Thanks to GPS technology, we can see exactly how long until our pizza delivery guy arrives, find the nearest gas station when the fuel light comes on, and keep our cool even when an unexpected road closure messes up our meticulously planned road trip. GPS means we can see where vehicles are in real-time, as they’re moving. In addition to taking some of the uncertainty out of everyday life, GPS tracking also gives fleet managers like you a powerful tool to use in a variety of ways.
Real-time GPS trackers send their coordinates over cellular networks to a cloud-based platform where the map is continuously refreshed. For operations where minutes matter, such as servicing emergency HVAC service calls, last-mile delivery windows, and stolen vehicle recovery, real-time tracking is critical. It’s the only way to get the actionable intelligence you need. Track Your Truck’s NetTrack platform is built to provide live map updates for your fleet vehicles. With it, you’ll gain live updates on speed, heading, and stop status all at a glance.
A GPS vehicle tracking system consists of three basic layers. The first is the satellites that provide positioning data to the tracker from space. The vehicle trackers themselves make up the second layer, transmitting their coordinates over the 4G LTE cellular network to a cloud server. Finally, the software platform is how fleet managers access the real-time data through a web or mobile dashboard. The entire process of sending data from outer space to the fleet manager’s dashboard takes seconds, providing the most up-to-date picture of where vehicles are at all times.
The frequency of updates depends on the configuration of the trackers as well as the tracking plan. Most fleet-grade devices update every 10 to 60 seconds as the vehicle is moving. This provides fleet managers with a nearly continuous trail of the vehicle’s position on the map. Track Your Truck’s carrier-approved devices connect to major cellular networks for consistent and constant data transmission, and our NetTrack platform is accessible from any browser as well as on iOS and Android apps. This means you don’t have to worry about being stuck at your desk to get the latest location information about your fleet.
Having the up-to-the-minute fleet vehicle positioning data provided by Track Your Truck’s GPS systems is indispensable across a wide range of fleet operations. Some of the most beneficial applications of this technology include:
Relying on delayed or historical tracking may seem good enough, but doing so may be increasing your operational risks without you knowing it. With delayed tracking, you may discover problems like unauthorized detours, excessive idling, or missed delivery windows after it’s already too late to do anything about them.
Track Your Truck’s real-time GPS tracking plans start at $15.99 per month per vehicle, meaning the cost difference between them and logging-only devices is minimal. However, the operational value they provide far exceeds the alternatives, especially for fleets that need to be able to react to changing conditions in the moment. We provide you with extremely valuable real-time positioning data as well as the historical data you still need for trend analysis, payroll verification, and compliance reporting. With Track Your Truck, you get the best of both worlds so you can achieve immediate and long-term optimization for your fleet operations.
The most important specs to look for in real-time GPS tracking systems are update frequency, cellular network compatibility, and platform responsiveness. You want the system you choose to deliver updates within a minute while the vehicle is moving, work with 4G LTE cellular networks from leading carriers, and refresh the dashboard quickly to reflect the latest information.
It’s also important to select the GPS tracking devices that make the most sense for your fleet and your operations. OBD-II plug-in trackers require practically no installation time, making them a good choice for vehicles that rotate in and out of service. Hardwired trackers install inside the vehicle and are best for providing 24/7 monitoring and preventing tampering.
Track Your Truck offers both hardwired and plug-in options with carrier-approved devices that connect to major cellular networks. We also provide specialty trackers designed specifically for use on construction equipment or trailers, so every asset in your fleet can receive real-time coverage under the same NetTrack fleet management dashboard.
One of the best things about real-time GPS fleet tracking is how much money it can save you. With real-time dispatching, you can eliminate wasted miles by routing the closest technician to each job. This can save you up to 15% in terms of fuel costs initially, with some fleets reporting savings of up to 25% as their drivers adjust to optimized routing.
Immediate idle alerts also catch fuel waste as it happens. Unnecessary idling can consume up to half a gallon of fuel per hour for gasoline vehicles and as much as 0.8 gallons per hour for heavy-duty diesel vehicles. To put that into perspective, a 20-car fleet that idles up to 30 minutes each day could be wasting five gallons of fuel every day. That adds up to 1,825 gallons per year, representing potentially thousands of dollars lost.
Although most states allow real-time vehicle tracking without employee consent, it’s strongly recommended that fleet managers follow transparency standards to ensure there is no ambiguity about its use. Having a written asset tracking policy disclosed before the car trackers are installed helps protect your business and builds driver trust.
In some states, there may be laws that restrict tracking vehicles that your company doesn’t own. For example, California Penal Code Section 637.7 prohibits tracking without consent, and Texas Penal Code Section 16.06 also prohibits this practice. In Virginia, Section 18.2-60.5 makes it illegal to track vehicles without the owner’s consent. This can have significant repercussions for companies with BYOV fleets, and drivers must explicitly opt into any car tracking policy.
Real-time GPS tracking can provide benefits in the event of legal disputes. Integrating tracking devices with dashcams creates a detailed record of driver behavior that can be useful in insurance disputes, accident investigations, and labor verification. The video evidence is paired with real-time location data to build even stronger documentation.
Track Your Truck makes getting started with real-time GPS tracking as easy as possible. Our plug-in devices can be installed in less than five minutes — just plug it into the port, activate them through the NetTrack platform, and you’ll be able to see the vehicle’s position immediately with no downtime and no specialized expertise needed.
Once you get your devices up and running, you’ll want to configure three alerts immediately to start seeing the quickest ROI. These are after-hours ignition, geofencing exits on your yard or primary jobsites, and speed threshold alerts. Having these working on day one will ensure you are notified in the event of theft, unauthorized usage, and safety risks.
Track Your Truck’s plans start at $15.99 per month per vehicle and include free devices in most cases. They come with a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can feel confident about adding real-time tracking capabilities to your fleet. We also stand behind you with U.S.-based support that averages response times of about 10 minutes. That means anything that goes wrong during setup can be resolved as quickly as possible. To learn more about how Track Your Truck’s real-time GPS tracking systems can benefit your fleet, reach out and speak with one of our experts today.
