How GPS Tracking Works

On the ground, a GPS tracking device receives signals from the GPS satellites whereby each satellite knows the exact distance from the other satellites in its proximity.  Depending on the time it takes for a signal to reach the device from each satellite, the GPS receiver can calculate its exact location on the ground. The GPS tracking device can then route that information back to you, or to an online tracking system for mapping.

GPS Uses for Public Vehicles

GPS vehicle tracking systems are increasingly used for monitoring fleets of vehicles operated by municipalities. Buses, snowplows and street sweepers are among the most commonly used city vehicles that make use of GPS. Below, find more information about practical GPS applications for city fleets.

City Bus Fleets

The bigger your city, the more useful a GPS vehicle tracking system is for your public transportation system. A chronic problem with city buses is overlap and bad spacing. GPS is used to stagger buses on a single route while monitoring traffic conditions. Fleet managers can also use the information to monitor long-term trends and adjust routes accordingly to increase efficiency and cut fuel costs.

Communicating with Passengers

Because public transportation systems are increasingly using GPS to track buses and plan routes, they are beginning to offer that same information to passengers for planning purposes.

The Chicago Transit Authority, for example, hosts a website strictly for bus tracking purposes. Passengers may log on to view specific bus routes and stops to see when a bus is expected to arrive. That same information can be viewed via a texting system, or passengers can download an app to their smart phones.

When passengers are able to track public transportation, they can better plan trips, and they are more likely to make use of your services.

Snowplows

Coordinating a fleet of snowplows can be tedious without a quality GPS tracking system in place. By using GPS tracking devices and an online mapping program, a fleet manager can keep track of which streets have been plowed while making sure plow routes do not overlap more than is necessary. Like bus fleet managers, long-term observations can help increase fleet efficiency.

Street Sweepers

Like snow plows, street sweepers require a great deal of coordination to ensure routes are not swept twice or that sweepers stay on designated streets. GPS Mapping software can also help identify one-way routes and dead-ends to avoid confusion.

What Options are Available with Track Your Truck?

Now that we have reviewed how vehicle tracking works, we want to let you know that Track Your Truck offers various GPS vehicle tracking devices designed to make tracking your inner-city fleets easier.

If your fleet remains in urban areas, and if your cellular service provider is reliable, you might choose our cellular vehicle tracking option. Depending on your region, you could receive better coverage options from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. The alternative system is satellite tracking, which uses direct satellite communication as opposed to a cellular signal. This option is preferable if your fleet travels in and out of coverage areas.

Our devices serve multiple purposes, and you may select from a variety of options – some offer the “Starter Kill” option, for example, and some report more frequently than others.

Browse the Track Your Truck website, or contact a representative for more detailed information on individual units.