkfleet was because no other system provides the detailed diagnostic capabilities that Networkfleet does. With more than 50 current and pending patents surrounding remote diagnostics, Networkfleet enables fleet managers to receive scheduled maintenance and diagnostic problem alerts automatically via email or through their personalized website.

“Without Networkfleet, we might have had to hire an additional technician to maintain our fleet. Now, a single fleet maintenance specialist can monitor the status of all vehicles from a single website. We expect to see a savings of over $12,000 in labor costs from the use of this system over the next year. Plus, it’s great not having to manage all those paper records.”

Results

Networkfleet’s fuel efficiency graphs and idle time data can be used to ensure vehicles perform efficiently and are not left idling for long periods of time. OCC fleet managers track and route their vehicles with the Networkfleet system to reduce unauthorized driving and to ensure time and money is not wasted. Harding spends more than $5,000 in fuel for his fleet per month, so it’s important that the vehicles are routed most efficiently and that unauthorized driving is minimized. “Because the employees know they are being monitored and will have to pay the company for personal use, we have seen the amount of unauthorized driving go down,” he said.

Networkfleet provides reports on current vehicle speed and the speed history of vehicles. According to Harding, “Some employees were driving up to 90 mph on the freeways when we first installed the system. With Networkfleet, we were able to encourage safe driving. After installation, speeding decreased considerably. In the second month, drivers rarely drove over 80 mph.”

OCC strives to be the best telecommunications contractor in the region by promising prompt and quality service. Networkfleet’s system helps the company meet those high customer expectations every day. “It is a priority that our fleet be kept in top condition to ensure that we are able to service our customers without delay. Networkfleet helps us get that job done,” Harding says.

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Rochester Public Utilities can now dispatch service trucks faster during power and water service interruptions, thanks to the integration of Networkfleet® GPS data and ArcGIS Maps.

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Problem

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) provides power and water services to more than 47,000 power customers and more than 35,000 water customers in the Rochester, Minnesota area. During a service interruption, RPU system operators use an enterprise GIS program, ArcGIS ArcMap, to display geographical and tabular data relating to the outage. ArcMap is geographic information system (GIS) software from ESRI. It allows datasets from across an organization to be brought together to create a complete picture of the infrastructure.

“Using ArcMap, we can see an aerial photograph of where the outage has occurred, along with the location of power lines, fuses, transformers, etc. in the affected area,” said Ryan Moore, GIS specialist at RPU. “Color coding on the map even shows which houses are impacted and which ones have already called in to report the problem.”

However, there was one thing missing: Information about the location of service trucks in the area. With this additional piece of data, RPU could more quickly get to the outage and begin repairs.

Solution

“RPU was already using Networkfleet’s GPS wireless fleet management system to track the location of certain trucks,” explained Moore. “However, we knew it would be more beneficial if we could incorporate the truck locations as a layer within RPU’s enterprise GIS.”

Being able to see truck locations in relation to information about outages turned out to be a straightforward process, thanks to the Web-based API that Networkfleet provides to every customer.

“We developed a Visual Basic.Net application that runs every two minutes to reference Networkfleet’s API,” Moore said. “The application calls a function that returns the truck’s current GPS coordinates and truck numbers. These two pieces of data are then stored in an SQL database for historical purposes. It is also written to a text file that is utilized in ArcMap as an XY event layer.”

The Visual Basic application runs as a Windows service every two minutes with no user interaction required. The Windows service reads the data returned in XML file format, writes it to a table, then converts it to a text file on the server.

Additionally, users can click a custom button on the ArcMap Toolbar to add the text file to ArcMap, thus refreshing the data layers based on the most current GPS coordinates (see sample site map) from Networkfleet.

This is a sample map with Networkfleet truck locations overlaid on ArcMap-generated maps. Underground utilities appear as red lines. The numbers are feeder IDs, and the lighter red lines are service lines. During an outage, a purple circle would show the service points affected; dots identify houses that have been impacted. The dots turn yellow if a resident has called to report the outage.

Results

Using the Networkfleet API, RPU is able to pull information about truck locations into ArcMap. This provides a dynamic display of current vehicle locations overlaid on GIS data. Users can see where vehicles are in relation to addresses and streets as well as to important resources such as power lines, transformers, and fuses.

