[johnkeegan]

Has anyone had any experience with the GPS-based fleet/equipment tracking systems. Can monitor the location and operation of trucks and equipment at any time via computer or PDA phone. Are employees at the sites when they say they are? Are they driving too fast or erratically? Warnings if equipment is being used "after hours." Airbag activation alert, etc.
Seems like not only would these things alert you to any time/equipment abuses, but just having them there would dissuade the abuses in the first place.

[Matt Kulp]

I have a HVAC friend that uses them and he loves it. He runs a dispatch type of system so the dispatch people see the guys location all day and record there times on site for each stop. They give directions, as well as give alternate routes when traffic is heavy and/or accidents are present. I have looked at it for the past two years and can't open up the wallet to shell out the up front cost. The last vendor I interviewed had them installed at $1200 per truck including software. This system had the engine diagnostics and gas mileage and anything else you would want.

I am sure I could find them at a more reasonable cost, but have not checked lately.

[RHayden]

We have the j2 Shadow Tracker installed in each truck and they have proven to be a great asset. The only minor down side to the j2 is the data has to be downloaded manually instead of having remote accesss.

[Matt Kulp]

Manually meaning removable device to hook up to the computer?

If you don't mind me asking, what was the cost per truck initially?

[RHayden]

The j2 is a palm sized device and we just have ours plugged into the cig lighter in each truck. I unhook the device and download the info onto my laptop at regular intervals or if I'm curious about something. If you hard wire the unit you could take the laptop from truck to truck.

Cost will probably vary depending on number of vehicles, but ours was a little over 300.00 per truck for 8 trucks for the trackers and the software. The remote access units were considerably more if I remember correctly.

[MNLI]

We use the Nextell with comet tracker cost about 30.00 per unit.Works really well plus i can talk to my guys, some are radio and phone and some are just radio.Thay told me as one of ther selling points that it would cut fule cost. And well it did. U should check it out Nextell Comet Tracker

[John T]

We have the shadow tracker units as well. Haven't been all that thrilled with them. They do not provide real time tracking which isn't the biggest deal but they tend to get beaten up a bit with all the handling (dropping) bringing them in and out of the truck for downloads. Plus the antenna connections seem to wear out. And with the cigarette lighter hook up it is easily to "accidently" have some missing data if they should become "unplugged". Depends upon how trustworthy your guys are.

I was recently looking at a set up that didn't have real time tracking but was installed under the dash into the radio hook up. It automatically downloads when it comes within X feet of your computer.

[syzer]

I have seen one we are looking at, I think it was close to 1k then 400 per truck after initial setup. There is a base station int he office that will pull the trucks logs for the day as they park in the lot with I believe a 300' range. I have to dig the link up again so I can post it.

[MNLI]

U guys should check out the comet tracker offers real time tracking for about 30.00 per unit