GPS Vehicle Tracking System

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Baltimore County Government operates approximately 852 vehicles across 15 individual agencies. Costs to the taxpayer to maintain, repair, insure, and fuel this fleet are substantial. Prior to this initiative, 594 County vehicles were equipped with some type of GPS tracking device, however, a County-wide study revealed significant variances in configuration, utilization, and management of the devices. Between February and September of 2012, the Baltimore County Office of Information Technology responded by implementing a uniform GPS Vehicle Tracking System for all County-owned vehicles. Using Garmin® navigation devices linked to the NexTraq® Fleet Management application, the new system enabled monitoring of fleet behaviors including each vehicle’s engine start/stop times, idle time, speed, location, routes driven, speed alerts, etc. The information subsequently gathered by the system has provided the County a means to objectively measure performance, which has been used to improve agency operations and customer service while reducing costs. Better route planning and vehicle monitoring have reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions, increased on-time arrivals, improved vehicle maintenance planning and recording, and reduced unauthorized use of County vehicles. In its first month of operation, County vehicles drove 120,273 fewer miles compared to October 2011 before the GPS units were installed. For fuel alone, a direct savings of $ 8,300 in that month as compared to the same period last year indicates a potential annual savings to the taxpayer of $100,000. Although not yet measurable, the County expects to further benefit from indirect cost savings in fleet maintenance, repairs, and increased life cycles for its vehicles.