According to Moore, the ability to more efficiently dispatch field crews is invaluable to ensuring the fastest possible response during an outage. “This ability is especially beneficial if you’re not in the office, because the applications are accessible via a VPN connection. In addition to helping us get to outage areas quicker, this new capability is also vital when there is an accident in the field, because we can pinpoint the location and better direct emergency services to the accident scene.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.

Summary

Shortly after implementing Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management technology, Mike Stock, President and CEO of VoicePro/The Sater Group, realized he had discovered a product too good not to share with others. Today, his company is reaping the cost-saving benefits of Networkfleet while also reselling the technology to its own customers who have fleet management challenges.

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Problem

VoicePro/The Sater Group is a St. Louis leader in telecommunications and IT services. The recently merged companies specialize in business telephone systems, call processing with unified messaging, voice over IP (VoIP), disaster recovery, and other managed technology services.

When Mike Stock decided to try Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management technology based on a recommendation at an industry seminar, he had no idea how much he needed the system. “As a growing telecommunications and IT service provider with a fleet of eight Astro Vans, I knew we could benefit from GPS tracking, in general,” Stock said. “But I had no idea of the cost savings it would provide.”

According to Stock, the “Aha!” moment came when he received the first set of reports from Networkfleet. “Out of a 40-hour work week, each vehicle, on average, was in idle mode eight of those hours. In other words, our vehicles idled 20% of their total operating time!”

Solution

Idle time is just one of more than 20 reports provided by Networkfleet’s wireless fleet management system. With Networkfleet, VoicePro/The Sater Group can view real-time vehicle location, identify unproductive time, and analyze routes to maximize job efficiency. Among other benefits, Networkfleet helps monitor cost factors such as fuel use, stops/starts, and miles per gallon. It can also be used to verify labor charges, document the duration of service calls, and provide incentives to drivers who follow prescribed driving guidelines.

Results

“We tackled the idling problem immediately,” said Stock. “By designating idle time as one of our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), we’ve reduced idling from eight hours per week per vehicle to just one hour.”

For example, the average fuel consumption for a Chevy Astro Van operating at normal idle speed of 800 -1,000 rpm is .48 gallons per hour. (Heavier vehicles can use up to 1 gallon per hour during idling.) A reduction of seven hours per week in idling time for all eight vehicles equates to a fuel savings of 26.9 gallons per week. At an average of $2.50 per gallon, VoicePro/The Sater Group saves almost $3,500 per year with Networkfleet.

“Networkfleet nearly paid for itself by reducing fuel costs related to idling times,” said Stock, “but that wasn’t the end of our savings and benefits.” When Stock checked with various insurance carriers, he negotiated for a discount that saves, on average, $300 per year per vehicle – for an additional $2,400 annual savings.

In addition to GPS tracking, Networkfleet devices connect to the engine’s onboard diagnostic system, enabling real-time engine diagnostics, maintenance scheduling and engine alert capabilities. “Networkfleet’s diagnostic data keeps our vehicles running and prevents them from ending up in the shop unexpectedly for long periods of time,” Stock explained.

Networkfleet also proved invaluable when a company van recently rear-ended another car. The attorney for the motorist claimed when the van driver stopped, it created an impact strong enough to cause severe physical pain and damage to his client. Undaunted, Stock simply sent him data from Networkfleet showing the van had come to a stop before rolling into the car at a speed of 5 or 6 miles per hour. “Once we sent the attorney the Networkfleet report, we never heard from him again,” said Stock.

Not long after, Mike Stock and Chris Sater, the former CEO of The Sater Group who is now in charge of operations and fleet management, came to a decision. “A lot of our IT customers have large fleets,” said Stock. “We realized we could do them a favor and also increase revenue by becoming a Networkfleet reseller.”

With one Networkfleet sale and implementation already under his belt, Stock believes there is a huge market for the benefits that Networkfleet provides. “We’re pleased to be able to spread the word because we know the product, and we’ve seen the results firsthand.”

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For more information on how Networkfleet can help your business, call 866.869.1353.