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UTILIZING GPS in the Utilities Industry
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SECTION | RIDEALONG
UTILIZING GPS in the Utilities Industry
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RIDEALONG | SECTION
STUDENT RIDERSHIPMEANS NEVERHAVING TO SAY,
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOURKID IS.”
“I’m sorry,
With Student Ridership from Synovia, we can not only tell you where your bus is, we can tell you ex-actly who’s on it. Search by school or itinerary to see a complete view of your district, or drill down for more detailed reports and compare your planned and actual capacity. Detailed reporting helps
you plan smarter, which means you can protect all the little ones along with your bottom line.
Visit synoviasolutions.com/student-ridership for more information.
RiDEALONG
STUDENT RIDERSHIPMEANS NEVERHAVING TO SAY,
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOURKID IS.”
“I’m sorry,
With Student Ridership from Synovia, we can not only tell you where your bus is, we can tell you ex-actly who’s on it. Search by school or itinerary to see a complete view of your district, or drill down for more detailed reports and compare your planned and actual capacity. Detailed reporting helps
you plan smarter, which means you can protect all the little ones along with your bottom line.
Visit synoviasolutions.com/student-ridership for more information.
CONTENTS
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR01. Handle Winter’s Worst with GPS
SYNSIGHTS02. Wondering What GPS Tracking Can Do for
You and Your Fleet?
TIPS & TRENDS04. Looking Beyond the Software
06. Taking the Risk Out of GPS
07. Acquiring Fleet Management Tools Just Got Easier
PAVING THE WAY08. A Municipal Fleet Manager’s Guide to GPS
10. The Importance of Reporting in Transportation
12. The Cost of Selecting the Wrong GPS Provider
14. Track & Trace: Getting the Data You Need at Any Hour
FROM THE FIELD16. We’ve Got You Covered
18. Case Study: A Bobcat Goes Roaming
20. Real Stories of How GPS Helps, Even in the Worst of Times
FEATURES23. Leveraging Integrated Fleet Management
Solutions with Utility Cooperatives
26. Why GPS Is Even More Important This Time of Year
30. How GPS Can Help You, No Matter Where You Work
THE FINAL STOP32. Introducing Synovia’s Best
33. What You Need to Know About Driving in Winter
SYNSIGHTS | RIDEALONG
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KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR VEHICLES ARE.
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY’VE BEEN.
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO GO.
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY GET THERE.
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY LEAVE.
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY NEED SERVICE.
KNOW EXACTLY WHICH DRIVER IS DRIVING.
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR DAY.
KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY ENDED.
DON’T ASK. KNOW.
We can show you how. www.synoviasolutions.com/contact-us/
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR | RiDEALONG
It’s that time of year again—the snow is falling, and getting to and from places is just a little more difficult than usual. Luckily, there are many tools at your disposal to help you get your fleet through this tough transportation season. In this issue of Ridealong with Synovia Solutions, we’ll explore your options and help you better manage your fleet, even in bad weather.
We start this edition by exploring how other fleet managers have used various GPS-powered tools to their advantage. You’ll hear directly from them regarding how each solution has improved their business. Then we’ll look at the latest trends of the transportation department, including the benefits of a cooperative purchasing agency, and the types of guarantees you should look for when researching potential fleet management partners.
In the next section, we’ll take a detailed look into topics like the costs of selecting the wrong GPS vendor, the importance of transportation reports, and which solutions are best for your organization. We’ll also discuss our most recent partnerships and why providing a one-stop solution for our clients is important to us. And we’ll hear from one of our clients to understand how GPS tracking helped them recover their stolen equipment—a potential loss of over $100,000.
We’ll wrap up this edition by focusing on a couple of different bigger topics, including the upcoming move from 2G to 4G networks—what you need to know, and what you need to do to make sure your GPS hardware is ready for the switch. We’ll also talk inclement weather, what it means for your transportation team, and how GPS can help.
So, as you get through this cold, snowy season, we hope you enjoy this edition of Ridealong with Synovia Solutions and the advice it contains to help you along the way. As always, we truly enjoy sharing the most up-to-date fleet management information with all of our readers.
Sincerely,
Jon King CEO, Synovia Solutions, LLC
HANDLE WINTER’S WORST WITH GPS
SYNSIGHTS | RIDEALONG
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SYNSIGHTS
“ The cost of the solution has more than paid for itself.”
– STREAMLINE IRRIGATION, Kingsburg, CA
GPS isn’t just for your vehicles anymore. With asset tracking, you can track the location of all motorized equipment—backhoes, generators, lawn mowers, snow blowers, tractors and more. It also works well for non-motorized equipment, such as dumpsters or trailers. The automatic signals will let you know exactly where your gear is at any point throughout the day, meaning that if anything goes missing, you can easily track it down and recover it. Luckily, our client realized this—their asset tracking system meant they were able to avoid having to replace some very expensive equipment.
Whether you’re responsible for directing a fleet of landscaping equipment or a district’s school buses, a fleet management solution can save you a significant amount of money. Here’s how some of our customers describe the savings and other benefits of working with Synovia Solutions.
WONDERING WHAT GPS TRACKING CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR FLEET? See what other fleet managers have to say as Synovia users speak out on the benefits of their fleet management systems
SYNSIGHTS | RIDEALONG
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“ I can’t imagine life without it now. Once a school district implements this system, they won’t ever want to be without it.”
– PAT HUBBARD, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, Lake Central School Corporation
Whether you’re a school district, a municipality, or a commercial business, a fleet management solution really can improve your day-to-day life. The software should be doing the work for you: from running reports while you’re off the clock to warning you of potential issues to solve sooner rather than later, your telematics solution should be making the life of your transportation team easier. Insightful information will be delivered automatically, giving you the data and visibility you need to best manage your fleet.
“ We’ve seen $1 million in savings during the first year of launch.”
— CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG Executive Director of Transportation
at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
“ We’ve found that reducing just five minutes from every route would reduce costs by $100,000 per school year.”
— LYNDA KUCHLER Director of Transportation at Metropolitan
School District of Wayne Township
Whether you’re saving $100,000 or $1 million, you’re going to notice it. Budgets are tight, and that money can be spent elsewhere or cut all together. And with a complete fleet management solution in place, the savings really add up. There are many ways our customers save money day in and day out, such as:
• Optimizing the routes drivers take each day
• Reducing inefficient and costly driving habits such as vehicle idling
• Capturing payroll information from inside the vehicle, saving an average of 15 minutes per driver per day in payroll
• Reducing gas mileage through better driving habits
• Lowering insurance premiums due to fewer accidents and having the ability to prove exactly what happened in any incident
“ They were very receptive and they worked with us. They’re a very collaborative group to work with.”
– CATHERINE BENNAGE, Director of Day Program Services, People’s Care
Having the right team in place is critical. That’s why at Synovia, we strive to give you exactly what you need to get your fleet management solution up and running as quickly and smoothly as possible. This includes assigning each of our clients a fleet advisor, their single point of contact for any and all questions regarding their solution. This designated advocate provides consistency and allows our new clients to ramp up more efficiently. The enhanced support allows our team to help organizations quickly get their needs met, foster superior user adoption, and drive better results.
