Employee Buy-In

How to introduce GPS tracking to employees

Driver Prep

While working with companies who have installed a GPS fleet management system and are now reaping the rewards, we have developed this guide to help you introduce GPS tracking to employees and answer most of their questions up-front. You can make the transition much smoother by communicating with them directly, outlining not only how the company will benefit, but also how they will benefit.

Introduce GPS to employees
GPS & ELD Implementation

Driver Policy

Corporate Policy

Reduce Accidents

Five Steps in Helping Employees Embrace Change
  1. Make it easy for drivers to clearly identify and understand the change.
  2. Help them realize that their first reaction could be rooted in assumptions, not facts.
  3. Clarify the company and your drivers’ interests when considering new policies.
  4. Do not do a covert installation and tell them after someone is busted.
  5. Acknowledge “big brother” is part of it just like a service ticket, QA calls, etc.

 

Your new GPS tracking system will help everyone become better at their jobs. The better you get, the more money you are going to make! And the healthier the company, the better off everyone will be. *Savings can translate to better 401 (k) returns, bonus programs, fewer customer call-backs, cancellation and complaints, less paperwork for timecards, better driver training etc. It will make you a better company with the benefits you already realize and understand.

Be Honest and Forthright About the GPS Tracking System
First, be honest and forthright from the beginning and you will gain employee trust. Experience has shown that good employees have no problem with accountability and, in fact, welcome it as it sets them apart from less productive co-workers. Any employee that resists fleet tracking is more than likely an employee that could use improvement somewhere.

Some employees might also have a tendency to distrust, or at least be skeptical of change. Their resistance is rooted in unrealistic attitudes towards change. Change is continuous. It happens everywhere. It’s accelerating as technology expands. And in truth, all changes are not always bad.

Describe to the Employees How a GPS Tracking System Works
Here’s how the system works: A GPS tracking unit [show them the vehicle unit] will be installed on each vehicle. It will record the vehicle location, the exact route the vehicle was driven, time spent at each stop and the speed the vehicle was traveling. [talk about specific information transfer here; i.e. automatic download, data key, cellular, etc.] The information will then be sorted and analyzed to determine what changes or accommodations can be made by the driver to increase efficiency.

Now, you may be asking why the company needs to know this information. Well, there are lots of reasons. One, you will be able to see if there are any changes that need to be made to the routes to save time during the day. You also want to make sure everyone is pulling equal weight. If one driver always has to scramble to make all his stops and another driver has extra time, this management system will help you pinpoint specific issues and allow you to fix them. We all want to establish daily routes that are achievable, not impossible to safely accomplish.

Also, it tells you how fast the trucks are going and gives you all an incentive to stay within the speed limit. This ultimately keeps everyone safer on the road. It proves you have a safe fleet of drivers, which may lower everyone’s insurance premiums due to fewer accidents. (See Employee Benefits).

Build Up a Good Relationship With Your Employees
A good relationship with your drivers will help your fleet run more smoothly and efficiently. Therefore, the more you can get your drivers to collaborate (partner) with the change instead of resisting (fighting) it, the better off the company will be.

This does not mean that the drivers get to decide on the use of fleet management technology.

Welcome Questions From Your Employees About the GPS Tracking Units
Open the floor to questions. If someone asks a question that you are not able to answer right away, tell him or her you’ll find the answer and get back to him or her and do just that. GPS tracking is not a mystery at this point in the technology.
Explain How Everyone Wins When GPS Tracking is Implemented
There are a lot of positives associated with GPS implementation and a lot of other companies have seen excellent results, right off the bat. For instance, a company in California realized a savings of $600 to $800 dollars a week, that’s more than $40,000 a year within two months of installation of their GPS deployment! ROI Calculator

There are also many positives for the driver. A facility maintenance company in Nevada had a driver that had been accused of causing an accident and was cleared when the system proved that the vehicle had never even been in the vicinity of the alleged accident. The company avoided an insurance scam and we see this as a win-win for everyone.

