If you’re familiar with modern technology, you may already be familiar with GPS and its usefulness for vehicles and mobile devices. Meanwhile, a less well-known term that’s starting to pick up traction in fleet companies is “telematics.” While telematics relates to GPS technology, the two terms can be challenging to differentiate if you’re unfamiliar with their processes and unique characteristics. Let’s take a look at GPS vs. telematics to find out how they compare and what their roles are in fleet industries.

GPS and Telematics: How They Relate

As you may already know, GPS is the use of satellite technology to track location and other pieces of data relevant to a vehicle or device. It can come in handy for drivers if they need help finding a destination while making a delivery or responding to a service request.

On the other hand, telematics is a type of solution that uses GPS and telecommunications technology to gather and report on a comprehensive set of data. Telematics systems often come with tracking devices that collect data on location, speed, acceleration, braking, idling and more. Then, it sends that data back to the user. Using telematics will allow you to monitor the status of a company vehicle from anywhere. Whether you’re in charge of two vehicles or 50, a reliable telematics solution can provide live, accurate information within seconds.

Telematics software will also provide readings on the vehicle itself, helping you speed up diagnostics and manage maintenance strategies more effectively, and keeping track of fuel usage and odometer readings that could warn you when repairs are needed.

What Does Navigation From Telematics Mean?

At a telematics system’s core is a tracking device with a built-in GPS receiver that compiles data about a vehicle’s location and status in real time. Telematics software takes the GPS data and transmits it through a cellular network to the main servers. At that point, the servers process and convert the data to usable information visible to fleet managers.

This data provides accurate accounts of your vehicle’s location at any given point in time. It can identify driver behaviors that lead to operating inefficiencies and increased costs, like sudden stops, speeding and quick acceleration. Secondary data like fuel consumption, engine diagnostics and odometer readings can improve your fleet’s operation even more. 

Fleet managers can access this data from smartphones, computers or other internet-enabled devices. They can also export this information into a document or spreadsheet to create company presentations. You can then evaluate this data to track patterns, establish trends and develop a plan of action. 

Unlike a GPS that provides information on a single driver in one vehicle, a telematics system gathers and stores data on all your fleet’s vehicles. This feature allows managers to see the big picture of an entire operation rather than just one driver. Still, it’s essential to understand that GPS and telematics work together and do not compete with each other.

If you implement a telematics system that’s Smart Tracking enabled, you can receive specific notifications whenever your drivers meet certain parameters. These features prevent you from becoming overwhelmed with information that might be irrelevant to your fleet. Systems like these allow you to customize settings to show results that matter most to you, like when your vehicle reaches a standstill or if there’s a problem in the engine.

How GPS and Telematics Solutions Enhance Businesses

A telematics system combined with GPS enables you to manage your vehicle fleet with an eye on increasing profitability. Together, GPS and telematics can:

• Guide drivers to their destinations: Combined with telematics software, GPS mapping provides the most accurate traffic updates in real time, allowing you to guide your drivers on the most efficient routes.
• Help drivers and fleet managers communicate: Keeping track of your vehicles can be challenging when your company has many of them on the road. Telematics systems allow fleet managers to communicate with their drivers during operation. This connection means your fleet can be more flexible by changing routes and updating schedules on the fly when circumstances change. 
• Simplify routing and rerouting: By using live status updates and previous map-tracking data, managers can pre-plan their fleet operations to identify optimal routes. Satellite mapping also allows you to view the terrain and alert your drivers to extreme elevations, steep inclines, adverse weather and other potential hazards.
• Provide accurate reporting: Telematics software provides a comprehensive range of reporting features to help you make informed decisions while managing your fleet. You can access these reports in various formats and set up the system to email you in specific intervals.
• Reduce costs: Telematics systems can help you put the most optimal operational practices into place by identifying inefficient driver behaviors and patterns that promote fuel waste. These systems also reduce the amount of paperwork your drivers need to complete, saving significant time associated with log reports and manual time cards. Telematics also improves fuel mileage, providing even more savings for your company.
• Improve driver safety: Fleet managers can identify trends of risky driver behavior when analyzing the data a telematics system offers. These analytics enable a manager to provide driver training for improved performance or recognize exemplary work. In addition, managers know their drivers are in the best hands when telematics show the vehicles are mechanically sound. 
• Establish good maintenance practices: Advanced telematics systems can keep track of your maintenance schedules for you, reminding you of routine services like oil changes and inspections. These systems can also connect directly to your vehicle’s computer to forecast maintenance needs and repairs before they become problems, maximizing uptime.

