The merits of fleet tracking are not unknown to anyone, it is quite well established that GPS trackers can not only increase the visibility of your fleet but also allow you to better manage your team remotely. GPS installation for your vehicles is one of the most important aspects of this transformation.

Where to place the device and how to get it working?

This article will cover the basics of GPS tracker installation for your cars, and we’ll also explore, the merits of using GPS tracking for keeping tabs on your vehicles.

GPS Tracker Installation For Fleet Management

Here are some common and unusual installation options/locations for GPS trackers in fleet vehicles:

OBD Port

Most plug-and-play type trackers are compatible with the onboard diagnostics port of the vehicle, and as the name suggests, they simply need to be plugged in. Unlike their hard-wired counterparts, plug-and-play devices are far easier to install and use.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Locate the OBD port, it can be present underneath the steering wheel or the dashboard.
• Once you’ve found it, simply insert the device into the port just as you would plug in a switch.
• When the device has been connected with the OBD port, download the tracker app on your computer and mobile device.
• Turn on the engine and thus the device, and then sync it up with your app.

That’s all there is to it, happy tracking!

This is perhaps the easiest and most frequently used method for the installation of GPS trackers, and you should be able to do so by yourself for your cars. Being hooked up with the OBD port allows the tracker to send constant updates about the vehicle’s maintenance needs, allowing you to act in time if there is some maintenance trouble.

Remember, if the resolution of maintenance problems is delayed, things are only going to become worse. After some time, not only will the problem inflate out of hand but will also cost much more to fix, thus the timely maintenance alerts and not9fications are well appreciated.

Of course, if you plan in using hard-wired tracker equipment, then the installation process will be much different. But for most cases, this method works well and even saves time with all the installing, setting up, and the other stuff, allowing you to get straight to business with the fleet tracking part.

The biggest pro of this method is that the tracker draws in power directly via the port so you don’t have to worry about recharging it, ever!

But there are other GPS tracker installation options for your vehicles too, let’s explore those now.

Inside The Dashboard

Though the aforementioned is the go-to plan for most situations, in some cases, you may want to take things a bit beyond simple plug-and-play. Don’t get us wrong, those devices are pretty good, but if you plan on concealing your tracker and keeping tabs on your vehicle via a hard-wired option, then you should keep it out of sight.

This is particularly helpful if you want anti-theft features in your vehicles, i.e. if one of your cars gets stolen, the tracker data will help you easily track it down and let the police know where your asset is. Of course, if the tracker were simply lying around out in the open, the thief may have the common sense of ripping it off and throwing it away before taking off with the car.

Hard-wiring the tracker underneath the dashboard not only keeps it out of sight but also permanently installed in your vehicle. As with the previous option, this one too takes in its power supply from the vehicle so you’ve got nothing to worry about.

Beneath The Car

This only applies in cases where you’ve got a magnetic apparatus to help the tracker stick to the metallic surface beneath the vehicle. Moreover, you’ll also have to ensure that the device is kept safe from the effects of rain, snow, mud, and whatnot.

Some devices come with a waterproof casing, and if that is the case with yours then half of the problem ends there. However, if that’s not the case with you then you’ll have to use any casing that you can for this purpose to keep the tracker safe.

We won’t recommend this method unless you purchase a GPS tracker that is designed specifically to be installed underneath your car.

Otherwise, go for one of the other options listed so far.

In The Car Seats

This is another area where you can hide the tracker well enough if you plan on installing it in secret. Though not recommended for fleet tracking, it is still a fun way to install GPS trackers, so we thought we’d mention it too.

So here’s the deal: you can hide the tracker underneath the seat cushions, but it would be much better if you could hide it in the side. You’ll have to take off the seams to insert the device and then sew back the seat so that it looks just like before.

The sides are better because this way the device won’t be very easy to notice or spot.

This is, once again, not a fleet tracking thing, but you can use the trick to place an emergency tracker in your vehicle to help you keep tabs on the locations if it ever gets stolen.

Front Bumper

This is another very unorthodox method of installing a GPS tracker, although the location is so eccentric that no one will be able to guess where the tracker is. Since a series of wiring already runs through the said region, setting up a tracker here is not only possible but will also ensure that the device gets a steady supply of electricity.

