What You Need To Know About Fleet Tracking For Small Businesses Before You Start
There’s not much on the technical side of things that might bother you. After all, fleet management software is designed to make things simpler and not the other way around. However, there are many concerns that you need to address first, such as how to introduce the fleet tracking system, the power and limitations of such software, available options, and so on.
You might already be wondering about a couple of things mentioned here:
Fleet Tracking Is Not The Same As Spying
It would be unfair to equate fleet tracking with spying. For one, your drivers know that you’re using trackers (at least, they should), and secondly, you’re tracking your assets, primarily, and drivers by association. This means that your efforts to bridge the gap between the command center and the fleet vehicles on the road are completely moral.
However, that’s only if your drivers know, which they legally should, that you’re using a fleet management system and what type of data you will have your eye on. If you were holding back because of such concerns, then there is no need to. Plus, you’re not alone in your choice. All modern businesses are pushing for streamlining of communication via fleet tracking.
Just have a healthy discussion with your drivers before you introduce such a momentous change; once you paint the whole picture, i.e., what everyone has to gain from fleet tracking, they’ll surely get on board with the idea.
Location Tracking Is Only The Beginning
Live location tracking is one of the central features of fleet tracking. Without it, the rest falls apart. But this does not mean that this is the only thing you should look for. Sure, a fleet tracking software’s worth is reflected in how fast it can refresh its screen and give you locational updates. This should preferably be instantaneous.
However, other features are also worthy of your attention, such as vehicle speed monitoring, location history, maintenance alerts, unsafe driving notifications, automated records for each driver, the ability to group vehicles based on their areas of operation, and so on. In short, you need to find as many features as you can, so long as they help you do a better job managing your fleet.
Simply tracking fleet location is not enough!
Plug-and-Play Trackers VS. Hardwired Devices
Your choice of a suitable tracker will also make a difference in your experience with fleet tracking. Here, you can choose between hardwired and plug-and-play devices. The former is installed in your car, and this is something that only an expert can handle.
In contrast, a plug-and-play device will start working as soon as you plug it into the OBD port. This is a simple process too, no need to get an expert involved. Of course, a hardwired device has the edge in security, but that too only if your area of operations is far and wide.
For regular use and fleet tracking, plug-and-play devices work just fine.
Minimize The Role Of Manual Records
To make fleet tracking more fruitful, you must rely only on the data provided by the software because that record is unaltered. If you continue to base your judgments on what you get from the daily driver logs, you’ll never have an accurate idea of how much work has been done on a given day.
That is not to say that your drivers are untruthful, but instead, we’re simply pointing at the possibility of human error, the odds of which shoot up after a long, arduous day of work when all that the mind needs is rest. Spare your workers this trouble, and free yourself from this dependence too – use automated records prepared by the fleet tracking software.
Use Both The Computer & Mobile Applications
Use the fleet tracking application on both your phone and PC to make your fleet tracking endeavors as efficient and wholesome as possible. Most fleet tracking software is compatible with operating systems for both devices, making them readily available on both platforms, but be sure that the one you pick also offers this level of compatibility.
Plus, you will receive timely alerts and notifications on your mobile app so that you never stay out of the loop of what is happening, even if you’re away from the computer screen.
Set The Alerts & Notifications To Your Liking
The alert and notification settings are also important because you don’t want to be bothered by the minor stuff (or maybe you do want to know it all when it happens), but at the same time, you can’t afford to be left out of the picture entirely. Mobile apps are an important segment of the tracking process because they alert you of anything worthy of your attention.
This way, even when you’re away from your PC, or on the move, or busy sorting some other work mess, you’ll still stay connected enough to ensure that your fleet operations are going smoothly. Do not turn these notifications off, or at least keep the most critical ones enabled at all times because the information is your biggest asset in this business.
Understand The Legal Requirements For Fleet Tracking In Your State
The legality of fleet tracking is something that you’ll have to discuss with your lawyer – don’t worry, it is perfectly legal, but there are some prerequisites that you must fulfill beforehand. These requirements vary from state to state, but some baseline conditions are the same.
For instance, you can’t track a vehicle without the driver of the same knowing that the car is being tracked. Otherwise, that will be illegal. Plus, you can’t just ask for their consent casually. It has to be a written contract.
Also, some states require that you display a sticker on your car showing that it is being tracked; this also works nicely as a deterrent to theft.
Fleet Tracking Can Help You Preempt Liability Lawsuits
Car accident liability lawsuits are among the worst things that could happen in the transportation business, and the threat is pretty real considering how common commercial vehicle accidents are. But with alerts and notifications for unsafe driving, you don’t have much to worry about.
Of course, you still have a duty to counsel your drivers about the dos and don’ts on the street and exercise control over how your workers behave on the road. You can teach a greater sense of responsibility to your workers by introducing a reward-based system.
In all of this, the data coming from your fleet management software will be the perfect, indisputable reference, allowing you to assess your drivers by their dedication and attention to road safety. By preempting car accidents, you’ll save your business a fortune in lawsuits.
Read All The Product Details Before You Signup
Lastly, you should be extremely careful about what you get for the job at hand. If you end up with an inadequate product, then it would be worse than not having a fleet management system to begin with. Read the product description carefully to see that it has all the features you’re looking for.
There is another concern, too: the terms and conditions – the not so little part that most decide to skip. In most cases, doing so can cost you dearly. Some products have a minimum commitment period and a minimum number of vehicles that you must track with their software.
This is not only highly unfair but also impractical for most. Luckily, Fleetr does not bind customers at all. Instead, we offer complete freedom to anyone willing to rent our services.
Enjoy Full Freedom While Monitoring Your Small Business Fleet With Fleetr
The thing with Fleetr is that we’ve made our deal the simplest and most freedom-oriented in the market. As we’ve already explained, you might’ve come across products with tough terms and conditions, overpriced service charges, and so on – forget about all of this with Fleetr because we ask for nothing unreasonable.
For your Fleetr subscription, you won’t have to sign any binding contract, plus we don’t expect you to agree with any tough terms. You also don’t have to pay any extra fees, initiation dues, device charges, installation fees, and so on. Even the tracker is free. All you have to do is sign up for our $9.99 per vehicle per month subscription, which will be all.
You can cancel whenever you feel like it, and there won’t be any hindrances in your path from our side. Our services already back up twenty thousand plus vehicles, and thousands of business owners have reported very positive feedback for our flexible, affordable, and highly effective fleet tracking technology. Plus, the app, available both on PC and mobile devices, is highly intuitive and easy to use.
What are you waiting for? Call us now to avail of this golden offer!
