Construction equipment usually comes at a hefty price, and it is not an item you would prefer recurring in your monthly or even yearly budget. That is why protecting your costly investment is important, ensuring it operates optimally and yields good returns.
To significantly reduce operational and maintenance costs, addressing issues such as idle time, improper or unauthorized usage, fuel wastage, and particularly equipment theft is vital.
According to the 2020 Equipment Theft Report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), 11,117 cases of stolen heavy equipment, including construction equipment were reported in the year.
A robust equipment tracking system is the ideal solution to address such challenges. By deploying GPS equipment tracking technology, you can easily monitor, locate, and manage your heavy equipment, ensuring its safety and proper use, and improving its on-site performance.
In this article, we will explore how you can use GPS tracking in construction for heavy equipment, highlighting its key features and types, and understanding how it benefits the construction industry as a whole.
What is GPS tracking?
Utilizing the global positioning system (GPS), GPS tracking has transformed asset and resource management across several industries. With the help of GPS tracking devices, you can accurately track the location of your equipment in real-time. Construction companies can derive multiple benefits from using GPS tracking for construction equipment and other high-value assets.
For example, construction companies can use GPS tracking technology to know the exact location of their equipment, ensuring the costly machinery is safe and is being used efficiently. The GPS tracking technology provides exact location details of the equipment, enabling construction managers to track it closely and make informed decisions about the allocation of resources.
What is GPS tracking for heavy equipment?
Also referred to as GPS tracking devices, GPS trackers are small, versatile tools that can be attached to various assets, including heavy equipment used in construction. These trackers play a significant role in enhancing the equipment’s safety, reducing the theft risk, and improving equipment tracking.
Construction companies can use GPS trackers to remotely access real-time location details of their equipment, allowing them to take immediate action in case of potential theft or unauthorized use.
It is true that the construction industry significantly relies on heavy equipment and machinery to perform several maintenance tasks. The adoption of GPS tracking technology helps construction companies manage and protect their equipment.
Construction equipment ranging from bulldozers to cranes can be equipped with GPS tracking devices, making it easier for managers to track their location, usage, and maintenance needs. This also ensures the efficient allocation of resources, thereby reducing downtime and costs.
Specifically designed for heavy equipment used in construction, GPS tracking devices are made to endure the harsh conditions of construction sites and can be discreetly attached to the equipment. All in all, GPS equipment trackers allow construction companies to streamline maintenance management by improving asset security and optimizing resource allocation to reduce unnecessary costs.
Which industries can use GPS equipment tracking technology?
The GPS equipment tracking technology is widely used across multiple industries, including:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Utilities
- Infrastructure and roadways
- Landscaping
- Farming
- Shipping and logistics
- Restaurants and food trucks
- Motorsports trailers
Examples of GPS tracking for heavy equipment
Let’s explore some examples of GPS tracking for heavy equipment within the construction industry.
- Using GPS equipment trackers, you can track heavy equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, and excavators to ensure they are where they are supposed to be.
- GPS trackers provide Immediate alerts on unauthorized movement or use, thus reducing the theft risk.
- GPS trackers help monitor equipment usage, ensure efficient resource allocation, and reduce idle time.
- Construction teams can monitor multiple pieces of equipment across different sites, improving operational efficiency and resource allocation.
Types of GPS tracking devices for heavy equipment
Other technologies can be used for tracking heavy equipment, but GPS is considered the topmost choice. Below, we have outlined the best GPS tracking devices that are available for heavy equipment:
Battery-powered
Battery-powered GPS tracking devices are built to send a location signal every 23 hours. It does have the potential to send more frequent updates but this could affect the battery life. These are non-rechargeable GPS trackers that have up to a 7-year battery life.
Solar-powered
Solar-powered GPS trackers also send location updates every 23 hours but have the potential to do so more often. Unlike battery-powered GPS trackers, they can be recharged via sunlight for an unlimited battery life. Some models can send signals upon detecting vibration, indicating the asset’s movement or use.
