Vendor Guidance for Maintaining Telematics Equipment Function

Although increasingly rare, it is not unheard of for vendors to disconnect the Geotab telematics equipment from the OBDII port during service to a vehicle. Usually, the justification for disabling the equipment will be to gain access to the OBDII port for an automotive scan-tool, or that disconnecting the equipment is required for some reason (either due to battery interference, or because of the CARB injunction on port modification). 

State Fleet Management acknowledges that these justifications are almost always offered in good faith; but we encourage State employees interacting with vendors to request that telematics equipment is restored after service is completed (e.g., plugged-in). 

Indeed, it is in the interest of all parties (Fleet Manager, Vendor, State Fleet, Operator, etc.) to have this ,equipment restored to normal function at the time of service, otherwise we need to return the vehicle to the vendor to have them reconnect the equipment!

To support this request, we recommend offering the vendor the State of Colorado's Telematics Universal Policy that requires installation of this equipment on all non-waivered vehicles, and the specific Executive Order D-876-2 and Executive Order D-876-4 which exempt Geotab equipment from the CARB injunction on permanent modifications to the OBDII port on vehicles.