To learn more about how Synovia’s tracking solutions can benefit your organization, visit us at synoviasolutions.com and try a free demo.
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TIPS & TRENDS | RIDEALONG
When it comes to evaluating the value of GPS, features are just the starting point. in this edition, we explain why it’s important to look beyond the software, how to guarantee your ROi, and how to leverage the power of cooperative purchasing.
TIPS & TRENDS02
LOOKING BEYOND THE SOFTWAREWhy it’s important to consider other, less obvious traits when looking for a GPS vendor
There are many different reasons to select a particular GPS partner. One of the first things most organizations look at is the list of features. Will the solution do what you want it to do? Will it give you the right data and insights you need to make your job easier? This is where many searches for a GPS vendor begin.
But it’s not where the search should end. There are other features to look for, less obvious ones—things like the type of service you can expect to receive. Below is a list of unexpected but equally important things to look for in a GPS vendor.
Response TimeNo matter how great the solution is, there is bound to be some downtime. When it happens, how quickly will your vendor get you back up and running? Look for a vendor that prides themselves on quick response time. At Synovia, we take this very seriously, and have taken several steps to ensure our customers are back up and running quickly. First, we have taken a cross-training approach so that more than just one person on the team can answer our customers’ questions. We also encourage autonomy—our employees have the authority to make the right decision for the customer without having to seek approval. Ultimately, we take a proactive approach during all points in the process, from installation to training to any future service requests. »
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TIPS & TRENDS | RIDEALONG
Customer InteractionsWhen you select a GPS vendor, you will be spending a lot of time working with them, from the sales process through installation and training. You should select a vendor who will give you as much personal, face-to-face interaction as needed. Our customers have access and relationships with our staff at all different levels. They know our trainers, our installation team, and our support team. Many of our customers also have a relationship with our executive team. Our leaders are the first people to stop by your organization or pick up the phone, just to see how the GPS solution is working for you.
Additionally, the quality of the interactions matters. Bad service is incredibly frustrating, whether it’s just a check-in or you’re having a major issue. How many times have you called customer service only to be put on hold or get an automated response? At Synovia, we always answer our phones. There is no automation. Having a live person to coordinate the help you need is a huge relief when things go wrong, and something you can’t forget when selecting a GPS partner.
Meeting All of Your NeedsLook for a one-stop shop, not someone who only provides a quarter of what you need. At Synovia, we have a complete product suite that allows our customers to get everything they need in one place. Our software is also very flexible—it has the ability to integrate with other solutions to meet individual customer needs.
This goes further than just the products offered, though. What happens after you purchase the fleet management solution? Are the implementation plans clear and concise? Synovia uses a detailed project plan, with clear tasks and due dates. There are hard dates for completion so you will know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. This kind of visibility makes the implementation process that much smoother for our customers.
Another piece to consider is training. How will your team learn how to use the software? At Synovia, we include tailored training for every customer. We ensure that each person on the customer team is trained on exactly what they need, allowing our customers to get up and running quickly and efficiently.
More Than Just the FeaturesIt’s not all about the software—look deeper to make sure you select the partner that not only has the top solution, but also has the team and processes that will work the best for your organization. It will allow you to work seamlessly together, and get the most out of your GPS solution.
At Synovia we are constantly working to enhance the customer experience and keep our customer operations running smoothly. We provide multiple channels to report support and service needs.
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TAKING THE RISK OUT OF GPSHow Synovia stands behind our solution, guaranteeing your ROiManaging a fleet of 75 or more vehicles can be a cumbersome and costly task, and you’re always looking for a little bit of help to improve your team. Investing in GPS vehicle tracking is one option, but if you’re just starting to consider it, you might fear that your return won’t match your investment. That’s why the best vendors take on that risk for you.
Synovia believes that our solution will make your job more time- and cost-efficient, and we’re more than willing to put our money where our mouth is. And we have our 5% Guarantee to prove it. Here’s how it works.
Before the full tracking scheme is implemented, Synovia customers are asked to record up to a 60-day baseline for fuel consumption and payroll inefficiencies. After that baseline is established, they start using GPS tracking from Synovia Solutions. With our fleet management solution in place, we fully expect our customers to see meaningful improvements such as:
• Reduced fuel consumption (from less engine idling)
• Improved driver behavior
• Reduced excess mileage
• Reduced vehicle wear and tear
• Improved customer service
• Decreased number of daily customer calls (depending on industry)
• Reduced payroll inefficiencies
• Smoother processes
Our customers typically notice immediate benefits and improvements with our fleet management solution installed. That’s where the guarantee comes in. Essentially, if monthly audits from Synovia Solutions don’t show a 5% savings on fuel consumption or payroll over the first 12 months of use, you get 25% off your invoice for the balance of the term.
To find out how Synovia Solutions can make a difference in your organization or municipality, we offer a free, no obligation trial. And if you decide we’re exactly what your fleet needs, we’ll get you started with no up-front costs.
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TIPS & TRENDS | RIDEALONG
ACQUIRING FLEET MANAGEMENT TOOLS JUST GOT EASIERSave time and money with a cooperative purchasing agency
Benefits of NJPA:• Tap contracts competitively
solicited on your behalf
• Avoid duplication of efforts—formal contracting process is already satisfied
• Reduce vendor protests
• Use no-cost, liability, or obligation membership
• Get lifecycle cost efficiencies
• Access volume pricing that was leveraged nationally
• Save time and money
• Eliminate low-bid, low-quality issues
• Choice of high-quality equipment/products/services
• Nearly 200 national world-class vendors
• 500+ construction-related contracts
NJPA:• Acts as a government entity
• Is staffed with public employees
• Uses a publicly elected board to award contracts
Making a big purchase as a large organization can be difficult. But when it comes to GPS fleet tracking, we’ve just made it a little bit easier. Synovia is now a nationally contracted member of National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA), a cooperative purchasing agency, meaning we have already satisfied the competitive solicitation requirement. NJPA contracts save you and your agency considerable time and money while eliminating the need to duplicate the solicitation and contracting process.
About NJPANJPA is a national organization that creates a business and service relationship alliance between buyers and suppliers, with membership open to government, education, and all non-profit agencies in the United States and Canada. NJPA is driven to provide efficient public service through their national contract purchasing program of world-class vendors. The common needs of the members and their desire to effectively serve agencies lead their overall efforts to overcome the budget and purchasing challenges of the future.
NJPA serves member agencies by facilitating a national municipal contracting alliance. The goal is to provide members with requested programs and services that are created, coordinated, and delivered through a cooperative effort between NJPA and member agencies.
This application process is simple. You can join NJPA with no cost, no obligation, and no liability. Joining NJPA gives you the opportunity to access competitively awarded nationally leveraged cooperative purchasing contracts for life.
EligibilityEligible members include any unit of government, education (K-12 and higher ed), or non-profit agencies in the United States and Canada.
Apply OnlineApplying is simple with NJPA’s online application. After applying, you will receive your NJPA member ID number electronically within two business days. You will also receive an NJPA membership packet by mail within 7-10 business days.
To join NJPA and start saving on the contracting process, just go to www.njpacoop.org/join and complete your application.
