GPS technology undoubtedly is an effective tool for providing real-time mapping and location-based services. Aside from helping businesses move their assets from point A to point B without getting lost, they also can help save gas money, to the tune of $53 billion for the trucking industry alone.One way to cut down on fuel consumption is, obviously, to drive less. But how do you do that if you have set places to go, day in and day out? GPS is the answer. It's a proven tool to find the shortest distance between two places. Reducing the length of the route reduces fuel consumption. Also, preventing drivers from becoming lost prevents them from wasting precious time -- and fuel -- searching out their destination.

Motorola recently conducted a survey and turned up some notable results regarding the use of GPS:

• Fuel cost savings: Nearly 50 percent of enterprises name reduction of fuel consumption as the number one benefit of using GPS -- reflected in a reduction in travel distance by an average of 231.2 miles per week and recording $51,582 in annual fuel saving.
• Nationwide savings potential: With more than a million trucking carriers in the United States, the potential industry-wide annual fuel savings could reach $53 billion.
• Time savings: Enterprises deploying GPS-enabled technologies saved an average of 54 minutes per day - translating into an annual recouped labor savings of $5,484 per employee or $5.4 million per enterprise.

"Field mobility workers in the transportation and trucking industry are experiencing difficulties such as locating stops, reducing fuel expense, and improving on-time performance resulting in a drain on financial and manpower resources of their organization," said Jim Hilton, director of field mobility, Motorola Enterprise Mobility business. He ain't kidding.

Everyone understands how miles per gallon equates to money spent or saved getting from here to there. For those who make a living on the road, saving MPG can mean life or death for the business. GPS and location-based services are one way to help keep costs down.