Is this GPS stuff really a good thing??

**Darmie** · 02-15-2006, 11:49 PM

Hi folks. I was passed on the road today while I had the top down enjoying the ride by a big truck. I seen the dome on top and it got me thinking. Is GPS a good thing or a bad thing. You see. This truck is being tracked by someone and I'm sure the driver is well aware of this and it was probably why he used his brakes often going down the hill and never broke the speed limit. I could not drive with a unit as they have monitoring my every movement. Matter of fact, I would have to have that company sign a form that states they are only using the GPS data as information and that they would not be able to share their data with any other party and information captured could not be used against the the driver in any way. I'm sure though the company would send me on my way..

That brings me up to another thought. ON STAR. Anyone know of ON STAR's data being used against the customer??

**HappyPills** · 02-16-2006, 12:04 AM

If your talking about the white dome on top of semi trucks, that is used by the company to track there trucks. There is also an emergency button they have in the cab encase someone tries to hijack the truck. The white dome recieves and transmits location, speed and alot more.

I do think onstar does send and recieve. I'm not exactly sure how it works.

The GPS that people here use to find there way only recieves, it doesn't transmit any signal. Therefore, there is no way to be tracked.

**Darmie** · 02-16-2006, 12:16 AM

Oh yea, that I understand..

Originally Posted by HappyPills

The GPS that people here use to find there way only recieves, it doesn't transmit any signal. Therefore, there is no way to be tracked.

I truly believe that I could not work for a company that monitors your every movement. I'm not saying that I would or am doing bad things ie speeding or such, but as a truck driver, or in any job, sometimes you need to work towards the edge in order to accomplish your mission.

It was something that got me thinking and thought I'd start some others thinking

**Freelander** · 02-16-2006, 12:35 AM

don't speed at work

**xBrady** · 02-16-2006, 01:25 AM

I'm a developer for a company that tracks trucks for different companies

We track thousands of trucks across the US. One of our customers had one of their Redi-Mix (cement) trucks get in a wreck. They were able to pull up the tracking data and see that he was speeding. Allowing companies to do things like that is why they love us. Although that really isn't the reason why they track their trucks. It is mostly for coordinating jobs and such. No one actually cares that much about knowing exactly where you are and how fast you are going. That is only used in extreme instances like the one I mentioned.
I don't understand why you are paranoid about being tracked other than the fact that if you break the law there is a chance that you will get caught.

**OoNikFraleyoO** · 02-16-2006, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by Darmie

but as a truck driver, or in any job, sometimes you need to work towards the edge in order to accomplish your mission.

I'm sure glad your not a truck driver.

**nkotch** · 02-16-2006, 02:33 AM

This is the constant struggle between privacy and a company's/govt's access to data......so it won't be settled anytime soon. : ) The system they use to track is pretty similar to using something like GPSsecure where you transmit your position back to some database....only difference is who has access to what, doesn't really matter how you transmit the data back (cell phone, satellite, commercial radio, etc...), it's who has access to the data or the right to access it. I bet you'd be hard pressed to get a company to sign a waiver saying they would never use the data against the driver....you probably wouldn't be a driver there anymore... ; ) or at least would get bogged down in a legal battle.

A small company I used to work for had about 8 or so work vans and when I was there decided to install GPS tracking units on the vans so they could know location of each van mainly to help with service calls and to give directions to the drivers, but there were a few cases where specific crews were questioned as to why they were at certain locations for a certain length of time.

And all GPS systems are receive only, the transmitting of the data back is totally separate and on whatever system the company wants to use, but not back through the GPS "system", I think onstar just uses cellular services for its connection.

**xBrady** · 02-16-2006, 02:36 AM

Oh, and don't make the fact that I work where I work have anything to do with GPSSecure. I made that program before I even got my current job. I don't share anyones data nor do I look at it myself.

**nkotch** · 02-16-2006, 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by xBrady

Oh, and don't make the fact that I work where I work have anything to do with GPSSecure. I made that program before I even got my current job. I don't share anyones data nor do I look at it myself.

hehe...sorry, was just an example

Besides, only exciting drive I have is driving around campus for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot....

Wasn't it a few years ago that some guy got fined by a rental car place in california after they saw that he was speeding on a GPS log?

**xBrady** · 02-16-2006, 02:51 AM

Originally Posted by nkotch

hehe...sorry, was just an example

Besides, only exciting drive I have is driving around campus for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot....

Wasn't it a few years ago that some guy got fined by a rental car place in california after they saw that he was speeding on a GPS log?

lol, I wouldn't be surprised. Wonder why all car rental companies don't do that?