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PAVING THE WAY | RIDEALONG
PAVING THE WAYFrom engine diagnostics to asset tracking, this quarter’s Paving the Way looks at GPS from the perspective of the municipal fleet manager. We also explore the value of GPS reporting and the high cost of selecting the wrong provider.
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A MUNICIPAL FLEET MANAGER’S GUIDE TO GPSUnderstanding which tools are best for your city or town
Many of our customers fall into the municipal category. As fleet manager of a city or town, this means you’re responsible for an incredible variety of vehicles, and any number of issues can arise on a daily basis. Luckily, there is a complete line of GPS-powered tools available that can help you better manage and maintain your fleet from top to bottom. Here’s an introductory list of options you may want to consider to run your fleet more smoothly, day in and day out.
Core GPSThis is the most obvious and most well-known fleet management solution. It provides real-time tracking for any and all types of vehicles. Fleet managers get visibility into exactly where each vehicle in their fleet is at any moment of any given day. This data can be used for things like responding to public requests—simply use GPS to find the most logical driver to respond, and route them there. Or in the case of complaints, either confirm or unequivocally
deny claims against your drivers using the GPS data—the data doesn’t lie, and gives you a clear picture of exactly what happened and when. GPS also can track stop and arrival information to ensure your employees are going where they’re supposed to and remaining productive throughout the day.
Of course, there are several standard key performance indicators you can monitor with GPS as well, such as idle time and fuel usage. This data can be compiled in insightful reports to help you improve the overall efficiency of your fleet.
Asset TrackingGPS isn’t just limited to your fleet of vehicles. Managing a city or town requires many different types of equipment, and you want to make sure every single one is secure. With asset tracking in place, you know exactly where your equipment
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PAVING THE WAY | RIDEALONG
is at all times. With the geofencing tool, you can be alerted when the equipment enters or exits designated areas so when a piece of equipment moves, you’ll know exactly where it is.
Time and AttendanceTracking payroll for a large number of drivers can be daunting. Too often it’s a manual task, filled with time-consuming and costly errors. Instead fleet managers of municipal fleets should consider a solution that is tied directly to the vehicles, like Synovia’s Time and Attendance. Drivers clock in and out from the vehicles, eliminating tracked non-working time; on average, this saves 15 minutes per driver, per vehicle, per day. The software integrates directly with your payroll system and provides benefits such as:
• Accurate time tracking, all in one place
• Easy-to-read reports, allowing for effective employee management
• Easy integration with payroll to eliminate paper timesheets
Engine DiagnosticsWith such a wide variety of vehicles, wouldn’t it be nice to have the chance to repair before having to replace any one of them? This could save your city or town a lot of money. With a fleet management solution in place, you can tell in real time whether a vehicle requires maintenance. Each tracking unit connects directly to the vehicle’s engine, recording the vehicle identification number (VIN) and monitoring:
• Fault codes
• Odometer reading
• Fuel consumption
Alerts are transmitted directly to the fleet manager, allowing you to see a small issue before it develops into a much larger—and more costly—problem. You can also standardize regular maintenance based on vehicle data such as odometer readings, engine hour data, or time since last service.
No matter what city or town you’re managing, there are tools out there to make your days easier. You can monitor your vehicles, equipment, and drivers, and remove the worry associated with managing a fleet of vehicles. And the best part? With the savings that GPS provides, the solution ends up paying for itself. Whether it’s saving money on fuel, payroll, or vehicle maintenance and repair, it won’t take long to realize a fleet management system was a smart investment.
Asset Tracking Keeps track of your
equipment at all timesEngine Diagnostics
Keeps you a step ahead with preventive maintenance
Time and Attendance Saves you time and integrates with your payroll
Core GPS Provides visibility into the movement of your fleet
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PAVING THE WAY | RIDEALONG
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING IN TRANSPORTATIONGetting the information you need, when you need it
You already know GPS fleet tracking gives you more visibility as a fleet manager, but how does that visibility manifest itself? Most of the time, it’s through reports that your management software generates—information gathered and sorted by relevance and type.
There’s a number of different ways that your reporting can be organized and generated, and most can be created automatically rather than requiring you to manually dig up the information you want. Just work with your GPS vendor to determine your needs, and configure the software to do the work on your behalf. Here are some of the report types that can be run through Synovia’s telematics solution:
ARRIVAL REPORTS. Know when your vehicles get to their destinations. Summarize arrivals by fleet or by individual vehicle.
SPEEDING REPORTS. Understand whether your drivers are operating safely by analyzing speeding details by driver or for the entire fleet.
VEHICLE PERFORMANCE REPORTS. Get wide-ranging yet detailed data on how your vehicles are performing. Look at information for a single vehicle or your full fleet.
PLANNED VS. ACTUAL STOPS REPORT. Know whether your vehicles made every planned stop. Look at data for either a single driver or for your entire fleet.
INSPECTION REPORTS. Get the information you need regarding your drivers’ pre- and post-trip inspections. You can look at both reports at a daily or summary level, by fleet or for a single driver.
IDLE REPORT. Learn which vehicles in your fleet are idling too much. You can look at a daily summary by vehicle, by fleet, or by zone.
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TIME REPORTS. See how much time is being spent in your vehicles. Look at reports by day or a complete summary for just one vehicle or your whole fleet.
MILEAGE REPORTS. Know how far your fleet is going. Check the mileage of your vehicles each day, or using a summary report. You can also drill down into the details as necessary.
HARDWARE HEALTH REPORT. Understand how your hardware is performing. Check the health of your hardware on either a single vehicle or the entire fleet.
EVENT COUNT REPORTS. Get insight into the number of identified events occurring with your fleet. You can run an event count daily or get summary reports by vehicle or fleet.
BOUNDARY REPORTS. Know whether your fleet is staying in your predetermined boundaries. Get daily or summary-level reports for either a single vehicle or the entire fleet.
DRIVER PERFORMANCE REPORTS. Get the information you need to understand how your drivers are performing. Look at either daily or summary information on a single driver or for an entire department.
Imagine selecting which reports are important to you and setting your system up so that you receive them right when you need them. The software is working for you, giving you the insight you need to run your fleet as efficiently and effectively as possible. With the right telematics solution, this is not only possible, but should be the standard.
From driver performance to arrival times, GPS software can provide you with reporting configured to your exact needs.
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THE COST OF SELECTING THE WRONG GPS PROVIDERWhat to look for when you’re shopping
Selecting a GPS provider is not a task to take lightly. Different organizations may have different strategies and buying objectives. But they all have one thing in common: they want to get the most done with the smallest spend. And selecting the wrong vendor can cost you more than you realize.
At the end of the day, most contracts come down to price. You need a world-class fleet management solution at a low cost, with contracts that make it easy to acquire and guarantee the return on investment. So how do you balance your range of needs against your budget?
Guarantees to Look ForSynovia tries to make it easy for our customers to buy. We provide our solution in a way that eases any concerns you might have, whether you’re a GPS novice or you’re switching fleet management system providers. For example, we offer a guarantee of 5% fuel savings with a five-year contract; if you don’t save at least 5%, we will give you 25% off your invoice for the balance of the term.
