With Christmas just around the corner, more internet orders are being placed than ever before. Which means that even more delivery drivers are on the roads than usual to hopefully deliver everyone’s presents in time for Christmas!
SimplySecure by Simplytrak is a bespoke solution designed to remove the risk of the increasing numbers of opportunist thefts within the courier and delivery industries. It was designed in association with Amazon Delivery Service Providers and is in use across an increasing number of courier fleets now. Regardless of whether you are the world’s biggest parcel delivery company or a straightforward one-man owner driver, SimplySecure is the solution for you. Created to be both a driver training tool and, more substantively, a bulletproof security measure, the system makes busy courier vehicles impossible to steal.
The RAC state that since 2016 approximately 43,000 vans have been stolen – which works out at a whopping 24 vans per day in the UK alone! That was a major insurance risk that urgently needed addressing. Which is where Simplytrak came in.
Many of the vans in the RAC statistics will belong to the parcel delivery industry and the loss extends to much more than the vehicle itself. The average courier vehicle contains between £20K and £30K of parcel value when commencing its rounds. Which also means £20k-£30K of parcels needing reprovisioning and redelivering which is a colossal waste of resource across the board. Insurance for couriers was due to increase dramatically unless this is quickly addressed. Step up SimplySecure.
Delivery vans are always at their most vulnerable during routine parcel drops. Drivers, faced with ever shorter times to park and hand over the goods to customers, run to doorways often leaving the keys in the vehicle. Opportunists jump in and drive the vehicle short distances before offloading the goods into another van to ensure that onboard tracking devices are of little use in deterring these sort of crimes. The value of the goods often far exceeding the value of the vans.
Once installed by Simplytrak engineers, the SimplySecure device will auto-immobilize the vehicle if a door is opened whilst the keys are left in the ignition – in any position, engine running or otherwise. In such an instance, the hazard lights will flash, and the horn will sound and the vehicle cannot be started or moved. This method is a major deterrent to potential thieves as it draws instant attention to the vulnerable vehicle. However, this is also a very effective driver training tool with drivers needing to call in to their office to have the vehicle re-mobilized and receive a ticking off by the dispatcher/fleet manager. The drivers quickly learn to avoid an awkward call to the office and the danger of vehicle and parcel theft rapidly dissolves. If, however, the driver successfully follows the correct procedure, removing the keys every time before opening the door, the vehicle will stay active and their delivery schedule can remain on track.
But SimplySecure doesn’t stop there. The vehicle can also be immobilized remotely from the office with the click of a button and can, for owner drivers, be reactivated using a vehicle specific sequence of actions advised of at the time of install. In addition, the solution also offers a fully suite tracking and reporting solutions with real time vehicle information and turn by turn updates. This also allows the operations team to actively monitor a fleet of vehicles and assess/address any issues that arise making for an extremely efficient operation.
As a result of installing the SimplySecure system, companies can often see a reduction within their insurance policy due to the added level of vehicle security (prices will vary with providers) and insurance premiums kept in check by minimizing claims.
Contact us today to learn more about SimplySecure! You’ll find us at Simplytrak.com
Simplytrak – saving Christmas once again.
The Market Weighton based company is fast growing its reputation for vehicle tracking and has impressed North Yorkshire’s Rural Crime Division by going above and beyond for a victim of theft.
The tracking systems earnt the respect of The North Yorkshire Rural Crime Division after the system was used to track and locate a recently stolen quad bike.
Sergeant Arfan Rahouf from the North Yorkshire Rural Task Force was involved in the vehicle recovery operation and he commended the tracking software after being impressed by Simplytrak’s speedy response and the softwares ability to pinpoint the stolen vehicles exact location. PC Arfan commented, “We received fantastic service from Simplytrak. The tracking kit enabled the team to locate, seize and recover the stolen quad within twenty-four hours.”
Having previously been interviewed about rural vehicle crime, PC Rahouf commented that: “The problem with rural crime is it is not high enough up the agenda for people. If you take a quad bike from a farmer then that is their livelihood gone for a couple of days – if not weeks – until it can be retrieved or replaced and the impact of it is massive.” Since the introduction of the Rural Task Force over three years ago, rural crime has fallen, however PC Rahouf stated that, “The force has seen an increase in farm and agricultural theft, in particular quad bike thefts.” Which is where tracking and security systems come into play and can offer confidence to the rural community.
Talking about the incident and the systems capabilities, Ian Wood, Managing Director said: “Simplytrak supplies Platt Quads with the tracking system and software and in turn they supply vehicles to their network of customers with the added security of Simplytrak’s tracking systems. Having originally purchased a quad fitted with a tracker from Platt’s the vehicle was subsequently re-sold to a private customer and the system was later disabled. Unfortunately for the new owner, the vehicle was recently stolen and North Yorkshire Rural Crime Division contacted Simplytrak to enquire about the original tracking system installed and ascertain whether it could be reinstated. We quickly confirmed that we were able to reactivate the system to track the stolen bike and reacted quickly to the Police request. By re-enabling the tracker we were able to direct the police to the exact location of the stolen vehicle, where they were able to recover it quickly.”
