Ringing up the savings by using GPS
The City of Charlottetown has installed GPS units in most of its vehicles, saying it will result in a savings of more than $100,000 per year.
All of the public works vehicles have been outfitted and the units are already up and running.
Parks and recreation have also received the devices, although the units aren’t yet activated, and they’re being installed, as well, in water and sewer utility vehicles.
“There were many intentions when we decided to install it. Is it saving us money? Definitely,’’ said Coun. Terry Bernard, chairman of the public works committee. “With the GPS system it helps us to be more organized, it helps us to set up our schedule much easier.’’
City council approved the move, voting in favour of spending about $140,000 to install the devices in all vehicles but the city expects the savings will soon exceed the expense.
Bernard notes, for example, that the city has a no-idling policy.
“Now we’re able to enforce it because this GPS device tells us everything, (even) when seat belts are in use. It tells us where vehicles are going (and) tells us whether the vehicle is idling or not. I know in just idling alone we’re saving approximately $1,200 a week so that’s nearly $5,000 a month.’’
Having the devices installed in the city’s salt spreaders is expected to reduce costs by about five per cent or $70,000 a year.
“Sometimes we just spread (salt) but if we go to brining through the GPS system, just a five per cent decrease (in salt) we’ll get better salting of our roads and every five per cent is a $40,000 savings.’’
The biggest cost savings will be in fuel.
“I know they’ve been looking at $7,500 to $8,000 so you do that in the run of a year and it’s $90,000 to $100,000 a year. With preventative maintenance, you’ll have all the vehicles scheduled and we’ll know when they’re due for an oil change, for example. The preventative maintenance schedule alone is projected to save us $70,000. If we can just reduce costs 15 per cent that will be $70,000 (a year).’’