Feb 11, 2012

Beginner's Guide to Fleet Tracking

For many businesses that use a fleet of vehicles, vehicle tracking may be a key way of optimizing fleet performance. Having a fleet tracking system allows fleet operators to manage a variety of functions such as security, dispatch, on-board information, and routing.

By understanding when and how vehicles are being used, fleet managers can reduce costs. A GPS-based vehicle tracking system enables a fleet operator to monitor where vehicles have been, how fast vehicles have been traveling, how long it took them to reach their destinations, and what routes they took to get there. Therefore, managers are able to minimize the amount of time that vehicles are being used in ways which are more costly. Managers may use fleet tracking to reduce fuel expenditures, lower wage expenditures, and ensure that vehicles are meeting customers' needs by arriving on schedule. Another key benefit to fleet tracking is the ease with which a fleet manager can obtain useful information on how the fleet is being used and communicate with drivers. Using the tracking system interface, a manager can quickly see the location of all vehicles and deploy specific vehicles to where they need to be. Companies are also able to have real-time information regarding the location of their employees and valuable assets, which adds an extra layer of security while drivers are transporting valuable merchandise on the road. Tracking devices can also enable managers and drivers to communicate with each other without the use of phones, thus reducing communication costs. Fleet managers may even have the option of monitoring vehicles from their mobile device, which would enable managers to coordinate the movement of vehicles even when absent from their workstation. Vehicle tracking is an asset to virtually any business, large or small, that utilizes fleet vehicles. Equipment and service options can be tailored to suit a company's individual needs, thereby enabling vehicles to be managed more effectively, which in return may reduce costs and maximize productivity. In addition to enabling businesses to minimize vehicle-related expenses, a quality fleet tracking system may also help increase the safety of drivers and the items they transport.