If a customer claims they never showed up, didn’t spend enough time there, or were too early or too late, you have proof to agree or refute the claim. They can’t argue with the system. This type of proof already led to lower customer turnover rates for many GPS Fleet Customers, which benefits everyone.

Points for Introducing Our System to Your Employees
It is no secret why you purchased this new GPS system: increased driver efficiency, improved route management, increased time savings, potential overtime reductions, reduced fuel consumption, and the ability to account for your fleet’s progress. But, how do you communicate those things to your employees? How do you get them to see that your new system will also benefit them?

We’ve put together the following topics to help you introduce the system to your employees. We suggest breaking down your presentation into four main points: Introducing The GPS units, describe the GPS tracking system, benefits of GPS tracking and questions & answers.

Introducing the GPS Units
Inform your employees that your company, in keeping up with current technologies, will be instituting a new fleet management system. This technology will allow the company to maintain a competitive edge in today’s faster business environment, resulting in increased efficiency, and having a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.
Describe the GPS Tracking System
Explain how the system actually works. Describe the units in the vehicles, the computer interface, and the activities that the system will record (speed, mileage, distance, stop time, stop duration, vehicle route, etc.). (Show a report generated on a day they drove a particular vehicle
Benefits of GPS Tracking
Provide an overview of the benefits the system will provide (from decreased insurance premiums to increased route management) but also discuss in detail the direct benefits to employees. You cannot avoid the “big brother” aspect of GPS tracking. Acknowledge it and describe it as another tool used by management to run the company efficiently. GPS tracking is like a work order, customer survey or other tool to help run the business.
As an example, this might be a way a company would introduce the system to its employees...
“Thank you all for joining me today. I know we all have a lot on our plates right now and that time is in short supply around here, but I think you’ll find this meeting a productive one.”

“I wanted to talk to you today about the new fleet management system we’ve installed the last few days. In order to remain competitive and to prosper in today’s hi-tech world, it is essential to be aware of trends and to stay abreast with current technologies. Electronic fleet management is revolutionizing the way fleets are managed in America today. We made an investment in this system because it will ultimately help us be more efficient and hopefully have a positive impact on our bottom line.”

Do’s and Don’ts

There is no “Magic Formula” for introducing Your New GPS System to your employees. However, our experience has identified a number of “Do’s and Don’ts” to follow:

Do:
 

  1. Try to introduce the system in a group meeting or other personal communication. By calling a personal meeting (or a series of small group meetings, depending on the size of your organization), you’ll give employees the opportunity to learn about the system first-hand rather than through the grapevine. It also allows them to have all their questions answered from top management.
  2. Keep the meetings and correspondence upbeat and positive. You may be installing the system because work isn’t up to par, but communicating this to your drivers will automatically put the system in a negative light. Talk about things you feel the company will be able to improve on because of the new system, and be sure to include the positive benefits for employees.
  3. Establish a way for employees to provide feedback and have their questions answered once the system is in place. Encourage e-mails or memos or create a comment box through which employees’ concerns and suggestions can be heard.
  4. Recognize all positive changes and improvements you see once the system is up and running. Whether it’s a gift certificate or cash bonus or simply a letter from the company president, be sure to recognize and reward desired behavior. This will clearly demonstrate to employees that the system provides benefits to both the company and the individual drivers.
Don't:
  1. Don’t install the system before informing your employees. You may be tempted to install the units without employee knowledge (covert installation) simply to track work or establish a benchmark by which to determine the system’s success. However, the headaches and potential employee backlash usually aren’t worth it.
  2. Efficiency starts rising from day one. Moreover, being open and honest builds trust with even the most critical employees.
    Don’t hide information about the system or evade tough questions. It’s important that employees understand the system and what it’s monitoring in order to get the results you’re seeking.
  3. Don’t expect all employees to immediately embrace the system. It’s human nature to react to workplace changes with some uneasiness and distrust, and you may never win everyone over. But once employees understand what the system is designed to do and start to see increased efficiency and timesaving throughout the fleet, most will accept it and work to improve their performance. It’s been our experience that good workers, the ones you want to keep long-term, welcome the system, as it recognizes their strengths and reinforces their contributions to the company.

