Don't Leave Home Without It

[dhalltoyo]

Study: GPS Could Save Trucking Industry $53 Billion


Posted by Eric Zeman, Jul 1, 2008 02:37 PM

GPS technology undoubtedly is an effective tool for providing real-time mapping and location-based services. Aside from helping businesses move their assets from point A to point B without getting lost, they also can help save gas money, to the tune of $53 billion for the trucking industry alone.

One way to cut down on fuel consumption is, obviously, to drive less. But how do you do that if you have set places to go, day in and day out? GPS is the answer. It's a proven tool to find the shortest distance between two places. Reducing the length of the route reduces fuel consumption. Also, preventing drivers from becoming lost prevents them from wasting precious time -- and fuel -- searching out their destination.


Motorola recently conducted a survey and turned up some notable results regarding the use of GPS:

• Fuel cost savings: Nearly 50 percent of enterprises name reduction of fuel consumption as the number one benefit of using GPS -- reflected in a reduction in travel distance by an average of 231.2 miles per week and recording $51,582 in annual fuel saving.
• Nationwide savings potential: With more than a million trucking carriers in the United States, the potential industry-wide annual fuel savings could reach $53 billion.
• Time savings: Enterprises deploying GPS-enabled technologies saved an average of 54 minutes per day – translating into an annual recouped labor savings of $5,484 per employee or $5.4 million per enterprise.

"Field mobility workers in the transportation and trucking industry are experiencing difficulties such as locating stops, reducing fuel expense, and improving on-time performance resulting in a drain on financial and manpower resources of their organization," said Jim Hilton, director of field mobility, Motorola Enterprise Mobility business. He ain't kidding.


Everyone understands how miles per gallon equates to money spent or saved getting from here to there. For those who make a living on the road, saving MPG can mean life or death for the business. GPS and location-based services are one way to help keep costs down.

NOTE: After only 4 months, I can't even imagine driving without a GPS unit. My fuel savings, coupled with the reduced stress of trying to find a shipper or consignee, makes the purchase price of a GPS pale by comparison.

 

[arkjarhead]

The gps is all well and good, but I think it is just another way to turn a driver into a steering wheel holder. I mean you aren't even planning your own route any longer. Instead you let a piece of equipment do it for you. Then the next thing you know you have a steering wheel holder with a gps that goes out and he doesn't know how to read a map, and craps his pants. Imagine you have an expedite shipment going to a plant on the verge of shut down and one of the "true trucking expedite professionals" that doesn't know how to use a motor carrier's atlas has their gps go down then the plant goes down with it because they couldn't find their way. I wonder what the big guys at the plant would say when the heads of the expedite company say "Well their gps went down and they don't know how to use a map". I bet there will be a lot of cussing and we are taking our business elsewhere.

I bet the boys running for J.B. that you all like to bad mouth so much know how to read a map.

 

[moose]

Again ,
Like always ,
look hoe is the sponsor behind the study .
H'mm , is that a GPS manufacture ???

one thing we can all learn from it :
the time of missing an address is a very dangerous time .
that's when a driver is more likely to do an accident or a moving violation .
most of my U turns are within a block of my pu or del. location.
always when lost , find a safe place to park and give extra room for vehicles around.

somehow the study did not address safety...


Moose.

 

[Turtle]

I gotta figure a GPS that talks to you and that you can look at at a glance is safer then driving around while looking at an Atlas draped over the steering wheel.

The benefits of a GPS so far outweigh the negatives it's not even funny. The first day I had mine an accident happened a few minutes in front of me, in the middle of construction on the Interstate in downtown Milwaukee, and it closed the exit that I was to have taken, and by the time I got there the Traffic module of the Garmin knew about it and had already rerouted me around it and to the shipper. Without the Garmin I don't think I would have been late, but it sure would have taken a lot longer to get there. I was able to concentrate on traffic and construction and where I was going, rather than worry about where I was going to get off and be able to pull out a map and figure out a new route.

GPS anyone?
​

 

[cheri1122]

Yes, Joe, I pretty generally let the piece of equipment do it for me, cause it pretty generally chooses the shorter of two (or more) possible routes - something that I can't do as well, just by eyeballing it.
That said, I also rely on the Motor Carriers Atlas, and wouldn't ever go anywhere without it, as well.
Anyone who relies entirely on technology, is in real trouble, when it goes down - and at some point, it certainly will.

 

[fastman_1]

I always Planned the route, and then when I was about 100 miles away I used the GPS To get me to the Address.

 

[arkjarhead]

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with using a gps, but I think you need to be able to do it the old fashioned way as well. It's kinda like math. I think we all would agree even though calculators are available, children should learn how to do math with a pencil and piece of paper. That way if for some reason they don't have a calculator handy and need to do some figuring they can. My argument basicly is this. While technology is good, you should always have a back up plan and know how to use it. Plus what happens when you get to one of those huge plants where they del or pu address is actually the front door of the coporate office, but the docks are blocks away? I have had that happen a couple of times. Since I was using a gps I didn't bother to call for local directions and ended having to stop and make the call once I got turned around and lost in the sauce.

