Using GPS to track fleets

DriveOK, a San Diego startup company I covered in a column last year, has been selling a module that goes into a car to track its location and alert the owner when it travels too far or too fast. According to CEO Mark Wells, it's been a huge hit with parents of teenagers, with sales of 20,000 units the first year and only 150 cancellations. Revenues are $10 million over the same period. Now the company is introducing its second product designed for owners of small fleets, such as plumbing, electrical and delivery companies. Called Vehicle Path, the module lets the owner keep track of his fleet's location on a minute-by-minute basis and view the paths of each vehicle and where it stopped by logging onto the Web site. The product costs $299 plus $15 per month. A 30-day free trial is available from www.vehiclepath.com. How does it work? A module installs under the dashboard containing a GPS receiver that determines the vehicle's location. A cellular radio in the module sends the location to DriveOK's servers, which then map the vehicle's path. Wells' business model is to sell distinct solutions directly to the customer. They're all designed for simple installation, using the latest cost-effective technology. What's next? A product to monitor your kid's location. (www.driveok.com). (c) San Diego Transcript