The construction industry is utilizing multiple aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance safety.

In this article, we will touch on topics that can impac your bottom line while describing complex IoT solutions, services, and tools in an easy to understand “simplified” approach.

What is IoT? And how does it relate to construction?

Imagine having all your equipment, material, and personnel connected to a central server that monitors their activity in real-time.

Fleet managers can simplify equipment tracking with automated monitoring of fuel consumption, equipment location, idle time, speed, and operator behaviors.

Envision having control of your equipment, where you can automatically adjust for the perfect grade, placing material more precisely to save valuable time and material.

The Internet of Things or IoT is immense, and not only is it penetrating the construction industry. You will find it in the automotive industry, energy & utilities, healthcare, home automation, insurance, manufacturing, logistics, sports, and retail, to name a few.

An example of the Internet of Things is incorporating Bluetooth® low energy beacons with the Geotab IOX-BT to track assets such as tools, job site inventory, and equipment. 

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To get a complimentary demo of the IOX-BT
call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.
impac | 1610 Woodstead Ct., Suite 460, The Woodlands, TX 77380
an authorized Geotab reseller.

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Possibilities

When you consider all the possibilities of the connected construction industry, it becomes clear that the only limiting factor is our imagination.

To better help understand the technology, here are a few more examples of innovation in IoT and how implementation improves productivity, efficiency, and safety.

Reduced costs and maintenance

The most popular saving comes with GPS tracking and reducing idle time and fuel consumption.

More advanced systems measure and report fluid temperatures and pressures, engine overload, and various other operational parameters to give you detailed analytical data.

For example, predictive maintenance will help with extending oil changes based on the actual condition of the oil and making repairs only when necessary. 

Productivity 

Avoiding backlogs and reducing unnecessary repetitions with the help of IoT will improve productivity by reducing manual labor and errors on the job site.

Utilizing low energy beacons to track down tools and equipment will add hours to your day to use for more productive tasks.

Safety and security – site monitoring

Theft and safety are two of the biggest challenges on a construction job site. With real-time telematics, workers and managers can predict and prevent situations that lead to safety problems.

Using sensors to track and monitor material, tools, and equipment gives you a complete real-time sitemap 24/7. Knowing where your tools and equipment are at all times can eliminate loss or theft.

Benefits of IoT in the construction industry

• Tracking and locating materials and resources using IoT to improve scheduling
• Wearable tech will enhance safety and health on the job site
• Enable real-time inspections with IoT for smoother operations
• Increase revenue and overall quality
• Reduce paperwork, progress reporting, and record-keeping

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Construction workers of the future

Growing trends in technology is a hot topic in the construction industry. Tune into the Peggy Smedley Show as she discusses “Construction Workers of the Future.”

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Conclusion

Using telematics to track and reduce operating costs, monitor operator behavior, plan preventative maintenance, all lead to a safe and productivity job site.

If you have questions concerning IoT, telematics, or you would like to find out more about our simplified solutions, impac Fleet offers fleet fuel cards, telematics, and world-class customer service.

To get a complimentary demo of our fuel card program and GPS solutions, call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.

Disclaimer: The content and information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, business, or legal advice. Always contact a professional for your specific needs and circumstances before making any legitimate, business, tax-related, or professional business decisions.

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1610 Woodstead Ct., Suite 460
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 445-1100

Fuel efficiency is about productivity and the ability to track fuel consumption. Telematics is a good start when it comes to tracking fuel used and is an excellent start to building a more robust business.

Tracking the gallons burned per hour equals fuel consumption. The tonnage moved per gallon equals fuel efficiency.

In this article, we will be touching on some key points related to telematics and fuel consumption, as well as equipment selection and Jobsite optimization, to maximize your equipment fuel efficiency.

impac fleets dedicated team of experts can help you simplify your fuel; we effectively create customized solutions and recommendations for an individualized solution. Get started today: Give us a call directly at (281) 445-1100

Technology – doing more with less

Can technology alone help maximize tons produced while burning the least amount of fuel? Telematics, along with advanced operator training, equipment selection, and improved working practices, will play a big part in reducing CO2 emissions and your overall fuel consumption.

Technology is rapidly spreading throughout the construction industry, with advancements in telematics, electromobility, and autonomous machinery, to name a few.

Collecting information, such as idle time versus work time, can help identify which machines are wasting fuel while implementing best practices and utilizing an idle limiter to shut down the engine based on a programable pre-set idle time.