 

[Turtle]

...you should always have a back up plan and know how to use it.

Well, yeah. Phone calls, local directions, GPS, maps, laptop, Google, experience, luck, you have to use it all.

Plus what happens when you get to one of those huge plants where they del or pu address is actually the front door of the coporate office, but the docks are blocks away?

I get the new address from someone behind that front door, call it in to dispatch and they pay me for a stop-off, then I go to the new address and make the pickup or delivery.

 

[nightcreacher]

Guess i'm old school,1st i'm given directions on QC,I compare that with the Road Atlas and my Streets and Trips. I look and see if a shorter route might be in order,as the shortest isnt aalways the best.I have a GPS in my phone,its great for the final location,but as it doesnt know truck routes,i dont use it for the long distance directions. iF i put in the right address,it will put me in the customers drive way,and since the QC sometimes has incorrect local directions,I listen to the GPS

 

[ATeam]

GPS is not the answer. It is an aid.

 

[TeamCaffee]

An aid that has saved us many miles, less headaches, and less stress. If the GPS breaks we can find our way across the country no problem but in the little towns in PA looking for a small factory we would sure miss "Lori" We take very good care of our GPS she is hard mounted with a vent blowing on her behind as she has half a million miles on her. When she breaks we will immediately purchase another GPS because it is true you cannot leave home without a GPS.

 

[hedgehog]

The gps is all well and good, but I think it is just another way to turn a driver into a steering wheel holder. I mean you aren't even planning your own route any longer. Instead you let a piece of equipment do it for you. Then the next thing you know you have a steering wheel holder with a gps that goes out and he doesn't know how to read a map, and craps his pants.

We are steering wheel holders. We are paid easy money to do this. If any new product will make my business more profitable and make my job safer with less time involved, I'm all for it.

We are not Indy racers, airline pilots, astronauts, etc.

One expample of using the GPS is the incredible accuracy that farmers use when planting and fertilizing their crops. They actually use less products and increase their land productivity.

I've seen instances while on Lake Erie boating where the Coast Guard was able to respond to distress calls much more quickly due to GPS onboard.

Thank goodness for the ever-increasing new technology.

 

[Moot]

Motorola recently conducted a survey and turned up some notable results regarding the use of GPS:

• Fuel cost savings: Nearly 50 percent of enterprises name reduction of fuel consumption as the number one benefit of using GPS -- reflected in a reduction in travel distance by an average of 231.2 miles per week and recording $51,582 in annual fuel saving.
• Nationwide savings potential: With more than a million trucking carriers in the United States, the potential industry-wide annual fuel savings could reach $53 billion.
• Time savings: Enterprises deploying GPS-enabled technologies saved an average of 54 minutes per day – translating into an annual recouped labor savings of $5,484 per employee or $5.4 million per enterprise.

I have nothing against GPS and plan on getting one in the near future. As mentioned, it is a tool. A tool to be used in conjunction with maps, computer programs like PCmiler, customer directions and experience. The shortest distance between two points ain't necessarily the most fuel efficient.

I do have some issues with Mr. Zeman and the Motorola study. Where the f**K did they get these statistics? When I get my GPS I expect to save a few bucks on wasted miles and wasted fuel. But I won't be hiring a financial advisor just to deal with my windfall GPS profits.

 

[dhalltoyo]

Obviously, before I purchased a GPS unit I relied on all of the aforementioned tools of the trade.

I still check my Road Atlas against the directions from the GPS. I also call the shipper and consignee for landmarks near their locations: water tower, fast food joint, service station, etc. Those Golden Arches shine pretty brightly at night.

I think a lot while driving and talk with many Christian brothers and sisters on the phone throughout the day. I can't tell you the number of times I have driven right past the exit while chatting on the phone. Ten miles down the road....oops! Turn around and go back, but now I have wasted over $4.00 in fuel. The GPS voice commands help me to eliminate those occurrences.

As far as fuel savings, I average about 30 miles less driving distance when compared to the load offer mileage.

Conservatively, 5 loads per week equals 150 miles times 52 weeks equals 7800 miles divided by 15 mpg equals 520 gallons of fuel at $4.09/gallon equals $2126.80.

Make sense? Nuff said?

And what is even better, I got my point across without any implied profanity.

 

[Moot]

I think a lot while driving and talk with many Christian brothers and sisters on the phone throughout the day. I can't tell you the number of times I have driven right past the exit while chatting on the phone. Ten miles down the road....oops!

I sure hope you fabricated that statement to bolster your GPS money saving argument. Because if you are that engrossed in a telephone conversation and frequently missing exits you are a danger to yourself and everyone sharing the road with you.

As far as fuel savings, I average about 30 miles less driving distance when compared to the load offer mileage.

