Apart from the construction industry, one of the most volatile and risky industries is the oil and gas industry. This industry revolves around many processes, and the lack of transportation infrastructure makes it very challenging for business owners to operate in today’s new production landscape.
Indeed, fluctuating oil prices are a constant challenge for the oil and gas industry. In fact, road transport is the least safe transportation and accounts for the highest number of accidents. This is legitimate because when trucks with oil and gas encounter an accident, harmful gases and liquids spill, leading to explosion or toxic inhalation and causing brutal deaths.
And if such incidents happen, the cost of repairs and maintenance can take a heavy toll on fleet owners. Moreover, the cost of losing one life is incomparable. Fleet managers have to transport various materials and ensure they safely reach the site.
Having said that, fleet managers have to focus on two critical aspects in the oil and gas industry–operational efficiency and safety. This can be possible when they have data to improve daily operations. Thanks to oil and gas GPS tracking solutions as they provide valuable insights about drivers, materials, assets, vehicle maintenance, and much more.
Real-time Asset and Location Tracking
One of the primary benefits of GPS tracking is real-time asset tracking. With Vehicle tracking devices installed on equipment, vehicles, and other assets, oil and gas companies can know the exact location of their assets at all times. This can help them optimise asset utilisation, reduce theft and loss, and improve overall operational efficiency.
Fleet managers can also know the real-time location of trucks and drivers and access information from one centralised dashboard. Tracking assets and vehicles can help fleet managers ensure assets are effectively utilised, eliminating vehicle underutilization and related costs.
Optimised Routing and Scheduling
Oil and gas fleet owners have to ensure that the assets and containers timely reach their destination. With oil and gas GPS trackers, they can plan optimised routes, mitigate rush hours and traffic, and make delivery as fast as possible. Further, real-time location tracking can help fleet managers check that drivers follow the adhered routes. GPS trackers can provide alternative routes instantly in case of any hindrance (roadblocks, extreme weather conditions). However, if drivers try to take any unauthorised route or stop, the tracker will immediately notify the fleet manager. This helps to be on top of all trips and improve customer service.
Ensure Safety and Protection
Since the oil and gas industry is perilous in nature, the safety of drivers, vehicles, and assets cannot be ignored, as it can lead to severe accidents. And sometimes, because of traffic and congestion, drivers tend to not oblige traffic rules in order to deliver timely services. But here, GPS tracking in oil and gas fleets lets you monitor drivers’ driving behaviour, and fleet managers receive real-time alerts about speeding, hard braking, cornering, etc.
It can help identify potential safety hazards, mitigate accidents, and respond quickly to emergencies. Moreover, in the event of theft or unauthorised use of equipment, GPS tracking can help recover assets and identify those responsible. Fleet managers can track the real-time location of vehicles and assets and engage police authorities accordingly.
Well-maintained Fleets
Along with training drivers to ensure the safety of fleets, it is imperative to keep vehicles in top shape. One slight malfunction can cause accidents, and oil leakage can lead to burns, injuries, or sometimes even death. Manual inspecting vehicles takes time and effort and can lead to erroneous results. However, GPS trackers allow oil and gas companies to never miss maintenance and operate efficient vehicles. These trackers monitor vehicle usage and automatically set preventive maintenance schedules.
The tracker alerts managers about any vehicle issue, and they can get it repaired quickly before it becomes a potential hazard. Companies can reduce equipment downtime and increase productivity by identifying when maintenance is required.
Save Costs
Overall, when companies can run efficient operations, it helps them lower their business costs and better serve customers. For example, optimised routing can reduce idle time, save fuel costs, and improve the longevity of vehicles. Similarly, well-maintained vehicles can help them to avoid expensive downtime repair costs and stick to a pre-decided maintenance budget. Monitoring vehicles and assets can help managers effectively utilise assets, improve employees’ productivity, ensure a safer working environment, and reduce overall operational costs.
Wrapping Up
The oil and gas industry has significant environmental impacts. GPS tracking can help companies minimise these impacts by ensuring that vehicles and equipment are operating in the most efficient manner possible. This can help reduce emissions and contribute towards sustainability and a greener planet.
GPS tracking solutions can help them to stay competitive and make informed decisions to adapt to changing economic conditions. Better resource planning can help companies optimise their staffing levels and improve overall efficiency.
