Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee Burbidge on April 17, 2012, 05:55:35 pm

Title: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 17, 2012, 05:55:35 pm
Would you consider GPS tracking linked to your payroll system?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Cliff perkins on April 17, 2012, 06:02:17 pm
I have 7 vans
1 vw transporter
And 6 matchbox vans 1 being an ateam van
Lol >: ;D :D
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 17, 2012, 06:26:47 pm
I have 7 vans
1 vw transporter
And 6 matchbox vans 1 being an ateam van
Lol >: ;D :D

Can you send me a pic of your van. That looks fab lee@windowcleaningmagazine.co.uk
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Moderator David@stives on April 17, 2012, 09:57:08 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Dave Willis on April 17, 2012, 10:01:09 pm
I've got a Tiny willy but no gps on it yet.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Window Washers on April 17, 2012, 10:26:25 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net
Dave what is the cost per van and is it monthly or one off fees ?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Shiners Express Ltd. on April 17, 2012, 10:41:14 pm
From past experience, fit trackers (telling your staff you don't trust them) and moral goes out of the window. If you doubt them that much, then they don't belong in your team, get rid of them.

You know by the figures if they do well or not, spend the money differently, if they do well, give them a bonus which in turn motivates them even further.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Window Washers on April 17, 2012, 10:44:45 pm
From past experience, fit trackers (telling your staff you don't trust them) and moral goes out of the window. If you doubt them that much, then they don't belong in your team, get rid of them.

You know by the figures if they do well or not, spend the money differently, if they do well, give them a bonus which in turn motivates them even further.
not at all, it is more about round management imo, my staff think there are trackers in my vans (there are not) ;D I want to know so I can see where it wastes time how I can better manage a round it is all part of running a business, if staff cant understand this then I would get rid anyway.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Erithwc on April 17, 2012, 10:48:13 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net

Can't be that great you couldn't find your van the other day  ;D ;D ;D

Paul
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Window Washers on April 17, 2012, 10:50:10 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net

Can't be that great you couldn't find your van the other day  ;D ;D ;D

Paul
;D lol
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Shiners Express Ltd. on April 17, 2012, 10:51:42 pm
From past experience, fit trackers (telling your staff you don't trust them) and moral goes out of the window. If you doubt them that much, then they don't belong in your team, get rid of them.

You know by the figures if they do well or not, spend the money differently, if they do well, give them a bonus which in turn motivates them even further.
not at all, it is more about round management imo, my staff think there are trackers in my vans (there are not) ;D I want to know so I can see where it wastes time how I can better manage a round it is all part of running a business, if staff cant understand this then I would get rid anyway.

Then buy a map!!!   ;D
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Smudger on April 17, 2012, 10:52:59 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net

Can't be that great you couldn't find your van the other day  ;D ;D ;D

Paul

Careful that man - you'll be banned before you know it   ;) ::)
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Window Washers on April 17, 2012, 10:55:00 pm
From past experience, fit trackers (telling your staff you don't trust them) and moral goes out of the window. If you doubt them that much, then they don't belong in your team, get rid of them.

You know by the figures if they do well or not, spend the money differently, if they do well, give them a bonus which in turn motivates them even further.
not at all, it is more about round management imo, my staff think there are trackers in my vans (there are not) ;D I want to know so I can see where it wastes time how I can better manage a round it is all part of running a business, if staff cant understand this then I would get rid anyway.

Then buy a map!!!   ;D
lol I have maps, gps tracking is all the rage, I want in on that action, I bet you still collect dont you  ;D
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Shiners Express Ltd. on April 17, 2012, 11:12:23 pm
lol I've got barely enough time to do all the work without collecting aswell. GPS trackers might help a little but personally I doubt it. and it WILL p**s your staff off.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: GDwindowcleaning on April 18, 2012, 01:03:18 am
Why will it p them off? They are the standard in other industries...
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Ian Rochester on April 18, 2012, 04:28:13 am
I've been looking at it, however I do understand the issue of trust of your staff and it does have the "Big Brother is watching you" feel.  I think if I was to buy a new van I'll have it fitted with GPS straight away so then it is less of an issue.