A report released from James Long LaSalle, Inc shows that venture capital firms had already invested $1.05 billion in global contech startups during the first half of 2018.

Operator training

Fuel efficiency goes hand in hand with the operator’s technique and behaviors. Training operators on built-in features like auto-idle and engine shut down can result in significant fuel reduction.

An inconsistent operation where the operator accelerates up and down, brakes often is like driving your car in the city, you will always get fewer miles per gallons and increase wear and tear.

Daily maintenance, keeping the machine greased and running at a lessor RPM will also reduce fuel consumption.

Training operators to perform preventative maintenance such as – checking fluid levels, greasing bearings and bushings, and keeping the equipment clean will minimize wear and tear, unplanned downtime, and costly repairs.

Operator precision not only will reduce operator fatigue, but will reduce fuel burn. A skilled operator will spend less time correcting movements and more time being productive. 

Automated precision features like return to dig and Pro Control, a feature on CASE backhoes, will allow the boom to stop at the precise moment the operator releases the hand control.  

Expert tips and tricks

Consultation services – fuel efficiency strategies

Consulting with industry experts to come up with simplified and unique solutions to position your company to compete and win in the new technology age is smart business.

With 25+ years of fleet fuel knowledge, impac fleet can help optimize your fleet fuel spend, create detailed telematics reporting and analytics for an individualized solution specific to your business. 

Conclusion

Using telematics to track and reduce operating costs, monitor operator behavior, plan preventative maintenance, all lead to a safe and productivity job site.

If you have questions concerning the telematics of used construction equipment, or you would like to find out more about our simplified solutions, impac Fleet offers fleet fuel cards, telematics, and world-class customer service.

To get a complimentary demo of our fuel card program and GPS solutions, call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.

Disclaimer: The content and information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, business, or legal advice. Always contact a professional for your specific needs and circumstances before making any legitimate, business, tax-related, or professional business decisions.

Construction equipment telematics allows for location, performance, and security monitoring, providing insights on how your machines are operating so you can increase productivity, safety, and efficiency on every job.

With the right systems in place, operators can access an array of equipment data, including idle and run time, engine stress, fuel, and fluid consumption, temperatures and pressures, and geolocation.

What are my machines doing, and where are they?

Do you own and operate a mixed-brand fleet? With half of your loaders equipped from the manufacturer with an OEM telematics server and the other half with a third party-branded unit? And maybe your skid steers have no telematics functionality as all.

How do you bring this all together so you can monitor and manage a wide range of diverse assets on one platform?

Analyzing the data, leveraging predictive algorithms, and data mining are beyond the scope of any one article.

Let impac fleets dedicated team of experts help you simplify your telematics and fleet solutions. With 25+ years of fleet fuel knowledge, we effectively create customized solutions and recommendations.

What are the top benefits of construction telematics?

Operator Performance

Monitoring telematics data like erratic movements, speeding, excessive idle time, and overloading the machine will help you focus your training for specific operators. Correcting bad habits and improving driver behaviors will improve labor costs, reduce extra wear and tear on equipment and will result in a safer worksite.

Fleet safety and security

GPS alerts and geofencing will provide alerts as soon as a piece of equipment leaves the assigned worksite. Also, telematics will track and send alerts when equipment operates outside of work hours.

The National Equipment Register (NER) estimates the value of construction equipment stolen each year is between $300 million to $1 billion. (Aug 30, 2017).

Access control: using keypad technology in conjunction with geofencing boundaries will send an alert to your smartphone so you can immediately shut down the machine, stopping potential thieves or misuse of equipment.

Contractors can also utilize security keypad technology by assigning each user with an access code (PIN) to ensure only operators with proper certification and training can use the equipment. Also, when using access control, data can be gathered and monitored to identify and associate dangerous habits to a specific operator.

Reduce fuel consumption

Telematics helps reduce fuel waste by collecting information such as idle time and work time fuel efficiencies, giving you a better understanding of how each piece of equipment operates.

Idle time and engine RPM contribute to fuel inefficiency. Utilizing telematics with auto-shutdown when a machine reaches a preset idles time can reduce fuel consumption.

How operators use a machine can have a significant effect on fuel consumption. If reports show that a machine idles for several minutes at varying times throughout the day, this could indicate that the operator may not be shutting down the engine while leaving the equipment, talking on the phone or when job workflow is lagging.

