A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
Fleet companies are always looking for a way to cut down on costs. While implementing a full fleet tracking service may seem like a huge expense, many are finding that the immediate cost of GPS tracking turns into even bigger savings.
Customer demand along with being able to see where every vehicle is located, driving habits, delivery times and other factors are just some of the reasons that David J. Konopka decided to invest in fleet tracking.
Konopka, the Director of Quality for Three Star Trucking Inc., said he had his concerns of the overall price of GPS tracking and whether it was feasible for the company to invest in such a product and service. However, he found that Teletrac was able to offer the perfect blend of technology and competitive pricing for the company to provide its service throughout the continental United States, Canada and Mexico.
By providing Three Star Trucking with the equipment they needed at a monthly per unit cost, Teletrac saved the company big money on startup costs. As a result, Konopka says the company is seeing positive results by improving the performance of their drivers.
“If you cannot measure it, you cannot control it. If you cannot control it, you cannot improve it,” Konopka said. “Having a satellite system and the ability to see each vehicle and driver behavior has helped us correct many issues and behaviors in our driving fleet. Everything from fuel economy to speeding.”
Beyond the savings of the fleet, Konopka said the ability to monitor Three Star Trucking’s drivers has increased the overall safety of the employees.
“Safety plays a huge role in our day to day operation,” he said. “The satellite tracking system plays a large part of our compliance by allowing us to track and identify unsafe behaviors and take appropriate corrective action.”
At the end of the day, that may be the biggest payoff for Konopka. Keeping drivers safe and showing appreciation for all of their work goes a long way, and Teletrac’s GPS tracking software allows Three Star Trucking to do just that.
“These guys really have it tough. The requirements for a professional truck driver have increased dramatically over the years,” Konopka said. “You just have to appreciate them. Good companies realize the importance of driver retention and make it a point to treat their drivers with the respect they deserve.”