Guide to the Best Fleet GPS Tracking: How to Track Your Business Vehicles 

Once your fleet vehicles are out of a safe area like your yard or worksite, keeping tabs on their security can feel overwhelming. You're not alone if you’ve ever worried about your fleet costs, like fuel usage or driving efficiency. It’s a common struggle for many business owners, operators and operations leaders. But with GPS tracking devices, you can easily keep your worries to a minimum, knowing that you can see the location and status of fleet vehicles and other assets at a glance.

Many companies are already using GPS tracking. Nearly half, or 41%, of those who have already embraced fleet GPS tracking has seen a positive and noticeable ROI within just a year of implementing GPS trackers. Cost reduction, safety improvement, operational efficiencies - there are many fleet management benefits that businesses have realized, and you can, too, with the right GPS trackers.

This post was written for business owners, supply chain professionals, fleet managers, and operations leaders who want top-notch visibility while managing their fleets. Read along as we explore the ins and outs of what GPS trackers can do for you. By comparing some of the best fleet GPS trackers, you’ll gain a better understanding of the importance of GPS tracking for your business.

Introduction to Fleet GPS Tracking

Fleet GPS tracking leverages Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that are placed in vehicles so you can monitor their real-time location and movement. Using these GPS tracking systems, you can get valuable data on vehicle trips, including routes, speeds, and stops, and like other fleet managers, operations leaders, and business owners, you can boost your operational efficiency, ensure that best safety practices are being followed on the road, and reduce fuel costs. One of the biggest benefits is that you can manage all on-road and field operations without having to be on-site. It’s a huge time and money saver for managing employees and assets.

Benefits Of GPS Tracking in Fleet Management

The importance of GPS tracking is clear when you understand all of the benefits you'll get from easier, more efficient fleet management. Here are some of the advantages of GPS tracking:

• Improved Efficiency: No more lack of visibility concerning vehicles and drivers. Real time fleet viewing can completely change how you manage your drivers, improve routes, and track all your vehicles. GPS location data and reporting for travel time and downtime (parked or idling) is automatic. You can see when your asset utilization can improve. Less travel and idling time and more efficient routing and asset deployment lead to faster job completions and happier customers.

• Safer Drivers: You can manage all employee driving behavior for every trip with GPS tracking. Anytime there’s unsafe behavior, like speeding, fast cornering or harsh braking, you’ll know about it. Increasing employee driving safety means reducing the risk of an accident on the road.

• Lower Expenses: GPS tracking can help you cut down your costs significantly. When you monitor your fleet vehicles, encourage safe driving, and optimize routes, you will save money on fuel and maintenance costs. Harsh driving can put unnecessary wear and tear on your business vehicles. Less wear and tear mean lower maintenance costs.

• Increase Customer Satisfaction: Your customers want to know when you’ll be on site. Whether your business is providing an in-person service or you’re delivering their goods, customers demand real-time information. They want to be in the know. GPS tracking systems can help you boost your customer satisfaction rates by giving your customers and clients real-time updates on expected arrival times, shipments and/or delivery status. Some advanced systems like BrickHouse Security GPS tracking can also let you share live links so your customers can always know when to expect delivery or services.

• Reduce Vehicle Theft: Equipping your fleet vehicles with a GPS tracking system can also reduce the risks of theft significantly. Even if and when a vehicle gets stolen, you can share precise real-time locations with police. Not only does this make recovery easier, but it also greatly increases the chance that your vehicle will be recovered. Vehicles, trailers, and other rolling assets that have a GPS device hooked up are much more likely to be returned to the owner than vehicles that don’t have GPS.

Understanding Fleet GPS Tracking Systems

Getting the hang of the Fleet GPS system definition and its components is key to understanding it.

Definition and Components of a Fleet GPS Tracking System

A fleet GPS system is a comprehensive tool that employs GPS technology to monitor the location and movement of your fleet vehicles in real time. Data is collected by a hardware GPS device in the vehicle and then sent to the cloud. By combining satellite and cellular data with GPS technology, you will be able to see the location and status of your vehicles and assets 24/7. Here are some of the key components of this system:

• GPS Tracking Device: GPS tracking devices are a core component that you can attach to your fleet vehicles. They then use satellite signals to locate and measure the speed of your vehicles. Usually, location and status data are stored in the cloud, not directly on the device.

• Cellular Network: Your GPS tracking system and GPS devices’ functionality will rely on a cellular network to send the location of your vehicles and other data to a central server where you can easily access it.