Conservatively, 5 loads per week equals 150 miles times 52 weeks equals 7800 miles divided by 15 mpg equals 520 gallons of fuel at $4.09/gallon equals $2126.80.

Make sense? Nuff said?

No it doesn't make sense to me. I had a hard time with the statistics and math in the original article. Your logic has me even more confused. I readily admit to being easily confused!

I am not against GPS. Like I stated, I plan to get one soon. I just don't see the $2000 windfall.

And what is even better, I got my point across without any implied profanity.

As for the profanity, I apologize. There was no need for it. I still can't grasp your point though!

 

[FIS53]

One of our larger customers made a deal with a larger expedite outfit to do some of their route deliveries. One driver from there used his GPS to route the stops of the route and followed it. I asked what was taking so long and he complained about the miles he was doing. I couldn't figure out why so many. Well the GPS routed the fastest according to roads and of course this meant it routed not using the shortest distance or really the fastest. Actual miles for the GPS were more than I did so I informed about some short cuts to reduce his mileage and of course his timing.

The GPS does not always utilize the shortest or the fastest routes when going places. It therefore means you must utilize the age old things called maps and knowledge of an area. I utilize roads that gps and dispatch both disagree on as to being fastest but on one run I saved over 25 miles and the half hour. Both dispatch and customer were happy with that result. So my way of thinking is with those who say, utilize all the tools at hand.
Rob

 

[dhalltoyo]

Agreed.

I set mine for the shortest route, look at the route, note the mileage, look at the map, then reset for the fastest route, look at the mileage, look at the map and determine what makes the most practical sense.

It is just a tool that reminds me of an upcoming turn.

I am more relaxed and driving is more enjoyable for me.

 

[Broompilot]

Boy oh boy some of us get SO opinionated about using Tech. As all of those that refered to it as an AID right on.

If and when mine breaks, I will be at the Nearest sales counter IMM. So your smarter than all the Tech, let me make a far out comparison, next time your gona break (stop). Just throw a Brick out the window with a Rope tied to it. (old fashion breaking)

It is a wonderfull assistance, just like having someone next to you reading the directions you wrote down earlier. Yes commonsense has to overcome Tech. the map I own (2) one is always on the passenger seat and YES I always look at it on a NEW ROUTE.

Old School got me completely LOST in a TT in Eastern N.C. last year. Trainer refused for me to use TECH. and at around 2AM I accidently missed the Bypass taking the BS route thru a small town (large town for Eastern NC) and came up upon a ROUND A BOUT.

Slid Tandems forward everything I could do, even took an ARSE Chewing. Only to get an apoligy later, heck we all miss turns and at 2AM crap happens. The GPS would have saved miles at least 7, minus an Argument (Trainer WENT BAZERK) than realized his wrong doing and aplogized like I stated, would have saved us probably 45 minutes. If this situation is avoided just 3 times a year its a well spent investment.

Trainer was only with me for that week, previous Trainer Wife got sick and this nut was his replacement. Original Trainer loved it and purchased one himself after my Training. 25 years of driving for original.

 

[ATeam]

I do have some issues with Mr. Zeman and the Motorola study. Where the f**K did they get these statistics? When I get my GPS I expect to save a few bucks on wasted miles and wasted fuel. But I won't be hiring a financial advisor just to deal with my windfall GPS profits.

I had the same thought. A careful look at his numbers provided raises more questions than answers. It may be true in the good reverend's case but I rather doubt that if we quit using GPS in our truck we would see our fuel expenses grow by $2,000 for that reason alone. Some of us can still use a map and the road goes to the same place whether it shows up on GPS or Rand McNally.

Also, a shorter route may be shorter, but it may not be more fuel efficient. Sure, a route may be 15 miles shorter, or even 100, but how many small towns must you go through to take that route, how many traffic lights, how many stops and starts along the way? In-town MPG is less than highway MPG.

Finally, yammering away on the telephone such that you often miss turns and don't even realize it until miles later is an unsafe practice that may result is sending the yammerer and/or his victims to their next life sooner than anticipated.

This isn't in the Bible but it is true nevertheless. It would really, really suck to kill someone and have your happy-chat distracted driving deemed the cause.

 

[Moot]

I could use fuzzy logic to make a case for my $5.99 deer alerts. In 2001 I hit a deer with my van. Tore up the left steer tire, fender, grill, bumper and radiator. Out of pocket expense was easily $2000.00.

Sometime after the accident I purchased a pair of deer alert devices. Ain't technology great. No more doing things the old fashioned way like watching out for deer, paying attention to deer crossing signs and being prepared to take evasive action. The deer hear me coming and stay clear.

Since I purchased these deer alerts I have not had a single deer collision. In 2004 I bought a new van and of course added the deer alerts. Again not a single deer collision. At a minimum of $2000 per collision per year my cheesy little deer alerts are paying big dividends.

This November will mark 7 years without a deer collision. Let's see... 7 times $2000.00 uh....14 carry the 1. Wow $14,000.