Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Does anybody have a no-fee gps tracking device that they use to monitor cars/trucks/assets that they could recommend? There is a lot of stuff to try and wade through to get some information. I was wanting something small and battery powered to put in some semis, just to keep the drivers honest about where they are. I’m sick of them being back 15 minutes too late to get another load when I know they should have had plenty of time. I don’t need something real sophisticated, I just want to see if the truck is parked at the gas station 20 miles away for an hour when they should be driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahamfireman Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Touchy subject, sounds like a good way to lose a few drivers when good drivers are impossible to find. We had them in the old jobs semis, but it was a paid subscription. Currently have them from progressive insurance. Only shows vehicle trip when vehicle is turned off, no live tracking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acem Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Got trouble with lot lizards? Last time I had a trucker haul rice off the combine to a dryer it was a disaster. It's a six hour drive round trip. He couldn't do it in 24 hours. I got less than one load a day hauled. Couldn't get anything done. I went back to Putin it back in my bins and drying it myself. Too many lot lizards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 Just now, acem said: Got trouble with lot lizards? Last time I had a trucker haul rice off the combine to a dryer it was a disaster. It's a six hour drive round trip. He couldn't do it in 24 hours. I got less than one load a day hauled. Couldn't get anything done. I went back to Putin it back in my bins and drying it myself. Too many lot lizards. I can’t rule anything out. I have done their job many times and all I can say is they sure make it look hard. I have posted about it before, but it is absolutely ridiculous trying to get anything done. Show up when you feel like it, drag your feet all day and then quit early. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Talk to your local Cat dealer. We have non-intrusive, stand alone, internal battery Product Link devices available. They're not free but don't cost that much to buy, install, or monitor. They're durable enough and cheap enough that we have customers tracking singular buckets / attachments with them. Just a bit more money, we have basic PL devices that give location, hours/miles, fuel useage. The technology is not Cat exclusive. As long as the engine is electronic and uses CanBus it will communicate. I take it your trucks are running Ag, local and are E-log exempt? Otherwise just shop your E-log provider that allows you access. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 Yes we’re farm local. The trucks are all too old to qualify for elog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 4 minutes ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said: Yes we’re farm local. The trucks are all too old to qualify for elog. As I said, there is the GPS location stand alone. You could use a PL 241 that runs on truck power and monitors run time off the R terminal on the alternator. I know E-log cutoff is '99. There's quite a few trucks previous to that with electronic control. Cat 3406E, 3176, 3126, would all communicate if you wanted to track fuel useage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 6 minutes ago, Cattech said: As I said, there is the GPS location stand alone. You could use a PL 241 that runs on truck power and monitors run time off the R terminal on the alternator. I know E-log cutoff is '99. There's quite a few trucks previous to that with electronic control. Cat 3406E, 3176, 3126, would all communicate if you wanted to track fuel useage. Is this a subscription service or just buy the device? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Just now, Dirt_Floor_Poor said: Is this a subscription service or just buy the device? I don't know all the details (I run the shop, not sell the stuff) and it may differ between dealers. Just pointing you to someone who might be able to help. We're coming up with some really cool stuff that holds operators accountable for the condition of the equipment they are paid to run. A talk with a CSR at a Cat dealer may really get your imagination fired up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Think of this... A monitoring device on your equipment that just knows where it's at. Combined with a pre-trip inspection app your operator has on their cell phone. You can use a pre-made list, or a customizable inspection that allows or even requires pictures to be taken of whatever you feel you need or want. You can even change this to be unit exclusive...... Say a certain truck has a leak that you need to monitor. The inspection of that truck can require a picture of the leak. The inspection on the employee phone will timestamp with the reporting device on your asset. You can actually tell if your employee checks the oil and coolant levels before they turn the key... Add a required picture of trailer tires and you could force a complete walk-around. Like I said, truly imagination inspiring! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattech Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 Before you get wound up about "Big Brother" monitoring all this stuff..... There are people who expect you to recognize that they identify themselves as pet animals. You just might be asked to put a kiddy pool filled with cat litter next to the Porta-Potty one of these days. You can say that'll never happen where you work..... but I don't have to say anything more on that! We're all dealing with a whole generation of lazy people who don't give a F about the job they do, the equipment they run, or even if you see them to be the lazy arrogant trash they are. In their mind, YOU are the problem. So, spend a little money, use the cool new toys at hand and at least try to protect what you have earned. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35desoto Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 We use GPS and it's a godsend. No more illegitimate excuses from Drivers. They know it's there and we can reason any delay before contacting the driver. I know we all face a good driver shortage but I'd rather have a truck parked than an incompetent fool damaging gear. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IH Forever Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 We use Verizon Reveal Connect at work. It’s a paid subscription though, not free. Keeps drivers honest but also helps us to know if driver makes a mistake or cover our butts if they didn’t. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Apple air tags will tell you where they are. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 52 minutes ago, vtfireman85 said: Apple air tags will tell you where they are. That is interesting. I had never heard of those. So if I just threw one in the glove box, how likely is that to actually work? They are cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acem Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Be aware gps jammers are cheap and effective. With a jammer in use, you'll never know where the lot lizards are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmi Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 1 hour ago, acem said: Be aware gps jammers are cheap and effective. With a jammer in use, you'll never know where the lot lizards are. LOL been 35 years since wifes stopping on payday inquired about that. They had various decals placed on the trucks. ...... If they only had todays toys 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtfireman85 Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 4 hours ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said: That is interesting. I had never heard of those. So if I just threw one in the glove box, how likely is that to actually work? They are cheap. I cant say, a friend put one under the seat of her car for just that reason, i can ask how well it works. She had her car broken into, but theft is common where she lives. Its a standard and that may have actually deterred them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 9 hours ago, acem said: Be aware gps jammers are cheap and effective. With a jammer in use, you'll never know where the lot lizards are. Simple solution to that: If I can't track you, you don't work for me anymore. Tampering with the equipment is not tolerated. Don't truckers get paid by the truckload/weight though? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy1965 Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Not day/local truckers. Guy that hauls for my neighbor gets paid hourly plus the family feeds him during busy times or maybe all the time. That's why he stays sounds like. Never make him work Sunday and feeds him well. Maybe he gets Saturday off too I'm not sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acem Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Round here farm truck drivers typically get paid by the load unless they are normal employees. Round trip for soybeans and wheat is just over 100 miles. When hauling corn they get paid by the hour. 5-10 miles round trip and they wait in line at the feed mill a lot... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 1 hour ago, Matt Kirsch said: Simple solution to that: If I can't track you, you don't work for me anymore. Tampering with the equipment is not tolerated. Don't truckers get paid by the truckload/weight though? They work by the hour here, which is probably part of the problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 I went and got an Air Tag today. $29 for the Air Tag and $35 for the ridiculous keychain. I guess we’ll see if it works or not. I’ll probably buy more if it works ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-301066460puller Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Part of me wants to to say if you don't trust me then why did you hire me lol Other part understands. I'm diabetic. The jardiance I take makes me piss a lot and the metforman can give me the poops at times so I stop a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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