• Fleet Management Software: The GPS data processing system also has software that gives fleet managers, business owners, and operation leaders user-friendly dashboards, reports, maps and other features to monitor vehicle position and driver behavior and optimize their routes and fuel usage. 

Historical Development and Evolution of GPS Tracking Technology

Starting from its secret military origins, GPS tracking technology has now evolved into a widely used instrument for many purposes in logistics and beyond. Let’s trace the GPS tracking evolution:

• 1960s: Back in 1960s, the US Navy Transit satellite navigation system did some trials that laid the groundwork for GPS tracking and paved the way for advanced satellite-based navigation technology as we know it today.

• 1970s: A decade later, in the 1970s, the US Department of Defence properly developed GPS, initially called NAVSTAR, for military use that provided precise location data for submarines and other military vehicles and assets.

• 1980s - 1990s: GPS then further developed in the 1980s and 1990s, which increased its accuracy and widened its coverage with new satellites. However, a Selective Availability program restricted civilian access to high-precision signals.

• 2000s: President Bill Clinton's 2000 decision to end Selective Availability came as a waiver that allowed widespread use of GPS technology, making way for affordable devices and mobile phone GPS integration.

• 2000s - Present: GPS technology has been evolving since the 2000s to the present day enhancing the way fleet operations are managed by combining vehicle data with satellite generations and enabling applications across the logistics industry and beyond.

Features of Fleet GPS Trackers

Fleet GPS trackers offer a variety of features that can significantly enhance your fleet management. Here are some of the most essential ones:

1. Real-Time Tracking: Live Location Updates and Mapping

Picture a real-time digital map that shows the precise location of your whole fleet at all times. This is how real-time tracking works and how it improves the operations of your fleet:

• Better Dispatch Efficiency: You can track driver progress and select optimal routes to guarantee on-time delivery or at-expected time arrival and improve customer service support.

• Decreased inactive and idling times: You can identify all your fleet vehicles’ inactive time when stopped, parked or idling. If there’s big gaps of inactive time during your regular working hours, you might not be operating that efficiently. Having access to real-time location data helps solve this issue.

• Robust Security: These GPS tracking systems can help you give immediate warnings to fleet vehicles entering or exiting a geofence so you can track deliveries and on-site services, prevent theft, and monitor unauthorized use during off-hours.

2. Geofencing: Virtual Boundaries and Alerts

Geofencing means creating virtual boundaries around specific locations like your vehicle/asset yard, consumer areas, work zones, and any other designated area on a map. Most systems allow for the user to add a radius around a pin that you can drop on the map or for a user to draw lines over a specific area.

• Enhanced security: Set notifications to monitor vehicle movement in or get alerts whenever a vehicle leaves geofenced areas, promoting driver safety, real-time delivery/arrival tracking, and deterring unauthorized vehicle usage.

• Improved efficiency: Track routes and identify changes that could cause delays. You can guarantee that drivers stay on course with optimized routes for distance or time.

• Automated time tracking: To simplify payment and time management procedures, set up geofences around client or workplace locations to track entry and exit times automatically and use this information to verify timecards or other sources of data.

3. Driver Behavior Monitoring: Speed, Harsh Braking, and Acceleration Tracking

Keep an eye on safety metrics like speed, hard braking, and sudden acceleration to gain driving behavior insights. With this data, you can:

• Encourage Safe Driving: Find areas for development through driver behavior monitoring. Safer driving translates to fewer accidents, reduced insurance costs, and a better reputation for your company. Branded vehicles are rolling billboards for your business, so making sure all employees are driving safely is important!

• Tracking Speed: See average and real-time speeds and detect aggressive over acceleration or speeding. Make sure anyone driving a business vehicle is driving at a safe and legal speed.

• Harsh Braking and Acceleration: Identify sudden acceleration or braking incidents to reduce vehicle wear and tear, potentially reducing accidents by promoting safer driving behaviors.

4. Fuel Management: Monitoring Fuel Usage and Optimizing Routes

Fuel costs can be a major drain on your budget. Fleet GPS trackers with fuel management features help you optimize your operations for cost efficiency. Here's how:

• Real-Time Fuel Usage Monitoring: Monitor fuel usage in real-time to spot vehicles that might be using more than expected. This allows you to look into possible reasons, such as mechanical problems or fuel-inefficient driving practices.

• Cut Down on Rest Time: Find the trucks that are parked or idling for a long time. In addition to wasting fuel, prolonged resting causes needless engine wear and tear that’s avoidable.

• Route Optimization: Analyze past data on fuel usage, traffic patterns, and driver behavior to find and improve routes for greater time and fuel efficiency. You can reduce fuel expenses by cutting down on travel time and distance.

