It seems that thieves have nowhere to safely hide their loot following the latest recovery of a vehicle fitted with a Ctrack system. A quad bike owned by Calderdale Council worth more than £7,000 has been safely retrieved following a break-in at one of their depots. In fact, it took less than three hours from the time the theft was reported to direct Police officers to the location of the bike using Ctrack.

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Ctrack is launching a brand new logo to underline its position at the forefront of the vehicle tracking industry. It forms part of a global branding exercise by our parent company the DigiCore Group and will be rolled out across more than 50 countries. Over the coming months we will be introducing the new look and feel to our business in the UK including plans for a brand new website.

The modern logo reflects the advanced nature of our business and is designed to convey what the company stands for in terms of innovation, technology leadership and customer care. It forms part of the DigiCore Group’s vision to become the industry leader in every market it operates in.

We are expanding our network of offices to better meet the needs of customers across the UK and Ireland and to support our growth strategy moving forward. This will include two new offices in Solihull and West Byfleet, as well as a switch of location for our Leeds office to new premises in Headingley.

These developments will bring the number of offices to six providing a presence within the North, Midlands, South East, South West, Scotland and Ireland, providing full sales and customer support capabilities at each location. In particular, our office in West Byfleet will also become Ctrack's new headquarters in the UK.

Ctrack ICE, the lone worker tracking and mobile panic alarm solution, has achieved international recognition at the prestigious World Mail Awards after being shortlisted in the security category. The innovative solution was selected as a finalist for its ability to provide added protection and support for vulnerable lone workers.

Ctrack ICE is a discrete device that not only provides real-time and historical location data to monitor the whereabouts and safety of mobile employees, but also provides direct access to 24/7 SOS assistance in case of an emergency or accident.

Business leaders from across the mail sector gathered at the Conrad Hotel in Brussels to celebrate industry best practice and success during the past year. Well-renowned journalist Alex Puissant hosted the awards ceremony, which was organised by Triangle Management Services. The event forms part of the World Mail and Express Europe Conference.

Our new range of advanced tracking solutions is now available as part of our commitment to creating an unrivalled selection of tracking systems that will help businesses reduce, costs, increase productivity, boost customer service and protect mobile resources.

These tools can work in isolation or part of a wider integrated approach and are designed to enable companies to better manage their vehicles, employees and unpowered assets.

The latest addition to the range is Ctrack ICE, a multifunctional personal tracking and mobile panic alarm tool suitable across all lone worker, security or workforce management environments.

The three-in-one solution is a unique combination of hardware, software and service that enables companies to better protect, manage and communicate with their mobile employees by providing: Emergency support for vulnerable lone workers; two-way voice communication; and visibility and control over employees in the field.

We now have almost 75,000 active tracking units across more than 3,000 companies, so it is essential to invest in leading technology solutions so we continue to meet the diverse needs of our customer. This new range of tools will ensure we remain at the forefront of the tracking marketplace within the UK.

We are well on the way to reaching our target of raising £5,000 for the Helipad Fire Response Team at Leeds General Infirmary. So far we have been able to donate more than £3,000 following fundraising initiatives at the end of last year.

£1,500 was raised following a prize draw at our Christmas party, with a further £300 donated to the appeal by replacing our usual company Christmas cards with an ecard. Employees have also been actively involved in selling calendars and organising a cake stall to raise additional money.

Elsewhere, Mark Walker, the System Support Manager at Ctrack, also secured an additional £1,000 for the Helipad Fire Response Team after winning a prize draw organised by hosting partner Rackspace. The company had offered the donation to a charity of choice as an incentive for completing a Customer Satisfaction Survey, and Mark was the lucky winner.

A big thank you goes to everyone involved for their continued support and generosity.

February's Newsletter flags up an advanced new range of tracking solutions introduced by Ctrack to help users reduce costs, boost productivity and improve customer service. There is also a link to the Vehicle Tracking Survey 2011, which until May 2011 will allow you to fill in a qustionnaire detailing your views and experience. The results will then be published in summer 2011. News items include a drive to reduce red tape for road users, and a case study describes how Sefton Council benefited from tracking its refuse collection fleet.

Read the newsletter here.

This year instead of buying cards Ctrack has donated £300 to our chosen charity.

“We’re honoured to be supporting such a worthwhile cause. As a Leeds-based company we felt it was important to support our local community through our charitable work. We also wanted to support an organisation that, like us, is road-safety focused and with the Leeds General Infirmary and the helipad’s record of saving lives through road traffic accidents, itmade perfect sense for us to support such a valued, local service. When we heard of the appeal to raise funds to provide much-needed kit and equipment for the helipad teamwe jumped at the chance to help. With our staff and customers getting involved over the next six months, we’re aiming to reach our initial target of £5,000.”

Tom O’Connor — MD, Ctrack Ltd

Have a happy and safe festive period and a succesful New Year.

Click here to view the Ctrack Christmas Card

December's Newsletter summarises the issues you should take into account when choosing a tracking system, taking its lead from a new guide from Ctrack. It also includes news about the latest cost of running a car, along with a case study on the use of vehicle tracking by Dartline Coaches.

Read the newsletter here.

Everyone at Ctrack would like to wish you a safe and enjoyable festive period, as well as a successful New Year. 2011 is likely to be another challenging year, but those companies that optimise their business to take advantage of the opportunities available to them will be well-placed to thrive.

The winter weather means added danger for fleet operations as road conditions worsen, so it is essential that companies encourage responsible driving amongst their workforce. Employees also need to be reminded to keep vehicles locked at all times, because it is at this time of year that thieves are on the look out for easy victims.

All too often drivers are leaving their vehicles with the engine running to remove ice from the windscreen and windows. In fact, 66,000 vehicles each year are stolen during the winter months that have been left unattended. Furthermore, insurance companies take a dim view of such thefts, so are more often than not reluctant to pay out.

October's Newsletter includes tips on Winter Driving, Norman Baker, the Minister for Transport, learning Eco Driving techniques and a case study on Sunderland Council's use of Ctrack's vehicle tracking solution. Read the newsletter here.

We helped Captain Carbon and the Greenhouse Gasses to a credible forth place at Thames Water's charity Raft Race. The Ctrack-sponsored team was one of eighteen — made up of Thames Water employees, contractors and local businesses — that competed in the annual event to raise money for Wateraid.

After challenging well throughout the one-mile race, Captain Carbon and the Greenhouse Gasses’ polystyrene and fibreglass raft just missed out on a podium finish. The six-strong team, backed by a captain and small band of costumed supports on the bank, raised an impressive £1,123.33, so we would like to congratulate everyone involved. In total, the race raised £12,000 for Wateraid.

Commenting on the race, Captain Carbon, also known as John Gilbert when not in superhero mode said: “We put up a good fight and overall we are pleased with the showing of the raft, which not only stayed buoyant but also showed great agility. We will be back next year and once again competing for a podium finish. Our thanks goes to Ctrack, whose support has enabled us to modify the raft and contribute to an improved year-on-year performance.”

Wateraid is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to helping people to escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation. The charitable trust originally set up in 1981 by the UK water industry.

The first News Bulletin, a newsletter brought to you by Ctrack, has been published. It is designed to bring you the latest updates about the company, our products and services, and industry developments affecting your fleet operation.We hope you enjoy the newsletter and find it of use. We would welcome comments you might have about it, and any suggestions for future issues.The newsletter can be viewed here.