Family and friends tracking you?

[brycey2010]

I loaded an app for my blackberry, made my own free google web page, and embedded the map with my position accurately shown on the web page, now anyone who goes to my page can see exactly where i am 24 hours a day, not good if your cheating on the wife!!! this will work with any cell phone connected to the internet, as long as the phone has GPS capability. If there is enough interest on this i would be happy to post full instructions on how to do this, also handy if you loose your phone, or if you want to keep tabs on the kids.....I am not affiliated with the provider.

InstaMapper - Free Real-Time GPS Tracking

 

[Swauger]

I'd be interested in that. I was thinking there was a way to do it. If post a how-to it will save me a lot of trial and error.

Thanks

 

[WestSide]

Brilliant idea in its simplicity. I'd be interested, and I bet more than a few carriers would be interested as well.

 

[ebsprintin]

Google has an app called Latitude that does this. Works on a connected computer too.

eb

 

[ATeam]

I loaded an app for my blackberry, made my own free google web page, and embedded the map with my position accurately shown on the web page, now anyone who goes to my page can see exactly where i am 24 hours a day, not good if your cheating on the wife!!!

Also not good if you are hauling high-value freight in which cargo thieves may be interested, or where the customers you serve expect confidentiality in their shipments.

That is not to say the ap is a bad thing. Thousands of people are having great fun with it and similar location aps now and millions will likely do so in the future.

Your post also illustrates how the continuing explosion of technology is changing the expediting game. There was a time when location reporting of individual trucks could only be provided by carriers whose trucks were equipped with expensive devices.

Now if a sales rep tells a customer that a carrier's trucks can be individually tracked, the customer will wonder why that is even mentioned? Technology is are reducing or eliminating many of the added value items expediters used to provide at extra cost. Now days, you don't have to be anything more than a lone trucker with a smart phone to provide truck tracking service to a customer.

 

[greg334]

I agree with Phil.

I Do NOT want anyone to know where I am at except a customer and only if they want to know.

There is an inherent danger with a lot of the work some of us do and to have the public have access to our location at times can be ... well ... not so good.

I know that in places where there is very high crime and in areas controlled by gangs, like that pit Memphis, the better that no one knows you are around, the quicker you can get in and out of the place safely.

 

[layoutshooter]

I don't want that kind of information out on us when we are under load. Many times the freight we carry would be a target for bad guys putting us and the freight in danger. Some loads more than others. Even when posting in here I will often only use states as a location, no cities.

 

[dieseldiva]

I agree with Phil.

I Do NOT want anyone to know where I am at except a customer and only if they want to know.

There is an inherent danger with a lot of the work some of us do and to have the public have access to our location at times can be ... well ... not so good.

I know that in places where there is very high crime and in areas controlled by gangs, like that pit Memphis, the better that no one knows you are around, the quicker you can get in and out of the place safely.

I use the Latitude app and I have to add that YOU control who sees you, when, and where. You either choose to accept or deny the request to be added to your list of those you watch, or those that watch you and even after they're added, at any time, you can turn off/on their capabilities to see you........just like your radio/tv......off/on switch is there.

 

[greg334]

OK I can see some control but why?

If you are being tracked by your grandkids to see when you are going their way, or for an education reason - I can sort of see that but for the carrier or customer or who ever, why?

Many have stepped away from this as a business and been treating as a big vacation, which for some is alright but when you are called on to haul expensive stuff and have an open attitude about your work, the carrier should be concern as should the customer.

 

[layoutshooter]

I use the Latitude app and I have to add that YOU control who sees you, when, and where. You either choose to accept or deny the request to be added to your list of those you watch, or those that watch you and even after they're added, at any time, you can turn off/on their capabilities to see you........just like your radio/tv......off/on switch is there.

Just keep in mind that a cell phone is just a two way radio and CAN be intercepted by anyone with the right toys. Once it is out over the air you have NO control over it. Same with Clink by the way.

 

[dieseldiva]

Just keep in mind that a cell phone is just a two way radio and CAN be intercepted by anyone with the right toys. Once it is out over the air you have NO control over it. Same with Clink by the way.