5. Maintenance Alerts: Scheduling and Reminders for Vehicle Maintenance

Fleet GPS trackers with maintenance alerts can help prevent unexpected breakdowns, saving time and money for businesses.

• Increased Uptime: You may reduce downtime and keep your fleet operating by actively attending to maintenance needs. This will ensure that your business operates as intended by keeping the vehicles you rely on to get the job done on the road.

• Lower Repair Costs: By detecting minor problems early on with preventive maintenance, you can save them from growing into more serious repairs, which can ultimately save you money. Preventative maintenance helps avoid costly replacements, too.

• Extended vehicle lifespan: Regular maintenance not only keeps your vehicles running smoothly but also extends their overall lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Vehicles and other commercial assets are expensive. The longer you can keep them in working order, the lower your cost-per-mile or cost-per-use becomes.

6. ELD Compliance: Electronic Logging Devices for Regulatory Adherence

For fleets subject to regulations like the ELD mandate, navigating the world of electronic logging devices (ELDs) can feel daunting. Thankfully, fleet GPS trackers with ELD compliance features are here to streamline the process and keep you on the right side of the law.

• Top-notch Safety: Following ELD requirements ensures drivers follow HOS laws, reducing the risk of accidents caused by drowsiness and enhancing driver safety.

• Decreased Fines and Penalties: Guaranteeing ELD compliance can help prevent large fines and penalties associated with incomplete or inaccurate logs, thereby maintaining a clean regulatory record. Automating your ELD compliance can save your business a lot of money…and headaches. Don’t stress over ELD compliance. Let technology manage everything for you.

• Streamlined Operations: Fleet managers, business and operation leaders, and supply chain executives may now concentrate on other operational concerns because automated data collecting and recordkeeping have made administrative jobs easier for them. Using automated ELD compliance tech frees up your staff’s time.

Best Fleet GPS Tracking Companies in 2024

There are so many options available on the market that selecting the best fleet GPS tracking system can be difficult. Here is a summary of some of the best fleet GPS trackers in 2024, highlighting their advantages to make your choice easier:

#1. Brickhouse Security

Brickhouse security is a well-rounded system that offers a wide range of features and devices appropriate for fleets of all sizes. These are a few of their best-sellers:

• GPS Tracker: It provides real-time location tracking, geofencing, route optimization, and historical data analysis. We have the best GPS tracker reviews on the Internet, have nearly two decades of experience, and have been operating since 2005. Their experience gives them a competitive edge like no other because they’ve helped over 60,000 businesses implement GPS tracking into their daily operations.

• Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): Brickhouse Security offers Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that automatically log driving hours and vehicle data to ensure compliance with federal requirements. This lowers the possibility of infractions and fines by assisting fleet owners in effectively managing the hours of service (HOS) of their drivers.

• Dash Cams: BHS also has dash cams with high-definition video recording features so that supply chain executives, business owners and fleet managers can keep an eye on traffic conditions and driver behavior in real time. By assisting with accident investigations, these cameras can promote road safety and accountability. Dash cams also help protect a business from expensive liability by capturing indisputable proof in the event of an on-road incident.

• Fuel Management: You can gain insights into fuel usage, identify excessive idling, and optimize routes for better fuel efficiency.

• Driver Behavior Monitoring: Promote safe driving habits by monitoring factors like speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration.

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Flexible and Diverse Products and Services

Brickhouse security has a diverse range of products and services covering all logistic needs for companies, no matter which industry they are operating in. They are all flexible in nature, so you can use whatever suits your business and make changes as you go and grow. BHS has GPS products for every need and every asset. And with volume pricing built for businesses, BHS can be the GPS partner you’ve been looking for. We also offer the best support by phone, email, online chat and text. We’re there when you need us.

#2. Samsara

Samsara prioritizes driver safety and provides modern technology and analytics to help you build a safer fleet. Here is a sample of what they have to offer:

• Driver coaching by AI: Samsara's AI examines driving data to spot unsafe behaviors, and offers focused coaching for development.

• Safety Scorecards: Use thorough safety scorecards to track driver performance and pinpoint areas in need of improvement.

#3. Motive

Motive is known for its easy-to-use interface, which makes it suitable for businesses unfamiliar with fleet tracking technology. Here are a few of its essential features

• Simple Installation: Motive's straightforward installation procedure will allow your fleet to operate easily.

• Simple Dashboard: The intuitive dashboard offers a concise summary of your fleet's activities in real-time.

#4. Trimble

Trimble is focused on giving you insights and real-time data to help you maximize fleet operations. These are some features they offer

• Real-time visibility: Maintains total transparency by monitoring the location and activities of your fleet in real time.

