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Balch Springs expands Verizon GPS fleet pilot to five more vehicles after positive review
Summary
After a three-month pilot demonstrated fleet visibility and safety metrics, council approved adding trackers to five additional vehicles to improve accountability, maintenance scheduling and cost control; members requested a full cost estimate and continued privacy review.
Staff updated the council on a pilot program using Verizon GPS tracking to improve fleet visibility, driver safety and maintenance planning. The three-month snapshot showed most vehicles averaged about six hours of activity daily, with one fire vehicle averaging about 8 hours 44 minutes. Safety scores ranged between 81 and 100; staff said alerts are generated when a vehicle exceeds posted speed limits and supervisors can review driving events.
Presentation materials showed the system gives engine start/stop, idling, harsh‑driving and speed-event data, and can replay vehicle movement across the city. Staff said they are using the system for visibility and coaching, not initial discipline; "we are really using this for visibility, not necessarily discipline," a presenter said. Council discussed privacy concerns and requested a statement of costs to deploy the system citywide.
Staff recommended expansion to five additional vehicles (two for code positions with new vehicles and three for health and safety marshal vehicles that operate across DFW). A motion to expand the pilot by five vehicles passed. Council asked staff to return with a cost estimate for equipping all city vehicles and to include privacy safeguards in future reports.
