FleetBoss Report

Special Edition 2005

GPS Systems Can Be A Boon To The Towing Industry!
A customized solution for towing businesses increases efficiency, productivity and profits.

(See Story on AAA Auto Club South)

Helping people get out of a bind and back on the road is a hallmark of the towing and recovery business. With so many vehicles in use today, these kinds of towing and roadside services are in demand more than ever before.

According to the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA), this impressive industry consists of over 60,000 towing companies nationwide and accounts for over seven billion dollars in annual revenue.

Reflecting America's "can-do," small business spirit, the majority of towing companies are of modest size and family-owned. Yet, in spite of a clear commitment to hard work and excellence, towing clubs and contractors of all kinds are facing some daunting challenges.

Insurance rates and fuel costs are on the rise. Technology expectations are pushing the need for new, safer and more expensive towing equipment. And driver accountability, safety and efficiency training is a continuous and costly necessity.

Towing Challenges and FleetBoss Solutions
FleetBoss GPS fleet management systems help towing companies meet their industry's challenges head-on. A customized solution from Fleetboss can greatly increase a towing company's efficiency, productivity and profits and provide it with a tremendous return on investment.

To understand how GPS fleet management technology can help the towing industry, it is important to know what it is and how it works.

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology involves the use of signals and data from multiple satellites in space that determine a vehicle's location anywhere on Earth. GPS fleet management begins when a vehicle-mounted device receives satellite signals and calculates a vehicle's position on the ground. This device then relays the vehicle's position as latitude and longitude coordinates to a database computer at a business' home base. Software on this home base computer enables a towing fleet manager to view valuable operational data on each of his vehicles. Depending upon the GPS system used, a combination of wireless technology and the Internet allows a towing company to receive this information and store, collect and organize it according to categories; such as speed driven, on-board devices activated, time spent at a location, service call productivity, etc.

FleetBoss GPS fleet management data has helped towing companies turn their most pressing challenges into higher efficiency, productivity and profits for their business.

For example,

Fighting Rising Fuel Costs: By monitoring vehicle idle times, eliminating speeding and maximizing dispatch routing efficiency, a towing company in Orlando, FL has decreased its fuel costs by 15%, resulting in an annual savings of over $11,000.
Eliminating Unauthorized Use and Moonlighting: A towing business in Dunedin, FL is able to match PTO use with verified calls. This data allows the fleet manager to identify and hold accountable those drivers who are using vehicles for personal use during business hours.
Fighting High Insurance Rates: Reflecting a growing trend to decrease insurance costs through the use of GPS, one towing company in Vermont has experienced a reduction of nearly 10% in its insurance rates.
Reducing High Driver Turnover: A New Hampshire-based towing business is able to retain its best drivers using GPS data. By passing along the savings generated from its FleetBoss GPS system, this company gives bonuses for good performance to its employees. As a result, its drivers now have a higher morale and professional loyalty to the business.

Just like other service industries, poor productivity and low efficiency can be big roadblocks to success in the towing and recover business. By following the lead of towing companies, like those mentioned above, your business can greatly enhance its bottom line with a GPS fleet management system from FleetBoss .