All shipping companies start out equal. The difference is in how they perform. X-Tra Delivers is a good example of a typical delivery service that skyrocketed to the top of their industry because of the implementation of a much needed technological advancement.
The Company in General
In Arizona and New Mexico, X-Tra Delivers Ltd is now considered to be one of the most prestigious delivery and shipping services. The company was first started in 1967 under the name of Extra Deliveries. It consisted of only eight trucks and specialized in shipping oversized passenger luggage between airports and the delivery of packages for the USPS. They stayed in business for a good while, but companies like UPS who were much larger eventually halted their operations.
What is their Problem?
Demand overrode the small company's ability to keep up. Prior to the arrival of more efficient delivery services, this was not a problem. The problem appeared when the larger fleets showed up and their costs and shipping times were lower and they had more trucks. Extra simply could not compete. While those times did not have the technological advancements that they do today, companies with more trucks were much more efficient in the service that they provide and Extra Deliveries could not keep up.
Extra Deliveries went out of business in 1983 and thus began an era of large fleet delivery services.
Jacob was the son of company founder Thomas Dillon. He decided to once again reopen the business in 1992 under the name of X-Tra Delivers. Starting out he had a fleet of 16 trucks which each ran separate routes. The way he saw it, by doing this, his trucks would keep moving and he could eliminate unnecessary hours and refueling. If he could keep each truck designated to one piece of a highway, the other trucks would not be overlapping them. However, he did not full conceptualize this problem.
Jacob had each of his drivers keeping track of their own time sheets and their own fuel consumption. As time went on, Jacob began to find inaccuracies in the reports that seemed to reoccur. Eventually, these inaccuracies led to some expense. Customer service was lacking and complaints began to come in regarding driver efficiency.
This was definitely not the company that he had intended. It was becoming painfully clear why his father shut the original business down.
Finding a Solution
Six years of barely making a profit, a revolving door of drivers, and steadily increasing fuel prices showed Jacob that X-Tra Delivers was in need of a change. Installing a GPS Vehicle Tracker system in each of their vehicles would allow them to better control some parts of both driver and vehicle performance. They could record and evaluate all of the important data such as idling times, speed traveled, overall fuel consumption, and stops and starts. Productivity would increase as the efficiency of fleet management improved.
The vehicle trackers that Jacob chose for use in X-Tra's trucks were completely hands free for the drivers. Through the use of computer at the office, he could collect real-time information and historical data. He could pinpoint a driver's exact location on a map and then relay the fastest and safest way to the next destination from there. Doing this allowed for an efficiency level that was almost ten times greater than previously, the hours that were logged were finally accurate and error free, and the amount of fuel consumed by the drivers was reduced.
X-Tra Delivers Finds Cost Savings and Many Benefits
Decreased fuel consumption due to better route mapping Decreased labor costs due to the creation of electronic time sheets. Decreased time spent in traffic jams or getting lost. Decreased amount of customer service complaints and better on-time delivery statistics Decreased security risks due to trouble locating trucks and cargo that were unaccounted for.
Calgary companies who manage vehicle fleets of any size, from I to a 1,000 or more, will enjoy many benefits from GPS vehicle tracking services. Calgary truck companies, bus companies or businesses with company cars will benefit from GPS vehicle tracking services by not only keeping track of their vehicles, but by improving their bottom line.
Calgary companies that use vehicle tracking services have a combination of hardware and software in a comprehensive package that lets them locate and track any vehicle in their fleet from their Calgary offices. Fleets can be any size and made up of any sort of vehicle, such as ships, shipping containers and rail cars.
The benefits of GPS vehicle tracking services are not limited to mobile equipment. Stationary machinery, such as construction equipment, can also be tracked. During Calgary's recent building boom, many construction companies were stretched to deploy their equipment as efficiently as possible to better meet the demand for their services. Using GPS vehicle tracking services lets construction companies know exactly where their equipment is and, if a piece is needed on a particular site, which one is closest or best situated to be moved. With a wide area of construction throughout Calgary, this simple use of GPS vehicle tracking services results in substantial saving, over and above the cost of the tracking system.
Calgary's economic and construction boom also made the industry more competitive. Theft is always a problem for construction equipment that is left on-site for extended periods. But, it is a problem that can be solved by GPS vehicle tracking services. Calgary is a big place, but, wherever a stolen piece of equipment is carried, it can be tracked and recovered.
However, while keeping track of vehicles is the main function of vehicle tracking systems, there are more benefits than simply locating a vehicle in Calgary or elsewhere. As GPS vehicle tracking services become more common and widespread, new applications of the technology are constantly emerging. From inside vehicles, to remote offices and corporate headquarters in and around Calgary, there are benefits that are unrelated to locating vehicles.
Human resources is a good example. While many people wouldn't think that human resources could benefit from GPS vehicle tracking services, in many Calgary companies, that's one of its main uses. When a vehicle is located, so too are the personnel associated with that vehicle. Companies with GPS vehicle tracking services know exactly where their field representatives are at any given moment. The company can also tell how far those personnel have traveled and how long they have been working ? both very important pieces of information for companies with truck drivers on staff. This ability can also benefit customer service. Calgary companies with onsite representatives can deploy those representatives much more efficiently using a GPS vehicle tracking service. Customers get attention faster and less staff time is wasted. It doesn't just benefit your company, but your employees will appreciate the benefits of GPS vehicle tracking services too.
Another benefit of GPS vehicle tracking services that many people do not realize is to a company's bottom line. Managing a vehicle fleet can be a major overhead item. Repair and maintenance of even small fleets can be very expensive, not only in direct cost, but in vehicle downtime while it is being repaired. While Calgary is centrally located between Edmonton, Vancouver, Saskatchewan and the U.S., vehicles must still travel long distances, which increases costs. GPS vehicle tracking services can maintain accurate mileage data for each vehicle and flag it for maintenance, which allows scheduling to bring the vehicle closer to the maintenance location, if possible. Maintenance scheduling is more efficient and downtime is minimized. Just small improvements to maintenance schedules and extensions to vehicle lifecycles can mean big bottom line savings.
The comprehensive reporting and analysis that GPS vehicle tracking services provide can save money by helping to improve systems such as delivery and unload procedures and vehicle routing.
It all adds up to the sorts of saving that can see a GPS vehicle tracking service pay for itself very quickly. Your problem isn't deciding on whether to get a tracking service, but deciding which GPS vehicle tracking service in Calgary is the best for the needs of your company.
Nero Global is your partner for GPS vehicle tracking services in Calgary and they are committed to customer service.
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Mahoney has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sales and Negotiation, Environment and Computers and The Internet. John Mahoney is an expert on reviewing GPS fleet management equipments and technology. Follow these links to find best gadgets and information on:. Mahoney's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
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