While you can install GPS technology for any vehicle or fleet, it’s only by using various data collected from telematics solutions that you can make the most of what GPS has to offer. Paired with the communication benefits of telematics, GPS tracking will help you increase fleet performance and productivity. Along with enabling you to eliminate time-wasting behaviors, it will alert you when drivers are driving recklessly so that you can do what’s necessary to keep them in line.

Telematics takes all the benefits of GPS along with a variety of other convenient features and delivers them in a single solution. It’s an automated system that will allow you to do more in less time while decreasing the risk of accidents and liability claims. Having GPS and telematics on your side is an essential part of staying competitive in trucking and delivery businesses today.

Choosing the Right Telematics System for Your Company

While various companies claim to provide the most effective telematics solutions in the industry, it’s vital to choose a provider you can trust. Discuss your company goals and how you’d like to achieve them with your provider. Before making a purchasing commitment, you should find out the specific features, benefits and costs of your provider’s systems and how they apply to your business. 

Beware of any hidden or additional fees for features that have no benefit to your operation. 

Track Your Truck has over two decades of experience providing some of the industry’s most cost-effective, highest-quality tracking solutions. Our support staff puts the customer’s needs first before anything else. When you contact our team with a question, you’ll speak with a live representative qualified to assist you and provide the information you need.

Request a Quote From Track Your Truck

At Track Your Truck, our GPS tracking and high-efficiency telematics solutions are tested and ready to go upon delivery. Start tracking your fleet today by investing in our navigation and tracking software, or contact us for a quote to learn more.

As a business owner or fleet manager, vehicle telematics can help you transform your fleet into a safer, more efficient operation. It can also empower you with the data you need to make better decisions about your business and provide your customers with the best possible service. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss what telematics is, how it works and why it is the right choice for your fleet.

An Introduction to Telematics

What is telematics? Telematics refers to the transmission of electronically collected information over a long distance from a relevant point of interest — such as a vehicle — to an end-user. Vehicle telematics is a method of monitoring and gathering the logistics of a vehicle or fleet. Telematics technology utilizes computer systems that collect data in several key areas of operation, including driver location and behavior, fuel level and vehicle status, route tracking and more. You may have even encountered telematics in your personal life. For example, telematics technology in cars can help auto insurance companies gather data and analyze your driving habits. Telematics technology is also behind many modern-day car features, like active weather alerts.

Over the years, telematics technology has evolved from basic GPS tracking to include advanced sensors, diagnostics, and communications. This has enabled expanded functionality that makes telematics critical for fleets of all sizes. It provides them with real-time visibility, full accountability, and data-driven decision-making. All of these can be powerful differentiators and enhance the competitive edge of virtually any type of fleet operations.

Several industries and vehicles can utilize tracking via telematics technology, including:

Personal vehicles, such as your car
Truck fleets
Boats — both personal and cargo
School buses
Travel trailers
Heavy equipment
Tow trucks
HVAC and cable companies

Whether you manage a few vehicles or an entire fleet, any company that regularly transports assets can benefit from using a telematics system. 

How Does Telematics Work?

Depending on the features and settings you use, telematics technology works to collect, transfer and help you make sense of important data from the vehicles in your fleet. 