We also differentiate our solution with our SynsuranceSM agreement. With Synovia, you can expect benefits such as:
• Lifetime comprehensive coverage: Every plan includes a full hardware warranty that lasts the duration of the service agreement. If hardware fails to perform, you receive a replacement at no cost to you.
• Keeping your fleet on the road: With Synovia, you have 99% uptime guaranteed. Issues will be fixed the first time. If a problem requires two support calls within 30 days, we pay. We also provide you with 2% spare units, so if hardware fails you can replace it immediately.
• Flexible pricing and protection: Our service plan is guaranteed not to increase in price during the term of the contract. Payment plans are flexible to meet your needs. And many of our customers have actually found our Synsurance plan to be self-funding within 90 days.
• No hidden costs or fees: With other vendors, many features are considered “extras,” and they charge extra for them. For example, say you want your equipment to check in at smaller intervals. With Synovia that’s not extra, it’s standard—we offer an inclusive GPS solution at a single price instead of offering a stripped-down version and then charging for features that should be included in the first place.
If you’re not an experienced GPS user, choosing the best vendor for you can be confusing and difficult. Keep an eye out for these red flags when you’re selecting your GPS vendor, and ensure you don’t pay for making the wrong choice.
For the balance of your term25%
We will take
5%if you don’t save
or more off your bill
Synovia’s Promise
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With Here Comes the Bus, no longer will you have to worry about calls from concerned parents wondering where the bus is, or more importantly where their child is. Our app does it all. It provides maps and alerts to help get kids to the bus stop not a minute too early - or a minute too late. It also shows parents if their child has boarded or exited the right bus at the right stop. All of which makes not only Susie’s parents happy, but her transportation director as well.
Visit herecomesthebus.com for more information.
Here Comes the Bus is a registered trademark of Synovia Solutions™, LLC ©2017 Synovia Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.
It’s 7 am.
Do you know where your bus is?
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PAVING THE WAY | RIDEALONG
TRACK & TRACE: GETTING THE DATA YOU NEED AT ANY HOURif you’re asking yourself these questions, you need a fleet management solution
When you look at the benefits of GPS fleet tracking, it’s easy to think that it’d be nice to have as a fleet manager. But there are lots of things that would be “nice to have”—you don’t have the budget to spend on frills and luxuries. You can only justify spending on things you need.
So, does a fleet management system meet the standard? Is it something you need, rather than just something you’d like to try out? One way to decide is to think about what you know about your fleet, and what questions you find yourself asking on a regular basis. If you’re asking yourself some of the questions below, it may be time to consider a comprehensive telematics solution.
• How can I locate drivers during the day and night?
• Is it fundamental to my business to be able to understand and verify what my drivers were doing overnight?
• How important is the safety of my drivers—what types of concerns do I have for my drivers from a safety perspective while they are on the road?
• How can I route drivers throughout the day and night when schedule changes occur?
• How can I know where all my vehicles are located at any given moment?
• Does my organization have a green initiative, and if so, how can our fleet better follow it?
• How can I monitor idle time, speeding, hard braking, or hard acceleration?
Different types of organizations have different needs, of course. For example, say your business is waste disposal. Did your driver skip a street, or did someone forget to put their can out on time? No customer wants to miss trash day, and in doing things the old way you run the risk of not having the ability to prove if trash was collected at a certain address or location. Again, if you’re asking yourself questions like these, it might be time to consider a telematics solution.
• How can I prove whether someone’s trash was collected at a certain location?
• What types of procedures and policies should I have in place to prove the trash was collected?
• How do I know when a lift arm, etc. has been engaged while collecting trash?
• What measures should I be using for maintenance and fuel usage?
• How can I tell which vehicles are getting the most wear and tear?
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PAVING THE WAY | RIDEALONG
Additionally, non-vehicle assets are increasingly an important part of the equation. Many organizations have difficulty knowing how their total fleet is being utilized, including the maintenance and usage of mowers, tractors, and other similar equipment. Again, a fleet management solution can help here. Consider tracking your assets and their utilization if you are asking yourself questions like:
• How can I assess the utilization of my fleet today?
• Is it possible to get all of the information I need about my assets from a single source?
• What kind of asset tracking and utilization processes should I be using on a daily and monthly basis?
• What happens if I need to reassign an asset to a different department?
• What happens if I have trouble locating an asset, or determining its maintenance needs?
• What types of processes should I have in place for maintaining equipment?
• How can I keep track of hours used on all assets to determine maintenance intervals?
If a lot of those questions sound like a familiar refrain for your department or organization, it’s time to look at the complete picture to understand just how a fleet management system can improve the management of your vehicles. From past performance to instant tracking, a telematics solution gives fleet managers the information you need to make smart decisions. Don’t get left in the dark.
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FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
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WE’VE GOT YOU COVEREDHow Synovia’s partners help your fleet run more smoothly every day
One of the things we pride ourselves on here at Synovia is our ability to partner with other outstanding vendors to provide our customers with everything they need in a one-stop shop, no matter what industry they’re in. We work with a number of top-level vendors to make the management of your city, town, or business fleet that much easier.
Providing Reliable Coverage with Verizon WirelessFirst and foremost, we had to make sure our customers have the network coverage they need to run their GPS solutions quickly and effectively. This is why we have partnered with Verizon Wireless, one of the largest communications technology companies in the world. Verizon has transformed how people stay connected, and has the best nationwide coverage and network backup infrastructure.
Our customers experience the advantages of this partnership every day. And without paying extra—our partnership prevents any overage charges for our customers, so they never run out of data. All of our devices, including the in-
vehicle screens, connect seamlessly to Verizon’s network. At the end of the day, Verizon ensures reliable service for our customers so they always know where their vehicles are.
Ensuring Your Maps Are Up to Date and Accurate Your GPS can’t run effectively if you don’t have the correct mapping data. That’s exactly why Synovia has partnered with ALK Maps, integrating their services into our software platform to give our clients access to the highest quality maps.
The map data is continuously maintained and updated with the most current information. ALK’s superior service also provides improved loading speed, increased productivity, and the ability to look at and analyze multiple routes at one time. The flexible and modern user interface makes it even easier for our clients to track their vehicle fleets effectively. With this real-time visibility, organizations can translate data into actionable information.»
Sometimes the best way to describe how fleet tracking can benefit your company is to show how it works in the field. Read on to see how Synovia can track stolen equipment, how we can help in times of disaster, and how we partner with other vendors to ensure your needs are met.
FROM THE FIELD04
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FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
Making Field Service Management Easier We’ve also worked hard to make field service management easier for our clients. Infield Clipboard is one of our newest partners, meaning that our clients can now automate the work order process. Organizations can manage field resources, whether these are field workers, assets, or equipment, all the way from inquiry to invoice.
The benefits include real-time visibility and the ability to capture and manage customer, work order, and inventory information directly from the field. This drastically reduces time needed to complete administrative work and minimizes data entry errors. This relationship has already provided measurable ROI for our customers, such as a 20% increase in billable hours and a 12% reduction in errors.
