How Does A GPS Tracking System Work Into Fleet Management?

GPS technology has made fleet management far more effective, efficient, and convenient than before. Fleet managers have welcomed telematics into the equation and have witnessed promising results with their fleet vehicles.

Not only does GPS fleet tracking help with boosting the fleet’s visibility but also allows managers to effectively take charge of things that matter. With more control and better access to information about every fleet vehicle, companies can better direct their efforts towards improving their operations and getting more fruitful results from their endeavors.

Thus, to say that GPS technology is important for effective fleet management would be a gross understatement.

Understanding How The GPS Technology Works

GPS, or global positioning system, is a quintessential geo-location asset that finds utility in almost all modern devices ranging from computers to smartwatches. More sophisticated versions of the tool also exist: the electronic logging devices (ELDs) used by fleet tracking systems and telematics are a perfect example here.

Through wireless signals mediated by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), GPS devices alert users of any displacement in the real-time location of the subject being tracked. On the receiver’s end, the asset is represented by a moving marker on the map, pretty simple to understand.

You can also find several related stats to help you better judge the performance of your fleet drivers.

Let’s explore further how GPS fleet management works:

The Fleet Tracking Protocol

Dedicated tracking devices are installed into the asset to be tracked, either in a plug-and-play fashion or hard-wired into the vehicle’s frame. In either case, the device then starts gathering data about the vehicle and its performance.

Besides the location, stats like speed, distance traveled, idle time, maintenance requirements, indications of aggressive or reckless driving are all stored in the device. The device will then send the data, either constantly, or after fixed intervals, depending on the capacity of your system, to the receiving end.

The data may either be transmitted via a mobile network or through a wireless medium. Fleet managers will see the real-time location of their assets, the behaviors of their drivers, and be alerted of any impending maintenance problems that need to be nipped in the bud.

The best part about GPS fleet management is that all of this information will be simple to read and understand. Fleet managers will thus constantly stay in the loop of all that is happening with their vehicles and will be in a much better position to act if something needs to be straightened out.

Scope of Telematics Tracking

We know that fleet management is much beyond the real-time location tracking of vehicles. What fleet owners intend to do with this investment is to claim more control over their fleet vehicles and make their protocol much more productive.

Not only can telematics help you track the current location of your fleet but also share the location history for all vehicles. You can also find indications for unsafe driving behavior from your employees – if you do, let them know that this negligence will not be tolerated.

Remember that if an on-duty driver crashes a company car with someone’s vehicle, you too will be dragged into the ensuing legal tussle.

Speed, fuel consumption, distance covered, idling, hours spent on a job, and maintenance needs are some of the most important alerts that you can expect from fleet management systems.

In short, you’ll be better able to judge the performance of your workers and the state of your vehicle through this addition. Both will be vital for shaping your decisions.

Merits of Employing GPS Fleet Management

We know that fleet managers find it much easier to take charge and handle a large fleet with such systems, but does it help your business? Well, of course it does. Fleet management not only introduces transparency into your operations but also offers insights into areas demanding improvement.

Thus, fleet managers and business owners alike will benefit from the integration of telematics into the equation, allowing the setup to expand further into new horizons. Moreover, you can expect better performance from your drivers who’d make it a point to be on their best behavior after knowing that their movements are being recorded.

Here are the merits of using GPS fleet management and telematics:

1.     Cutting Down Costs, Especially For Fuel

The prime concern for any business owner is to minimize the costs and maximize the profits. Of course, this does not mean that you have cut down necessary expenses, but you can do away with any wastage. Fuel costs are a heavy drain for any business involving a transportation component.

Not only is excessive fuel consumption a constant threat to nature, but it also weighs heavily down on any company’s success. Through route optimization and better monitoring of fuel usage, fleet managers can save a substantial sum for the company, creating an opportunity for growth and progress.

And since GPS fleet management systems and telematics allow companies to track the speed and driving behaviors associated with each fleet vehicle, you can ask your drivers to cut it if they’re over-speeding. Not only is it a safety hazard but also causes the vehicle to run through fuel faster than it would otherwise.

Effective management of company assets also allows businesses to avoid overdoing something. You don’t need to send out more manpower than is needed to get a job done. Just focus on minimizing the input, reasonably, of course.

2.     No More Wastage of Company Time

Time is money, and this adage is taken quite literally in the ever-competitive fleet transportation business. The faster you get things done (safely and properly), the more you can get done every day. Thus conserving time is tantamount to securing more money for the business.

