• Worldwide $30-50 billion in cargo is stolen every year, with over half stolen by organized crime
• In 2009, sources report between 700-900 truckloads worth between $400-500M were stolen in the US alone (FreightWatch International & Chubb Corporation)
• In Southern California alone during 2009, bandits made off with 29  million (California Highway Patrol)
• The average loss per theft is $350,000, however some loads can be valued at tens of millions of dollars – such as with pharmaceutical shipments

Unlike the violent cargo thefts of the 1960s, current theft characteristics have shifted significantly:

• Prime targets are often easily resold consumer goods, electronics, beverages, clothing and cigarettes
• Loads are often followed from the plant or distribution hub, until opportunity presents itself
• Thefts are typically non-violent, occurring when truckers are dining or showering, thieves simply wait and watch.
• Often thieves target drop lots, or when trailers are temporarily uncoupled by drivers running errands
• Fraudsters use Internet and high tech methods to forge official documents and or establish fictitious companies
• Trailers are typically found just a few miles from the theft, often repainted or disguised
• Bribes are frequently used to obtain information on valuable shipments

Research has shown that the reasons for increase in transportation crime include:

• Spread of global crime syndicates
• Drug trafficking organizations provide capital, networks and marketing systems for stolen cargo; helping to launder drug monies
• Smarter criminals are increasing using high technology information techniques
• Cargo theft often offers low risk, high payoff targets
• Low rate of successful criminal prosecution and lenient sentences
• Slow adoption of systems that track and trace merchandise
• Security weaknesses in intermodal systems and websites that support cargo transportation
• The lack of effective commercial and law enforcement cargo theft tracking systems
• Corruption among corporate, boarder and port authorities

To counteract these trends, law enforcement and corporations must aggressively implement prevention techniques, including:

• Improved locks, seals and containers
• Truck stop and drop lot operators improve security and technical surveillance
• Enhanced security within corporate and information sharing networks
• Cargo security managers must learn and adopt high technology practices
• Deployment of cargo tracking systems
• Better training for law enforcement on cargo theft
• Enhanced cooperation between domestic and international law enforcement agencies

GPSit is proud to be at the forefront of cargo theft prevention technologies with solutions for shippers and owners of high value assets. Wireless GPS covert asset tracking solutions are now viable and commercially available from GPSit in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

For more information, visit http://www.gpsit.com

GPSit is now shipping its promised SmartBoard upgrade for the GPSit FS1 (PT200) tracker, bringing greatly expanded covert tracking capabilities. Features include:

• Vibration sensor – shuts down the FS1 when stationary. Upon vibration detection, notifies and continues location reporting.
• Photo sensor – upon light detection turns on the FS1, reports the event and continues location reporting.
• Battery Management – SmartBoard enables enhanced control over tracking schedules.

Key SmartBoard benefits include:

• Improved officer safety – greatly extended battery life means fewer battery swaps.
• Reduced tracking cost – new features help conserve usage plan locates.
• Easier to conceal – solution is smaller than devices requiring larger batteries.

Get Yours Today – Special Q4 Promotion!

GPSit is offering a special upgrade promotion from now until 12/31/09 for existing FS1 or Sendum PT-200 owners.
Return your FS1 or Sendum PT-200 with 3.6Ah* battery and Slap-n-stick* case to GPSit for upgrade, which includes:

• Install updated FS1 firmware
• Perform SmartBoard retrofit and testing
• Retrofit Slap-n-stick case  insert
• Include new SmartBoard charger
• Return via Fed-X

Purchase your SmartBoard upgrade today for just $199.  Pay just $99 with 1 year or get one free with 2 year prepaid service plan extension.

Sendum PT-200 owners not using GPSit TrackFusion software are welcome to “make the switch” today.

Want to know more? Contact us via email at sales@gpsit.com or phone 1-888-464-7748

*Need a new 3.6Ah battery or Slap-n-stick case?  Get one at 35% off list as part

Improved battery management – extending covert tracking life

• Out of cellular coverage sleep mode – conserves battery life
• Adjustable low battery notification – improves timely recoveries
• Programmable dormant schedules- conserves battery life

Enhanced Geofences – faster and less taxing on battery life

• FS1 tracker now performs geofencing analysis locally in device

Reliability and Support – ensuring your success

• Redundant device to service communications, improving reliability
• Message acknowledgements for better trouble shooting

As always, GPSit welcomes your feedback on how we can continue to refine our covert gps tracking solutions to meet your requirements.

Choosing the right battery option is pivotal to covert tracking success.  You must choose a battery configuration capable of lasting the duration of your tracking initiative and yet still maintain reserve capacity to handle unforeseen events.

GPSit has three choices:

• 1.8 Ah “Amp Hour” Li-ion rechargeable battery, integrated with FS1 tracking device
• 3.6 Ah Li-ion rechargeable battery, integrated with FS1 tracking device
• 24 Ah polymer lithium rechargeable battery, external to FS1 tracking device

For short tracking applications the 1.8Ah and 3.6 Ah battery options are ideal, especially since the battery and GPS tracker is a single, integrated unit.   For longer deployments, tracker configurations with the 24 Ah external battery are reccomended.

What impacts battery life?

