IFTA Requirements for Trucking

There is nothing easy about owning a business or running one.  This is especially true for trucking firms.  Though organizations like the ATA work hard to minimize government restrictions on trucking, the federal government annually adds additional restrictions to haulers.  Many people might think this doesn't matter to ordinary citizens.  Unfortunately, restriction on fleets affect us all.  For every extra penny it costs fleet owners to deliver goods or services, they must raise our prices by that penny.  

This past year, hundreds of trucking firms have been forced out of business.  This is partly because fleet owners are being hit by a troubled economy.  But, this is also attributable to fleet owners being strapped by government regulations.  I am not saying that all restrictions put on fleets are excessive or overbearing.  But, I am concerned about the costs associated with additional restrictions placed on trucking fleets.

IFTA, or the International Fuel Tax Agreement, is one example of an added restriction that adds to costs.  IFTA requires fleets whose trucks travel across state lines, to track the miles traveled in each state by trip and even what roads were traveled.  As you can imagine, this is a huge headeache for truckers and administrative personell.  

In an attempt to combat the hassle placed on trucking fleets by the federal governemnent and other governing bodies, Track What Matters has begun offering state by state mileage reporting.  These reports will streamline the process of IFTA reporting for trucking fleet administrators and allow them to spend more time working on revenue generating projects.

Fleet tracking with GPS has a great number of useful features.  IFTA reporting is just another in that long list of GPS tracking features available for fleets.

If you can recover a cactus...

While doing some research this morning, looking for stories of vehicle tracking using GPS, I ran across a story of the federal government using a computer chip to track saguaros (the giant cactus with multiple arms).  

We have come a long way with the ability to track anything important to us.  But, it really doesn't matter if you are tracking a cactus or a vehicle, theft recovery is basically the same.  It is well known that being able to get to your vehicle or whatever you are tracking within minutes gives you the best chance of seeing that item in once piece.  I've told stories of one of our customers recovering two vehicles stolen by employees in the last month using our GPS tracking system.  Their savings from tracking have easily paid for the units and service for at least 2 years.

You have the opportunity to protect your investment for the very reasonable cost of GPS tracking.  

Take care of things,

Steven Van Ooyen

Good Stewardship

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable of 3 servants that are given 3 different amounts of money to do with as they would until their master returns.  In the end, when the master returns, he finds that 2 of the servants have done well with what they were entrusted with while the other hid the money he was given and took no responsibility to improve upon what he was given.  The last servant was chastised for his complete failure to take any risk.

Since this blog isn't geared toward exegesis of the Bible, I will refrain from the spiritual meaning and stick with the practical, earthly ramifications of the passage (though, if you ever want to discuss the spiritual implications of the parable, I will be glad to - just send me an email).  

So, what does this have to do with using GPS tracking on my fleet?  That's a fair question.  It is my impression from being in multiple work environments that most employees, whether they are truck drivers or fleet managers or deliver medical equipment work to survive rather than to succeed.  What I mean by that is that most people, even those in management, have one main goal - to keep their job!  That is just sad and depressing.  

What that means for business, and fleet owners, is that very few employees and managers take risks, or propose risks that can substantially help their businesses.  For example, how many fleet managers are actively seeking GPS tracking solutions?  How many have known that GPS tracking exists and could be beneficial yet never made a move to investigate GPS tracking for their own fleet?  How many fleet managers and owners have been told how GPS fleet tracking saved one company over $7,500 in idling on a single truck or how another company was able to get back two trucks stolen by employees on the same day they were stolen or how another company instantly stopped a gasoline bill discrepancy of $1,000 monthly yet they did nothing...

I got to speak to John Pond, one of our customers in Massachusetts today.  John added our GPS tracking system to his fleet about 6 weeks ago.  I called just to make sure everything was working well for him and that the tracking was meeting his needs.  What I really like about John is that he fully understands the benefits of the tracking system he purchased.  John told me how he has been able to review the routes his drivers have been taking, how his time sheets have magically become correct, and how he is able to curtail speeding in his limousine fleet.  John said "I would tell anyone that has a fleet of vehicles that they should definitely have this system to save fuel costs, labor costs, and time."  As I said, John fully understands the benefits he gets from tracking his fleet.  

John is the epitome of a good steward and fleet manager.  He really impressed me today.