Keeping Our Customers in ComplianceAnother big concern for many organizations—particularly those with large, heavy trucks—is safety. And this includes staying in compliance with the latest laws. Beginning December 18, 2017, drivers will be required by law to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to log time and hours of service (HOS). Synovia has partnered to offer the eFleetSuite
solution, a FMCSA 395.15-compliant Electronic Driver Logs application.
eFleetSuite’s Driver Logs application is an easy-to-use, full-featured application specifically designed for quick adoption by fleet managers. The end-to-end application meets and exceeds all FMCSA 395.15 regulations for HOS compliance and will soon be upgraded to meet all ELD mandate requirements. It captures all required information for the driver’s log and automatically calculates driver’s time remaining based on various daily and weekly limits. Comprehensive back-office reporting allows fleet personnel to make proactive decisions to avoid HOS violations and focus on resource optimization.
Covered in Every SituationUltimately, no matter your type of business or organization, Synovia and our partners can offer you a best-in-class fleet management solution. We continuously strive to stay on top of all transportation trends to ensure our customers can manage their fleets in the easiest way possible.
VERIZON WIRELESSgives you the best network coverage with no overages
ALK MAPSensures you have the best data in maps used to track your fleet
INFIELD CLIPBOARDautomates your workflow, reducing
your administrative time
EFLEETSUITEkeeps you in compliance
with Electronic Driver Logs
Our best-in-class partners help us provide everything you need, regardless of your industry.
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FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
CASE STUDY
A BOBCAT GOES ROAMINGHow GPS saved one of our customers a ton of cashNobody likes to lose something they need. A wallet. Car keys. Reading glasses. It’s frustrating and can throw a real kink in your day. But when that something is a $40,000 piece of construction equipment needed to help you run your business, it’s a little different.
Theft accounts for more loss for construction fleet managers than any other risk. A recent DEWALT study found that a staggering 97% of construction professionals surveyed are concerned about jobsite security. Even more alarming, a whopping 77% have experienced theft up to five times per year for the last three years. Half of those surveyed have been victims of theft as recently as the last 12 months. Theft is an ever-present threat for construction managers. Luckily, though, it’s also a reversible threat when proper protocols and procedures are in effect.
Such was the case with Streamline Irrigation out of Kingsburg, California. They discovered in the early morning hours of one August day a couple of years ago that some of their assets had gone missing in the night; namely, a Bobcat loader and its trailer—two pieces of equipment that together are worth around $100,000.
A few months earlier, Streamline had made the decision to protect their equipment with Synovia Solutions GPS trackers. So, when it was clear that the Bobcat wasn’t in their possession, they called Synovia for help.
George, a Synovia support specialist, was the one who took their call. He was asked to “ping” the unit and find out where the equipment was located. George explained that it was a little more complicated than that. With Synovia, every client has the ability to personalize how each tracker is set up. In Streamline’s case, the trackers were set to only check in every twelve hours. And since the last time the tracker had checked in was 10:30 p.m.—and it was now 8:30 a.m.—they would have to wait another two hours before the unit would make contact again.
With the help of the Synovia tracker, police located Streamline’s stolen Bobcat 25 miles up the road.
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FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
In the meantime, George worked to reset the settings on Streamline’s tracker. This way, when the unit reported in, it would instead transmit a signal every 15 minutes so Streamline wouldn’t have to wait hours for the next report. If the Bobcat and trailer were on the move, Synovia would be on top of it and could follow their movements in real time.
When Streamline’s tracker reported in, Synovia could place it about 25 miles up the road in Fresno and was able to provide the authorities with the unit’s location. The police located the stolen assets and placed the three individuals responsible for the theft in custody. The Bobcat was returned to Streamline that same day, meaning that the investment they made in GPS tracking paid off almost immediately.
All of this just goes to show: GPS tracking is not just for vehicles anymore. Many organizations like Streamline use GPS tracking for other assets as well. Through Synovia, several different types of GPS tracking solutions are available, including:
Asset trackers for motorized equipment: These trackers utilize your equipment’s battery and can send a signal every
30 seconds. They are typically used on equipment such as backhoes, generators, lawn mowers, power washers, skid steers, snow blowers, and tractors.
Asset trackers for non-motorized equipment: This type of tracker utilizes an internal battery that lasts between five and seven years and sends a signal at least once a day. Equipment such as dumpsters, portable classrooms, portable toilets, trailers, furniture, or computer equipment would use this type of tracker.
Tracking for fleet vehicles: This solution allows you to transmit an abundance of data about the vehicle, including location, engine diagnostics and more. Use this tracking system for long-haul semis, box trucks, delivery vans, passenger vans, limousines, delivery cars, or school buses.
Pick the solution that is right for your organization and rest assured that both your fleet and your assets are protected.
visit synoviasolutions.com/resources/case-studies to read more case studies that show the value of our solutions.
“Synovia Solutions asset tracking technology located $100,000 worth of
stolen equipment within 24 hours.”– STREAMLINE IRRIGATION
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FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
REAL STORIES OF HOW GPS HELPS, EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMESHow GPS helped the Houston Police Department locate vehicles during Hurricane Harvey
We all have heard about the devastation left behind after Hurricane Harvey. The Category 4 storm dumped 27 trillion gallons of rain in a six-day period on the city of Houston and its surrounding areas. Winds reached speeds of over 132 miles per hour, and the storm created massive flooding in southern Texas. Estimates put eventual total losses at around $75 billion. To say the storm was catastrophic is, perhaps, an understatement.
But even in the midst of such distress, there are still stories of good. Stories of how companies, citizens, and organizations have banded together to help those affected by the hurricane. And even something as simple as GPS can make a difference in such dark times.
During the storm, one of our support team members received a call from a Houston police officer. He needed help locating four of their squad cars that were in the field responding to rescue calls. The cars couldn’t have gotten far because of the flooding, but he still needed to locate them to ensure the officers weren’t in danger.
It had been a while since he had logged into his GPS software, and he needed some help. Luckily, our support team was on hand to walk him through exactly how to pinpoint the location of the squad cars. They did so quickly, verifying that the field officers were safe, and the department was able to get back to helping those in need. It might have been a small thing, when you take into account everything that
was going on at that time. Nonetheless, it was gratifying to be able to assist the officer—and the civilians suffering Harvey’s wrath—even in that small way.
GPS tracking helps fleet managers every day—gathering performance data, allowing you to monitor your fleet in real time and manage it more efficiently. But on your worst day, whether it’s a missing driver, a serious accident, or even a hurricane, GPS is more than just a security blanket. It can truly be a life-saver. When things really get rough, you don’t want to be alone. With GPS tracking, you never are.
FROM THE FIELD | RIDEALONG
Synsurance is an all-inclusive, turnkey plan that provides you with everything necessary to track your vehicle fleet. Hardware, software, installation, training, support and more are all included with no
up-front cost, so you can start right away. With Syn-surance providing you everything, nothing should be stopping you. Visit synovia.com/synsurance for more information.
You’re looking at nothing, because Synsurance gives you everything. Synsurance is an all-inclusive, turnkey plan that provides you with everything necessary to track your vehicle fleet. Hardware, software,
installation, training, support and more are all included with no up-front cost, so you can start right away. With Synsurance providing you everything, nothing should be stopping you. Visit synoviasolutions.com/synsurance for more information.