Personally I don't think I need it but it would be nice to have as there are occasions when I or the office need to know where they are in their workload.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Spruce on April 18, 2012, 07:52:08 am
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net

didn't Dave 'loose' one of his vans the other day?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Roy Cauldery on April 18, 2012, 10:31:26 am
3 vans, 2 fitted with trackers.We got them for exactly this reason-stop unauthorised use of the vehicles(I pay the fuel and costs-it's not a perk,it's a tool of the job)
www.satmo.co.uk speak to Fiona and say I said Hi

Regards Roy
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Moderator David@stives on April 18, 2012, 02:22:50 pm
The van was parked in a mobile black spot, they rely on the orange phone network to work.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 18, 2012, 05:14:42 pm
I have 6 vans and use www.quartix.net

Cool. Im going to ring them :)
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 18, 2012, 05:17:16 pm
From past experience, fit trackers (telling your staff you don't trust them) and moral goes out of the window. If you doubt them that much, then they don't belong in your team, get rid of them.

You know by the figures if they do well or not, spend the money differently, if they do well, give them a bonus which in turn motivates them even further.

I dont agree. Tracking helps gather labour hours spent. In the peak time All Counites Window Cleaning has 60 employees. They use this sort of system to pay the staff with. I would rather do it that way than work through 60 timesheets. So you see, it has its place :)
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 18, 2012, 05:23:33 pm
lol I've got barely enough time to do all the work without collecting aswell. GPS trackers might help a little but personally I doubt it. and it WILL p**s your staff off.

I paid the money on the vans. If I want tracking on the vans then I do that for all the business benefits it gives. Who is running the business you or your staff. Take control, I tust every one of my staff and we have a great laugh. A nice family and they respect me as a boss. I have told them that I will be putting tracking devices in the vans. I am looking at GPS to help with my payroll system and save down time.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 18, 2012, 05:29:22 pm
3 vans, 2 fitted with trackers.We got them for exactly this reason-stop unauthorised use of the vehicles(I pay the fuel and costs-it's not a perk,it's a tool of the job)
www.satmo.co.uk speak to Fiona and say I said Hi

Regards Roy

Roy thats really good. You can pay upfront and nothing else to pay?? What about the software is it online and you log in or something?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Shiners Express Ltd. on April 18, 2012, 05:37:33 pm
Lee I can see where you're coming from and to a point I agree with you, based on the fact that you pay for the vans and fuel and so on. All i'm saying is just be careful to think about it from your staffs point of view, many people I know (including myself!) have been on the receiving end of the "GPS question" and from experience, it does nothing to help motivation/moral. Now I know you're not fitting it to increase motivation/moral, however, these are important things to consider when weighing up the pro's and con's.

That said, if you get it fitted, good luck and I hope it works for you.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 18, 2012, 05:51:39 pm
Lee I can see where you're coming from and to a point I agree with you, based on the fact that you pay for the vans and fuel and so on. All i'm saying is just be careful to think about it from your staffs point of view, many people I know (including myself!) have been on the receiving end of the "GPS question" and from experience, it does nothing to help motivation/moral. Now I know you're not fitting it to increase motivation/moral, however, these are important things to consider when weighing up the pro's and con's.

That said, if you get it fitted, good luck and I hope it works for you.

I understand. I take my lads out for all expenses paid curry nites and beer regularly, we are pretty close. I involve them in every business decision I make and give them pros and cons. They are the most loyal and motivated crew I know. They get excited just like me when the new poles turned up. It depends on your relationship. Im fair and a good boss, I look after them.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Roy Cauldery on April 18, 2012, 08:25:33 pm
3 vans, 2 fitted with trackers.We got them for exactly this reason-stop unauthorised use of the vehicles(I pay the fuel and costs-it's not a perk,it's a tool of the job)
www.satmo.co.uk speak to Fiona and say I said Hi

Regards Roy

Roy thats really good. You can pay upfront and nothing else to pay?? What about the software is it online and you log in or something?


