GPS might help monitor fuel usage

For large vehicle fleets, GPS units could be the ultimate fuel usage watchdog or the king of nitpicking micromanagement tools.

Skyrocketing gas prices have large fleets on the lookout for the former.

That's why Global Positioning System companies have recently started pitching the satellite-powered tracking technology as a way large vehicle fleets, particularly those belonging to governments, can cut ever-increasing fuel costs. The idea is to closely monitor the routes drivers take while on the job to catch wasteful driving.

"There are a lot of companies that are getting into this business, and there are a lot of vendors that are calling around trying to sell their products,” Oklahoma City fleet manager Richard Stehr said.

One GPS company is New York-based Vehicle Tracking Solutions, which says the fleets outfitted with its equipment save money and increase productivity because managers can monitor driving and make sure it's kept at a minimum.

The GPS system allows managers to see in real-time if vehicles are speeding, taking longer routes than needed or being driven during off hours.

Oklahoma City has a new lube truck equipped with a similar GPS unit from another company. Lube trucks take oil and other lubricants to equipment across the city. Stehr said the technology helps ensure the routes the truck runs are logical. It costs about $400 to outfit a city vehicle with GPS, he said.