GPS Dawns New Age In Dispatch and Routing

Everyone knows that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But going the shortest distance is nearly impossible for any driver who is unequipped to handle meandering routes, faulty directions and unexpected detours.

In the case of fleet drivers, such unwelcome roadblocks translate into a serious loss of efficiency, time and money. Consequently, as long as there have been fleets of vehicles, there has been a crucial need for effective dispatch and routing. Today, GPS technology and dispatching/ routing software have joined forces to revolutionize this essential component of fleet operations.

The Evolution of Dispatching
Prior to the rise of computerized or web-based technologies, companies had to rely on a process called "zone" routing for their dispatching needs. Zone routing worked by assigning each driver to a geographic zone that they serviced. The downside of this solution was its unavoidable labor inefficiency. On any given day, a zone driver might make as little as five stops in his area or go as high as 25. These wild fluctuations in service created short, low-capacity work days or massive, maxed-out capacity overtime. By its very nature, zone routing also meant that the driver, and not the company, was typically in control of service routes.

The age of technology has made zone routing a thing of the past. Zones have been replaced with "dynamic" routing. Dynamic routing involves computer software which gathers all of the day's orders and calculates the most economical routes for service delivery. In a matter of minutes, a computer is able to calculate and organize numerous variables such as windows of delivery time, mixed fleets options, unique vehicle or driver characteristics, etc. The resulting data configuration is revealed as user-friendly digital maps that can be viewed on company computers or even a driver's cell phone.

GPS and Dispatching
GPS asset tracking systems have opened a whole new world of productive possibilities for fleet dispatching and routing. GPS solutions, like those offered by FleetBoss, can integrate with a company's existing routing software using an Application Programming Interface (API) and greatly enhance a fleet's profitable delivery of services. Routing software provides drivers with the most efficient routes, and an integrated GPS tracking system monitors, in real time, a driver's position along planned routes, maximizing service calls, fuel usage and business operations.

FleetBoss GPS solutions show the location of your entire fleet in real time on the internet. With this information, you can identify the driver who is closest to a service call or client and provide him or her with the most efficient directions to that service location via cell phone text messaging. This powerful feature is an excellent tool for improving customer service and lowering your fuel costs. FleetBoss systems can also compare a driver's official routing schedule with the route he actually made during the work day; revealing stop times, idle times, number of service calls performed, etc. This wealth of data allows your business to maximize fuel savings, increase service calls and reduce overtime.

Contact FleetBoss to learn more.

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