Here’s what is not included in Synovia’s Synsurance℠ plan:
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FEATURES | RIDEALONG
FEATURESThe utility industry can present numerous challenges for management. Electricity, water, and telecommunications aren’t modern conveniences, they’re an everyday necessity. When you add to that the fact that some utilities are community-run co-ops, now you have an extra, secondary layer of complexity. So how can GPS tracking help? The reasons are many. And the implementation is seamless.
PA G E 23 Leveraging Integrated Fleet Management Solutions with Utility Cooperatives
PA G E 26 Why GPS Is Even More Important This Time of Year
PA G E 30 How GPS Can Help You, No Matter Where You Work
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driven fleet management systems. This integration enables a dispatcher using OMS software to identify the location of an outage on a virtual map and then to quickly assess the location of work vehicles that are nearby. The vehicle location information is accessible in real time from the fleet management system and is much more efficient and accurate compared to using other, more manual techniques, such as calling workers on a phone or two-way radio.
To simplify the integration with any third-party applications used by co-ops, fleet management vendors provide an open application programming interface (API) that can be used to move data back and forth between various applications and the fleet management solution. To further simplify the interface to OMS solutions, fleet management vendors use an API to support the MultiSpeak specification. MultiSpeak is a time-tested standard that allows the exchange of data between any systems or applications commonly used by the utility industry, ranging from outage detection to accounting, meter reading, and so on. Co-ops select the OMS that best supports their requirements, and the MultiSpeak interface simplifies the connection to fleet management solutions.
Maintenance ManagementComputerized maintenance management systems (CMMSs) are also used by co-ops to manage maintenance backlog and preventative maintenance processes for vehicles and other assets. The software is used to create electronic work orders, records-management reporting, inventory management, and so on. When you connect CMMSs to fleet tracking, the accurate mileage-driven information by the vehicle can be
A utility cooperative (co-op) is an organization that provides services such as electricity, water, or telecommunications to its members. Customers of a co-op are automatically made members and owners because the organization as a whole is a not-for-profit. Unlike investor-owned utilities, co-ops are operated by and for their members, giving them equal individual authority.
By managing the infrastructure required for large, rural areas, utility cooperatives tend to provide the most reliable service at the lowest possible price. As a means to optimize operations for the benefit of all members, co-ops are deploying integrated fleet management technologies that leverage service fleet information in real time.
Outage ManagementUtility outages can quickly escalate from a one- or two-hour nuisance to the aftermath of a hurricane, with catastrophic damage that takes days, weeks, or longer to repair. Addressing outages quickly improves the safety and welfare of cooperative members.
o help deal with outages, many co-ops use an outage management system (OMS). These systems provide a number of benefits, including predicting the location of the cause of an outage, prioritizing restoration efforts, providing information on the magnitude of an outage and the number of impacted customers, and managing staff and estimate times required for restoration.
To further improve the usefulness of outage management systems, co-ops are integrating them with real-time GPS-
COVER STORY
LEVERAGING INTEGRATED FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS WITH UTILITY COOPERATIVESCo-ops use fleet management with software integrations to improve safety, save money, and enhance service for their membership
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automatically updated in the CMMS solution and used to drive preventative maintenance processes such as scheduling routine oil changes. Fault codes from the engine can initiate work orders based on real-time alerts. Vehicle history can also be used to manage the age and use of vehicles and aid vehicle-replacement planning. Here again, an open API simplifies the effort to connect fleet management to a CMMS.
Fleet ManagementCo-ops optimize their fleet operations by deploying fleet management solutions to improve safety, save money, and enhance service for their memberships.
Improve SafetyBy monitoring excessive speeding, acceleration, braking, and turning, fleet management solutions are used to identify drivers with poor driving techniques who need additional training. The fleet data is stored in the cloud and can be easily accessed with a secure login and password so that a manager can use the same data to protect a driver who is falsely accused. Optional emergency buttons can be installed in each vehicle. When the driver presses the panic button, an emergency alert is sent to any number of managers via text, email, and a notice in the fleet management software, and the alert includes the precise location of the vehicle in distress.
Save MoneyFleet monitoring and the OMS interface have improved vehicle deployment, causing the reduction of unnecessary vehicle use and excessive engine idle time—saving fuel and reducing vehicle replacement costs.
Fault code alerts ensure that issues with the vehicle are addressed proactively and reduce expensive vehicle repairs or replacements. Interfacing fleet management systems with CMMS systems means that vehicles will have longer, more useful lives because they are better maintained and operate more efficiently and safely.
Utilization reports indicate vehicles that are overused or underused. Any vehicles that are overused may end up getting swapped with vehicles that have less mileage based on assignment. Underused vehicles may be retired, which will save operating and carrying costs.
Enhance ServiceWith the real-time interface to OMS, work crews can be dispatched more efficiently, and outages are addressed in a timely fashion. Moreover, if there is any question from a customer or manager about where a vehicle is located, the system will show the information in real time, and system reports show what really happened in the past. Questions from the public can often be answered while the caller is on the initial call, because all of the data is simple to access and available in real time.
“ For me, one of the most useful features in Synovia is the historical data that is readily available, so I can go back and look at what really happened and defend our drivers when we get a complaint. I can create a boundary on the map in seconds, defining the location of the alleged incident, and can quickly learn if it was really one of our vehicles involved and, if so, was the driving really out-of-bounds.”
–JUSTIN BARNES, VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBER SERVICE AT GULF COAST
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FEATURES | RIDEALONG
Installation and SupportA Synovia project manager (PM) is assigned to each new implementation. Depending on the size of the installation, the PM may come onsite to coordinate the installation and do overview training of the system. Unlimited instructor-led training is provided online. Any number of users can take the online training courses any number of times. Along with unlimited training, on-demand module-based training videos are available online in the fleet management software.
After the implementation is completed, a fleet advisor is assigned to the account. The fleet advisor is the single source of contact for the customer and will facilitate the correct resource to address any issue or training request. The fleet advisor will provide a semiannual “report card” on performance against predetermined benchmarks set by the customer. Best practices will be reviewed so that the utility will get the most out of their investment in fleet management.
Hardware Warranty and GuaranteesThe GPS tracking hardware is owned by the fleet management vendor for the life of the contract, and any defective units are replaced at no additional charge. Spare replacement hardware is provided so that there is no delay in getting a replacement onsite. With Synovia Solutions, uptime of the software is guaranteed at 99%, or the vendor owes the customer, and there is financial accountability if the same problem occurs within 30 days of the first fix. Co-ops are guaranteed a 5% savings in fuel costs if certain criteria are met, or Synovia provides a credit. Co-ops also define the criteria for benchmark service, which is put in the agreement.
Bottom LineFleet management solutions, along with optional integrations, provide significant benefits to member-owned cooperatives. Post-sale programs for training, support, and extended warranty take the risk out of deploying the system and ensure that the utility co-op will quickly see the return on investment and never look back to the days of operating in the dark, with no visibility into their fleet operations.
“The hardware installation and software implementation could not have been any smoother. Everyone was on the ball and the team quickly got back to us with answers to our questions.”