I'm not a techy but I'm thinking that you wouldn't have to be using the app to be tracked by someone that wanted to track you badly enough.......you wouldn't even need to be using a smartphone!

 

[layoutshooter]

I'm not a techy but I'm thinking that you wouldn't have to be using the app to be tracked by someone that wanted to track you badly enough.......you wouldn't even need to be using a smartphone!

That is correct. I just see no reason to put out more info than I have to. I won't even tell my dad were we are headed a lot of the times. Just the state we are headed to. NO more than that.

 

[dieseldiva]

OK I can see some control but why?

Why have the controls??

If you are being tracked by your grandkids to see when you are going their way, or for an education reason - I can sort of see that but for the carrier or customer or who ever, why?

My grandchildren don't own smartphones and I don't use the computer to "track" or be tracked.....my adult children use this.....I use it for other friends....all whom I trust, of course.

Many have stepped away from this as a business and been treating as a big vacation, which for some is alright but when you are called on to haul expensive stuff and have an open attitude about your work, the carrier should be concern as should the customer.

I don't see the use of something to keep up with family and friends as "stepping away" from anything and AGAIN, if we were on a "sensitive" load of sorts, the app can be easily turned off.

There is no "open attitude" in this truck and I'm sure others that use this app will say the same. Jeepers, that was a leap.

 

[brycey2010]

the great thing is, you can disable tracking at any time, you can also have it that only people with a password can access your tracking page, so if you are worried about a high value load, no problem, of course when carrying a high value load its not something you tell people about anyway, i see the plus side far out weighs the down side, if i had kids with cell phones, i would have the feature installed on them, the instructions are clear and easy on the instamapper web page, the bit that took me some time was embedding on the free google web page that i have, if you need help with that then pm me, i will post a reply in this thread, someone mentioned another way of doing this, i will check it out and see if it is any better or easier to install.
Rich

 

[Turtle]

I use the Latitude app, do not have an open attitude, and am not on vacation. You can absolutely control who can track you with Latitude, and when. You can control it on an individual basis or with one click end all tracking for everyone. Others, who you allow, can track you via the Latitude app on their smartphone, or via Web interface. It's encrypted either way.

Speaking of encryption, I don't know about the C-Link, but the Quamcomm's messages are sent in the clear, no encryption whatsoever (except for the military applications). But, the QC uses the code-division multiple-access (CDMA) protocol, same as a CDMA phone carrier like Verizon and Sprint, which uses a low-power, spread-spectrum signal that is very, very difficult to detect and intercept. It's not impossible, but it's very hard, and expensive.

 

[greg334]

Diva,
Some of your fellow co-contractors at that great company Federal Express, seem to be a bit too open with what they haul, where and who for.

I think that maybe some carrier should take this issue serious but alas many don't.

 

[dieseldiva]

Diva,
Some of your fellow co-contractors at that great company Federal Express, seem to be a bit too open with what they haul, where and who for.

I think that maybe some carrier should take this issue serious but alas many don't.

I know what you're saying, we've seen it.......long ago saw a WG truck that actually LISTED what they hauled on the SIDE OF THE TRUCK. BUT........

That is not an excuse for suggesting that because we use technology that is available to us through computers or smart phones that we are in any way sloppy about the freight we carry, nor does the existence of "toys/tools" on board indicate a vacationing mode.

 

[aileron]

....

Speaking of encryption, I don't know about the C-Link, but the Qualcomm's messages are sent in the clear, no encryption whatsoever (except for the military applications).
....

C-Link is just another name for QualComm. Nothing special bout it.

 

[ebsprintin]

I would be interested in seeing company policies on this. Both carriers and customers. I can't carry a camera into a facility, but I can broadcast a map of anywhere I go with my ever-smarter phone....please check your phone at the gate

eb

 

[bobwg]

I would be interested in seeing company policies on this. Both carriers and customers. I can't carry a camera into a facility, but I can broadcast a map of anywhere I go with my ever-smarter phone....please check your phone at the gate

eb

I made a delivery at the sub base in Ct few months ago and had to check my phone and laptop at the gate