Here’s how it works:

A device captures relevant vehicle data: A telematics device is installed in each vehicle in your fleet, usually in a discreet location. Throughout the operation of each vehicle, this device will harvest information such as speed, acceleration, idle time and vehicle location.
That data is transferred to the telematics provider: The installed telematics device will then transmit this information to a telematics provider via some form of wireless connection. If you choose a telematics system with Smart Tracking enabled, expect to receive updates whenever specific parameters are met, instead of being flooded with dozens or hundreds of unimportant information. For example, Smart Tracking will flag when the vehicle reaches a standstill or when it detects a change in the vehicle’s power supply.
The data is interpreted so you can analyze results: Once the telematics data has been collected and transferred, it is then interpreted and sent to the end-user to be analyzed. Business owners and fleet managers can access this telematics information via computer, smartphone or another internet-enabled device, or export it into a document or spreadsheet. You can then use this information to track patterns, trends and make a plan of action.

The data collected by the telematics varies, depending on the company you work with and the features you choose to track. Depending on your specific needs, you can filter which features you would like to manage, as well as which data is included in regular reports. Fleet managers and business owners can monitor things like:

Fleet location
Travel speed
Acceleration or frequent braking
Idle and stop time
Total distance or time traveled
Total fuel consumption
Engine and vehicle data
Problems with the vehicle

Benefits of Telematics for Fleet Management

So, what kind of benefits can you expect when you implement a telematics solution into your operations? Some of the benefits of telematics systems include the ability to provide better customer service, operate more efficiently and promote driver safety:

1. Provide Better Customer Service 

Offering quality customer service is an essential part of running your business. Occasional delays of arrival times are often unavoidable due to uncontrollable factors, such as road closures or inclement weather. 

With a telematics monitoring system in place, you can provide your customers with better customer service by knowing where a customer’s crew is throughout the entire process and keeping them informed about any changes in status or anticipated arrival time. If your drivers are delivering a shipment, you can also verify that assets are delivered to the right location.

2. Operate More Efficiently 

With the right telematics system, you can operate more efficiently and reduce the amount of time and money it takes to operate your business. Here are just a few examples of how telematics devices can improve your operations:

Reduced operational costs: Reduce operational costs by correcting behaviors and planning routes that minimize fuel waste. You can also avoid costly roadblocks or unexpected reroutes. Telematics reduces how much paperwork your drivers are responsible for, which saves money and time typically associated with things like time cards or reports. Finally, since telematics promotes safer driving, you may be able to reduce costs associated with high insurance, emergencies, accidents and more.
Enhanced security: By monitoring and tracking your assets, you can help prevent after-hours use of vehicles, identify missing shipments, and monitor locations to ensure your assets are not stolen. Telematics also provides you with real-time status updates regarding your drivers and their cargo. For some industries, this enhanced security can offer ultimate peace of mind and help drivers feel safer while transporting valuable goods.
Activity reporting: With truck activity reporting features, you can view, print or export reports and analyze the compiled information to make better business decisions. For example, you can compare trucks and their performance and flag any hazardous or money-wasting driving activity — such as excessive idling or speeding — as well as establish more efficient driving routes. Optional reports can also include things like total operational hours for each truck in your fleet, as well as the amount of time spent in a standstill. Have easy access to critical information, including map replay to set up alerts to verify truck locations and follow the exact route taken. Use this information to identify if a driver is accepting side work using your vehicles or taking unauthorized down time.

3. Promote Driver Safety

As a fleet manager, the safety and wellbeing of your drivers — as well as the people they share the road with — is a top priority. Telematics can help keep your team and your shipment safe and sound. Here are a few of the ways telematics encourages driver safety:

Promote safer driving habits: A telematics system allows you to evaluate driver performance by monitoring whether a driver is speeding or engaging in reckless driving. Driver performance reporting can you help you take corrective action and encourage safer driving among your team. 
Minimize contact with road hazards: By using past map tracking and live status updates, you can pre-plan your fleet route to help your drivers avoid road hazards like unsafe weather or road conditions.
Utilize safety and vehicle alerts: Telematics software can let you know if something is wrong with your vehicle and if it needs servicing. By opting for a telematics system that alerts you to your fleet’s needs, it’s easier to stay on top of routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotation to prevent costly breakdowns or malfunctions. Awareness of these issues saves time and money but lets you address them before they jeopardize the safety of your drivers. In the event of an accident or break down, GPS monitoring systems can also help first responders quickly locate a vehicle.
Develop an ongoing training program: Use driving data compiled by your telematics system to develop a smarter, more targeted training program for your team. You can also offer rewards and incentives for those who practice safe driving habits.

