Smart Fleet = Smart Government Webinar

by | Oct 8, 2020 | Government Fleet, Announcements-News, Electric Vehicles, Fleet Management, Geotab

Smart Fleet = Smart Government

Smart Fleet = Smart Government Webinar

Learn how you can maximize government telematics data in our exclusive Smart Fleet = Smart Government webinar on November 4, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST.

Smarter Fleets = Value

Finding increasing value in the data you are collecting is a tough job, especially in today’s uncertain economic climate. As health, EMS, and public safety spending increase and tax revenues decrease, Government fleet managers are being asked to do more with less, and without sacrificing safety and compliance. Telematics is an amazing tool to analyze your operations, pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, all while ensuring that safety and compliance are maintained at the highest levels.

Smarter Fleets = Insight

Learn more about tracking compliance and levels of service for your Public Works fleet, strategies that will help blaze a path forward to your electrification goals and how telematics goes beyond its traditional use as a fleet management tool to optimize smart transportation and Vision Zero initiatives.

View the Replay

Learn how to manage mixed fleets and assets including Public Works to:

  • Track compliance and levels of service
  • Monitor material usage
  • Maintain core services citizens depend on

Build an electrification strategy tailored to your specific fleet’s needs:

  • See how an EV Suitability Assessment can blaze a path forward to your future electric fleet
  • Identify crucial EV specific data collection and use

Hear how data can be transformed into actionable smart city insights to:

  • Understand local transportation patterns, traffic safety and road conditions
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Justify investments in digital infrastructure
Webinar Registration

Presented by Chris Jackson, AVP, Government Business Development, Public Works and Smart Cities at GEOTAB

Chris Jackson

Meet the Presenter

Having begun his career in the Government industry over 20 years ago with the 407 Express Toll Route; Chris has always been involved in telematics by leading several successful intelligent transportation system projects, which involved early adoption stages of telematics at the turn of the century. He transitioned quickly from being within a Government agency using telematics, to being part of the telematics vendor community working with Government groups across North America in successful implementations of their telematics needs; ranging from small municipalities, to large City, Provincial, and State agencies.

Register Now
GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Rugged Laptop 3

Geotab Drive Version 2003

by | Sep 30, 2020 | FMCSA-ELD-DVIR, Fleet Management, Geotab

Geotab Drive Version 2003 First Look

Remember, to see all of the new features as soon as they are made available, turn on feature preview. Click on your username in the Geotab UI, then click options. Scroll about halfway down the page to UI Settings and click the on button to turn Feature Preview on. Don’t forget to scroll back to the top of the page and save your new setting.

turning on feature preview
turning on feature preview

What’s New in Geotab Drive?

Geotab Drive Version 2003 continues to address simplifying the workflow and navigation. There are also a few new notewothy new features, so let’s jump right in.

Availability Notifications are available by default in Geotab Drive 2003.

The 2002 release featured a new availability screen in feature preview. In Geotab Drive 2003 this becomes the default screen for drivers to review duty status notifications and monitor their driving limits. Using the Availability feature, users can:

  • Apply the Exempt HOS exemption.
  • Monitor remaining rest periods.
  • Receive warnings for upcoming and potential violations.

Have you ever needed to know your database name?

In Geotab Drive 2003, drivers can check their company database name on the settings screen.

Improved message text for interactive prompts

What action needs to be taken by a driver is now more prominently displayed in interactive prompts. For example, for the prompt “You have logs that require action” the instructions “Tap here to review” will also be displayed alongside in bold text as a shortcut to whatever needs attention.

Logs that require action
violation prompt

Improved logout workflow

To get drivers into the App and on the road faster, the logout/login workflow has been streamlined. Currently, drivers are asked to change their status to OFF or ON when logging out of the App. They were also asked to verify logs the next time they logged in. For most drivers however, the only verification required was their OFF/ON status from the previous logout. Now, the logout feature will automatically verify the ON/OFF status and prompt log verification before log out, shortening the process and simplifying the workflow.

Logout screen
GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Rugged Laptop 3

MyGeotab Version 2003 – First Look at What’s New

by | Sep 24, 2020 | Geotab, Fleet Management

Geotab Version 2003 First Look

As we have come to expect, when a new version of Geotab is released there are always a lot of questions. We just got our first look at MyGeotab version 2003 and want to share an advance look at what is coming soon. By turning on “Feature Preview” in your Geotab account settings, you will see some changes sooner. To turn the preview on, click on your username in the Geotab UI, then click options. Scroll about halfway down the page to UI Settings and click the on button for Feature Preview. Don’t forget to scroll back to the top of the page and save your new setting.

turning on feature preview
turning on feature preview

INTERNET EXPLORER 10 END OF LIFE NOTICE

With this release of MyGeotab, Internet Explorer 10 is no longer supported!

