When global positioning systems (GPS technology) came to the forefront of new business tools several years ago, they were expensive accessories. In the last decade, the price has come down and this helpful tool can now be acquired for a relatively low price. Its affordability allows many people to purchase one for monitoring bucket trucks! One of the most beneficial uses within utility and contractor fleets is in Tornado, Hurricane, Ice and other Storm Response.
Bucket Trucks & Storm Response
When disaster strikes as it did recently with Tornados in Oklahoma, utility companies from all across the nation deploy their crews and equipment in an effort to help restore power and communication as soon as possible. It’s common for thousands of personnel and equipment items to converge on am area within 24 hours.
With all that labor and equipment available, in an area unfamiliar to the workers it is incredibly helpful to have GPS systems on hand to effectively send help where it is needed desperately. In many cases the GPS systems allow dispatchers to be updated as soon as a crew has restored power to an address, and they can be routed to the next location based on knowing where the crew is and where the next and closest customer is located.
A GPS is a system based on a network of satellites orbiting the earth. Originally placed there by the United States Department of Defense for military use. The helpfulness was soon discovered by civilians and the use of these satellites has become a standard, ever since.
- Find Your Location – There are circumstances when fleets are deployed to unfamiliar places that vehicles operators don’t know. Having a GPS in bucket trucks will help find a work site more quickly and safely. The GPS device can show the exact the location of the destination, making travel faster and more convenient so that less time will be spent finding the location than working at it.
- Fuel Savings – Imagine that a driver with all the equipment has become lost. In the past, it would require turning around and going back to ask the dispatcher for more detailed directions. All these efforts to find a work site can consume a lot of fuel. A GPS device would be very handy and effective to get users to the right
- Avoid Traffic – Responding to dispatch and roaming around a city may not be that easy, especially if becoming trapped in the middle of a traffic jam. Most devices now have a feature that provides traffic updates and can even offer alternative routes if traffic congestion is noted in the upcoming route, which would obviously save time otherwise lost sitting in backed-up traffic.
- Monitoring – Checking on the status of a crew deployed a distance away is generally based on radio communications and then paper reports when the fleet comes back from the work site, although it never was an assurance of the facts surrounding being delayed in reaching a work site. A GPS device cannot guarantee the level of employee efficiency at an assignment; however, it can guarantee a crew’s arriving with the equipment. When workers know they are being tracked, they are more likely to follow company policies.
- Safety- Having a GPS system installed in bucket trucks assures safety, since drivers do not have to worry about getting lost and can pay more attention to traffic and the route.
GPS, with all its benefits, and bucket trucks go hand-in-hand in creating a more efficiently run company. So do not waste any more time and invest in these time and cost-saving tools to leverage them and improve the level of service you can provide, as well as improve your profitability. The next time attending a utility equipment auction, consider having a GPS installed on the bucket trucks you purchased.
You have options, and purchasing a bucket truck does not have to be intimidating. Knowing what to focus on and which things to look for can help you make an informed decision. Contact us and we will be glad to discuss your options.