–JUSTIN BARNES
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WHY GPS IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THIS TIME OF YEARHow to ensure your team excels in the coldThe transition from fall to winter can result in a lot of challenges for a transportation team. There’s a chill in the air and fleet managers must be prepared for snowy and icy roads and all they entail. There’s a lot to do. Vehicles used year-round have to be prepared for the changes in weather. Equipment that’s only used in winter needs to be prepared to return to action with no downtime.
Vehicle Upkeep Means EverythingWinter means dangerous road conditions, which means that your fleet—no matter whether you’re managing for public works, sanitation, landscaping, or any other purpose—needs to be prepared for a struggle. Ice and snow mean more wear and tear on equipment inside and out, and without the proper care, it can lead to breakdowns. A vehicle out of commission takes on even greater importance when it means a neighborhood doesn’t get plowed, or a driver is stranded in freezing conditions.
When the weather turns, that means vehicles that haven’t been used in months are making a return to service. Snow plows, salt trucks, and other equipment all come out of storage, and everything needs to function perfectly. Proper pre-storage maintenance is critical, as is the proper storage procedure, but it’s too late for that now if you didn’t do it right last spring. So the work has to be done now.
The most obvious things are ensuring good traction and reliable use. Check the tread depth and wear on tires that have seen some use. Cold weather deflates a tire, so check tire pressure and make sure all tires are properly inflated. Make sure the four-wheel drive is functioning, if applicable. And, if necessary, change to snow tires or put on chains. Do a full engine check, and replace fluids like oil and antifreeze if needed. Check the charge on all batteries, and make sure fuel tanks remain at least half-full—that helps prevent residue from freezing in fuel lines.
The exterior is also critical to maintain. Check the windshield for any minor chips or cracks, as temperature changes can turn them into major problems. Visibility is an issue in bad weather, and slushy and salty conditions wreak havoc on a windshield—so check and replace windshield wipers if necessary, and always keep washer fluid well-stocked. Also, make sure front and rear defrosters are functioning, as well as mirror defrosters if you have them.
RiDEALONG | FEATURES
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FEATURES | RIDEALONG
A coat of wax will help prevent damage to the vehicle’s body from snow and salt, as will regular cleanings—especially of the undercarriage, where much of the contact between the elements and equipment happens.
This can’t be a one-time thing, either. It’s critical to keep track of how your fleet is handling harsh winter conditions on a regular basis with frequent and detailed maintenance. Fault code monitoring and engine diagnostic tools give you a constant view into what is and isn’t working, and will help prevent your drivers from ending up stranded in the ice and snow.
Put Safety FirstEven the best planning can go awry, though. Smart maintenance and the information you get from engine diagnostics will minimize problems, but a battery can fail at any time, and even a good driver can hit a patch of dark ice and end up on an accidental off-road adventure. And that’s not to mention what the other drivers on the road can do. In winter, anything can happen, and that can leave a driver or a team stranded and in need of help. Preparation is key.
Have a plan in place in case a vehicle is wrecked or otherwise stranded. Your fleet should have towing capacity; if that’s
not feasible, build a relationship with a towing company that you know is reliable, able to handle the types of equipment you use, and able to handle the elements. Additionally, it’s important to have a way to locate your vehicles. Detailed route information is one way—knowing where your individual vehicles might be is a great start to finding them. An even better way, though, is precise and granular GPS tracking of each and every piece of equipment in your fleet. With GPS, as soon as you get a call about an incident, it’s easy to know exactly where your people are, and what the fastest way to get there is.
It’s cold, it’s icy, and it’s dangerous. Don’t leave your drivers stranded through lack of planning.
Know Your Routes Down to the InchNo matter what your vehicles are doing once they get to the site, fleets of all kinds benefit from having better routes to follow. That’s true in all weather, but particularly when ice and snow enter the equation, with the elements making every mile a little more taxing on engines and transmissions and more. Efficiency is key. The less time your vehicles spend on the road, the less likely it is that they’ll be damaged. Additionally, for plowing, speed matters. The longer it takes, the more time citizens and community residents have to
24%of weather-related vehicle
crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement.
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drive on dangerous roads, and the greater the chances that an accident can happen.
It’s also important to conserve resources as much as possible. Fuel and time are always at a premium, and that’s amplified when the weather gets rough. But when you’re salting roads as well, you also have to make sure that you’re not wasting an expensive—and very limited—resource. Ensure that vehicles are taking the most efficient routes, and that you don’t have roads getting salted more than once unnecessarily due to route mix-ups. GPS tracking tools give you the ability to make sure the routes you plan are the most efficient ones possible, and that your drivers are actually following them.
It’s especially important to assess planned routes if there have been major changes to local roads since last winter. Perhaps a new neighborhood means increased traffic in a previously empty area, or road expansion and construction mean getting from one place to another requires a totally different approach. Planning now means not only that the first snow can be dealt with, but also that if more and larger roads require more vehicles and more supplies, they can be acquired now rather than rushed into service at the last minute.
Where possible, all routes should also be inspected ahead of time, and whatever steps are available to prepare the route for plowing and salting should be taken. This will likely be easier for corporate campuses and neighborhoods and other private areas where government money doesn’t need to be obtained, as it can be done more quickly. Fix potholes. Level raised manhole covers. Make note of any obstructions like speed bumps that need to be avoided. Find and mark all utilities and emergency equipment and anything else that has to be reachable. Look at where plowed snow is going to end up, and plan routes that prevent blockages in crucial places.
Public and PrivateAll of this applies to any fleet that operates in winter weather, no matter what the circumstance. Many are municipal fleets, but private fleets also have winter work to do. If you’re a landscaping company, for instance, you may need to be able to get out to neighborhoods and businesses to help clear trees felled by ice, or to do plowing on streets that aren’t under governmental purview. No matter who’s paying the bills, things like route efficiency, safety, and maintenance are critical when the weather turns. Take steps to prepare, and don’t get left out in the cold.
WINTER FLEET PREPARATION CHECKLISTCheck the condition, pressure, and treads of tires.
Perform a full engine check and replace fluids as needed.
Check the charge on all batteries and make sure fuel tanks are at least half full.
Check windshields for any chips or cracks, and replace windshield wipers as needed.
Make sure front and rear defrosters are functioning.
Perform frequent, detailed maintenance as the winter progresses.
Have an emergency plan in case a vehicle is wrecked or otherwise stranded.
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Fleet Wide Access & ManagementAutomatically download video wirelessly once buses return and connect to the network
Ensure Student ridershipTrack when and where each student boards and exits their bus
Live ViewingStream live video from any bus and instantly view events as soon as they occur
Here Comes The BusRight Bus. Right Stop. Right Time.Now you and your children will know where the bus is.
For roughly $1 a dayyou can outfit your entire fleet
Smart IR Technology ensures sharp, clear images
Find real-time location of child’s bus
Hybrid video recorder that supports both analog and IP
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FEATURES | RIDEALONG
HOW GPS CAN HELP YOU, NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORK A breakdown of how GPS impacts different types of organizations
GPS can be used by many different types of organizations, from public works departments to landscaping businesses. You need to ask yourself one simple question to determine whether you should consider GPS: do you have vehicles or equipment crucial to your day-to-day operations? If yes, then GPS is for you. There are a number of ways a fleet management system can impact any organization. Let’s walk through a few examples to get a clearer picture of just how it can benefit you.
