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BJ Henderson
Advanced Member
USA
280 Posts |
 Posted - 04/08/2013 : 10:46:21 AM
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We are considering changing fleet management programs. We are looking at IH for starters, but intial cost to start is sort of out of budget limits. I looks like a decent program though.
We are looking for input on what you guys use, pros, cons.
Thanks in advance,
BJ |
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Mechan1c
Top Member
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 12:07:22 PM
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BJ, What do you use for routing software? How big is the fleet? Buses and non buses?
We use Versatrans for routing, and in the shop Fleetvision works well for us. We have about 300 vehicles and another 50 pieces of numbered equipment.
Seems to be fairly easy to use, covers parts deliveries, inventory, fuel, workorders, mechanic's time, scheduled maintenance, and does reports pretty good. We used the program when it was called FleetMax before Versatrans bought it. I think the costs may slide with the fleet size, and whether or not you use the rest of their suite of products. |
Edited by - Mechan1c on 04/08/2013 12:08:14 PM |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 1:15:03 PM
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| I use our napa service program to keep track, when we had the dealership we used ADP. ADP is about $300 a month but not bus friendly. The trial of dolphin and fleet maintenance pro was great but the cost is high. Don't bother with the trial, when it expires, your screwed. Like $5000 for multiple license,it's terrible. You got anyone who is a wiz at MS Excell they can make you one? |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 2:24:07 PM
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| We have a fleet of about 300 units including white fleet. We currently use FleetPro 2000 as part of our software suite from Edulog. I do not recommend it - Edulog is more interested in GPS/routing than supporting fleet management. We are going to go look at a nearby school district that is using http://www.rtafleet.com/school-bus.html and see if it will work for us. |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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BJ Henderson
Advanced Member
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 2:44:28 PM
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Currently we are using Mitchell on Demand and their management program. We have 25 school buses and 20 support vehicles in our white fleet. We have a local business license and can take in outside work, but plan on discontinuing this service. We picked Mitchell since they had medium duty truck info at the time we went with online service info. Cost cutting is the intial idea behind this, but I don't see it being a positive move unless we get away from Mitchell on Demand all together. Then we will have to replace with another info system since our fleet is so diversified with different model cars and trucks. Hondas, toyotas, Nissans, Chev, Ford, Dodges.
From 1986 service truck to 2007 Thomas with Cummins, IH too, but they are not usually a problem on service info at all.
We are just floating ideas, and figured you guys would have some input that would be extremely valuable for us :) |
CMTT,CMAT,CMBT |
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BJ Henderson
Advanced Member
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 2:48:06 PM
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| Wolf, does NAPA require you to be a NAPA service center to use the program you have? |
CMTT,CMAT,CMBT |
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bluebirdvision
Top Member
USA
1081 Posts |
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Trailboss
Senior Member
United States
196 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 03:46:07 AM
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| I used RTA for about 10 years in the public school system with about 100 vehicles,school buses, maintenance vehicles,and cars. It worked very well for our fleet. I'm now at a technology center with only 6 buses, 5 vans and some maintenance equipment and I miss my RTA. |
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turbine
Active Member
United States
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 11:47:07 AM
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| For what its worth we have been using the Dolphin system for about 6 years. Shop invoices / Parts tracking / fuel tracking. Its been easy for the mechanics to use. And the support is good |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 1:49:22 PM
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Yes it's called Napa TRACS. We have a parts store and a service center for cars. I use the invoicing, make my own repair orders, and look up parts, trac service records that part is great. Not much bus help on the service info. MOD5 basic specs and things unless you pay extra. My service information is very diverse, not through Napa. We buy our own tools and diagnostic equipment. Shop has a Genesys LOL.
quote:
Originally posted by BJ Henderson
Wolf, does NAPA require you to be a NAPA service center to use the program you have?
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“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 1:53:16 PM
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That doesn't sound bad for 1400. I actually liked the program but the boss called about it and they wanted 5 grand. Probably because we wanted it on several machines and networked.
quote:
Originally posted by pusd
We bought Dolphin Fleet for about $1400.00, and there is no annual fees. Also works with the Zonar program for tracking mileage and creating work orders.
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“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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CanUC2
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 5:52:01 PM
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| Fleet of 275 Buses 250 white fleet and 200 Police cars, We use Dossier by http://www.arsenault.com/ for over 15 years. Direct fit for gasboy also. |
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Bassman
Top Member
USA
558 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 03:43:30 AM
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| 115 buses 125 trucks 30 staff cars 130 tractors @ schools. We use FleetFocus (expensive) and Fuelmaster for our fueling. We went live in 1998 and have been satisfied ever since. |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 07:33:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wolf0r
That doesn't sound bad for 1400. I actually liked the program but the boss called about it and they wanted 5 grand. Probably because we wanted it on several machines and networked.
quote:
Originally posted by pusd
We bought Dolphin Fleet for about $1400.00, and there is no annual fees. Also works with the Zonar program for tracking mileage and creating work orders.
