One advantage of the new system was the increased communication with drivers. Now that Fleet Services is able to
note driver behavior like seatbelt use and speeding, they are able to have open discussions about safety.
“What it’s done is cut down the cost on tickets, on accidents, on potential
accidents, and on the harsh use of vehicles,” Fitzgerald says. “We have more
frequent talks with our operators and we actually have an exchange. Folks are
more apt to assist in the process than be against it. We have different unions and
they have all been receptive to Geotab as well — it creates an honest working
environment.”
Predictive Maintenance
The biggest advantage that DC Water has seen is the ability to view how each vehicle is doing and when it should
be brought in for maintenance.
“In Washington D.C. we have the second-worst rush hour traffic in the country, so it helps us to understand and
know beforehand if a vehicle is having a problem with a potential breakdown,” he says. “That’s also a cost-avoidance
for us and for everyone else involved when you consider being broken down on the road and backing up traffic.”
Additional Benefits
Working with their Geotab reseller, he appreciates that there is someone he can discuss options with. DC Water is
looking to work with Geotab on continually advancing the technology, such as tapping into self-healing or “mesh”
networks.
“In a lot of big cities, you have to go around infrastructure and internet connection is not always prevalent or
secure,” Fitzgerald says. “So we’re looking at Geotab for our geographic information system (GIS viewer) and some
of the other products that we have now and are looking to expand in the future.”
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