Ian goes on to say, “The tracker demonstrated its capabilities perfectly and impressed both the Officers involved in the quad’s recovery and the private owner – who has now purchased the system for the rest of their fleet of vehicles. Rural vehicle crime is on the rise and it’s great to know our system can support prevention and help to minimise crime by supporting tracking and vehicle retrieval which hopefully leads to subsequent criminal proceedings. In the past few years we have helped the police on a number of occasions and often finding one stolen vehicle leads to the location of quite a few more.”
The private owner Helen, who has since gone on to purchase a range of Simplytrak tracking kits said, “Without having the Simplytrak tracker installed on our quad bike, we would have faced huge costs plus the price rise on insurance and the total inconvenience of having to replace the equipment. Thanks to Simplytrak we recovered the quad bike within around 12 hours of it being stolen.”
Helen explained: “The yard break-in was frighteningly well-organised, we believe the thieves used drones to stake out the area and plan entry and exit points in advance. Within a 15 minute window they had cut down our fences, broken into our shed and wheeled the quad to a waiting horse trailer before making a quick getaway. We reported the crime to the Police but with no officers immediately available, or clues to go off it was looking incredibly unlikely that we would recover the quad. We remembered that the previous owner had a tracker fitted but we hadn’t re-activated it in our name.The next morning we were able to get Simplytrak’s details from the previous owner, and pass these on to the Police. Simplytrak immediately accessed the tracker and within a matter of minutes told the Police it’s precise location. Officers were able to recover the quad that same day.
We are so thrilled to have got our quad bike back. Recovery would not have been possible without Simplytrak. We have already re-registered the tracker in our name and purchased several more units for all our other machines! We couldn’t be more grateful for the fantastic service from Simplytrak.”
Simplytrak’s vehicle tracking systems enable fleet management operators to drive down costs and improve efficiency. With capabilities including live turn-by-turn tracking, geofencing and alerts the tracking solution allows companies to know exactly where their vehicles are at all times. The modular system also offers immobilisation features and witness and/or security cameras to further increase vehicle and driver security.
Often, vehicle theft occurs due to opportunists spotting a ‘vulnerable vehicle’. Avoid leaving items such as wallets, mobile phones and luggage on display. If your vehicle has a portable navigation device, remove it from the windscreen and make sure to wipe away the suction marks left by the mount. If you tend to hide items under the seat or glove compartment, chances are someone could have seen you, try to take items with you where possible or place them in the boot of the vehicle before making your journey.
Recent data from Co-op Insurance revealed that nine of the ten hotspots for car crime in the UK are located in the capital, including the exclusive borough of Kensington and Chelsea. With this, it’s important you choose your parking space smartly. Search for areas that are well lit with high footfall. Even opportunists won’t take the risk for a small reward if they believe they are being watched.
This may seem obvious, but always ensure both doors and windows are locked. It doesn’t matter if you’re popping to the shop or parked outside your own home, its a simple prevention method that could go a long way. If your vehicle has a sunroof, ensure this is closed too, and if your drive a convertible, close the soft-top.
Technology plays a vital role in keeping your pride and joy safe. The use of vehicle trackers has fast become the most successful way of monitoring and securing your vehicle or fleet. Simplytrak can pinpoint your vehicle to the exact location, whilst in a remote location and have quickly become one the market leaders in automotive security with our excellent solutions and features. Our vehicle tracking system comes with standard features that enable you to drive down costs and improve efficiency. We also offer immobilisation features and cameras to increase vehicle and driver security.
Vehicle theft using the keys will negate your insurance. Simplytrak’s new SimplySecure system aims to prevent fleet drivers from ever leaving the keys in the ignition, even during quick drops. Whenever the driver’s door is opened with the keys still in the ignition, the horn will sound, hazard lights will flash and the vehicle is instantly immobilised. The vehicle cannot be stolen. To mobilise the vehicle again, the driver must contact head office who are able to re-mobilise the vehicle remotely.
SimplySecure Uses TurnKey Technology To:
Contact us today to learn more about protecting your vehicle!
Since the initial introduction of our remote immobilisation solution in 2018, Simplytrak have enabled clients across the country to remotely immobilise vehicles from the ease of their palms. Using either desktop or hand-held devices, the immobilisation solution was initially created for client Practical Car & Van Rental, supporting them in their battle to reduce hire-vehicle thefts. This systems success led Simplytrak to become Practical Car & Van Rental’s number one security supplier and helped recover a multitude of stolen vehicles over the years.
Invigorated by the success of Simplytrak’s remote immobilisation solution, our team of vehicle security experts set out to develop a system that would further support both B2B and B2C clients regardless of vehicle type or usage.
