Trimble's Green GPS Fleet Management Solution Helps Cox Communications Cut Fuel Costs And CO2 Emissions
Trimble introduced recently a new version of its GPS-based Vehicle Diagnostic Service at the National Cable Show in Washington DC. The service allows customers to reduce fuel cost and CO2 emissions by controlling engine idle time. The new version of the diagnostic service gives managers the ability to view the gallons of fuel consumed while driving or idling. Trimble will also showcase its latest GPS productivity suite, the GeoManager 9.0 solution, which features Microsoft Virtual Earth satellite and birds-eye view mapping, and real-time traffic. GeoManager gives field tech supervisors and dispatchers the real-time reports, maps and exceptions they need to increase field operating efficiency, cut operating costs and improve customer service.
GeoManager is currently operating in more than 4,500 companies and installed in over 200,000 vehicles worldwide. The combined GeoManager/Vehicle Diagnostics solution is being used by over 50 companies including Cox Communications to reduce their carbon footprint while improving their bottom line. The solution delivers dramatic fuel, fleet and environmental savings and often pays for itself within the first year.
"In our first year of operation using these Trimble solutions, we were able to reduce vehicle idle time from over 90 minutes to less than 15 minutes per tech per day in our pilot system," said Mark Leuenberger director of Fleet Operations for Cox Enterprises. "With the 5,000 vehicles now equipped with the Trimble MRM system throughout our operation, we believe this program has the potential to save over 1 million gallons of fuel and $2M each year at $2.00 per gallon. We should also be able to reduce our carbon footprint by over 25 million pounds of CO2 which meets a large part of the environmental stewardship objectives in our national sustainability program, Cox Conserves. This project has positive benefits for the environment, while reducing costs. It's smart business."
Trimble's iLM GPS hardware platform and OBDII engine bus module provide the position, velocity, time and engine bus data to enable the GeoManager and Vehicle Diagnostic Services, which then provide automated SMS, email and console alerts whenever idle time triggers are exceeded. The solution can also send accurate mileage data from individual vehicles directly to the company's fleet maintenance system to streamline preventive maintenance scheduling. Through the GPS platform, Trimble GeoManager also provides over 100 automated user-schedulable reports that provide summary views or deep dives into field operations data providing new methods of analysis.
"By setting and managing user selectable triggers to baseline and then control idling, companies can potentially save $250 to $750 per vehicle each year in fuel costs and cut CO2 emissions by 2,500 to 7,500 pounds per vehicle," said Scott Harmon, head of Strategy and Business Development, Global Communications Business for Trimble's Mobile Solutions segment. "This adds up very quickly whether you have 100, 1,000 or 10,000 vehicles in your fleet and can make a significant contribution today in the effort to reduce operating costs, prepare for new regulations and be more environmentally responsible."
Trimble MRM solutions are designed to automate the management of mobile resources and to optimize the service delivery process for customers across a variety of industries. Trimble delivers MRM solutions on a global basis to vertical markets which include: Telco, Construction Supply, Field Service, Transportation & Distribution and Fleet Productivity. Trimble MRM solutions are designed to provide a secure, scalable, upgradeable, enterprise-class platform, and are offered in on-demand software delivery, on-premise or hybrid environments that can seamlessly connect mobile workers in the field to real-time data. More information about Trimble MRM solutions can be found at www.trimble.com/mobile_resource_management.
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
SOURCE: Trimble