Plug-in
Considered the most advanced form of GPS trackers, plug-ins can be connected directly to the equipment’s engine to read critical engine data including fault codes, hours, fuel use, and more. These trackers send location updates every two minutes when equipment is running and every 23 hours when it is not running, ensuring the location is continuously monitored.
Benefits of using GPS tracking for heavy equipment
The key benefits of using GPS tracking for heavy equipment are discussed as follows:
Remote construction site management
A robust GPS tracking system allows construction companies to remotely monitor equipment locations in real-time. For instance, if a bulldozer scheduled to be at the center of the site at noon is missing, you can use a GPS equipment tracker to locate it and instruct the workers to reposition it, reducing the need to be on the site to detect such issues.
Enhanced productivity
GPS tracking technology helps construction companies track their equipment and its usage, thus improving equipment safety and boosting productivity.
Asset maintenance efficiency
To ensure safety and maintain your equipment in good condition, you must use GPS tracking technology. The GPS tracker, connected to your asset’s diagnostics, offers accurate equipment condition reports and highlights errors through its telematic functioning. You can receive insights on fuel consumption, equipment idle times, and proposed preventive maintenance services, enabling timely repairs or servicing and boosting asset maintenance efficiency.
Enhanced safety
GPS trackers help monitor equipment to ensure it is used properly and within safety guidelines, thus reducing the risk of accidents.
Theft prevention
GPS tracking technology prevents theft and unauthorized use of equipment, protecting financial investments.
Efficient resource allocation
With GPS tracking devices, construction companies can allocate and schedule equipment efficiently, reducing idle times and boosting efficiency.
Real-time data access
GPS tracking for heavy equipment provides immediate insights into equipment performance, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs, facilitating better and informed management decisions.
Improved maintenance scheduling
GPS trackers facilitate timely maintenance based on actual equipment use, enhancing its lifespan, preventing breakdowns, and improving the maintenance scheduling process.
How do construction companies track heavy equipment using GPS trackers?
GPS tracking technology enables construction companies to track the real-time location and usage of their heavy equipment, providing insights into asset utilization.
GPS trackers can be discreetly connected to any equipment, regardless of its size, transmitting data such as location, speed, and other relevant information to a cloud-based platform, such as a CMMS system.
Real-time information helps companies obtain up-to-date data on equipment location, usage, and maintenance needs, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and boost productivity.
Additionally, GPS tracking for construction equipment can help companies prevent theft by sending alerts in case any piece of equipment exits from a designated location or is operated beyond working hours.
Integrating CMMS with GPS tracking technology
Asset tracking is one of the key features offered by CMMS software. Such software stores data related to equipment maintenance and integrates with GPS trackers on the assets. This integration automatically tracks equipment location and other metrics such as usage hours, temperature, fuel consumption, and more.
Using CMMS software for asset tracking compiles detailed asset maintenance records, offering quick access to their condition and status, and supports advanced monitoring capabilities. By integrating condition-monitoring sensors into your CMMS, real-time data about your most critical assets flows directly into the system, keeping you aware of their status.
Integrating CMMS systems with GPS tracking technology allows for streamlined maintenance processes, reduced costs, increased operational efficiency, and extended equipment lifespan.
Frequently asked questions
How do you track heavy equipment?
Construction companies can track heavy equipment using GPS tracking devices and integrate them within CMMS systems. GPS tracking enables real-time monitoring of equipment’s location and usage, sending data such as speed and position to the CMMS, and facilitating asset management.
Does heavy equipment have GPS tracking?
Heavy equipment is equipped with GPS tracking devices, allowing managers to monitor asset usage and location details around the clock. GPS tracking provides real-time notifications, route tracking, and theft prevention tools for construction equipment.
How do I track my equipment location?
To track your equipment’s location, a company can use RFID asset tracking or a GPS-based asset tracking device. Another option is to link a unique QR code to each piece of equipment, enabling your employees to scan via their mobile devices or tablets.