So how does this work from NAPA? Will it keep track of each unit separately? I am just tracking my 17 buses using Google Docs. I use the spread sheet part so it's just like writing it down on paper except the boss can have access to it any time he wants because it's on Google's cloud. If I am looking for a certain item in the history all I do it search the page for a key word, say like "transmission". Pretty simple but I'm a simple man. lol |
Bryan |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 08:04:12 AM
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Here is the link. http://www.napatracs.com/NapaTracs/products_overview.aspx
Yes you can track each vehicle individually by job, part, or repair order history. It has a recommended service feature that lets you type in date or mileage for next service, brake jobs, etc. This comes with the service center franchise. Same guy owns it all so we do our Nix Bus repairs through the service center. I don't know the costs of getting the software without being a service center. Maybe if you buy tons of parts they might be more friendly priced. LOL Let me know if anyone signs up. I get $50 they tell me. I'll buy the beer.
Your napa store can hook you up with a pro-link parts only account free. You can save your vehicles there with vin. I use it for crossing part numbers, and the MOD5 Lite for looking up torque and tune up specs. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
Edited by - Wolf0r on 04/10/2013 08:19:24 AM |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 08:59:57 AM
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| Interesting Wolf, I'll keep you posted as to what I do. |
Bryan |
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oldbusguy
New Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2013 : 08:23:31 AM
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Stay away from IH Diamond Connection! IH does not support the program anymore letter G-99-9303-A April 1,2013
 Navistar Parts announces the termination of direct management and oversight of the
OnCommand Maintenance & Inventory Management program. In an effort to focus
resources on more pressing initiatives, Navistar has elected to discontinue the resale of
this third party software, and has terminated its agreement with FleetSoft, the provider of
the Maintenance & Inventory Management software, effective 12/01/2012. Navistar will
continue to recognize FleetSoft as a preferred supplier of maintenance software and it will
continue to be available to dealers and their customers through FleetSoft channels |
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Mike S
New Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2013 : 4:21:42 PM
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Thinking about Dolphin Fleet Management software.
Anybody using Servicefinder?
Any thoughts? |
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BJ Henderson
Advanced Member
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 04:34:37 AM
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| Thanks, guys. We are looking at our alternatives, but without having any general automotive info supplier, I don't know if we would be better off with anything else. We are still looking, we are in the middle of one of those "storms" here, problems with multiple vehicles, so when this settles down, we will try to figure out what we are going to do. |
CMTT,CMAT,CMBT |
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bus a groove
Senior Member
70 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2013 : 09:55:32 AM
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how long ago did you purchase the dolphin software? i just got a quote and it was a lot higherquote:
Originally posted by pusd
We bought Dolphin Fleet for about $1400.00, and there is no annual fees. Also works with the Zonar program for tracking mileage and creating work orders.
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2013 : 06:52:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by partsman_ba
We have a fleet of about 300 units including white fleet. We currently use FleetPro 2000 as part of our software suite from Edulog. I do not recommend it - Edulog is more interested in GPS/routing than supporting fleet management. We are going to go look at a nearby school district that is using http://www.rtafleet.com/school-bus.html and see if it will work for us.
Edulog is completely redoing FleetPro in a modern format (finally). It is supposed to take the best parts of the other management programs and go beyond them in capabilities/features. Rollout is in about 6 months (meaning 12 months, of course...) Can you tell we spoke with a sales rep?  
If anyone is interested let me know - we will be checking it out on rollout as we are pretty much married to Edulog with their routing/active GPS/etc. software. |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2013 : 07:02:24 AM
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| Why not let your students make a program in Microsoft Excel? Have a contest,who can make the best program. MS Office is not too expensive. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2013 : 11:22:34 AM
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| I'd like more integration than a spreadsheet can provide - polling our fuel computer for current mileages comes to mind. Also, I'd like a robust database... |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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08 Thomas EF
Top Member
533 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2013 : 4:10:58 PM
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Access would be a closer fit than Excel (it's a database program). I would imagine that, if you have Office on your computer, that would be included if you work in a school or business environment. It's on all computers at the HS I work at.
The problem with Access is that it's much more complicated than Excel. I don't remember the few things I did learn with it 3 years ago.... |
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jerickson@wayne.k12.ga.us
New Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2013 : 05:55:06 AM
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We have been using Dolphin Fleet since 2006 and it has worked very well for our fleet of 75 Buses. We have the multi-user license and our database is centralized. I would highly recommend it.
James Erickson
Ase Bus Technician
Wayne County Bus Shop
Jesup, Ga |
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Topic |
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New fleet management program? What do you use?