For example, telematics can provide data such as travel time and work time usage, giving you the tools to determine when there may be a bottleneck in the workflow, which could be a sign that there is too much equipment on the job site. 

Maintenance & repair schedules

Identifying problems early on can reduce repairs and downtime for your equipment. Integrating telematics and tracking machine hours will help you schedule preventative maintenance, and will also alert you when equipment isn’t operating at peak performance. 

Equipment with sensors connected to cloud software can also provide real-time information such as faults and diagnostics codes, warning managers of problems before they become critical, saving the company costly repairs and downtime.

Fuel tax refunds

A business that uses fuel for off-road construction equipment may qualify for refund or credit on the federal level. GPS tracking data, along with fuel consumption records, will track all off-road fuel usage.

NOTE: Tax credits for red-dyed diesel fuel is not available, as this is already meant for off-road use and is not taxed when purchased.

Job estimates = more competitive bids

Analyzing fuel usage and machine hours from telematics data along with labor costs will give you an advantage when it comes to submitting more competitive bids.

Conclusion

Using telematics to track and reduce operating costs, monitor operator behavior, plan preventative maintenance, all lead to a safe and productivity job site.

If you have questions concerning the telematics of used construction equipment, or you would like to find out more about our simplified solutions, impac Fleet offers fleet fuel cards, telematics, and world-class customer service.

To get a complimentary demo of our fuel card program and GPS solutions, call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.

Disclaimer: The content and information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, business, or legal advice. Always contact a professional for your specific needs and circumstances before making any legitimate, business, tax-related, or professional business decisions.

One of the biggest reasons to buy used construction equipment vs. new is the price.

When buying used construction equipment, you are also managing your overhead and maintenance costs while maximizing profits. additional benefits of buying used construction equipment may include:

Availability and capabilities

When shopping for used construction equipment, there is generally a significant selection readily available, giving you the flexibility to put your machine to work now.

Used equipment can also come with performance capabilities. If you can get access to the machines telematics, you can review alerts, fuel used, idle time, and engine hours.

Getting more bang for your buck

Have you had your eye on another piece of equipment or a particular feature? Maybe you are looking for extra cash flow to help build your business. Buying used can help give you more bang for your buck.

Can you get a warranty on used construction equipment?

More often than not, dealers of used construction equipment will offer a warranty as well as a maintenance plan.

Depreciation and resale value

Most heavy equipment will lose a significant amount of its value within the first 12 months after the sale. Then, for the remaining life of the machine, as long as it is well maintained will retain a significant portion of its value.

Where do I buy heavy equipment?

You can find local dealers, resellers, liquidations, online, or onsite auctions, to name a few.

Buying used allows the buyer to purchase quality used machinery well below retail value. Again, be sure to do your research, inspect the equipment, get as much history on the machine as possible, and make sure you understand the bidding process if you are purchasing via auction.

Most reputable dealers will have an online presence so you can read online reviews. Find out what other buyers are saying about the seller, are they being endorsed or getting complaints? Do they have warranty and maintenance options?

Use this to build a list of questions you can ask them directly concerning your specific needs and equipment requirements.

Buyers premium: When you purchase used equipment via auction or liquidation, a buyer’s premium may apply. a BP is an additional fee that the buyer has to pay in addition to the winning bid. The buyer premium could be 10% or higher. 

Have you rented equipment? Construction equipment rental businesses offer up-to-date equipment so they can have a competitive advantage in the rental market. Check around; maybe you can get a list of equipment that will be coming up for sale, you could even rent it for your next project, find out if it fits your needs.

To learn more about rental options, check out our article: What are the advantages of renting vs. buying construction equipment?

To get you started, we did a little research and found a few websites that offer new and used construction equipment.

If you have additional suggestions or you have had a good or bad experience with any of the above-listed resources, we would love for you to share your experiences in the comments below.

Conclusion

Whether you buy new, used, or rent construction equipment, its always good to go the extra mile and weigh up all your options and decide what options are best for you and your company.

If you have questions concerning the telematics of used construction equipment, or you would like to find out more about our simplified solutions, impac Fleet offers fleet fuel cards, telematics, and world-class customer service.

To get a complimentary demo of our fuel card program and GPS solutions, call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.

Disclaimer: The content and information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, business, or legal advice. Always contact a professional for your specific needs and circumstances before making any legitimate, business, tax-related, or professional business decisions.

The key to running a successful construction company is equipment. The question is, should I rent or buy heavy equipment?

