The client
The client is a district fire department responsible for a fleet of fire trucks and the firefighting equipment and gear they carry.
Every truck must be available, fully equipped and compliant with safety and operational standards whenever a call comes in. The department had managed this with manual checks and paper records.
The challenge
The department could not see where its trucks were, maintenance happened when vehicles broke down, and manual equipment checks sometimes left trucks without the gear they needed.
- No real-time location of trucks, which slowed deployment.
- Unscheduled maintenance left vehicles unavailable at critical times.
- Manual checks meant trucks were not always fully equipped.
- Some vehicles were overused while others sat idle.
- Manual documentation made compliance hard to prove.
What they set up in Asset Infinity
The department put its fleet, equipment and compliance records into Asset Infinity, with GPS trackers on trucks and RFID tags on gear.
GPS on every truck
GPS trackers show each truck’s location on a live dashboard and report odometer and engine hours to the system. (Connected)
Maintenance by usage
Preventive plans run on odometer, engine hours or date, so service happens before a truck is needed and not after it breaks. (Maintenance)
RFID on equipment and gear
Firefighting equipment carries RFID tags, and handheld readers check what is on each truck against what should be there. (Connected)
Fleet use and compliance records
Reports show how each vehicle is used, and maintenance records, equipment checks and certifications sit in one place for audits. (Insight)
How it works day to day
Here is how the fleet and its equipment are now kept ready.
- Dispatcher: sees every truck. The live dashboard shows where each fire truck is, so the nearest available vehicle can be sent.
- System: collects usage. GPS trackers report odometer and engine hours for each truck, which feed its maintenance plans.
- System: raises service when due. When a truck reaches its mileage, engine hours or date, a preventive work order is created and the maintenance crew is notified.
- Maintenance crew: services the truck. The crew completes the checklist on the mobile app, records the work and closes the order.
- Logistics team: checks the gear. A handheld RFID reader scans the tagged equipment on a truck and shows anything missing, so it can be restocked.
- Fleet manager: balances the fleet. Usage reports show which trucks are overused or idle, and records are ready for compliance audits.
Before and after
| Before | With Asset Infinity | |
|---|---|---|
| Truck location | Not known in real time | Live GPS dashboard |
| Maintenance | Unscheduled, trucks unavailable | Planned by usage and date |
| Equipment on trucks | Manual checks, gaps | RFID checks, 99% inventory accuracy |
| Fleet use | Some trucks overloaded, others idle | Usage reports balance the fleet |
| Compliance | Manual documentation | Digital records ready for audits |
How it rolled out
- Needs reviewed. The team reviewed fleet and equipment processes and set goals for response, maintenance, readiness and compliance.
- Records and devices set up. Vehicle, equipment and inventory records were migrated, GPS units installed and equipment tagged with RFID.
- Pilot, then the whole fleet. Fleet managers, maintenance crews and logistics teams were trained, a pilot ran on selected trucks, then the fleet followed.
The results
- 18%+ faster average response times
- 22% lower maintenance costs
- 99% accuracy of equipment and gear inventory
- 30% longer service life and performance from more balanced use of vehicles
- Fewer unexpected vehicle breakdowns through usage-based maintenance.
- Digital records simplified compliance and made audits easier.
- Trucks are equipped for every type of emergency.
Why it worked
Readiness is visible
The department sees where trucks are, when they are due for service and whether they carry their gear, all in one place.
Maintenance follows usage
Plans driven by mileage and engine hours service the busiest trucks first, before they fail.
Proven in a pilot
Starting with a few trucks let the department refine the setup with real feedback before rolling it out.
Looking ahead
With trucks on GPS, gear on RFID and maintenance planned by usage, the department responds faster, spends 22% less on maintenance and knows each truck carries what it should.
Digital records of maintenance, equipment checks and certifications mean the department can prove compliance whenever it is asked, without searching through paper.