GPS to be installed in all City of Saskatoon vehicles, equipment

The City of Saskatoon will be installing global positioning system (GPS) on all civic vehicles and equipment next year.

Council gave their support at Monday’s meeting for the initiative that will help modernize city operations.

“GPS will assist with driver safety and working alone scenarios, and will also offer reporting and trending data to enable us to be more efficient in our dispatching and utilization of our vehicles,” Troy LaFreniere, the city’s director of facilities and fleet management, said in a press release.

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“(It’s) a positive new initiative that will assist our city teams with the changing demands of service and in delivering the high standards of performance we’re responsible for every day.”

To develop a successful corporate GPS policy on vehicle usage and operation, comprehensive planning for the initiative will involve all city unions and associations.

Officials said the addition of GPS will also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions tied to city operations. They estimate it has the potential to save around $500,000 annually in reduced fuel costs.

Implementation of GPS in civic vehicles is expected to start by mid-2018 after the tender is awarded.