Here are several great reasons to rent vs. buying.

• The opportunity to try newer models
• Depreciation costs
• Insurance costs
• Maintenance fees
• Availability
• Tax advantages
• Try new opportunities
• Transportation costs
• Compliance issues

In this article, our main focus is on the advantages of renting heavy equipment. Whether you’ve recently won a bid on a significant project, or you want to expand your horizon with some new opportunities. Knowing when to rent vs. buying can have a considerable impac on your business.

Deciding to make a significant purchase at the wrong time can put you in a cash flow crunch, always run your numbers and consider all options and benefits of renting vs. buying. Here are a few of the pros of renting equipment.

The latest and best

Obsolete? Not when it comes to rentals. Offering up-to-date equipment is the competitive edge that keeps rental companies in the business.

Construction companies that prefer to rent heavy equipment expect newer machines so they can work more efficiently and worry-free.

Depreciation – does it apply to rentals?

There is no need to be concerned about depreciation when you rent heavy equipment. You can deduct rental payments as a business expense, adding additional cost savings to your business.

When you rent, you eliminate all worries about wear and tear of the equipment and just how fast it can lose resale value. The value of all machinery depreciates quickly from year to year, and if you want to purchase the latest model equipment, you risk losing trade-in or resale value when you are ready to upgrade.

Maintenance costs

Breakdowns? Yes, this can happen when you own, as well as when you rent heavy equipment. Are you prepared for unplanned repair costs and downtime? How about maintenance and hefty shop expenses?

Worry-free maintenance? Yes, rental companies handle all repairs and maintenance. Most rental companies include these costs as part of the rental rate.

New opportunities

Do you have your eye on a new specialized piece of equipment? Looking to expand your company? Buying equipment might not be economically viable at this time. However, a rental could help you develop and test the waters without a considerable investment. Renting equipment can free up available capital to pursue other opportunities.

Transportation costs

Moving your equipment from job site to job site can be time-consuming and costly. When you rent heavy machinery, you can have the equipment delivered to your job, fueled, and ready to go.

Insurance

High premiums? The cost of buying insurance for heavy equipment can be a considerable expense. Rental companies can have more negotiation power when it comes to insurance costs and can pass the savings on to you. When you rent the equipment, you can have the insurance costs bundled into the package rate, making it easier to track and monitor expenses.

Compliance issues

Managing compliance can be time-consuming, costly, and a real hassle for your company. If you are negligent in this part of your business, you can almost guarantee additional costs cutting into your bottom line.

When you rent equipment, you can count on the rental company to make sure that it will meet all the right standards. It’s like having a team of compliance experts.

Conclusion

With our article focused mainly on renting vs. buying, you may wonder if buying is even an option. There has always been a general rule of thumb that if you are not using your equipment more than 64 percent of the time, you should consider renting.

Beyond the obvious considerations when deciding to rent vs. purchasing equipment, keep in mind such things as safety, efficiency, morale, employee retention, growth, and business risks. It’s not always about the hard numbers when it comes to making the right decisions for your business.

Different rent or buy decisions vary by company types and needs. If you have some excellent tips for buying or some additional reasons for renting, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experience, resources, and suggestions in the comments below.

Impac Fleet offers fleet fuel cards, telematics, and world-class customer service. To get a complimentary demo of our fuel card program and GPS solutions, call us directly at (281) 445-1100 or click here to request a demo.

Disclaimer: The content and information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, business, or legal advice. Always contact a professional for your specific needs and circumstances before making any legitimate, business, tax-related, or professional business decisions.

Card skimming, unauthorized purchases, slippage and misuse are all red flags that impac fleet monitors for their clients 24/7.

Managed Fuel Program

Fuel costs can make up nearly two-thirds of your operating expense. However, when you connect your business with the right fuel card you will optimize fuel used, mitigate fraud and save money.

when you release control to a managed fuel program you may feel a little daunted (intimidated). On the other hand, someone keeping things in line would be nice, wouldn’t it?

impac fleet’s fuel management program offers the most comprehensive tracking and reporting system in the fuel card industry today. Please let us help you with tax exemption, discount processing, online system access, and card level controls.

The impac Solution

Our program is designed around your need for a single-source provider to issue all cards, billing, paying invoices, and customer service.

Let impac Fleets experienced team bring it all together for a complete, comprehensive, and maintenance fleet fuel solution.

