GPS Vehicle Tracking Device

Technology has made it possible for people to track vehicles, people, and other assets of importance.  The GPS vehicle tracking device is just one type of vehicle tracking system.  The GPS tracking unit uses the Global Positioning System to relay information about the location of the vehicle attached to that GPS vehicle tracking device.  The Global Positioning System is a satellite in which navigation and timing services are provided.  GPS vehicle units are both active tracking devices, meaning they can send information back to a network computer for evaluation.  The data is transmitted in real time, providing the most current data about the location of the vehicle.  These units are small fitting, almost unnoticed on most vehicles.

GPS vehicle tracking devices provide six benefits to companies that employ them.  These six benefits include lower fuel costs, keeping an eye on staff, planning for more efficient routes for drivers, discounts on insurance and tracking stolen vehicles, mileage claims and time sheet reporting and improved customer service and communication.  Most businesses find that one or two of these listed benefits will help their company, and that those benefits make the GPS tracking device a worthwhile investment.

Six Benefits of GPS Vehicle Tracking Devices:

To outline the benefits further we will look at lower fuel costs first.  Using tracking devices will allow you to monitor the amount of fuel used by company employees during their runs.  Often for fleets there is wasted fuel due to excessive idling, taking a longer route, or speeding.  Reports are generated by the vehicle tracking device that will show if excessive idling is occurring and which drivers are responsible.  The fleet managers are then able to ascertain where improvements can be made.

Second on the list of benefits is being able to keep an eye on the staff.  When your staff leaves from your business you want to know that they are spending their time on the job and not running errands with your vehicle.  You also want to know that they are not speeding, idling, or otherwise being wasteful.  Reports are generated by the tracking system to tell you how long employees stopped at their destinations, and whether there were any detours.

Part of the second benefit is making sure the driver is taking the right routes.  GPS tracking devices can help the driver plan their trip before they leave the bay.  In fact the system will look for the most efficient path for the drivers to take.  GPS devices have access to road construction data which can help plan for delays and reroute the drivers.  Those in the office monitoring the GPS vehicle tracking devices can also help a driver if they have gotten off target with a wrong turn or when they get lost.  This cuts down on the time spent on reading maps of the area.

Perhaps one of the best benefits is the insurance discount and tracking stolen vehicles option.  GPS systems will put out a signal for where the car or fleet truck is when it is out of the lot. There are alerts you can set up with the tracking system to tell you when the vehicle is on the move, especially if the truck is not scheduled to go out.  This allows for a faster response time from police when a vehicle is stolen.  The police are also able to track the signal to find the vehicle.  By adding this extra security measure you can save on insurance.  Insurance companies offer discounts up to 30 percent for companies that have tracking installed, which decreases the risk to the insurance company allowing you to reap the benefits.

Unfortunately not everyone is completely honest.  Your drivers turn in mileage claims and time sheets regarding their work hours.  In the past you were unable to check that the drivers were being honest and accurate with you.  The GPS vehicle tracking devices make it much easier to keep track of what your drivers are up to.  You will know if there is an abuse or inaccuracy of the time or mileage reports.  Companies have found, in general, that they save 10 percent on claims for mileage and time because of the tracking systems.

Lastly for companies with vehicle tracking systems it has been determined that communications and customer service improve.  First drivers are able to communicate with their base through the GPS in case a break down occurs, they get lost, or they are stuck in traffic.  Since drivers are in more contact with the system customers know where their shipments are.  Communication between customers is improved.  Also the customer gets their items quicker due to the accessibility to the best routes.

Three Types of Tracking Devices:

Under GPS tracking devices you have three options for vehicles.  The first is called cellular tracking.  It is a cheaper option for starting up a vehicle tracking system because you pay once a month.  Every five to ten minutes you get information for where your fleet is.  The second is a passive tracking system with no monthly fee, but a setup fee is required.  Unfortunately passive systems have to be downloaded before you have the information.  The third type is the satellite based system.

How Do the GPS Tracking Systems Work?

You already know the benefits the GPS vehicle tracking system can offer.  Now you just need to know how it works.  The system is fairly simple.  You have a GPS receiver that will use triangulation to calculate the position of the object.  The GPS will then broadcast the information about the position and time to the satellite, which sends the signal to the base of operations or the data centre monitoring the information.

If using a data centre you are able to log into the system in order to find out where your fleet is.  The best part about the system is that you do not have to be at your business to log in.  You can track your fleet from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection and your password along with you.

Compare and Get a Quote on Vehicle Tracking

Vehicle tracking can be a very confusing subject. It is also a big investment if you decide you want to have tracking systems installed in your fleet of vehicles. Therefore it is wise to do your home work on the subject before you take the plunge and sign into a vehicle tracking contract.

There are lots of things you should consider before getting a vehicle tracking system. These include what payment method you intend to use. By this I do not mean by credit card or direct debit. By this I mean do you intend to lease the system, buy it outright, opt for a pay as you go agreement or rent the system. This is an important decision to make as it affects the cost of the system as well as the level of commitment you enter into. You must way up the pros and cons of each payment option.

Other things to consider are which features you require. Some features may not be of any use to you. Therefore why pay for something you do not need and will not use. On the flip side make sure you have everything you need. You do not want to end up with a vehicle tracking system which does not fulfil your needs.

Some tracking systems come with a long warrantee; others don’t but cost a lot less. Would it be better to have the warrantee for the extra money or not? These are all questions you should ask yourself before signing up to a contract. If you do your home work on the subject then you can make an informed decision on the subject.

There are sites online to compare vehicle tracking and get quotes. These can be very helpful as they lay out the main facts and features about each system in one easy to use comparison table. From these sites you can also request quotes.

This makes it very easy for you to see what you get from each tracking system and how much they cost. This is great, but you still need to know what you are looking for. Otherwise you are just looking through a list of meaningless features.

Something else you may want to consider before buying vehicle tracking is the company history. Do some research on the stability of the company. Many vehicle tracking companies have gone out of business leaving people with long lease contracts, but a tracking system with no connection. In other words they have left them with a useless system.

This is of course terribly but can be avoided. Do your research on the company. Are they renowned for having a stable financial base? Are there stories about how they are having financial troubles. Do your research online.

Another way to avoid this problem is to enter into a pay as you go contract. This leaves you with commitment to the provider and if they go out of business you do not have to keep paying for a tracking system you no longer have.