• Route optimization: Optimises routes using historical trends and real-time traffic data to save time and fuel.

#5. Verizon

Verizon Connect serves medium-sized and larger fleets with a big feature set and numerous integrations. It is one of the top GPS tracking systems on the market today.

• Advancement

Use powerful data analytics tools to get an in-depth understanding of fleet performance.

• Integrations

Seamlessly work with current hardware and applications for a single fleet management experience.

#6. Azuga

It offers a simple solution with a focus on driver safety and gamification, making it an option for small to medium fleets.

• Safety rewards: Use a gamified rewards system to encourage drivers to adopt safe driving habits.

• Warnings: Set up warnings for specific events such as speeding or hard braking to quickly handle any problems.

#7. Garmin

Garmin is a well-known brand for truckers. Their trucking products are designed to make life on the road easier and more efficient for professional drivers. Here's a breakdown of some of their offerings:

• Reputable Location Accuracy: Garmin utilizes its extensive GPS technology history to ensure exceptional location accuracy for your fleet, providing a clear view of your vehicle's current location.

• Users experience First: Garmin's intuitive design and user-friendly interfaces make it easy for fleet managers and drivers to use.

• Route optimization: Garmin's products utilize historical data and traffic patterns to optimize routes, resulting in time and cost savings.

Detailed Comparison of Best Fleet GPS Trackers

Choosing the best GPS tracker for your fleet can be made easy with comparative analysis. Here is a detailed GPS tracker comparison of some of the top suppliers for 2024, highlighting their prominent features, selling points, and pricing:

Advantages of Using Fleet GPS Trackers

The benefits of GPS tracking include operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and more.

Improved Safety: Reduced Accidents and Better Driver Behavior

Decreased Accidents

Implementing driver behavior monitoring tools can significantly reduce collision risks, benefiting drivers, other vehicles, and pedestrians by detecting and addressing unsafe actions.

Improved Driver Behavior

To increase overall safety, get insights on driver behavior and offer driver coaching. You can achieve more attentive and responsible driving and ace fleet safety using it.

Cost Savings: Fuel Efficiency and Maintenance Cost Reductions

Fuel Efficiency

Optimize routes to reduce travel time and distance by looking at past trends and using real-time traffic data with GPS. By encouraging drivers to drive more fuel-efficiently, driver behavior monitoring can result in significant cost savings.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Automated preventative maintenance helps to avoid costly repairs and replacements and keeps your vehicles on the road for longer. Fleet maintenance features give you detailed maintenance information and ensure your vehicles are maintained regularly so you can extend their service life. It's more cost-effective to keep your vehicles well maintained because you'll have more up-time, and you'll be less likely to have to replace parts or vehicles. Plan your maintenance based on mileage, engine hours, or other customized plans.

Operational Efficiency: Optimized Routes and Real-Time Decision-Making

Optimized Routes

Utilizing route optimization technologies that consider traffic patterns and historical data can optimize fleet routes, saving time, reducing fuel usage, and enhancing operational effectiveness.

Real-Time Decision-Making

You can make informed decisions about resource allocation, dispatching, and overall fleet management when you can see all location and activity in real-time.

Compliance and Reporting: ELD Compliance and Detailed Reporting Capabilities

ELD Compliance

Certified GPS trackers ensure accurate driver activity recording for fleets complying with Electronic Logging Device mandate laws, reducing fines and penalties.

Comprehensive Reporting Skills

Offer comprehensive data on fleet performance, including route optimization, driver behavior, and fuel usage, to identify issues and make informed decisions.

Implementing and Integrating GPS Tracking Systems

Training and Support: Onboarding Processes and Customer Support Services

With complex systems, onboarding can seem a bit haywire. However, with the right GPS tracker company like Brickhouse Security, that’s not a possibility, because it’s not complex. Not only is it easy to use and install, but the Brickhouse Security training/onboarding process is also easy and feasible for businesses of all sizes. They provide guides and demos to make the process seamless. Here is what to look for in GPS training and support:

• Extensive Training: Look for companies that give drivers and fleet managers equal demanding onboarding procedures. The better systems, like Brickhouse Security, are intuitive and DIY but also offer the support that you need.
• Fleet Manager Training: This course should address data interpretation, reporting tools, system functionalities, and best practices for utilizing the system to enhance fleet performance.
• Driver Education: Driver education aims to assist employees in using mobile apps, understanding driver behavior monitoring features, and demonstrating how it enhances workplace safety and productivity.

