How to Track Vehicle Movement with GPS Fleet Tracking

With GPS tracking devices, businesses can see where their vehicles are at any given moment. This gives them full visibility into their fleet, but there’s much more to vehicle movement tracking than simply knowing every vehicle’s location in the moment. Movement tracking answers a wide range of operational questions that go beyond a single ping of a vehicle’s location.

GPS systems can tell fleet managers the routes vehicles have taken, the number of stops made and where they were, the amount of time spent at each stop, the vehicle’s speed during the trip, and how much time it spent idling between jobs. With Track Your Truck’s NetTrack platform, fleet managers can gain these insights and many others, giving them the ability to see patterns that might reveal inefficiencies or harmful driver behaviors. Because it stores up to 125 days of history, NetTrack lets managers replay entire trips, compare routes across different days, and call out trends such as recurring detours or extended breaks. Movement tracking does more than show managers where a vehicle is right now — it helps them see everywhere they’ve been.

How GPS Vehicle Tracking Works: From Satellite Signal to Route Report

When installed in a vehicle, a GPS vehicle tracker provides data about its position at regular intervals. These are connected to satellites that mark their locations from space, sending that data back to the device. Over a cellular network, the GPS devices send that location data to a cloud platform, usually once every 30 or 60 seconds. Each of these pings can be plotted onto a map to show a breadcrumb trail that shows managers the vehicle’s exact path.

Real-time vehicle tracking shows managers where each fleet vehicle is at the given moment, but movement tracking adds another dimension. Because each location ping is time-stamped, managers can see how long it took the vehicle to move between destinations, how much time was spent at each location, and how fast it was traveling. Vehicle tracking software like NetTrack converts these data points into actionable insights and reports including trip summaries, route maps, speed graphs, and stop logs that are accessible from any browser or mobile device.

Five Types of Movement Data Every Fleet Manager Should Monitor

With GPS car tracking for fleet vehicles, there are many different types of movement data fleet managers can collect to help them optimize their operations. The most important of these are:

Route adherence: Movement data means managers can compare the planned routes with the actual routes taken by drivers. Any deviations will be easy to see, giving managers insight into unauthorized stops, personal errands, or inefficient routing that add unnecessary miles. This can be fed into route optimization software that can reduce fuel consumption by up to 25%.
Stop duration and frequency: Seeing where vehicles stop and for how long can tell managers if drivers are making the most efficient use of their time on the road. If they dwell too long at jobsites, suppliers, or non-work locations, it could mean gaps in productivity. On the other hand, too little time spent at a location could indicate an incomplete service visit.
Idle time: Vehicles that spend too much time idling waste a lot of fuel, with the Department of Energy finding it consumers as much as half a gallon of fuel per hour in gasoline vehicles. Movement data shows fleet managers when vehicles are running but not moving.
Speed events: GPS tracking software can show managers exactly how fast drivers are while on the road. This can be extremely helpful in coaching drivers about safe driving behavior. Cutting down on excessive speeding reduces fleets’ risk of safety incidents and liability.
After-hours usage: If drivers decide to use company vehicles outside of normal operating hours, it can introduce major risks for employers. Movement data can show managers exactly when vehicles are on the move, even when they shouldn’t be.

The NetTrack tracking system provides automated alerts for these any many other incidents. This means managers don’t need to be stuck behind their desks watching the dashboard at all times. They will be alerted the moment one of their vehicles exceeds the thresholds they set.

GPS Tracker Types for Movement Monitoring: Which One Captures the Data You Need?

There are two main types of GPS car tracking devices. OBD-II plug-in units can be plugged into the OBD port on vehicles in a matter of moments, making them ideal for light-duty vehicles or fleets that need fast setup without tools. Hardwired units require a more-involved installation process, but once installed they deliver tamper-proof, always-on movement tracking. Because they’re wired directly into the vehicle’s electrical system, they track movement even when the ignition is off. This is important for monitoring overnight use or theft.

Track Your Truck offers both GPS vehicle tracking options as well as specialty trackers designed specifically for trailers and construction equipment. We also carry satellite-powered units for use in remote areas where there is poor cellular coverage. We can be your one provider for vehicles tracking regardless of your vehicle mix.

Movement Alerts and Geofencing: Automated Monitoring Without Staring at a Screen

Fleet managers can’t remain chained to their desks all day, which is why NetTrack provides automated alerts and geofencing capabilities. Managers can configure rules and receive automatic alerts whenever vehicles exceed those rules. These notifications can be pushed via email, text, or on the app itself. Examples of these alerts include excessive idle time of more than 15 minutes or any movement after regular business hours.

This includes establishing virtual boundaries through geofencing. Alerts can be sent any time a vehicle crosses these boundaries, giving managers insight into unauthorized use or potential theft.

Getting Started: How to Set Up Vehicle Movement Tracking Today

Track Your Truck is the partner you need to provide the valuable movement data you need to manage your fleet. We offer free devices with plans starting at just $15.99 per vehicle per month. You’ll also receive a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty as well as access to our U.S.-based support team that resolves most setup issues in an average of 15 minutes. With our plug-in units, smaller fleets can be fully equipped and ready to start tracking in a single morning. The NetTrack platform also makes it easy to configure settings specific to your business. To learn more about what we can do to make fleet management easier, reach out and speak with a member of our team today.

With our plug-in units, smaller fleets can be fully equipped and ready to start tracking in a single morning. The NetTrack platform also makes it easy to configure settings specific to your business. To learn more about what we can do to make fleet management easier, reach out and speak with a member of our team today.