You won’t be able to do this one on your own, instead, get a mechanic to safely open up the front bumper, install the device and then close the bumper just like before. From the outside, no one will be able to tell that there’s a GPS tracker in the front bumper.

This secrecy will make the tracker a perfect anti-theft tool, and since it will draw in power from the vehicle directly, you won’t have to charge it either.

However, there are two drawbacks to this idea, first, you need an expert technician to install the tracker because there is no way that you can do so on your own, and secondly, in the case of a head-on collision, the tracker may be damaged, if not destroyed completely.

Rear Bumper

As with the front bumper, the rear one also contains its fair share of wires and will be a perfect place for hiding a GPS tracker. Just like the previous entry, have a mechanic open up the bumper, install the device, concealing it nicely with the rest of the ensemble, and then putting the rear bumper back on.

In either case, locating the device will be nearly impossible for anyone planning on taking off with your vehicle.

Hide It Inside The Wheel Well

This is again one of those areas where no one will suspect a GPS tracker to be hidden. You’ll need a waterproof casing and a magnetic component to get the box to stick tight. The installation will be simple but, of course, not as simple as plugging in a tracker to the OBD port.

This is not a standard for fleet tracking practices but does work well for some.

Under The Carpets

You can also hide the track under the carpet beneath the seats, the perfect hiding spot. Just be sure to pick the spot which is least accessible to anyone during the vehicle, i.e. no one should suspect checking that area, just place the device there, and that’s it.

Make sure that the device stays in place and well hidden.

The Merits Of Fleet Tracking

Now that we’ve seen some of the most common and most unusual places to install your GPS tracker in a vehicle, let’s move on to the merits of installing one in the first place:

Better Security

The first and foremost advantage of fleet tracking is to keep your vehicles and your drivers safe. When you know where they are and where they’re headed, you can ensure that they stay safe and no harm befalls them. And in case things go wrong, you can assist them from your end.

Moreover, since in most states it is a legal requirement for you to label your vehicle showing that it is being monitored via GPS, there is minimal chance of theft. Anyone eyeing your vehicle will think twice before making a move because the risks are simply too high.

Real-Time Location Tracking

Location tracking is the basic defining element of fleet tracking. It all comes down to this one thing: knowing where your vehicles are at any given instant. You need to be very careful when managing a fleet because the transportation business is based on precision and your ability to make informed decisions.

Thus if you plan on making urgent changes to the schedule, or rerouting the vehicles, or just checking in to give an accurate ETA to your clients, live location tracking will be of great help. Real-time location tracking helps you stay on top of the progress and ensure that the best comes out of your workers, every day.

Tracking Driver Behavior

The behavior of your workers is just as much important, if not more than their performance. Any instances of speeding, aggressive driving, swift turning, rapid acceleration, hard press of brakes, and so on must be discouraged.

If your driver causes an accident, the company will also be held liable for the damages done, and this will create a huge financial burden for your startup. Not to mention the severe physical and emotional toll for all who have to go through such tragic events.

Thus it is in everyone’s best interests that your drivers drive safely.

Reducing Operations Costs

Lastly but most importantly, fleet management is all about reducing the cost of operation for your fleet. This includes the fuel costs, maintenance costs, avoiding time inefficiency, and so on. The idea is to bring in more money and avoid drains however possible.

Fuel wastage, for instance, is the biggest financial drain for most transportation businesses. There are a couple of effective solutions for this, such as preventing idling, route optimization, and avoiding speeding. Similarly, through better route planning, you can ensure that the time is spent as efficiently as possible, ensuring maximum productivity.

Though some may hold back from the idea of speeding some dollars on fleet management, most business owners don’t mind doing so since they know they’re saving much more in return!

Fleetr Is The Perfect Plug-And-Play Fleet Management Solution

When people think of fleet tracking, the picture of complicated algorithms and computer whizzes seated or rather glued to their chairs, come to mind. But this image can’t be far away from the reality, fleet tracking is a rather simplistic and highly practical endeavor.

The user interface is designed simply for all who wish to boost the productivity of their business. And as for the installation, plug-and-play devices like the one used by Fleetr are extraordinarily simple to set up and get started with, and have all the must-have features.

Fleetr offers the device for free, just set it up, install the app, and get tracing, that’s it!

No hidden fees, or initiation charges, or installation dues, just a $9.99 per month rent and you’re all set.

Call us today to get started with your fleet management efforts!