Take care everyone.  I hope that your GPS tracking saves you substantial amounts in this difficult economic time.  I know it has for our customers.

Steven Van Ooyen

The Savings You Are Missing

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

We all know this phrase and have heard it many times. Each week, we talk to a number of people who are considering GPS tracking for their fleets. Unfortunately, a number of these companies fail to "drink" from the GPS fleet tracking well. We can explain all of the benefits to these customers, but until they embrace the numbers for themselves, we cannot help them save the money that is there for the saving.

According to AAA, the national average price for regular unleaded is $3.962/gallon. That hurts! What hurts worse is the diesel price of $4.792/gallon. This seems to be all everyone is talking about. So, what does this have to do with GPS Fleet Tracking?

That's simple. Short of discontinuing your business, tracking your fleet with GPS is the quickest way to reduce fuel costs. GPS fleet tracking allows you to set rules for your fleet and enforce them! People simply drive differently when they know they are being tracked. Thus, fleet managers and owners are able to reduce their overall consumption with very little outlay of capital.

Consider these example calculations for a typical GPS fleet tracking scenario:

1 fleet of tractor/trailers with 20 trucks

• The trucks each travel an average of 3,333 miles per month


• The trucks average 8 miles per gallon

Thus, the trucks require approximately 417 gallons of diesel per month


At today's price, that's a fuel cost of $1,996.47 per month

The cost of a fleet GPS tracking unit, per vehicle, averaged out for a year, is $62.36/month for the first year. The second year, it is just $39.95/month.

Our customers frequently report decreased fuel costs of 15% monthly. In this scenario, that would mean that the fuel savings, which would be $299.47 per month, would exceed the first year GPS tracking cost by $237.11. For just the first year, that's a net savings of $2,845.33!!! Multiply that by 20 and you get a net annual savings for the entire fleet of $56,906.60. That would find a great Christmas party!

A year ago, this calculation for using GPS tracking on this fleet would have net a savings of $1,438.18 per truck and a total fleet savings of $28.736.60.

This further reiterates the importance of adding GPS tracking to your fleet.

One more example of how GPS tracking can decrease the fuel costs for your fleet. On a demonstration unit we recently had installed in a fleet, the driver of the truck involved was idling the vehicle for as much as 5 hours a day. Since a tractor burns a gallon of diesel per hour, that added up to a cost of $23.96 per day in unnecessary fuel consumption! Just by telling the driver that this was an issue and that it was being monitored, the driver cut his idling time to less than an hour each day. That is an instant savings of $19.17 per day by simply adding GPS tracking to the fleet. Oh, and for the year, that single truck with GPS tracking, will save $4.984.20. And that does not even include the potential savings with reduced mileage, reduced labor, and improved capitalization on opportunities!

The expense of operating any fleet has almost doubled in the last year do to fuel costs. GPS tracking of your fleet is the only real way to make immediate impacts. The comparative outlay of capital is peanuts compared to the savings your fleet can achieve. In the examples above, the ROI is achieved in the first month!

I cannot think of a better investment or a more clear investment that can have this kind of impact on your bottom line.

Take care and consider calling your congressman to get the government doing something other than taxing us!

Steven Van Ooyen

Chief Technology Officer

Demand Internet Based GPS Tracking Software

What sets apart some GPS Tracking Systems from others is primarily the software. GPS tracking software bridges the gap between the GPS tracking units installed in your vehicles with the user interface you use on your computer to track your vehicles.

GPS tracking software comes in 2 major forms. The oldest is software installed on your PC. This type of software requires the user to install the software via a CD or download on a single or multiple computers. The user can only use the machines on which the software is installed. Often, companies that require installation of software on a PC will require software licenses in addition to GPS tracking service fees. All in all, the idea of requiring software to be installed on PCs is no good.

The second, and best option is Internet based, online-only GPS tracking software. This type of software requires the GPS tracking software user to login to a website where the GPS tracking application is served. Software that is operated from a remote server with no software to install on the user's PC or Mac is called an Application Service Provider model. GPS tracking software run from a server gives users the best possible situation. There is no GPS tracking software to install, the latest of the GPS tracking software is always available for every customer, and you do not every have to worry about waiting for downloads.

Insist on your GPS tracking software being served completely from the Internet and available on any of the major browsers. These should include Internet Explorer, Safari (Mac), and Firefox.

Steven Van Ooyen

CTO - Track What Matters