Before we get started, please take note that as of this release of MyGeotab (version 2003), there is no longer support for Internet Explorer 10. This notice follows the Microsoft announcement which ended support for Internet Explorer 10 and older, earlier this year.

What’s New in MyGeotab version 2003?

First, this list of enhancements in MyGeotab 2003 is a long one. Even better, this release is jam packed with simple but powerful changes that will make the administrator’s job faster and easier. The changes made also provide more options for filtering to access information more quickly. So… here we go!

Easy Device Upgrade Requests in MyGeotab v2003

ProPlus Customers that have devices eligible for free upgrade will have the option to make the request through the UI. Eligible devices will be highlighted in MyGeotab and Fleetistics will be notified when the request is made. If you would like to review the great benefits ProPlus offers, contact us and get protected against network changes.

replace devices in MyGeotab version 2003

Consolidated Messaging (Feature Preview)

New threaded views provide conversation-style messages with simple-to-use input controls such as adding links and canned replies. Ultimately this give messaging the look, feel, and familiarity of an email app. Messages can be sent to devices so that anyone driving the vehicle can see them, or to users for more private communication.

Moreover, unread messages display in tab titles for easy detection, and as shortcuts under Notifications on the main title bar. Messages are searchable by date and filters to find desired messages more quickly.

Consolidated Messaging in MyGeotab 2003

New Groups Filter Functionality

In MyGeotab version 2003 the group filter isolates vehicles in more than one group. Perhaps you want to see only the dump trucks at a particular branch location. This feature change filters to only the vehicles that are assigned to both groups when you select multiple groups. In a future release you will be able to choose “AND” or “OR” based on whether you want to see vehicles in eother group or only in both groups.

Groups filter

Sustainability Rules Section added in MyGeotab 2003

To reflect the new Sustainability Pillar introduced at Connect 2020, idling rules are moved to this new section along with a variety of new EV specific rules. The new default rules include Low Charge, Entering and Exiting Charging Location, and EV Done Charging.

Sustainability Rules in MyGeotab 2003

Privacy Settings for Exception Notifications

In System Settings a new tab has been added for Privacy settings. You will now be able to exclude information that may be considered sensitive from the notifications sent by your system.

Privacy Settings

New Zone Filtering

In MyGeotab 2003 sones can be filtered to only active zones. Simple but powerful.

Filter All or Active Zones

DTC Codes Displayed in List View

Another big improvement is the addition of DTC codes to the Engine Faults displayed in MyGeotab. In the past you had to download a report to see the DTC codes. We think this one is a huge win.

DTC Codes

Time Zone Reminder Message

Last on our list for this update is the one that makes you wonder why we weren’t asking for it all along. If the time zone on your computer is different than the time zone set in your user options, you will see a message alerting you to the difference. Again, so simple, but powerful.

Time Zone message in MyGeotab 2003

Be watching for our next post on the 2003 release of GeotabDrive.

GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Fleet Weather Service

Distracted Driving Awareness Month – October 2020

by | Sep 17, 2020 | Risk and Safety, National Safety Council

Distracted Driving Car Accident Highway
Normally held in April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year October will be observed as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This annual promotion sponsored by the National Safety Council brings awareness to a primary cause of preventable injury and death on the roads, distracted driving.

The NSC website reports that on a typical day, more than 700 people are injured because of driver distractions. This includes, but is not limited to phone calls, text messages, and entertainment system adjustments. Likewise, the CDC reports that each day in the United States, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.

Distracted Driving Affects Everyone

While cell phones are a primary distraction we can all relate to, it is only one of many things that contribute to the preventable collisions noted above. If you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off of your driving for any reason, you place yourself and others at risk.
The National Safety Council focuses on eliminating the leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. As part of the October campaign, NSC is providing free downloadable materials to encourage companies to create distracted driving prevention programs.

What can you do to prevent Distracted Driving?

You can commit to driving distraction free by taking the NSC Just Drive pledge. Thanks to a partnership with The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site, NSC will receive a donation of $1 for every pledge taken and match 100% of every donation made, up to $5,000, today through Nov. 6.

First, consider taking the pledge or making a donation. Also, consider promoting the pledge to your company drivers and their families. Ultimately, if we all do just a little, many lives can be saved.

Just Drive - Distracted Driving Awareness Month
The theme is Just Drive. Simple and to the point, it is a great reminder to us all to put down the phone, stop fiddling with the equalizer, and just drive.
Fleetistics is a leading provider of technology to identify and mitigate distracted driving.
Contact us today! 855.300.0527
GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Fleet Weather Service

Smart City Innovations

by | Sep 8, 2020 | Data Integration, Fleet Management

Smart City Innovations

Smart City Technology is All Around Us

Smart City Technology is surfacing all over the United States. To most of us, smart city is a broad term used to describe how technology will make things better in the future, but it is hard to come up with a quick example of how technology actually makes a city smarter.

