The World of GPS Fleet Tracking Systems

The introduction of GPS tracking systems in the 1980s to track assets, personnel, and equipment revolutionized the world. It brought value to all types of businesses. Since then, technological advancement has not only helped improve GPS tracking systems as a whole but also curate the technology for various business needs.

Today, GPS tracking systems form only a part of the telematics industry. The telematics industry provides an extensive range of solutions allowing businesses to leverage technology to extract data from their working assets and personnel. This data is then used to perform meaningful analysis and derive certain information about the performance and behavior of these assets.

In the supply chain sector, businesses in the logistics part of the spectrum utilize GPS fleet tracking systems to locate assets in real-time. This provides a stream of useful data about various aspects like vehicle usage, fuel consumption rates, driver behavior patterns, engine diagnostics, etc. The data is interpreted and used to minimize costs, maximize profitability, and therefore increase the business’s overall efficiency.

Read more at samsara.com about the history of GPS tracking systems.

The different ways GPS fleet tracking systems are used to provide location data across a fleet and how it is utilized is discussed below:

Fleet Visibility

Time Management

Businesses operating commercial fleets can plan and maintain dispatch and delivery schedules using real-time location data from GPS tracking devices installed in their carriers. GPS data allows businesses to plan efficient routes, delivery times can be estimated, and fuel consumption can be minimized.

Customers can be updated as per their needs instantly without having to call drivers for location and ETA estimates. GPS fleet tracking systems are a more accurate and safer way of going about this process. A carrier can be located without the involvement of the driver just by glancing at a screen, and the relevant information can be relayed to the customer.

Search And Dispatch Instantly

GPS fleet tracking allows businesses to instantly view all their carrier’s locations at one time. This is especially useful information when the business is in the on-demand service space. When a customer requests a service, businesses can instantly locate the nearest serviceable carrier and assign the customer to them.

This is also helpful when trying to accommodate a last-minute customer or responding to any issues faced by a carrier and will not be able to service their customer. Being able to make instant decisions based on location allows businesses not only to save time but also to reduce fuel costs. Reduced response/delivery times are a big boost in terms of customer satisfaction.

Geofencing

When managing a large fleet of vehicles, a simple feature that proves to be extremely helpful is geofencing. The feature allows you to demarcate a certain section that each carrier will operate in. This allows you to track the time spent outside this area.

This is beneficial when dealing with multiple customer locations. When carriers leave the geofence for delivery, the time spent at the site servicing these can be monitored, and any unplanned delays might delay the entire schedule. This is monitored through geofences.

Read more at samsara.com about how geofencing can be used as a critical safety feature.

Fuel Efficiency and Carrier Maintenance

Fuel Consumption

GPS fleet tracking systems are not only useful when trying to locate carriers but also reduce fuel costs as well. During the planning phase, multiple route options are likely to pop up. Some may take lesser time despite the longer route. This will lead to higher fuel consumption.

By inputting basic data like fuel cost/gallon, GPS trackers can also show the fuel requirements for each route available, allowing you to make a smarter decision.

Read more at samsara.com about how fuel consumption can be optimized during a trip.

Maintenance Ease

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has set a number of mandatory regulations that businesses operating commercial vehicles must comply with. For example, one being the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) is a mandated log that drivers must maintain pre and post-trip inspection checks.

The data used in this report can be easily acquired from GPS tracking systems like distance driver, fuel consumption, duration of the trip, engine diagnostics, etc. This eliminates the need for pages of paperwork that needs to be filled in meticulously and audited to prevent any clerical error that may lead to unnecessary fines.

Read more at samsara.com about a maintenance schedule that can save tens of thousands of dollars every year.

Carrier Security

When a carrier is stationary for either an overnight hiatus or during the off-season, it can be vulnerable to theft or unauthorized usage. GPS fleet tracking allows passive fleet monitoring, and it can be set to send an alert if a specific carrier changes its location. In case of a theft, the business will be instantly notified about the movement of the location, and they can contact the appropriate authorities along with the carrier’s coordinates.

Final Thoughts

GPS fleet tracking technology has made the life of the fleet manager and fleet driver a lot easier. Fully utilizing various aspects of GPS enabled technology can reduce and eliminate a multitude of monotonous tasks that take up a lot of time. With that out of the way, businesses can focus on growth through efficiency.

GPS technology is being constantly revolutionized; the way data is being harnessed and processed, while offering improvements in reliability, efficiency and newer ways to look at things makes GPS technology an exciting space to keep an eye on.

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