Communicating remotely with Radio Systems

Two Way Radio System

There are many reasons to use a radio communications system for your business. Some of the more common reasons include:

• Large business premises (such as warehouses or stores)
• Events with large visitor numbers
• Emergency communications systems
• National and International Travel (workers based offsite)

Two way radios are the most popular form of communication system available, but the way they are used can vary enormously depending on the environment you are in as well as the resources available.

Two Way Radio Accessories and Extras

Many of the leading manufacturers provide accessories and optional extras for radio systems to make them more usable and functional depending on the situation. Some of the more popular extras include:

Radio Headsets 

Headsets come in various forms. One of the most popular is a push to talk (or PTT) version, which allows the radio to be permanently attached to the person and only a button on the headset wire has to be pressed for communication to be activated.

Fully hands-free (speech activated) headsets are available too, which can be invaluable to those who work in situations where both hands are needed (unsafe environments and emergency workers often use these) but this more effective technology often comes at an additional cost.

Private and Public Radio Networks

Some radio providers will be able to provide installation services for private radio networks. This is specifically suitable for companies that need to operate their communications system in an area with poor radio signal as it will boost to a level where walkie talkies can be used.


Radio Battery Rechargers

For those with a large family of radios to look after having re-charging stations at various locations is very useful. Many base units on some of the most popular radio systems offer a recharging capability, although you will also find that many radio systems can also be used for longer periods these days without the battery running out. For this reason, some businesses re-charge their radio batteries overnight, so they are always ready for use on the next working day.

These are just a few of the extras you can purchase and there are many different styles of radio system available, so taking the time to consider what functions are most important to your users before choosing the right system is of paramount importance.

Can vehicle tracking systems help with Olympic logistics?

Freight, logistics and transport associations have reported recently that many hauliers are unprepared for the logistical challenges posed by the Olympic Games.

This year will be a busy one for London and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has been advising road network users to treat the principal 3 months of the Olympic season as an “extended Christmas period” and that they should prepare for long delays and difficult access situations.

Navigation of the Stratford area is likely to change and even seasoned local drivers will need to alter their understanding of routes around the region. Besides this there are likely to be security measures in place for deliveries to various areas of the site, which will likely make advanced route planning essential in order to arrive in the right place at the right time.

Vehicle tracking systems can help!

If you have vehicle tracking systems installed already then you might want to consider adapting their use to assist with various aspects of your driver/s journeys. The systems can be used to report on a variety of information, much of which can be used to assist drivers experiencing access challenges.

Remote journey assistance – Using the GPRS signal provided by the tracker, information is relayed via computer in real time regarding the journey taken so far and current location. For a driver who is having trouble finding the correct access route or delivery location this system can be invaluable as office based workers can provide detailed journey instructions from the drivers current location, knowing they are instructing them from the right place.

Vehicle security – Security is obviously a huge consideration in any place at any time, so it will give drivers and their employers’ peace of mind to know that the installed tracker will not only keep track of the vehicle whilst it is in use, but also provide location and journey information if it is lost or stolen. As an added control measure, office based staff can also track the current journey and check for any unexpected route changes, which could be a warning sign of a security issue.

Managing delivery expectations – Probably one of the most important considerations is the knock on effect that delays will have on the recipient awaiting the arrival of your vehicle. Whilst delays because of traffic and access restrictions are mostly unavoidable, using a tracking system will help you to manage customer expectations by keeping them informed of scheduling changes and revised ETA’s in real time and without having to disturb the driver.

I think we will all feel an effect from the Olympics, even those who are not delivering directly to site might experience traffic delays and heightened security issues in and around the capital. Besides this, with various events taking place around the country it is likely there will be other areas affected too, so it’s likely any business that is managing vehicles will need to plan journeys carefully during the events.

Lone Working hits the headlines again

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has recently been focussing on the challenges faced by lone workers and their employees in an effort to make it clearer what the considerations should be for their safety. In my experience lone worker tracking systems do help in most industries, but as an employer how do you know if you might need to use them?

Both the Health & Safety at Work and Corporate Manslaughter regulations make it clear the employer is responsible for ensuring the safety for lone workers during working hours. But lone working might not always be what it seems. The London Hazards Centre defines lone working as;

"activity which is carried out in isolation from other workers by an individual or a small team of people and where the work activity would normally last for some time"

SO are any of your employees Lone Workers? The RoSPA report gave a long list of examples of industries and workers that would likely be affected, many of which I had not considered myself before. They included:

• Shop workers
• Petrol station workers
• Warehouse and plant staff
• Sales & delivery staff
• Social workers
• Home help & nurses
• Estate agents

To name but a few!


Can Digital Communications systems help?

Lone Worker Tracking Device

As I mentioned in my previous post, Digital Communications systems are amongst the easiest to install as well as being simple to use and suitable in a number of different ways.

Lone working systems specifically work well as they provide a communications system for both regular contact and raising an emergency alarm.

Of course, if you have personnel working on the road then vehicle tracking systems or a radio communication network might be more suitable for you.

RoSPA also went into detail over the need to risk assess the workers needs and consider individuals, as work patterns are often not the same from person to person despite the job description being similar. The report (published in september) and various other useful information on Lone Working can be found on the RoSPA website.

