Despite the fact that log splitters are heavy equipment, the news is constantly filled with stories about their thefts. Considering some of them can easily cost $10,000 or more, it’s no wonder that they make tempting targets for thieves.

Combine that with the fact that far too many owners leave them open and accessible and it can make for costly mistakes and errors.

How Big is the Log Splitter Theft Problem?

One news story had a thief pushing the stolen hydraulic wood splitter across a Home Depot parking after cutting the chain the store used to secure the splitter. The Bangor Daily News theft is only one of many others reported involving log splitter.

Even Crime Stoppers has gotten in on the picture in Dalhousie Township, seeking answers in Ontario, concerning the theft of a wood splitter and offering a $2,000 reward, according to Inside Ottawa Valley. One thing all these news stories indicate is that wood and log splitters make attractive targets to thieves, and businesses that use or sell these products must take measures to protect them.

How Can You Prevent Log Splitter Theft?

One of the simplest solutions is to discourage the theft of your log splitters in any way possible. This includes the following types of things:

• Keep it out of sight. Out of sight, after all, is out of mind. Consider using tarps, camo netting, or storing your log splitter where others can’t see it.
• Lock them down. This isn’t simply about chaining them up at night but chaining them to something permanent they can’t easily be removed from. Many thieves simply load them onto waiting vehicles and drive away with them.
• Consider removing the wheels when not moving it. This can help deter would-be thieves.
• Make your log splitters easily identifiable with markings, logos, branding, etchings etc. It’s the little things, like this, that make them unattractive to thieves.
• Consider GPS equipment tracking GPS asset trackers may not prevent thefts from occurring but can be instrumental in recovering your stolen property.

Using GPS tracking for log splitters allows you to have information sent to you via email or text message if your log splitter moves outside of designated hours or goes beyond assigned geographic barriers. Plus, it allows you to follow your wood splitter in real time to assist law enforcement in its recovery.

Preventing theft is half the battle. Having a system in place that aids in the recovery of costly equipment, like log splitters, after they’ve been stolen adds another layer of protection for your heavy equipment.

GPS tracking is an ideal tool to use in cases like these because it is easy to conceal and leads law enforcement right to your stolen equipment. Everyone wins — except those who tried to take what was yours.

Call us here at LiveViewGPS at 1-888-544-0494 and we can help you choose the right GPS tracking device for your log splitter.

The moose population within the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado has been steadily increasing, and the growing number of animals is having an impact on important plants in the park.

Park staff began to notice an uptick in moose being observed on both the west and east sides of the park, but they are not certain how many total moose live in the area. They have also noticed a substantial decrease in important plants throughout the park.

Last year, researchers teamed up with the National Park Service to begin outfitting park-dwelling moose with GPS tracking devices. Researchers hope to tag up to 40 moose throughout the park by 2022. So far, they have successfully collared nine animals. These tracking units send location information twice a day every day to researchers.

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HVAC companies are quite often the best friends of home and business owners in varying degrees of HVAC emergencies. Whether you’re dealing with routine service calls gearing up for the summer or winter months ahead or you’re dealing with emergencies, these are seven ways your HVAC business could benefit by using GPS fleet tracking.

1. Reduce fueling costs. Wild fluctuations in the costs of fuel have everyone feeling the sting. Businesses, like yours, that are constantly on the road to get the job done, feel it more than most. Every little bit you can save helps and GPS can help you save by notifying you of wasteful practices, planning more fuel efficient routes, and notifying you when drivers deviate from course, adding expenses and improperly using company time.
2. Encourage better driving.  While poor driving habits can waste an incredible amount of fuel, they can also alienate your potential client base. It’s important that your drivers act as representatives for your business whether they are repairing HVAC systems or on the road to the next job.
3. Provide accurate appointment windows. GPS fleet tracking can be used to pinpoint scheduling needs more accurately creating happier customers for your HVAC business.
4. Give instant notification of delays and updates about arrival times. Customers waiting on someone to come in and bring in blessedly cool air in the summer or wonderfully warm air in winter want to know what’s going on. GPS fleet tracking allows you to keep them updated of your progress and if, or when, there are delays so they aren’t left wondering.
5. Access to accurate billing data. No one likes to feel as though they’ve been cheated or improperly billed. GPS location services offers iron clad proof of your time on a particular jobsite for greater billing transparency.
6. Ease dispatch burdens for priority calls and emergencies. Some jobs are more urgent than others. For instance, when emergencies occur on the coldest days of winter, it takes priority over routine maintenance. GPS fleet tracking can help you manage the dispatch of these emergencies, when they arise, in a way that minimizes the impact to jobs scheduled for the day.
7. Motivate technicians to stay on task. One unexpected side effect of GPS fleet tracking is that it encourages your technicians to stay on task, get the job done, and avoid unnecessary delays (or personal errands) between jobs. This means greater efficiency for your HVAC business and less wasted fuel and labor.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to consider that make GPS fleet tracking well worth while for your HVAC company. These are only the beginning.

If you own or manage a HVAC company and are looking to increase efficiencies and decrease costs, give us a call here at LiveViewGPS at 1-888-544-0494 to learn more about how a GPS fleet tracking solution can help.