Thankfully, the BHS training/onboarding process covers all these bases, so you need not look further.

Real-World Examples of GPS Tracking Implementation

GPS tracking improvements and their implementation have helped greatly in automating fleet operations of different companies across industries. Location-based intelligence has become essential for many businesses that use vehicles. It is especially useful in industries and companies that have fleet management at the heart of their operations like:

• Logistics Companies
• Food and Beverages Retailers
• E-commerce or Fast Fashion Businesses
• Waste Management Businesses
• Construction Companies

Examples of a Business Benefiting from Fleet GPS Tracking

When it comes to Fleet GPS tracking success stories, Amazon stands out as a shining star. This e-commerce giant, boasting a staggering annual

revenue of $590.74 billion, has practically woven GPS technology into the very fabric of its global delivery network, making it a prime example explored in numerous Fleet GPS tracking case studies.

Besides companies like Coca-Cola, FedEx also reaps benefits from GPS tracking, such as increased ROI, better fleet management, etc.

Emerging Trends in Fleet GPS Tracking Technology

GPS tracking trends advancements are transforming fleet management, with important trends influencing the industry.

Advancements in AI and Machine Learning

AI can reduce downtime and increase safety by predicting equipment failures, optimizing routes, analyzing driver behavior, and detecting errors in-vehicle data. In order to find the most effective routes, AI in GPS technology can additionally assess traffic conditions, driver behavior, and delivery timetables in real-time.

Take VizTrack Dash Cam, for example, which uses facial recognition and AI to analyze driver behavior trends, spot unsafe moves, and offer personalized coaching. This system improves fleet operations by guaranteeing accurate driver registration and offering safety advice for better driving. We can say that the future of GPS tracking is bright.

Expert Data Analytics and Predictive Maintenance

Predictive Maintenance: GPS monitoring systems using AI and machine learning can predict equipment failures using vehicle data analysis, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

Advanced Data Analytics: Fleet managers gain a deep understanding of vehicle performance, driver behavior, and efficiency by using advanced data. This allows efficient and informed decision-making.

Expansion into New Industries and Global Markets

As GPS enters new markets, it concentrates on managing agricultural, emergency services, transportation asset management, work site logistics optimization, heavy equipment tracking, and property optimization. GPS has the power to provide predictive maintenance to various sectors just based on data.

Conclusion: The Importance of GPS Tracking

Recap of Benefits and Features

The GPS tracking benefits include:

• Implementing driver behavior monitoring tools can reduce accidents and improve overall safety by detecting and addressing unsafe actions, as well as promoting attentive and responsible driving.
• Fleet GPS trackers can improve fuel efficiency by utilizing real-time traffic data and past patterns, while also promoting fuel-efficient driving behaviors, thereby reducing maintenance costs and preventing costly repairs.
• Using fleet management solutions, historical data can optimize fleet routes, save time, reduce fuel usage, and enhance operational effectiveness, while real-time decision-making aids resource planning and management.
• GPS trackers ensure ELD compliance, reducing fines and penalties. Comprehensive reporting skills provide data on fleet performance, route optimization, driver behavior, and fuel usage for informed decision-making.

Consider GPS Tracking for Fleet Management

Do you find it difficult to manage your fleet effectively? Purchasing GPS tracking might have a big impact on your company.GPS tracking lowers expenses, increases customer happiness, and enhances driver safety, asset visibility, and operational efficiency. It increases fuel efficiency, cuts down on idle time, and optimizes routes. Additionally, it cuts gasoline costs, shortens maintenance schedules, and improves asset visibility.

FAQs 

These are some common GPS tracking FAQs.

Q: How do I know which tracker to choose?

This is the very first question that business owners and fleet managers ask before they get into GPS tracker installation. From available hard-wired, plug-in and VizTrack products, you can choose the one that suits your needs best.

For instance, if you want easy tracking with a discreet tracker - wire-in or hard-wired tracker will be your best buy and if you want diagnostic data, without any worries about battery and simple installation, oft for plug-in OBD. Moreover, if you want liability protection, "eyes on the road," and advanced visibility into your vehicles and driver behavior, then choose VizTrack.

Q: How much does a fleet GPS tracking system cost?

GPS tracker costs can vary depending on several factors, including the number of vehicles you track, the features you require, and the contract length. Generally, there's a monthly service fee per vehicle, along with a one-time cost for the GPS hardware itself.

Q: What technical knowledge do I need to use a fleet GPS tracking system?

Most fleet GPS tracking systems are designed with user-friendliness in mind, requiring minimal technical expertise. The software is typically web-based and accessible from any computer or mobile device.