Smart 50 Awards in partnership with Smart Cities Connect honors the 50 most transformative smart projects each year. Among 2020 award recipients are several projects that rely upon GPS tracking and telematics. With that in mind, we have picked three of the 50 award winning projects to share with and inspire our readers. The official summaries of those winning projects follow.

San Jose Smart City

Smart City San Jose, CA

Emergency Response Times Improved

San Jose transformed traditional emergency vehicle preemption through a multi-domain solution expanding Central Traffic Management, integrating real-time CAD, and connecting vehicle presence. The results: response times fell by 24 seconds per trip benefiting life and safety; reduced accidents for first responders; and over $1.5 million in higher reimbursements.

After failing to meet mandated response times, the City of San Jose sought methods to improve response times. Traditional means to improve response times was through the further deployment of emergency vehicle preemption hardware to allow emergency vehicles faster passage to their destinations. In late 2016, emergency vehicle preemption equipment had been deployed at approximately one-third (or 336) of the city’s signalized intersections. Because this system required hardware installation at each intersection signal, system expansion and ongoing maintenance was too costly– at a rate of approximately 15 intersections per year, and an average cost of $15,000 per intersection and total cost of $9 million.

The City of San Jose made the decision to take a new approach to providing emergency vehicle preemption that leverages existing infrastructure and software systems already in use and eliminating the need for costly new hardware installation and maintenance. Creating a solution that is geo-aware, route in advance, real-time, and fast to deploy protects the lives and safety of residents, protects first responders from high in-transit accident rates, and provides the City with significantly higher revenue in the form of reimbursements.

Response times fell by 24 seconds per trip, preserving life and safety for residents Pre-cleared intersections reduce accidents for first responders in transit -Meeting response thresholds enables over $1.5 million in higher reimbursements from County partners -Solution saves the community 90% of the cost of traditional emergency preemption.

Pittsburgh Smart City

Smart City Pittsburgh, PA

Trash Collection Improvements

Sensors embedded within Pittsburgh’s trash receptacles measure the fill level of each container and transmit that information to the people responsible for servicing them. Waste collection process is made more efficient by only picking up containers above a certain fill level (e.g. 80%), saving money, time, and reducing environmental impact.
The project improves the efficiency of the waste collection process by measuring and reporting the fill level of every container, and then dispatching the collectors to only the containers which actually require collection. Pittsburgh sought to remove inefficiency within their trash pickup operation while reducing their carbon footprint and promoting costs savings. With the Relay system, they were able to maintain an accurate inventory of the locations and fill levels of more than 1,300 smart containers throughout the city.

The data gave them confidence in the decision to consolidate all of their containers into a centralized litter division, and also to reduce the staff responsible solely for picking up trash from 25 crew members down to 9. The 16 additional staff members have time to work on other tasks, which had been de-prioritized with the focus on trash collection. By picking up only the containers reaching 75% or 90% full, the city is saving money on truck drivers, laborers, fuel costs, equipment costs, and depreciation costs from the reduced wear and tear on collection trucks. Drastically cutting the amount of time these trucks are on the road also dramatically reduces the city’s environmental impact.

Streets are cleaner (less litter), containers are no longer overflowing, heavy diesel trucks are taken off the road (reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic delays to nearby drivers), taxpayer dollars are not going towards unnecessary trash collection, deferred public works responsibilities can have freed-up resources refocused on them.
Washington DC Smart City

Smart City Washington DC

Public Transit Improvements

Luminator Technology Group (Luminator) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) partnered to install digital displays across the metro area to provide passenger information, including real-time arrival and departure times. The agency improved rider information and gained operational efficiencies through centrally managed updates.
In an effort to further connect the Washington D.C. metro area to real-time information, this implementation across the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) service area resulted in increased and improved access to key route information, with WMATA seamlessly updating displays and real-time data from a single location. By eliminating the need to manually update paper signs, the project brought mutual benefits to riders and the agency. Riders have access to real-time information incorporating any delays or closures, meanwhile, WMATA has decreased labor costs associated with manual changes of paper signage. With Luminator’s involvement in WMATA’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the transit agency is able to provide information that increases the intelligence and efficiency of the solution, making stations brighter and easier-to-navigate. Luminator is also increasing efficiency throughout the system enabling future expansion.
WMATA currently has 400 of Luminator’s digital passenger information systems installed across its service area and will add another 400 over the next five years. With Luminator’s support, WMATA is improving and advancing these displays to meet the needs of approximately 120 million annual bus riders.

Congratulations to the Smart 50 Award Winners.

We congratulate all of the winners and look forward to participating with our City and County Government clients to welcome the future with Smart City initiatives. To learn more about the Smart 50 Awards visit https://spring.smartcitiesconnect.org/.
GEotab GO9 GPS Vehicle Tracking
Fleet Management Platform
Mobile Phone GPS Tracking App
Fleet Weather Service