Fraud Prevention Tips

You can implement several controls to enforce proper fuel-card usage to prevent theft.

When you establish controls across your entire fleet and for individual drivers to restrict purchase types, dollar as well as number of transactions per day, and purchase hours such controls will help prevent fraud as well as misuse.

Fleet managers and drivers need to consider a few basic fraud prevention tips including:

• Monitor fuel card accounts. Look for red flags such as unusual out of route charges or odd dollar amounts.
• If your drivers don’t work weekends then fueling on their days off should not be allowed.
• If your drivers don’t go to certain states or regions then restrict purchases to only their areas of travel. Your impac fleet customer care professional can set these precaution is a matter of minute for you.
• Educate drivers about fuel card misuse and fraud consequences. Also educate them about how to look for signs of tampering at the pump including broken seals. If something on the pump looks suspicious don’t use it. Always try to fuel at stations with good lighting and surveillance systems.
• Require PINs and prompts. Driver should be required to enter a personal ID number (PIN) and be prompted to enter a unit number or other verification data elements before they are allowed to fuel.

The most important thing to keep in mind with fuel card fraud is to do everything you can to prevent it from happening. Be diligent, try to catch problems early, and be ready to take action quickly to avoid costly ramifications.

To ensure a true customized solution, it is important to set the restrictions and controls of the fleet fuel cards that are ideal for the drivers and vehicles that make up a specific fleet. Check out our article “4 Purchase Controls Fleet Fuel Cards Offer“.

If you enjoyed our article please subscribe to get the latest articles, ebooks, research and impac fleet happenings delivered to your inbox each week.

Want to learn more about how we can help with fraud prevention, and our managed fuel program? we would be happy to schedule time to meet with you and discuss the available fleet management tools specific to your company needs.

In this article I will explain 3 types of fleet tracking systems. Cellular, wireless passive and satellite.

Some of the main features that the modern Fleet Manager is taking advantage of by utilizing a fleet tracking system are: route optimization, increased productivity, driver and vehicle safety and time management.

Cellular

Cellular and hand-held tracking devices utilize cellular networks to transmit fleet location and other information to cell towers. Fleets can install an in-vehicle tracking devise or use cellphones simply by installing an app.

Cell Phone GPS: When using an app installed on a cell phone you are tracking the cell phone. This is fine if you are just tracking an employee, contractor or looking for an inexpensive way to track a load using an outside carrier and you don’t mind the occasional outage or the possibility of the phone being turned off or a dead battery.

In-vehicle GPS: If you are interested in the actual physical location of your assets, fuel usage and driver behaviors, then a vehicle-installed GPS system would be the better choice.

Wireless Passive

Basic wireless passive tracking systems record data during the work day and is retrieved once the vehicle is returned to its home base. More advanced models have incorporated modems so real time data such as vehicle speed and stops can be available.

Wireless passive systems require hardware and software installations as well as the creation of a database. The benefits of the wireless passive system is once its installed, their is no monthly fees. The downside is the upfront costs and installation.

Satellite

Satellites orbiting the earth, amazing. Using the advanced satellite system will give you the exact location of your assets all at the same time, all on one computer screen, all in real-time.

When comparing systems keep in mind that satellite is more up-to-the-minute location tracking and may not provide as much detailed information as the wireless or cellular systems.

Also, monthly satellite-based tracking fees may increase based on the amount of data you transmit, more data equals higher operating expense.

Conclusion

As a Fleet Manager you will want to know what type of information and data that is most important to your operation and the system that will deliver this to you.

For a free consultation, please reach out to our experienced team at impac Fleet. We offer unmatched customer service and robust and individualized fleet management solutions.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 (HOUSTON) – Fleetcard Inc. dba impac Fleet, an expert source on fleet fuel card solutions, is proud to announce they have blazed their way to #63 for the Houston-area private companies with the fastest revenue growth between fiscal year 2016 to 2018.

The impac team is customer service oriented and we work on a consultative approach. Erin Applegate, CEO and founder built the business, team and volume from 0 to 60 million in 3 years which included continued growth through the major economic downturn in the late 2008 and early 2009.

About impac Fleet

Award winning, Houston based impac fleet is a single-source provider of expense management solutions for commercial and governmental fleets of all sizes. The company is committed to offering the most comprehensive tracking and reporting system in the industry-aimed to improve overall fuel strategies and cost-savings. To learn more about impac Fleet, please visit, www.impacfleet.com

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