| A local equipment rental company that | | | | Our local rental business contracted with a |
| specializes in building and construction | | | | nationally known GPS tracking service |
| rental decided to use GPS auto tracker | | | | provider. They also opted to have the service |
| technology to help manage their business. It | | | | company provide and install the tracking |
| seemed that due to the down turn in the home | | | | devices in the rental equipment. You can |
| construction industry they were seeing an | | | | often purchase your own tracking devices but |
| increase in equipment losses and fraud. Small | | | | you then will be responsible for the |
| backhoes and excavating equipment were | | | | maintenance and replacement of any faulty |
| especially subject to being rented and not | | | | tracking units. Generally when you contract |
| returned. In one case 6 rentals were made to | | | | for the tracking service company's equipment |
| an individual that used someone else's | | | | they will do the maintenance and repair of |
| identity to secure the transaction. The loss | | | | broken tracking devices as part of the |
| of equipment equaled almost $200,000.00. The | | | | contract. |
| rental companies insurance covered some of | | | | |
| the loss but a large part had to be absorbed | | | | A business can as our local equipment rental |
| by the business. In addition many pieces of | | | | company has done contract for what is called |
| equipment were being used inappropriately or | | | | geo fencing. Basically this feature is used |
| abused. This abuse led to the early | | | | to assure that equipment and vehicles remain |
| depreciation and value of the equipment by | | | | in the area they are assigned to. Recently |
| reducing its expected operational life. | | | | the rental company was notified that piece of |
| | | | equipment was beyond the area that the |
| Real Time GPS auto tracking technology can be | | | | company allows its equipment to be used. The |
| a great way to keep track of vehicles, | | | | rental agreement clearly stated that the |
| equipment and labor resources. New technology | | | | trenching machine was only to be used with in |
| now allows small GPS tracking devices to be | | | | a 4 county area. The GPS tracking Service |
| placed or hidden on just about any valuable | | | | Company notified the rental company that |
| resource. These devices provide not only the | | | | their equipment was out of bounds. The rental |
| location of the device but also its route of | | | | company tried to contact the renter but after |
| travel, time that the unit is at rest, its | | | | repeated calls and no response they notified |
| speed, and in many some cases provide | | | | local law enforcement agencies. The renter |
| valuable information on critical mechanical | | | | was stopped on the interstate more than 160 |
| functions such as engine temperature, hours | | | | miles away. After a short investigation it |
| of operation and even fluid levels. | | | | was determined that the renter had used false |
| | | | identification to rent the trencher and he |
| GPS tracking devices are designed to use the | | | | also was wanted on a felony warrant. The |
| GPS portion of the unit to record and store | | | | rental company recovered their equipment |
| geo physical data and in some case vehicle | | | | undamaged due to the GPS auto tracking |
| mechanical information. This information then | | | | technology. |
| is uploaded to a GPS service provider via | | | | |
| existing cell phone or satellite phone | | | | In many cases insurance companies will give |
| technology. These uploads are timed according | | | | businesses that use GPS tracking technology a |
| to the needs of the business. Data uploading | | | | discount on vehicle and equipment insurance. |
| can be programmed by the service provider to | | | | As you can clearly see the use of this |
| range from 1 minute to once a week. In | | | | technology may save you money and help you |
| general the more frequently the data is | | | | manage your valuable business resources. It |
| uploaded the more the tracking service | | | | does pay to carefully research each GPS |
| company will charge the customer. A business | | | | service company to assure that they meet your |
| such as an equipment rental business may only | | | | individual company needs. This technology |
| need to upload its data once a day thereby | | | | will not only save money but give you piece |
| saving money. | | | | of mind knowing where your valuable equipment |
| | | | is at all times. |