Although it has yet to see a widespread acceptance, the combination of GPS and routing software is cutting costs, time and headaches By Stephane Babcock
It has been years since GPS systems and routing
software first hit the market, but even with all the data on how the two can help save money — both to- gether and separate — they are still not used in every school bus fleet. In an informal survey to a number of contractors and transportation directors around the country, to which 125 responded, few reported they were using the two in conjunction. And fewer were able to report any real data in terms of cost savings.
One Doesn’t Work Best Without the Other While school districts usually employ the use of
either GPS or routing software, according to ven- dors, the two work best when used in tandem and, together, can give the greatest return on investment. When using GPS without routing software, opera- tors are only able to track buses where they are, not where they are supposed to be. “Without the comparative analysis capability of
actual versus planned data or the ability to create new and/or improve existing planned routes using GPS data, it’s impossible to say if GPS is contributing to improvements or savings in any way,” said Carter Young, Edulog’s sales support manager. “Tus, inte- gration of the two systems is the key.” And the knowledge of this valuable data can help
school districts make better decisions when bid- ding out a contract, according to Young. With some contractors providing GPS as part of the contract, districts can request that to maximize its routing efficiencies by utilizing routing software as well. Con- tractors that do not have a financial motivation to invest in one system or the other will now consider the benefits of using both. “Te cost of the GPS installation is embedded
somewhere in the contract, so the district has to pay for a stand-alone system and is still not able to reap the benefits of an integrated GPS/routing and sched- uling system,” added Young. But that could be where some customers are left
questioning the pair’s validity. Te complexity of adding the software to already set transportation programs could be problematic when trying to sell the idea to school districts.
“Too much has been made of ‘planned versus ac-
tual’ with routing software. Other routing software solutions are so overly complex that they are likely very difficult for anyone but the developers to figure out how to get an ROI from,” said Zonar Systems’ Chief Technology Officer Mike McQuade, adding that newer ways are emerging that take all the work out of showing a clear ROI.
Proof is in
the...Savings No matter how many times a school district or
contractor hears how much time and money can be saved by the dynamic duo of GPS and routing soft- ware, it doesn’t always stick. Like those who argue the existence of myths like Bigfoot or Nessie, they’ll be- lieve it when they see it. But it is not just being able to see the two systems work together on a computer screen, they need real numbers — data that gives the full picture of how much a district will save from their dwindling budget. “Te combination of routing software and GPS
is like a school district tracking expenditures versus budget,” said Ted Tien, vice president of sales and marketing for Versatrans. “Until districts started using GPS, they didn’t have a way to see if the plan — budget — was being followed.” But the lesson is not lost on all, as there are a
number of school districts that have gone beyond researching the effectiveness of the two and have implemented them with promising results. In Ocala, Fla., Tommy Crosby was able to get past hesitation from the Marion County Public Schools bus driver union, based on the perception that the systems were a threat rather than a way to help them improve and protect them from unfounded complaints. “Tey add tremendous assistance on improving
operating efficiencies,” said Crosby, the district’s ex- ecutive director of support services. “We are able to compare planned routes with actual behavior, improve safety through monitoring of pre-trips, speed and the proper use of equipment and lights. Trough these and other transportation decisions we have cut over 20 percent of our transportation operating costs.”
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