The True Value of Telematics: How RIPA & Associates Saves Millions with FleetWatcher

Originally published in Construction Business Owner, June/July 2020

When it comes to fleet management, “ignorance is bliss” doesn’t apply. Just ask Robert Turner, Fleet Operations Manager at RIPA & Associates, one of Florida’s largest underground utility contractors. With 900 employees, 450 heavy machines, and 180 trucks spread across six counties, Turner needs to know exactly where every asset is, how it’s performing, and when it needs service.

For Turner, the answer is FleetWatcher by AlignOps, a telematics platform that delivers real-time, actionable data to his office, mobile devices, and jobsites across the Gulf Coast.

Visibility That Drives Efficiency

From bulldozers to trailers and pumps, every asset in RIPA’s fleet is equipped with a FleetWatcher transponder. Data flows directly into the system, showing Turner:

• Hour-meter readings
  
  
• RPMs, fuel usage, and temperatures
  
  
• GeoZone activity and breadcrumb trails
  
  
• Asset assignments by job
  
  

At a glance—on a 45-inch office monitor or a mobile app—Turner sees what’s running, what’s idle, and where each machine is located.

Smarter Maintenance

FleetWatcher automates preventive maintenance. A “Maintenance Due” report flags equipment overdue for service and tracks hours/miles for each unit. Weekly reports keep mechanics accountable and prevent costly breakdowns. Instead of relying on dry-erase boards or logbooks, Turner now schedules maintenance based on accurate runtime data.

Theft Prevention in Action

Leaving machines in the field is a necessity—but also a risk. RIPA secures gear in Conex containers with FleetWatcher-connected alarms and strobe lights. If a door opens after hours, alerts are sent instantly.

One 1 a.m. notification revealed a theft in progress: a dozer starting and a Conex being breached. Police arrived in time to stop the theft and recover $200,000 worth of staged equipment. Since adding telematics to their security strategy, RIPA has seen major theft losses virtually eliminated.

Eliminating Idle, Extending Life

Before telematics, Caterpillar estimated tracks would last 4,000 hours. In reality, idle time cut lifespan down to 2,300–2,800 hours. With FleetWatcher, Turner spotted unnecessary idle and reduced it dramatically, saving:

• $400,000 annually on loaders alone
  
  
• $1.3 million total in the first year through fuel savings, extended asset life, and improved resale value
  
  

By tracking idle and utilization, Turner reallocates underused machines, plans ahead for future jobs, and keeps equipment moving—maximizing ROI across the fleet.

The Real Value

In less than a decade, RIPA expanded from 150 to over 1,000 telematics-enabled units. Turner now manages his fleet more efficiently than ever, preventing idle, thwarting thieves, and ensuring assets are in the right place at the right time.

“If it moves, I’ve got telematics on it,” Turner says. And with FleetWatcher by AlignOps, that means more uptime, lower costs, and smarter decisions.

👉 Learn more about how FleetWatcher by AlignOps helps contractors save millions through telematics at www.fleetwatcher.com.