Of course, this does not mean that you should encourage your drivers to take on rough driving practices, quite on the contrary – you’re going to eliminate the need for them to rush through the road in the first place. And no, you don’t have to get one of those flying cars from sci-fi movies, instead, you can simply plan well.

Through better route selection and timely updates about any issues down to the road, fleet managers will be able to keep their drivers on track for the work at hand and not lose precious time. By avoiding traffic-dense sections of the city, your drivers will be able to conserve time, allowing you to spend it elsewhere.

Side jobs are another drain to company time. Most fleet owners learn this only after they’ve installed telematics and GPS fleet management systems in their vehicles. Drivers often use company cars and company time to complete side jobs of their own.

Not only is this an abuse of the company’s assets, but it is also a direct blow to your trust in the said worker. The use of company cars for personal use, either during work hours or afterward is unacceptable. You must draw the line here and make it crystal clear that misuse of the fleet assets will not be tolerated.

With every minute of the work time accounted for, fleet managers can focus on boosting productivity.

3.     Better Tracking & Records

One of the most basic functions of GPS fleet tracking is to keep constant tabs on the location of your vehicles. Through this data, you will be better able to dispatch orders and communicate with the drivers when you feel that they’ve taken a detour.

You can also help your drivers if they’re in an emergency or track your vehicle if it has been stolen and share the information with law enforcement. Most fleet managers like to geo-fence a certain area to make sure that none of their cars leaves the proscribed space, and if one of them does, an instant notification will be sent on both ends.

This way, not only do fleet managers ensure complete containment of the workers in the service area but also prevent the wastage of precious time and resources.

If a client calls and asks about how far your vehicle is from their place, you’ll have a very specific answer instead of vague and general responses like “it will only take a couple of minutes.” Overall, location tracking can help you make things much more efficient.

In case you were not staring at the screen the whole time with your eyes peeled out scanning for any anomaly (which you shouldn’t do in any case because it’s not good for your eyes), you can simply check the location history of your fleet cars and discuss any detours or unnecessary re-routing with the drivers.

Similarly, the data for speed, mileage, acceleration, hard press against the brakes, and other signs of aggressive driving will prove to be of much use in improving the company’s commitment to road safety.

4.     Dispute Resolution

The thing with manual logs is that they are nearly impossible to verify. You will find a huge discrepancy between the number of hours logged in and the work done. Yet, there is no way for you to prove that the numbers have been inflated – you can’t do that without proof, and you can’t call someone a liar based on a hunch.

Luckily, your fleet management software will generate automated reports for drivers and allow you to more accurately assess their performance. There can be no room for error here, thus you can rest assured about the fairness in play.

This way, you can ensure more transparency and better working proficiency.

5.     Enhancing Safety

Lastly, GPS fleet management helps improve the overall safety for both the drivers and the vehicles. Everyone likes a safer work environment, and through GPS technology you can deliver just that to your workforce. Moreover, most telematics systems have a panic button that allows drivers to instantly relay an emergency request your way.

If that happens, act fast!

What Does The Law Say?

The law in all states requires you to seek the consent of your drivers before tracking them. While telematics and fleet management tools are not harmful, they do fall under some regulations. You will need written consent from all of your drivers before you set up the vehicles with electronic logging devices.

It is best to seat your drivers down nicely and discuss the applications with them. They may be worried about nothing – just tell them how the tracking will help you better appreciate the hard work they’re putting into their jobs and how it will allow you to remotely monitor and help them.

Hopefully, they will be convinced this way.

Some states also require you to display a warning on your vehicle advertising that the car is under GPS surveillance.

This works out well as a theft deterrent, so win-win!

For more information, reach out to a local lawyer to seek proper legal guidance in the matter and to avoid problems down the road.

Fleetr Is The Ultimate GPS Fleet Tracking Option For Your Business

Fleet management is imperative for the success of any business, even a small startup, that relies upon fleet vehicles to get things done. Not only can fleet managers boost the efficiency of their work protocol but also ensure that all safety practices are met and that your fleet offers the best results possible.

We, at Fleetr, have served our clients for years now and have never failed to appease them and have consistently earned their satisfaction. Our fleet management solutions don’t involve any initiation fees or boring contracts that no one reads anyway.

You can start tracking your fleet vehicles for as low as $9.99 per month (for one vehicle) and get on with making your operations more effective and efficient.

All you have to do is to give us a call, and let us handle the rest!