Integrating Telematics with Other Systems

Visibility into the position of vehicles on the road is critical, but it’s far from the only way telematics delivers value for fleets. Thanks to a wide range of integrations that is always growing, fleet managers can leverage telematics to provide them with broader data sets that enable stronger decisioning.

For example, modern telematics systems offer integrations with maintenance planning software, giving teams the ability to plan predictive maintenance activities based on which vehicles are most likely to need them based on usage patterns. Connecting to dashcams and fuel cards also enables cross-referencing with driver behavior and fuel consumption patterns. This gives fleets insights they can use to curb unsafe or inefficient behaviors and reduce unnecessary fuel usage.

Although integrations provide added functionality to telematics systems, fleet managers must be careful about how they plan them. They need to make sure their platforms have API support to enable smooth communication between systems. Caution must also be employed to prevent data silos that result in disparate information and missing data points.

Privacy and Ethical Considerations

As with most forms of connected technology, there are some considerations fleet managers need to keep in mind with regard to privacy when using telematics. Some drivers may be uncomfortable with the idea of being watched remotely whenever they’re behind the wheel, and there is the potential for the data collected by these systems to be abused.

This is why it’s important to implement security controls such as role-based access, encryption, and limited data retention. These help cut down on the risk of data being misused and ensures only those who should have access to the information can make use of it. Fleet managers also must be aware that the role of telematics should be to improve the safety and efficiency of their operations. Using telematics as a surveillance tool to punish drivers is not only unethical but can hurt a carrier’s ability to recruit and retain employees.

The Future of Telematics and Emerging Trends

Even as the technology reaches maturity, there’s still a lot of unrealized upside for telematics. Whether the technology ever reaches its true potential will come down to how well it can integrate with other emerging concepts. For example, AI can bolster the predictive analytics capabilities of telematics platforms, helping streamline the decision-making process based on trends without much need for human intervention or analysis. Assuming autonomous driving lives up to its promises, there’s a lot that telematics can do to support self-driving fleet vehicles.

On the other side of the coin, fleets must be aware that data privacy laws may continue to evolve to address whatever new capabilities are unlocked by these integrations. This means fleet managers need to be proactive in their compliance efforts to ensure they are not left behind.

Request a Quote from Track Your Truck Today

As one of the top telematics providers, Track Your Truck provides business owners and fleet managers with solutions that can help you maximize driver safety and productivity, reduce operational costs, streamline operations and provide your clientele with better customer service. 

To learn more about what Track Your Truck telematics and GPS fleet management can do for your business, request a demo or a quote today.

Managing a delivery or trucking fleet means finding ways to control multiple vehicles and routes at once. The rise of tracking technology has made this easier than ever before, allowing fleet managers to monitor their drivers from almost anywhere at any time. 

Fleet telematics solutions can help you build on your strengths and satisfy many more clients. With these five main fleet telematics capabilities, you’ll be able to enhance safety and productivity among drivers while lowering the cost of operations.

Provide Real-Time Updates

If you’re operating a fleet and need to monitor driver activity frequently, there are plenty of telematics options that can provide accurate, real-time status updates. These are perfect for larger fleets or for companies that transport more sensitive cargo.

Live or real-time updates allow you to turn on the computer and find out exactly where your drivers are at any time. With telematics capabilities like these, you’ll probably wonder how you ever managed without them. 

Report Driver Behavior

You might already know that fleet management software can provide driver location updates. At the same time, most of these programs offer so much more.

While most forms of fleet tracking offer different features and benefits, a wide variety of telematics solutions allow you to monitor driver idle time, speed, braking and acceleration. You can use these capabilities to ensure employees are driving safely and reaching their destinations on time.