Battery life is impacted by several key power consumption factors:

• Cellular coverage within the tracking region
• Location update frequency (user controlled with TrackFusion)
• Frequency of Assisted verses Autonomous GPS locates

If the above three characteristics are well known, then GPSit can give you a fairly good estimate of battery life.  If not, then these estimates will help you choose your initial battery configuration:

Choose:

1.8 Ah Battery  for up to 11 day deployments
3.6 Ah Battery  for up to 21 day deployments
24 Ah Battery  for up to 60 day deployments

If you have further questions, please contact GPSit.

○ Use the motion detector to shut down the FS1 when stationary for a predetermined time interval, preserving battery life. Turn the unit on again when motion is detected. Upon motion detection, report location and continue preprogrammed location reporting.

○ Use the photo sensor to detect light. Upon light detection, turn on its sleeping FS1 host, which then reports the event and its location.

Key SmartBoard benefits include:

Greatly extended battery life. Use of the SmartBoard greatly extends battery life, as while its FS1 host is dormant, only the very modest power consumption of the SmartBoard is occurring. We are still testing, but expect that 3-6 months of dormant deployment before active tracking is possible.

Overcome aviation regulations restrictions. Deploy a sleeping FS1 in a sealed parcel to be shipped via air-freight. The device remains dormant until the package is opened and light is detected, ensuring no cellular transmission while in flight and compliance with aviation regulations.

Reduces tracking cost. Deploy a dormant FS1 to monitor stored assets. Use motion detection to turn on the device, greatly reducing overall data usage and thereby conserving on usage plan locates.

Highly covert. The SmartBoard enhanced FS1 is much smaller that other devices, which use larger batteries to achieve the SmartBoard’s capabilities.

GPSit’s TrackFusion has been enhanced to allow over-the-air programming of SmartBoard features. Light and motion alerts are graphically depicted on the TrackFusion map display, and can be sent as alerts via SMS and email.

Want to know more? Contact us at sales@gpsit.com.

GPSit has now moved our entire product offering online and made it easy for you to get a “pro forma invoice” for a purchase you would like to make.

Here’s how:

1. Where to find the store:

a. Commercial Customers – go to www.gpsit.com/store
b. Government Customers – register and login to the Law Enforcement Portal at http://www.gpsit.com/en/lawenforcementsolutions.html.  Once logged in, click on “Government Store”.

2. Add your desired merchandise to the cart
3. Proceed to checkout
4. Select “Register” and continue
5. Input your billing and shipping information
6. Shipping – Select your desired shipping method
7. Payment Method – select either Check/Money Order or Purchase Order
8. Terms and Conditions – review and accept
9. Click “Place Order” (We will not bind you to this purchase, this step is simply necessary to generate your quote.)

You now can print a copy of the Performa Invoice for your use in preparing to place an order with GPSit.  You will also receive via email your account and pro forma invoice copy.  When you are ready to complete your purchase, simply either:

1. Send your purchase order along with the pro forma invoice number to GPSit
2. Send us a check with the pro forma invoice number to GPSit
3. Provide us with credit card information and your approval to process the order.

Want another quote?  Simply use your new account information to login and generate a new quote using the procedure above.

Have questions or need assistance?  Call GPSit sales @ +1 (888) 464-7748

Sprint Wireless Data Coverage Map

Understanding wireless coverage is paramount to successful tracking initiatives.  Without wireless data service coverage, GPSit devices cannot communicate their location to TrackFusion.    A lack of coverage is often mistaken for device or service problems, thus understanding your region’s coverage can answer a lot of common questions.

In the United States, GPSit’s cellular carrier partner is Sprint.  Click here for Sprint’s online coverage tool.

Once on the site, select “Data, Email and Multimedia”, then select the tab for “Sprint Devices”.  You can now enter an address and map it on the display.  Sprint uses color codes to highlight the regions within which data services are available.

Sprint’s coverage map also includes “Recent Tower” additions and “Future Towers” which will help you understand coverage expansion progress in your region.

If you have questions regarding wireless coverage and coverage related issues feel free to contact GPSit customer support.

Supporting efforts with Balfour Technologies, Phase II SBIR grant, GPSit was able to integrate with wireless cameras, covert GPSit tracking devices and Mesh City wireless to provide a stunning, fully functional Common Operating Picture for the security of personnel and Law Enforcement assets along the Rose Bowl parade corridor.

As Invitees of the DHS SBIR program, GPSit provided LBS information in a real world situational awareness environment. One goal of the operation was to demonstrate how new innovative communication technology can benefit law enforcement to provide faster and better response times to emergency situations and events using interoperable communications and sensors. 

This new situational awareness tool is currently on deployment in several US Locations.

First Time User Special - Commercial Users

Effective 2/15/2009 GPSit has restructured and lowered product prices.   You can visit the store to check out our new pricing, or contact our sales team at sales@gpsit.com to request a full price list.

In addition to lower prices, GPSit now offers GPSit FS1 GPS tracker and annual usage plan bundles that lower the overall purchase cost by an additional 10%.    Visit the GPSit Online Store and click “First Time User Specials” to learn more.

Government law enforcement users – make certain you visit our law enforcement online store from within the secure law enforcement portal.  Not a portal user?  Apply for access today.

www.gpsit.com

If you’re reading this you are undoubtedly exploring GPSit new website.  GPSit’s new website now features:

• Updated company and product information
• Online purchasing of GPSit Covert Tracking solutions
• A blog to help keep you up to date on our latest news
• An improved portal for law enforcement clients, featuring the latest covert tracking solutions for technical surveillance.

As always we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Thanks for your continued interest and support!

The GPSit Team