March 2008, Work Truck - Feature
GeoFencing Adds to Your Truck Security Arsenal
By Paul Dexler
Your company has invested a considerable sum in its fleet vehicles and in the drivers who operate them. Upper management is keenly interested in ensuring its investment is earning the best return.
If drivers take company vehicles on personal excursions, that is probably not contributing to the return on investment. In addition, considerable negative cash flow could occur if the vehicle and driver wind up somewhere they shouldn’t, and the vehicle and/or its contents are stolen.
Where or Where Not to Be
Basically, if your vehicles are where they are supposed to be, they are safer than if they are "off-track." Predators who target unsecured vehicles tend to operate in certain areas, and unless your vehicles have a pertinent reason for going into such areas, keeping them out will keep them safer.
The first line of defense in vehicle and driver security is a cell phone. A company-supplied cell phone should be provided for each driver or vehicle as a quick, one-button method of reaching the office. Also, someone at the office should be available to answer driver calls at whatever hour they might come in. If the phone can be set for an instant-on, autodial to the office, it should be.
At the end of 2005, all cell phone carriers were required to provide the ability to trace cell phone calls to a location within 100 meters or less. To comply with FCC requirements, cell phone carriers decided to integrate GPS technology into cell phone handsets. However, most cell phones do not allow the user direct access to the GPS data. Accurate location determination requires wireless network assistance, and normally the GPS data is transmitted only when a 911 emergency call is made.