Streamline Maintenance

Maintenance is one of the most crucial parts of your fleet management strategy. Without an effective maintenance plan, you’ll leave your commercial vehicles vulnerable to emergency breakdowns and other preventable issues. 

Fleet telematics provides alerts that can help you stay up to date on vehicle needs. These will protect your drivers and prevent major productivity losses in the long run.

Monitor Fuel Consumption

Every gallon of fuel used by your drivers is money out of your company’s bank account, so managing fuel consumption is one of the most effective ways to see an immediate, tangible benefit to your bottom line. 

Thanks to fleet telematics, lower fuel expenses are within your reach. Buying software that allows you to monitor driver habits will allow you to pick out employees who may be wasting fuel by going off-route or staying on idle for too long. Reducing wear and tear on your vehicles with proper maintenance strategies can also improve fuel efficiency.

Improve Route Adaptability

Sometimes, the open road can be unpredictable. One major benefit of using fleet telematics is that it helps you plan better routes. GPS tracking makes it easy to find the most efficient path so your drivers can reach their destinations on time.

While telematics improves planning, it also improves your adaptability by allowing you to respond to changes more quickly. If a traffic jam threatens to delay operations or you need a driver to take a new assignment right away, you can use location data to reroute that employee within minutes. 

Contact Track Your Truck to Learn More

These are just a few of the telematics capabilities for fleets that can transform your business for the better. Contact Track Your Truck today to request a quote or demo if you’re ready to implement a telematics solution of your own.

Fleet telematics is a form of technology that transmits data from commercial trucks to another party. Examples of fleet telematics currently in use include satellite freight tracking, vehicle tracking and electronic logging devices. The idea of telematics was introduced in the 1960s before personal computers and the Internet. A closer look at the history of GPS tracking devices and fleet telematics can show how beneficial they are to your fleet.

Origins of Telematics & GPS

Even before GPS was developed, fleet telematics was invented in 1974 — or at least the origins of it. The U.S. automobile industry had begun a form of fleet telematics; as new cars rolled out of assembly plants via the Ford, Chrysler and General Motors manufacturers, they were cataloged using an electronic process. When orders were placed, a mainframe-to-mainframe method of communicating was used to process orders electronically, and vehicle status reports were generated using computer technology. This was the beginning of fleet tracking. The basics of the technology that would go on to become telematics originated in the 1960s, when engineers began using telecommunications and informatics in conjunction to enable remote data transmission. This was further developed with early experiments in satellite-based navigation and data logging.

By 1978, the phrase “telematics” was invented. In France, a government report by Simon Nora and Alain Minc developed the concept of telematics to define using telecommunications to transfer information. However, it was not until a decade later that the European Economic Community began conducting research on the application of telematics and driver safety. Fleet telematics was tested to see if this technology could also help reduce the environmental impact associated with operating motor vehicles.

Launch of GPS Satellites & System Development

The history of GPS vehicle tracking had another milestone in 1978. The experimental Block-I GPS satellite was launched into space in 1978. Manufactured by Rockwell International, this system was a successful test; and by the end of 1985, 10 more Block-I satellites were launched to further validate the concept. Originally intended for military navigation and guidance, it wasn’t long before speculation began about the potential civilian applications for the technology.

In the early years, GPS technology was not yet operational, due to an insufficient number of satellites orbiting the earth. On Jan. 17, 1994, after years of gradual growth, the final of the first 24 satellites was launched, and the GPS system was considered fully operational. Today, fleet tracking taps into this same technology.

Opening GPS to Civilian Use

During the 1980s and 1990s, two major tech evolutions occurred that spawned fleet telematics systems that we have today. First, the production of the personal computer enabled businesses of all sizes to use this technology. No longer was it only accessible by government agencies, but small businesses could now use computers for handling fleet information. More importantly, personal computers made it easier for individuals with a limited computer science background to use this technology.

For fleet managers, computers that could fit on their office desk transformed the way they did business. By the early 1980s, fleet managers could connect with the mainframe of their management firm’s computer. This allowed an easy transmission of information both offline and online via a modem. In 1982, fleet company ARI designed the first-ever fleet maintenance management system to operate online. This greatly improved fleet managers’ ability to reduce lead times for vehicle deliveries.