Lee,Give me a bell tomorrow 07500 862 571

Regards Roy

p.s you spoken to Lee at Pryors recently?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 19, 2012, 07:22:08 am
3 vans, 2 fitted with trackers.We got them for exactly this reason-stop unauthorised use of the vehicles(I pay the fuel and costs-it's not a perk,it's a tool of the job)
www.satmo.co.uk speak to Fiona and say I said Hi

Regards Roy

Roy thats really good. You can pay upfront and nothing else to pay?? What about the software is it online and you log in or something?


Lee,Give me a bell tomorrow 07500 862 571

Regards Roy

p.s you spoken to Lee at Pryors recently?

Ok Roy. Last time we spoke was a couple of weeks ago.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: j.v. price ltd on April 20, 2012, 10:36:36 pm
Navman wireless

2 way communication with the vans, sat Nav and daily inspection sign off

Great can check them from any pc or phone anywhere

Get email reports of when the vans leave the yard and return
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: mikecam on April 20, 2012, 11:13:19 pm

I paid the money on the vans. If I want tracking on the vans then I do that for all the business benefits it gives. Who is running the business you or your staff. Take control, I tust every one of my staff and we have a great laugh. A nice family and they respect me as a boss. I have told them that I will be putting tracking devices in the vans. I am looking at GPS to help with my payroll system and save down time.

You've gotta be off your rocker if you think a GPS in a van is gonna help your payroll. Where to start......
GPS tracking in itself is a great idea, saves ringing up asking where are they. Google latitude do this for free by the way if anyone has Android phone. Great, you can see where your van is.
 How does that help your payroll or hours list?  And can you expand any further upon how you think a GPS device will save you "down time" ?
 My belief is that it will not help you at all, it will just confirm (or deny) what your staff have told you. So its a check on their honesty, even though they're all part of the 'family'. Oh, and it also won't help one iota with saving "down time".
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: DMC Window Cleaners Ltd on April 21, 2012, 09:48:22 am
also think of the saftey side of it one of my vans the drivers battery died on his phone and and his team mate didnt have his phone on him, I couldnt get hold of that van alday didnt know where it was, he was due back at 5 didnt get back till 7.


its for the employees benefit as well as the employers
if i had tracking at this point i could have just looked online.

if you have a very small team its not worth it but when you start getting a few vans and empoyees starting early before the office opens, its a great tool also helps if you get a customer say you didnt clean my house you can show them a print out we were there at this time


Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Gary nee on April 21, 2012, 10:29:16 am
Track m8 good price.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Rogue Trader on April 21, 2012, 12:31:58 pm
i am considering getting a tracking system for my vans but all of these companies seem to want a pretty hefty up front payment / deposit. The pricing for navman isnt obvious but i guess this will be be the most. What is the true cost of these packages?
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: George P on April 21, 2012, 01:59:21 pm
i spoke to these guys a while ago, cant remember the price but it was a good deal at the time, ask for vicky or geoff, good company to deal with,


http://www.blueskyconnections.co.uk/tracking-devices-east-midlands.html
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 23, 2012, 10:58:21 pm

I paid the money on the vans. If I want tracking on the vans then I do that for all the business benefits it gives. Who is running the business you or your staff. Take control, I tust every one of my staff and we have a great laugh. A nice family and they respect me as a boss. I have told them that I will be putting tracking devices in the vans. I am looking at GPS to help with my payroll system and save down time.

You've gotta be off your rocker if you think a GPS in a van is gonna help your payroll. Where to start......
GPS tracking in itself is a great idea, saves ringing up asking where are they. Google latitude do this for free by the way if anyone has Android phone. Great, you can see where your van is.
 How does that help your payroll or hours list?  And can you expand any further upon how you think a GPS device will save you "down time" ?
 My belief is that it will not help you at all, it will just confirm (or deny) what your staff have told you. So its a check on their honesty, even though they're all part of the 'family'. Oh, and it also won't help one iota with saving "down time".

I don't have problem with it, neither does my staff. A lot of people have made a lot of good points with reference to benefits in this topic, if its not for you, thats fine :). Down time relates to the current time it takes to calculate time sheets.
Title: Re: Who has 5 or more vans on the road?
Post by: Rogue Trader on April 24, 2012, 12:18:15 pm
seems that approx cost is £20 per van per month , which is a bit steep for me when looking at what i will actually get out of it other than to satisfy my need for control (some call me a control freak!) ;D