With the help of vehicle tracking software, fleet managers and owners can then see the location, movements, and status of their vehicles on a computer or smartphone app. The software is integrated with GPS which uses satellites to find the exact location of vehicles and other assets in real-time. It gathers data from these satellites to calculate the geographical position of a device attached to the vehicle.
Reasons to Use GPS Vehicle Tracking Software For Your Fleet
- Better Routes: It can help identify the fastest and most fuel-efficient routes for vehicles to take. This means vehicles get to their destinations quicker while also saving money on fuel costs. For example, a delivery company can make sure their trucks avoid traffic jams, reducing delivery times and keeping customers happy.
- Improved Scheduling: Knowing exactly where your vehicles are allows you to schedule pickups, deliveries, and service calls more efficiently. This helps your workforce complete more tasks in a day, making them more productive.
- Preventative Maintenance: Some advanced GPS vehicle trackers collect data on the health of your vehicles. Fleet managers can use this information to schedule maintenance before breakdowns happen, preventing costly delays and downtime.
- Safer Driving: GPS tracking can monitor driving behaviors like speeding, hard braking, or idling. Managers can use this data to encourage safer driving habits among their staff.
- More Security: If a vehicle is stolen, GPS tracking devices makes it much easier to locate and recover it quickly.
Also, a real time vehicle tracking system offers valuable insights into your fleet’s overall performance.
Data on fuel consumption, idle time, and maintenance needs can help you identify areas for improvement and cost savings.
With real-time visibility into your operations, you can make more informed decisions and optimize your resources for better efficiency and productivity.
How Vehicle Tracking Software Works?
Vehicle GPS tracking systems rely on a network of satellites and ground stations to pinpoint the precise location of vehicles and other assets equipped with GPS receivers. The system works through these key components:
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Satellite Signals
The backbone of GPS is a constellation of at least 24 satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of approximately 12,600 miles. These satellites continuously transmit radio signals containing precise time and orbit information. A GPS receiver needs to lock onto signals from at least four of these satellites to accurately calculate its position through a process called trilateration.
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Ground Stations
A global network of ground control stations and antennae monitors the satellites’ operations. These stations ensure the atomic clocks on the satellites remain precisely synchronized and make calculations to account for orbit shifts caused by gravitational forces and other factors. They also measure distortions the satellite signals experience while passing through the Earth’s atmosphere and provide data to the receivers to correct for these distortions.
- GPS Receivers
Vehicles, assets, or mobile devices with integrated GPS receivers use the data from the satellite signals to determine their exact latitude, longitude, elevation, speed, and direction of travel. The receivers decipher the time it took for the signal to arrive from each satellite to calculate the respective distance from those satellites. With distances from four or more satellites, the receiver can trilaterate its position.
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Data Transmission
Once the GPS receiver calculates its location data, this information is transmitted via cellular or satellite networks to a centralized computer system for processing and tracking. Depending on the system configuration, this data transmission can occur at regular intervals or in response to particular events like speeding, harsh braking, or entering or exiting a geo-fenced zone.
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Software Applications
Fleet management companies provide specialized software platforms that receive a steady stream of GPS location data from all connected vehicles and assets. These applications integrate mapping capabilities to visualize locations in real-time on a digital interface. They also record and analyze the incoming data, generating reports on vehicle movements, stops, idle times, speeds, and more. This business intelligence allows fleet operators to optimize routes, monitor driver behavior, and make data-driven decisions.
Best Ways to Utilize GPS Vehicle Tracking System in Fleet Operations
Here are some tips to enhance workforce productivity using vehicle tracking system
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Monitor job start and stop times
Set geofence boundaries around job sites and get alerts when vehicles enter or exit. This data shows if crews are arriving on time and not leaving early.
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Reduce unauthorized vehicle use
GPS tracking reveals if vehicles are being used for unauthorized personal trips after hours or on weekends. Addressing this improves accountability.
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Optimize vehicle maintenance
GPS data shows actual miles driven and idle times, which allows you to schedule maintenance proactively based on engine hours instead of just a standard schedule.
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Improve dispatching efficiency
With real-time vehicle locations, you can easily see which truck is closest to the next job and dispatch them more efficiently.
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Enhance customer billing
GPS tracking provides accurate records of time spent at each job site. This ensures you are billing customers properly for the work performed.
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Increase productivity with reports
Generate reports on driving habits, idle times, speeds, and more. Review regularly with drivers and crews to reinforce policies and identify coaching opportunities.
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Ensure safety compliance
Set alerts for speeding, hard braking, and other unsafe driving behaviors. Addressing these issues quickly reduces liability risks.
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Improve response times
When a high-priority job comes in, you can see which personnel are nearest and re-route them immediately without calling around.
Before You Go!
For businesses looking to employ Vehicle Tracking Software into their fleet operations- White label solutions seems the best option.
White-labeling allows companies to fully re-brand the tracking software interface and mobile applications with their own company logo, color scheme, and styling. All user interactions with the tracking system display this consistent corporate branding.
TrackoBit’s white-label GPS tracking solutions give fleet companies a strategic edge by merging these operational advantages with a branded customer experience under their corporate identity.
So, now businesses can have the best vehicle tracking features while controlling the entire user experience under their brand.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- How does a vehicle tracking system work? A vehicle tracking system utilizes GPS technology to determine the precise location of a vehicle in real-time. This information is then transmitted to a central server, where it can be accessed by authorized users via web-based or mobile applications.
- Can a vehicle tracking system help reduce insurance premiums? Yes, many insurance companies offer discounts to businesses that implement vehicle tracking systems, as they are associated with lower accident rates and improved driver safety.
- Is it legal to track employees’ vehicles without their consent? In most jurisdictions, employers are required to obtain consent from employees before tracking their vehicles. Failing to do so may violate privacy laws and result in legal repercussions.
- Are vehicle tracking systems susceptible to hacking? While no system is entirely immune to hacking, reputable vehicle tracking providers employ robust security measures to safeguard against cyber threats. Regular security audits and updates are essential to mitigate the risk of breaches.