Fleet tracking dashboard streamlines vehicle usage
Problem
AAA Rental System of Markham, Ill., sought an innovative way to streamline dispatching, increase routing efficiencies and provide more information to their customers. The company needed to be able to manage and track their entire fleet of rental vehicles from the office or on smartphones.
Solution
The company chose to utilize a GPS tracking system from Fleetmatics. The system provides real-time snapshots of vehicle activity and maintenance needs 24 hours a day. In addition, the fleet tracking dashboard allows business owners to enhance customer service, decrease fuel consumption and increase overall business performance.
Result
By reducing mileage and eliminating unauthorized vehicle use, AAA Rental System saw significant savings in fuel costs, as well as a decrease in overtime hours. “Thanks to the Fleetmatics GPS tracking system, we have saved $100,000 in labor costs per year,” says AAA owner Jay Heiferman. 704/716-7646; www.fleetmatics.com.
Management software operates through central web database
Problem
A large midstream and natural gas processing company in Pennsylvania required an improved process for managing project development and operational tasks. The company lacked a central system to track and manage workflows, inspections and compliance.
Solution
In 2012, company executives selected geoAMPS to implement software operated through a central web database. Their rowAMPS software was configured to meet the company’s specific needs for a land rights and infrastructure asset solution.
Result
geoAMPS created product modules specific to the company’s requirements. A one-call ticket system manages workflow tickets from the project administrator. GIS maps the location of the ticket automatically and notifies if an asset requires attention. The administrator can review the recommendation and either clear the ticket or assign work done at the site, and can link forms to the ticket for the field agent to complete. Forms Manager allows the client to create forms that can be linked to tasks. When creating the form, the administrator can trigger additional questions to appear when certain answers are provided. Agents can complete the forms assigned to them for a particular task on the web or mobile application. The Compliance Manager module allows the software user to set up and link tasks to assets, locations and components. The setup feature specifies how often each task needs to be completed and field agents can review tasks they are assigned. A detailed work history is stored with each task. 614/389-4871; www.geoamps.com.
Fleet tracking system adds efficiency to copper mining operation
Problem
Kennecott Utah Copper’s (KUC) vehicles don’t travel great distances, but they are spread across a 25-mile stretch, which made it difficult to manage the 550-plus-unit fleet. The most significant issue was in monitoring and policing idle activity. “As our equipment idled we lost valuable warranty coverage due to the fact that the manufacturers of our light and heavy equipment were basing warranty coverage off of hours run, not miles driven,” says Kenny Harvey, Kennecott Utah Copper’s mobile maintenance planner. They needed to find a way to track equipment utilization in order to improve efficiency and vehicle availability.
Solution
KUC implemented the GPS Insight fleet tracking system in late 2008 when it began to monitor idle time and GHG emissions on 28 vehicle assets. Since that time, the GPS Insight solution has enabled KUC to far exceed their original expectations. They have now implemented multiple programs and business improvement projects as a result of, and through the use of, the GPS Insight data.
Result
KUC is currently monitoring 575 vehicle assets, and is using the solution to track preventive maintenance intervals and alerts, ensuring proper routing of service vehicles, fuel savings, idle reduction, GHG reduction, and monitoring fleet utilization and availability. “We have saved over $1 million in fuel costs alone in the last 12 months, and have saved thousands of dollars in other projects using the GPS Insight toolset,” Harvey says. 480/663-9454; www.gpsinsight.com.
Logistics contractor charged with getting mining hardware to Peru
Problem
The Toromocho Project is a $2.5 billion copper mining project in Central Peru. MIQ Logistics was contracted to provide end-to-end project logistics services for equipment and materials to service the mining operations. The initial assignment involved moving Autoclave and Flash Vessel pieces from the manufacturing plant to the mining project 90 miles east of Lima, Peru. The equipment pieces were over-dimensional, requiring special loading/unloading procedures; ocean, rail and ground transportation; and infrastructure modifications.
Solution
MIQ Logistics assembled a team of experts in over-dimensional cargo to analyze the technical features of the equipment, as well as the route, infrastructure and critical points along the trip. The freight would need to move from Shanghai, to the Port of Callao, through the mountainous Andean region, to the mine site. In Shanghai, both the Autoclave and Flash Vessel pieces were rotated and temporary saddles installed for better cargo handling. At Callao, the unloading process took 72 hours, 108 rail wagons and 20 flatbed trucks to handle the 247,000 cubic feet of freight. Once in Lima, the equipment was accompanied by a convoy, and followed the transport plan, which specified the departure schedule, break times, closure times, maximum speed and infrastructure modification requirements.
Result
The solution included building 19 lay-bys, reinforcing 13 bridges, and lifting a train trestle and bridge to allow the freight to clear. The mining equipment moved on schedule from Shanghai to Central Peru, a distance of more than 11,000 miles. The mining equipment traveled from the port at Callao to the mine site in six days. 866/972-9272; www.miq.com.
Fleet network system improves efficiency for oil company
Problem
A family-owned business in Elizabethtown, N.C., Campbell Oil Company delivers fuel and lumber. For years, it dispatched its fleet of delivery trucks by mobile phone. When this approach proved to be time consuming and inefficient, the company sought to improve routing efficiency.
Solution
After researching the options available, the company chose Networkfleet from Technology Services Company. The system merges GPS technology with affordable wireless coverage and remote engine diagnostics, making it simple for the company to keep track of and communicate with its fleet any time, virtually anywhere.
Result
The company saved $1,800 in the first month by reducing vehicle idle time, and also increased deliveries by locating the closest vehicle to a customer. The company has also reduced speeding, increased on-time deliveries and improved driver safety. “Our business is built on providing exceptional service, and managing our fleet more efficiently helps us do that,” says Chief Operating Officer Brian D. Campbell. “Thanks to the great service we receive from Networkfleet, we can provide our customers with a higher level of service.” 630/517-4808; www.fleetgpssolutions.com.
Wireless Ethernet modems enable system monitoring at gas plant
Problem
The Targa Energy gas plant in Chico, Texas, is a multifunction location that performs pumping, storage and processing for the natural gas industry. This location covers several square miles and includes a compressor station and multiple remote pumping stations located around the plant, most of which have no access to the plant’s communication network. Targa needed to provide network access to their compressor station and pumping station locations, and “Hot Spots” in their gas plant for broadband Ethernet access. A 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi) frequency was necessary since their field technicians use laptop computers to conduct system monitoring, access data files and connect to the company’s Intranet network. Reliable and stable connections were difficult to achieve due to the distance between the pumping stations, the compressor station and the plant (over 3.5 miles in some cases).
Solution
Weidmuller engineers performed a wireless Ethernet site survey at the plant location and offered a solution that included a combination of wireless Ethernet modems and dipole antennas with 3 dbi of gain.
Result
The Ethernet modems provided the needed signal transmission power, and combined with a sensitive high performance signal receiver, Targa was able to receive the signal strength and reliability required for their locations. 800/849-9343; www.weidmuller.com.
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