Using Satellites for Commercial Vehicle Tracking

As complex as satellite tracking is, it’s amazing how commonplace it has become for consumers and businesses alike. It’s simple to use and very effective. Below, find a brief explanation of how to track a vehicle from satellite equipment for commercial purposes.

How Satellites Track Devices on the Ground

For decades, satellites have been used to determine the position of devices on the ground. In recent years, satellites and GPS devices have been used commercially to track entire fleets of vehicles.

Dozens of satellites, launched by the U.S. Department of Defense, orbit the globe and are used to transmit signals. For GPS purposes, devices on the ground (installed in a truck, for example) accept signals from multiple satellites to pinpoint a specific location. Calculations for ground location take into account satellite proximity to one another, as well as how long it takes an individual signal to arrive at the target ground device.

The process, called triangulation, yields highly accurate results. Typically, a vehicle’s location can be pinpointed within just a few feet. When location is checked multiple times, this system can also be used to determine ground speed and direction of travel.

Relaying Useful Information

The information derived from the triangulation process can be relayed to a company’s fleet manager or dispatcher. The access a company has to this information depends largely on the software used. Ideally, the information can be accessed via an online software program that can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.

Readily available tracking information can help a business monitor employees and coordinate its services. With a simple log-in, business owners, managers and dispatchers can monitor vehicle progress from multiple locations to maximize the effectiveness of commercial GPS tracking.

Reasons for Using GPS Tracking

Companies that use GPS tracking for their fleets have found it to be highly useful. They save money through better coordination and reduce wasted time, money and energy by more closely monitoring vehicles.

• Keeping Employees Honest. One of the key advantages of satellite tracking is the ability to keep a close eye on company assets, including employees. Through discrete tracking, an employer can monitor driver patterns and watch for unusual patterns – multiple stops or route deviations, for example. GPS allows a company to reduce idle time and to respond to any suspicious driver activity.

• Coordinating with Customers. The reputation of your business depends on your ability to please your customers. Communication and coordination is important. Identify travel trends and keep your customers and employees up to date on the progress of vehicles en route.

• Making Routes More Efficient. Over time, GPS tracking can identify travel trends. If a route is slowing down because of changing traffic patterns or roadwork, plan to find a new one so that you don’t lose business.

To learn more about how GPS tracking devices work, and to find out how tracking can improve your business, contact Track Your Truck today.