B. Jackson Construction deploys Fleetmatics’ GPS solution to track expensive equipment, monitor maintenance schedules and improve time-card reporting. Construction vehicles can take a beating. Anyone in the industry knows how rugged off-road terrain and dirty environments can impact vehicle durability and performance if the equipment is not properly maintained.
Managers at B. Jackson Construction and Engineering Inc. in West Jordan, Utah, face similar challenges. The company provides construction services for utility and civil projects, including utilities, natural gas pipelines and roadways, throughout the West.
In December 2012, B. Jackson managers deployed a GPS fleet-tracking solution from Fleetmatics to 114 vehicles and equipment. Since installing the software the company has been able to reduce vehicle wear and tear by monitoring harsh driving behaviors and scheduled maintenance more closely, says Jeremy Worley, safety director and GPS coordinator for B. Jackson.
“The system is more proactive. We’re not relying only on the driver of the truck or operator of the equipment to notify us when service is due,” Worley says. “That’s what we did in the past. So if the driver forgot that maintenance was due, we had vehicles that were a few thousand miles overdue. That would lead to equipment not getting serviced when needed and wearing out quicker.”
ON SCHEDULE WITH MAINTENANCE
B. Jackson managers quickly realized the system enabled additional benefits, including improved maintenance oversight. Fleetmatics allows users to set up vehicle-maintenance reminders based on the equipment’s actual mileage, hours of use or time elapsed. The company receives automatic alerts when vehicle maintenance is due. B. Jackson managers configured the system so they receive maintenance alerts every 500 miles for construction equipment, 5,000 miles for tire rotations and brake inspections on trucks and every 10,000 miles for oil changes on its vehicles. Worley cannot calculate an exact savings figure related to improved maintenance, but the company has noticed a considerable difference in vehicle upkeep.
“I know just by speaking with our shop foreman that it’s helped us because he knows he’s serving equipment more frequently and catching issues earlier than before,” Worley says. “In the past, we found quite a few vehicles were out of compliance.”
The Fleetmatics solution also notifies managers if drivers are engaging in behaviors that could cause excessive vehicle wear and tear. By connecting with each vehicle’s ignition system, Fleetmatics can track harsh-driving activities, such as hard cornering, hard braking and idling time. In addition to real-time alerts, the system generates reports that ranks drivers based on their driving performance.
For example, Fleetmatics will compile a driving style summary report that identifies individual drivers by vehicle and rates each incident, such as hard braking or quick starts, by level of severity. The alerts have helped raise awareness among the crews regarding the importance of equipment care. Drivers now notify managers about many harsh-driving incidents before the system sends the alerts, Worley says.
“I get calls from guys in the field who will say somebody jumped in front of them and that they had to slam on their brakes,” he says. “They will explain their case before I get the alert because they receive the notification too. It shows they’re paying closer attention to their driving behaviors.”
ACCURATE TIME-CARD REPORTING
The GPS tracking capabilities have helped the company achieve additional savings by compiling more accurate time-card reports. Each B. Jackson crew comprises three to four employees. Prior to implementing the fleet-tracking system, many employees rounded up their check-out times.
The time-card reports show the vehicle departure time to the site, the driver’s name, driving time and distance traveled. It also displays location, time spent at the destination and departure from the job site. With more accurate time reports, B. Jackson saved approximately $750,000, primarily in labor costs, between 2012 and 2013, Worley says.
The savings have been so significant that Worley says fleet tracking and management has become an integral part of the company’s overall business operations. As the company grows, he expects to expand the use of it throughout the organization.
“Moving forward, I can’t see us not having some sort of GPS system in all of our vehicles,” he says.