Night shift and Lone Working increases Tracker needs

Having recently travelled overnight on the uk roads, i never fail to be surprised by the lack of traffic that is out there overnight. It's no wonder so many businesses are looking at increasing their lone worker and night working fleet in order to take advantage of the time and money savings.

Undertaking night and overnight work shifts come with extra safety considerations for both your employees and assets, so the rise in purchase of vehicle tracking systems and lone worker assistance is no real surprise.

Although they might seem like an unwanted cost initially, these types of tracking systems can (in the long term) be time and money savers as well as a useful KPI tool in managing your customer expectations.

Fleet Tracking Systems

Keeping your office based staff to a minimum is obviously necessary when employees on site or driving are working overnight. Using a tracking system with the personnel or vehicles will allow you to watch their movements and journey details from any internet based pc and depending on the amount of office work required to monitor this, can make it easier to manage your wage costs.

Lone worker tracking systems

If you have workers on site without a vehicle then a lone worker tracking system alone can be useful. This equipment will feed back the same information as a vehicle system, but can be kept by the worker on a belt or in a handbag for ease of transportation whilst out. It also has the added benefit of a personal alarm that can be activated in an emergency situation.

Other lone worker systems

There are many other things you can do to assist the safety of your vehicles, equipment and workers whilst they are out. Procedures such as signing in and out as well as high visability clothing can assist with this.

Haulage Industry Welcome news of Rail Freight Network – can Vehicle Tracking still help?

I was intrigued to read recently about the Network Rail plans to cut the number of lorries on the road from 2014 onwards. They are considering spending £5.6 billion on their infrastructure to support this freight network, and with the loss of the daily traffic headache it could be every business owners dream, especially within the transport industry. So if this is your future plan for your business freight and logistics could vehicle tracking systems still be of assistance to you?

This question got me thinking about the logistics of consignment tracking instead for business owners and I had to ask myself the question “will businesses still be able to manage customer expectations if you are not in control of your own haulage?

I have mainly spoken about Vehicle Tracking and its advantages on here, but Consignment Trackers also offer useful help and information for Logistics Teams. Whether you are sending one small parcel or one massive container full of products, the consignment tracker can be fitted to report back on their progress and the size of system doesn’t normally vary.

The tracking device is small and like other trackers can be packed with your goods easily. The software used online is exactly the same as that of the vehicle tracker and any PC connected to the internet can access the information. Once the package is fitted you are ready to collect data about the ETA, current location, journey time and more.

Specifically these products are useful for those that are shipping to customers, but if you have a priority package that you are sending to another warehouse, office or internal depot then having the ability to track and trace the item might be invaluable.

So, in conclusion, on the up side it seems the changes could mean a reduction in costs and “on the road time” for consignments being moved by businesses and although traditional Vehicle Trackers can’t be used if you hire a 3rd party company to complete your deliveries, at least there is an opportunity to use an alternative product and manage those expectations remotely.

Lone Workers having to Track themselves?

The benefits of Lone Worker, GPRS and Vehicle Tracking Systems are well documented, but in the vast majority of cases I had understood that businesses were purchasing their own equipment.

However, it has recently come to my attention that some self-employed personnel and staff are looking to purchase their own lone worker safety solutions for times where they might find themselves in danger or an emergency.

Lone Workers Tracking devices work in the same way as vehicle trackers, with a couple of small but very important differences:

2 Way Radio Communication

The Radio systems used on the tracking device allows the worker to make emergency contact with someone in an office or based somewhere else in an emergency situation. Using pre-installed software the office based personnel can then track the persons exact location in order to assist.

Tracking Panic Button

The Tracking device itself also has a panic button, meaning the alarm can be raised in the event of an emergency with one click. The panic button is a very helpful function and the alarm can be raised at the other end on a variety of ways including SMS, Email, Telephone and other messaging services.

Tracking System

Of course, besides all these other features, the tracking device itself has its own uses and is the type of device that assists employers in complying with the Lone Worker corporate manslaughter laws.

Vehicle Tracking Systems - effective crime prevention systems

I have met many customers with different reasons for needing Vehicle Tracking and Equipment Tracking Systems for their companies fleet, however one of the most considered reasons for purchasing this type of system is the potential assistance it can provide law enforcement officers with if your vehicle or item is lost or stolen.

Portable Vehicle Tracking Device

Many haulage companies suffer at the hands of criminals who are looking to steal the goods from within their van or even the van itself.

Of course, there are many other things you can do to try and prevent a thief from attempting to take your vehicle, but many high risk workers and companies choose to also have a warning sign confirming that:

"This Vehicle uses Tracking Equipment which will be used by the Police to find it and its contents if stolen"

This equipment is instant use and once the alarm is raised the equipment can be traced using any computer with an internet connection. This information can also be passed to the police who will use it as one of the most important tools to find the criminal. 

Vehcile Tracking systems are also purchased as an excellent tool for haulage companies in order to trace the whereabouts of a consignment, car, lorry or bike as well as confirming their speed, ETA and assisting with confirming traffic that might hinder the rest of the journey.

Many high profile companies (including security firms and even the police themselves) use tracking and communications systems like these on a daily basis.