Then, with the advent of computer accessories for storage — such as PC diskettes and later USB drives — fleet managers could increase their ability to share this information for research and billing purposes. In the 1980s, real-time updates on driver and fleet data were also enabled. This sped up the system of transmission to an even greater capability.

Early GPS technology was designed primarily for use by the military. The uses for the military were clear in the 1980s and 1990s, but public interest in GPS technology was minimal. In 1996, President Bill Clinton determined that the system would be an asset to civilians as well as the military and issued a policy directive that would require the creation of a dual-use system benefitting the everyday user in the United States. Prior to this directive, civilian-use signals were spotty and inaccurate compared to the military signal. This policy change made GPS technology available to the average individual, including fleet managers, who could see the benefit of using the technology to keep tabs on their vehicles.

Personal computers were transformed when the World Wide Web became accessible in the 1990s. In fact, the first Internet-based fleet management system called PHH InterActive was established in 1997. At a rapid pace, all fleet management programs on computers became web-enabled. As a result, fleet managers and drivers could share data pertaining to maintenance records, vehicle sales and vehicle ordering using the online portals. Also within this decade, General Electric created FleetTools, which was a type of fleet management software that also enabled management teams to run reports using fleet data.

In the 1990s, further modifications were made to GPS technology. These included policy and accessibility changes. In 2006, the last GPS satellite was launched.

Evolution of Fleet Tracking Technology

One of the earliest examples of telematics for fleet management was the development of ARI’s online fleet maintenance platform, developed in 1982. As the personal computing revolution made its way into the logistics sector, fleet managers gained the ability to analyze data locally, at their own desktops. Another major technological advancement in the 1990s was the consumer use of GPS technology. This, coupled with the use of the Internet, gave fleet telematics systems the biggest boost to date. In the early days of fleet tracking, in order to properly track a fleet, each vehicle had to be enabled with a costly GPS device. The company was required to pay a typically high monthly fee to use the satellite tracking system. While helpful, these early systems were difficult to implement, costly to use and sometimes inconvenient for drivers and fleet management alike. Thus it took several years for the concept to catch on. In the earliest days, only large, wealthy fleets took advantage of the technology. The Internet made it possible to have real-time data transmission and remote monitoring, which lowered costs and the barrier to entry. This gave more carriers the chance to take advantage of the technology.

The government granted access to GPS tech in 1993, which meant commercial drivers could finally use this method of mapping for route development. Fleets were able to implement GPS vehicle navigation systems. This reduced the environmental impact of vehicles thanks to decreased driving times and improved routing for fleets.

By the mid-2000s, GPS navigation technology had evolved into tracking systems. This was in part due to the improvements of machine to machine (M2M) communications, which is the predecessor to the Internet of Things (IoT). Along with cloud-based technology and sensor parameters, GPS tracking became increasingly accurate.

The basic concept of fleet tracking has not changed since its inception. A GPS tracking system uses the Global Navigation Satellite System network. This network incorporates a range of satellites that use microwave signals that are transmitted to GPS devices to give information on location, vehicle speed, time and direction. Essentially, a GPS tracking system can potentially give both real-time and historic navigation data on any equipped vehicle. GPS provides special satellite signals, which are processed by a receiver. These GPS receivers not only track the exact location but can also compute velocity and time.

Fleet tracking has been embraced by both fleet managers and the drivers they hire. This technology provides accountability and protection to both parties, helping drivers do their jobs better and providing fleet managers with accurate information about fleet vehicles.

Modern Telematics & Small Fleet Adoption

Cellphones and tablets progressed right along with the use of GPS navigation technology. During the 2000s, mobile phones were able to perform GPS navigation and tracking processes using apps. Commercial vehicles were also equipped with dashboard computerized systems and communications platforms, such as Qualcomm. Although the first of these GPS trackers were large and bulky, eventually the technology was refined to the point where fleets outside of enterprise businesses and government agencies could use it.