Now proudly working with the world’s largest courier operator, the Simplytrak team have developed a solution that not only ‘auto-immobilises’ a driver’s vehicle but also educates the driver to remove the keys from the ignition every single time, eliminating the risk of theft and avoiding negated insurance claims.
If any door opens whilst the keys remain in the ignition, the horn will sound, hazard lights flash and the vehicle will immediately auto-immobilise. To free the vehicle, the driver must contact their office who re-mobilise the vehicle remotely. (In the case of private cars this function is also available via secure Simplytrak app).
But there’s more. Even if a vehicles key is stolen or cloned and the vehicle taken, the vehicle can be remotely immobilised and tracked via smartphone/PC to its exact location. This makes for fast recovery and re-securing of your vehicle and cargo. And if a device is ever located and removed, the engine simply won’t start without it.
With SimplySecure, it’s no longer possible for a driver to simply forget to remove the keys every single time. The Simplytrak SimplySecure system works with the vehicles on-board computer systems, is easy to install, robust and reliable.
Stop losing your vehicles and contents through keys-in theft. It’s time to outwit vehicle thieves. So SimplySecure out your vehicles today.
Call Simplytrak today on 01430 879197.
The feature works using signals sent from our tracking devices to the vehicles Electrical Control Unit. These signals tell the vehicle to open or close the central locking.
The Remote Door Locking feature ensures the security of your vehicles and their contents, also ease of use if the vehicle breaks down and has to be left unattended. Better yet, when paired with Simplytrak’s Vehicle Immobilisation system the user has a full package of vehicle security. Our Remote Door Locking feature can be installed into almost any vehicle and can even help with hygiene during the Coronavirus pandemic.
When used with a lease company, Remote Door Locking allows the customer service team to unlock the vehicle from the office and have zero direct contact with the client. Paperwork can be pre-arranged and left on the driver’s seat. The vehicle can be sanitised ready for a new driver and keys can be left in the glove box in a sealed bag.
Remote Door Locking was developed with delivery companies in mind, as these businesses have the highest rates of theft when leased or left unattended. Simplytrak’s feature takes this worry away, ensuring the safety of any goods left inside the vehicle when not immediately secured. Remote Door Locking is useful to all kinds of customers and can be installed into almost any vehicle!
Contact us today to hear more about our market leading solutions and features.
Lets take a closer look at some of the benefits that a fleet management system can deliver to a your fleet.
A fleet management system can help to analyse a driver’s behaviour more effectively, looking at driving activities such as speeding and harsh braking. This tool will allow for any unwanted driving habits to be identified that could put the worker at risk of an accident or potentially cause the vehicle damage. The downtime caused by accidents often cause much greater costs for the company than the accident itself. Minimising risk is a key factor in keeping down costs too. A fleet management system can also identify if the vehicle is left idling in real-time. This may be due to the driver making a delivery or waiting to start a job, which both cause increased risk/maintenance and unnecessary fuel consumption. Using the detailed driver behaviour reports the fleet manager can then use this data to educate their team on ways to improve their driving performance – benefitting both the business and the driver.
Reducing downtime can be a key area to improve productivity. A fleet management system will allow businesses to make informed decisions and schedule trips more efficiently, which will assist in reducing the downtime of their vehicles. The system can help with optimising planning too as fleet managers will be able to assign tasks whenever they spot an idle vehicle and schedule jobs by proximity or any other metric. This means the number of trips each day can be increased by tackling the workload of a fleet in a strategic way.
A business can easily stay on top of vehicle maintenance with a range of alerts set up to the fleet manager. The data can help to identify if any maintenance or inspections are needed. Healthy vehicles waste less fuel and are more efficient, reducing the risk of any unwanted repairs that may come up. An immobilisation feature can provide extra security and reassurance if theft occurs. The innovative technology means it is as simple as sending an SMS to immobilise a vehicle. The time taken to identify the location and potentially recover the stolen vehicle can then be significantly decreased.
Paperwork is time consuming and reduces productivity. A fleet management system will help drivers, dispatchers and managers reduce paperwork as the system can automatically track and record the details of the time spent at a job. This takes away the need to rely on the worker to remember to log the details. Mileage records can also be recorded by an accurate turn-by-turn updated system, eliminating the use of paper records and ensuring a correct submission to the tax office every time. It also allows for accurate invoicing which reduces customer complaints and increases customer satisfaction.
Excess fuel consumption is bad news for a business and the environment. A fleet management system can provide fleets with the most efficient routes, saving time and eliminating unnecessary fuel expenses. A fleet manager can also set reports to inform them if engines are left running or vehicles are being used out of hours.
At Simplytrak we are delighted to be able to offer all the above features and more for your fleet as standard. Get in touch for a quote and you might be surprised how small the cost is, with no up-front fees and significant savings to be made for your business. For more information on our fleet management solution please contact Ian Wood our Business Development Manager at E: ian@simplytrak.com or on T: 01430879197.