FLEETS operating thousands of vehicles have given their backing to tracking systems as a key to better fleet management. Fleets running an estimated 2,000 vehicles including Hampshire Police, Chubb Security and Otis, have signed up to Fleetstar for tracking and monitoring vehicles.

The system was launched in April last year by Fleetstar Information Systems, a division of traffic congestion information provider Trafficmaster, and can provide information on vehicle position and historical data. Hampshire Police, which has a fleet of more than 800 cars, vans and motorcycles covering 15 million miles a year, says Fleetstar will improve incident response times of its front line emergency service vehicles.

Fleet manager John Bradley said: 'The new technology identifies fuel costs saving opportunities by removing unnecessary vehicle mileage and ineffective duplication of areas,' said Bradley. 'In doing so we can reduce not only fuel and maintenance costs but also deliver a positive environmental contribution.'

Chubb Emergency Response, which runs a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, will be using the system to improve response times to customers, while Otis, a lift and escalator manufacturer is piloting the system on several vehicles on its 700-vehicle fleet. David Leah, UK field service manager for Otis, said: 'The system can provide comprehensive reports on all vehicle movements, allowing us to identify areas for improvement.'

Smaller fleets have also given their backing to the system, with firms including Basingstoke Skip Hire, Lloyds Konecranes and Economy Services taking on the system. Steve Wright, managing director, Economy Services, said: 'We have been able to adopt a more proactive approach to improve our flexibility in meeting our customers needs.'