These systems enable drivers to communicate directly with their dispatchers and fleet managers using in-cab, web-connected technology. At the same time, individuals in the office can locate drivers and freight from 1,000 miles away using these GPS-based fleet telematics systems.

The progression of telematics has advanced dramatically since the beginning of the 21st century. As a result of mobile technology, GPS, cloud computing and high-speed Internet capabilities, telematics can provide fleet managers with highly sophisticated data.

Managers have the tools to track trucks in real time using high-resolution maps updated on a regular basis. Thanks to monitoring software, these mapping systems can be accessed from anywhere on Earth via cloud computing.

The use of telematics helps fleets do more than just keep drivers safe. The technology allows fleet managers to monitor freight and provide secure geo-fencing zones. More secure freight leads to fewer losses and freight claims. As a result, shipping customers are more confident and ultimately satisfied with their freight services. This increases business operations and helps trucking companies improve return on their investment with telematics.

Telematics is combined with other technologies, such as routing, for increased optimization. For instance, managers can now use this data to determine how much fuel was used for a route and if an alternative route is more fuel-efficient. Fleet telematics also helps fleet managers monitor driver behaviors — such as speeding, hard braking and accelerating. By identifying these behaviors, managers have the data they need to implement driver training or other methods for correcting these issues.

Technologies involving GPS, big data and IoT will continue to evolve in the coming years. As such, we can expect to see far more from the use of fleet telematics systems in the trucking industry.

The modern fleet tracking system provides the necessary data to fleet managers allowing them to run their operations more efficiently. Reports on driver behavior, vehicle performance and fuel use all make it easier for the fleet manager to cut costs and increase efficiencies. These systems go beyond simple reporting of each vehicle’s location, offering fleet managers a wealth of information about their vehicles and their drivers.

Today, fleet managers have a number of fleet tracking technologies they can use. These include:

Cellular Tracking — Cellular tracking taps into the growing cellular network to provide GPS data in real time.
Satellite Tracking — Ideal for fleets that regularly travel outside of cellular coverage. Satellite tracking uses traditional GPS satellites to track vehicles. Real-time satellite tracking is possible.
Passive Tracking — Whether it be satellite or cellular based, passive tracking provides periodic location updates rather than real-time tracking data to help with asset management and vehicle tracking.

These three options show the clear evolution of the technology to the point that it now can accommodate fleets of all types and sizes. Today, GPS tracking is increasingly efficient, able to provide data in real time and able to be used on mobile devices for tracking on the go. Fleet management professionals can have as little or as much tracking data as they want at their fingertips, making it a viable option for small fleets as well as large corporations.

In December 2015, a new option for the modern fleet tracking system became necessary when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a ruling that will require all commercial vehicles to maintain electronic logs instead of paper logs. According to the mandate, electronic logging devices will have to replace paper record-of-duty logs in trucks by Dec. 16, 2017. Because electronic logging capabilities are built into most modern fleet tracking systems,
this new mandate is expected to increase the use of GPS fleet tracking systems among fleets that are not currently using the technology.

Future Innovations & Trends In Telematics

What does the future of fleet tracking hold? Only time will tell, but based on its current evolution, we can expect to see an increased demand for accuracy, more data to track and improved mobile capabilities. New developments such as GNSS are helping carriers achieve those goals. GNSS utilizes multiple satellite constellations at the same time to enhance the reliability and accuracy of GPS. Other emerging technologies such as IoT, 5G, and AI promise to enable more features of fleet telematics, such as predictive maintenance scheduling, route optimization, and deeper integrations with existing platforms.

If you are ready to embrace fleet tracking or if you need help ensuring that your fleet is operating in line with the FMCSA mandate, contact Track Your Truck to discuss your options. Our simple-to-use fleet tracking systems will make it easy for you to be compliant while offering all the benefits of GPS fleet tracking. With our affordable devices, robust NetTrack software suite, and U.S.-based support team, we give you everything you need to gain competitive advantages in terms of efficiency, safety, and customer service. Reach out today to learn more about what we have to offer.