Tough Questions & Answers

Having helped many companies with GPS implementation, we know there will likely be some tough questions you will have to face. A list of the most frequently asked tough questions are below. While many of the answers will be based on your individual company’s policies, we have given some guidelines for communication.

Q: Don't you trust us to do our jobs?
Absolutely. We trust you but we must verify and collect metrics to help run the company efficiently. Driving a vehicle, selling, servicing, and delivering our products is a huge responsibility and that is why you are part of our team. We are installing this GPS system to help us better manage the entire fleet, not just a single truck. It will give us an overall picture of how the fleet is operating and will point out areas that we could improve on as a company. We see it as a very positive change and we think you will too.

If you have a fear of “big brother” watching get with your manager to discuss where you feel you may need improvement so we can provide the training needed. We want you to be proud of the data which shows off how great you are.

Q: Is this legal? (Consult your legal counsel)
Yes. The system is simply tracking the vehicle’s progress throughout the day and providing the same information that we would get if we were to ride around with you on your calls or asked you to write detailed route reports with delivery times and mileage.

Vehicles and your pay represent a significant investment for the company. An accident can cost the company a lot of money but also your health. Instilling a culture of fleet safety is a top priority. Everyone goes home, every night.

Q: Exactly what will this system monitor
The system will track when the vehicle starts in the morning, where and when it stops, how long it stays at each location, the speed it’s traveling between points, how long it idles during the day, total number of miles driven, and when the equipment is turned on and off (or lift gate or other custom events). It will also indicate harsh driving, power loss and engine fault codes (depending on the system).

Employee Benefits

The strongest method for easing the introduction of the Your New GPS Tracking System is to outline for your employees the primary benefits the system provides them. The following are some of the employee benefits that have already been reported by Other GPS Fleet customers:

Higher Customer Retention
For service drivers, retaining current customers is a high priority. In several cases, the detailed reports Our GPS Tracking System provided led to higher customer retention numbers. Simply put, customers like to see proof that service was completed on time, and by providing that proof, you keep your customers and your commission.
Protection Against False Claims
Your New GPS Tracking System provides electronic verification of service time, providing drivers with “Back Up” in case of customer challenges.
Service Time Tracking
Your New GPS Tracking System provides electronic verification of service time, providing drivers with “Back Up” in case of customer challenges.
Hands-free Mileage Log
Your New GPS Tracking System provides an accurate, hands-free mileage log, saving valuable time.
Vehicle Take Home Policies
Because evening and weekend use can be monitored, some companies are now able to allow employees to use fleet vehicles after-hours. This saves many employees, and the company valuable, time and fuel. Management may opt to charge the employee a small monthly fee for this privilege. It can be optional or mandatory. It can allow your employee to sell one vehicle and save about $300 per month.
Increased Company Profits
Increased savings and company profits translate to better 401(k) results, better maintenance programs to minimize on-the-road problems, replacement of aging equipment, etc.
New Incentives
Because Your New GPS Tracking System allows you to measure performance efficiently, you can create new incentives based solely on productivity. It is amazing to see the changes in performance once drivers take the competitive spirit to heart. Before you know it, they will be helping you find new ways of bringing in revenue.
Increased Driver Safety
Financial gain is not the most important benefit for drivers. The incidence and severity of crashes and driver fatalities increase disproportionately with speed. Because maximum speed is automatically recorded, driver safety can be easily monitored.
Improved Driver Morale
Because with Your New GPS Tracking System driver accountability is not an issue any longer, you do not run the risk of getting caught up in “Gotcha” Management. On the contrary, you now have a tool to catch your drivers doing something good so you can enhance their performance and self-esteem. Good drivers are usually reluctant to report their inefficient counterparts. In many cases, good employees wind up carrying the burden of the “Slackers”. This has an adverse impact on morale. You now have the tool to deal with unproductive drivers.

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