Public Works As a manager of a city, county, or state-owned public works fleet, you probably are used to getting more done with less. You have to serve the public, but often feel the effects of tightened budgets or unpredictable costs like fuel. Furthermore, you’re also responsible for the upkeep for all types of vehicles, from street sweepers to utility trucks. These are just a few of the reasons a GPS tracking solution can help you better manage the entire fleet.
For example, let’s tackle vehicle maintenance. With a fleet management solution in place, you can count on your engine fault code alerts to help. They increase vehicle uptime by helping you proactively manage minor repairs before they become major problems. In addition, real-time tracking enables your dispatchers to react swiftly to public requests and identify false claims faster, saving time and resources. GPS technology even provides stop and arrival information, allowing you to view what vehicles are stopped and for how long in order to ensure your employees remain productive. If you’re in the public works field, GPS will allow you to enhance your levels of service by keeping your vehicles on the road, all while ensuring every mile is covered.
SanitationSanitation workers are some of the most important and most underappreciated members of today’s cities. Without these folks, no city could function properly. And GPS tracking
technology can help sanitation fleets get work done faster, safer, and more efficiently.
A core GPS solution will include route verification tools that confirm where your vehicles have traveled, helping you make sure every street has been covered. You should also consider a solution—such as Synovia’s Time and Attendance—that allows drivers to clock in and out from the vehicle. This eliminates costly paper time tracking methods, and you can ensure payroll accuracy and save significant money in the process. Ultimately, tracking your sanitation fleet with GPS tools will give you the data you need to make the trash collection process quicker and safer for your employees, while also generating significant cost savings.
Public Safety Whether you oversee a police, fire, or rescue operation, your department works day and night to keep the public as safe as possible. Unfortunately, your budget can often get cut, making it tougher for first responders on the city, county, and state level to do their jobs. To maintain your commitment to the public, you need the ability to work smarter and cover more ground, all while ensuring the safety of the individuals on your force.
As mentioned earlier, GPS includes route verification, meaning you can confirm where your vehicles have traveled to ensure every street is covered. You can also track driver behavior to better enforce safe driving habits while also decreasing unnecessary fuel consumption. With every enhanced insight into the movement and position of your fleet of public safety vehicles, your department is empowered to improve personnel safety, provide better service to those who need you most, and save money, all at the same time.
Landscaping When you’re in charge of a landscaping operation, there are many moving parts that you must manage. This can be an incredibly difficult task, especially when you’re on a tight schedule day in and day out. When the slightest delay is enough to jeopardize your next appointment, GPS tracking tools can make going from job site to job site smoother than you ever thought possible.
Securing your assets is one of your biggest concerns. With asset tracking, you can keep track of the equipment essential to your operation, so you’ll no longer have to worry about
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misplaced or stolen items when you move from job site to job site. Know exactly where every single piece of equipment is at any point throughout the day, from your trailers to your lawn mowers.
The ability to monitor both your vehicles and equipment using GPS technology provides landscaping operations with the data necessary to get the job done faster and more efficiently, all while keeping your customers happy.
Field ServicesWithout the right GPS tracking system in place, a fleet can bleed money from your business and leave your customers waiting on your drivers to arrive. Fortunately, with the right solution you can ensure your fleet performs at a high level, satisfying your customers and cutting unnecessary spending.
By tracking your field service fleet using leading-edge GPS technology, you can fit more jobs into each workday, reduce fuel consumption, monitor driver behavior, and stay ahead of costly repairs. Together, all of that can save your business tremendous amounts of money.
Everyone Wins At the end of the day a fleet management system is a worthwhile investment, no matter your industry or type of organization. The data and insights your tracking system provides allow you to better manage your fleet of vehicles while keeping your drivers safe, providing better customer service, and keeping your vehicles on the road.
When you run your fleet as efficiently and effectively as possible, the savings add up and the GPS solution ends up paying for itself quickly. So whether you’re managing a fleet of squad cars or a fleet of trailers and lawn mowers, you definitely should consider implementing GPS tracking to get instant visibility into your fleet.
visit synoviasolutions.com/industries to learn more about our proven fleet management solutions for your industry.
Public Works React swiftly to public requests and identify false claims faster.
Sanitation Ensure all routes are covered quickly and safely.
Public Safety Work smarter and cover more ground, while ensuring the safety of your department.
Landscaping Know exactly where every single piece of equipment is throughout the day.
Field Service Reduce fuel consumption, monitor driving behavior, and stay ahead of repairs.
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THE FINAL STOP | RiDEALONG
INTRODUCING SYNOVIA’S BESTStacie Keevil, Salesforce Administrator
Here at Synovia we believe our people are one of our differentiators. Our team stands out from the competition. They are committed and passionate about helping not only our customers, but also their colleagues. They work tirelessly each day to continue to transform the way schools, cities, towns, and businesses manage their vehicle fleets.
That’s why each quarter we like to introduce a member of our team, and this quarter the honor falls to Stacie Keevil. She works diligently each day with our team of professionals, assisting them in getting the data they need to do their jobs well. Keep reading to find out some fun facts about Stacie that make her a unique and vital part of our team.
Some interesting notes about Stacie:
• Stacie is a military veteran.
• She loves to be outdoors doing activities like camping or disc golf.
• She has a master’s degree in history, and received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
• Stacie plays both guitar and bass.
• She loves animals, and has a Boston Terrier named Chowder.
THE FINAL STOPAs we bring our fourth edition of Ridealong to a close, we’d like to leave you with just a few parting thoughts. First, a little information about Stacie, the friendly force behind our Salesforce administration, and then an infographic that shares some statistics about driving in cold weather.
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Thanks to Stacie, and to each and every member of the Synovia Solutions team who makes this a smarter, more unique place to work!
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Want to chat about anything you’ve read? Call us at 877.796.6842 or email [email protected] for more information about our fleet management solutions.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRIVING IN WINTER As this edition of Ridealong with Synovia Solutions publishes, we’ll be in the middle of one of the toughest seasons for transportation teams: winter. The snow, sleet, and ice can make an already difficult job even harder. Here are a few statistics to keep in mind about driving in cold weather. Stay safe out there!
How much average speeds on arterial roads drop on snowy or slushy pavement.
30-40%
Most of the nation’s roads are located in snowy regions, those which receive an average of more than five inches of snowfall annually.
OVER 70%
Winter road maintenance’s impact on state Department of Transportation maintenance budgets.
20%
Most of the U.S. population lives in these snowy regions.NEARLY 70%
How many weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement each year; 15 percent happen during active snowfall or sleet.
How much average freeway speeds are reduced in light snow; speeds drop between 5 and 40 percent in heavy snow.
3-13%
24%
State and local agencies’ average yearly budget for snow and ice control operations.
$2.3 BILLION
THE FINAL STOP | RiDEALONG
SYNSIGHTS | RIDEALONG
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Some companies like to talk about service.Some companies like to talk about safety.Some companies like to talk about savings.
We like to talk about why we’re not just “some company.”
For a free personalized demonstration please visit synoviasolutions.com/demo and see
that focus on safety, service, and savings. So you don’t have to compromise on one just to get the others.
But more than just talking about it, what we’d really like to do is show you.
