GPS Uses and Abuses
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There are many beneficial uses for GPS now that the receivers are getting smaller and smaller. Putting them in cell phones can save lives by locating a caller in distress. Same for placing them in kids’ shoes and on pets, hikers, private aircraft, boats, and so on.
Businesses that rely on a fleet of vehicles have long used GPS to improve operations. Plumbers, electricians, delivery vans, and repair trucks can all be redeployed better and faster when the dispatcher can see everyone’ position in real time, rather than calling (and interrupting) each worker to ask where they are.
It would seem to me that taxicab fleets would be a natural application for this. But no-o-o-o-o… A recent piece in PC Magazine reports that the cabdrivers in NYC oppose the idea of GPS tracking because they feel that their bosses knowing their location every minute of the day will invade their privacy.
Sounds to me like the cabbies are more worried more about being found out when they are in places that they should not be, rather than being found before they bleed to death should a cab get hijacked and dumped in an abandoned warehouse.
Besides, then the “Law and Order” shows would have more time for commercials because the detectives would not have to spend so much time interviewing dispatchers and reading logbooks to track down which driver picked up which perp or victim, and when or where! (Tongue firmly in cheek.)
What’s your take on this?
[tags]GPS, tracking[/tags]
6 Comments
Jeff
May 16th, 2007
at 8:51pm
I’m with the cabbies on this one.
I don’t know about American culture but in the UK, GPS locator’s in cars would definitely be used for non-standard and possibly illegal purposes.
I worked for a tech company over 11yrs ago who were just starting to do this and one of the things they wanted to do was track the engineers to ensure they didn’t cheat. Hmmmm.
Dutch
May 17th, 2007
at 7:20am
I have a cell phone (aka 2 way tracking device). I don’t always carry it with me.
I have a work issued Blackberry. At quitting time it gets turned off (to the dismay of my boss).
While you are “on the clock” and using company equipment they get to track you if they want. If you don’t like it you leave and find another job. Once that clock ticks to “quitting time” you have the right to leave all of that crap behind.
Ben Oddo
May 17th, 2007
at 12:17pm
A boss, any boss has the right to know where his employees are and what they are doing. Sorry cabbies. GPS tracking devices finally give dispatchers and fleet owners the tool they need to manage their staff as any other boss. Also I am a firm believer that once you are in your car and driving, all rights to privacy are left in the driveway. Privacy behind the wheel is an illusion anyway. Ever had to explain why you got into an accident or get a ticket in a place where you weren’t supposed to be?
Thom Green
May 17th, 2007
at 2:06pm
I live in Halifax,Nova Scotia.Two of cab companies here have OPS as well as digital dispatching.99% of the drivers like it.The only drawback seems to be that drivers can no longer claim to be in a certain zone or have a trip in their cab while accepting another call.The system lets dispatch know when the meter is running.
Raymond Combs
May 17th, 2007
at 3:52pm
The main question is: who owns the cabs in question? If “independents”, that’s their problem. If company owned, the driver has no say!
Michael S Horger
November 4th, 2007
at 5:09pm
I own a cab company in SC. Even an independant has no say. If you want to use my dispatch equipment, my calls, my customers, etc… Then you have to play by my rules. The same goes for leased drivers. My customers will not suffer because a driver doesn’t want me to know they are at the strip club. (also cabs here do not work by the hour. they are always on their own time, and therefore can use the car for personal as well as business usage.)