As a company owner or fleet manager in today’s highly competitive transportation environment, the more information you have at your disposal, the more effectively you can monitor the performance of your drivers and trucks. A GPS truck tracking system enables you to gather essential data about your vehicles. You’ll be able to make informed decisions that will increase efficiencies and significantly reduce your operating expenses.

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How Does a Truck Monitoring System Work?

GPS truck tracking entails the installation of a tracking unit, typically under the dashboard of the vehicle. The device is out of sight and reach to prevent device tampering — the driver doesn’t even have to know it’s there. A web-based software platform that is accessible via an internet-connected computer or smartphone provides tracking information.

A GPS tracker for semi-trucks typically use cellular transmission, requiring areas where there is cell coverage to transmit the signal. If a driver traveling in remote areas moves out of range, the system will store the GPS messages and send them to the server when the unit regains a cellular signal.

Systems consist of both hardware and software. While hardware will vary depending on the type of fleet your company manages and whether you prefer covert tracking, it must be compatible with the tracking software your company uses. The hardware tracks vehicles and sends the information to the software, a centralized hub for fleet activity data.

GPS tracking systems will provide real-time information regarding key data such as vehicle speed, location, direction and time, all of which are invaluable to fleet managers. They also collect historical data, which fleet managers can utilize for analytical purposes.

Advantages of GPS Tracking for Trucking Companies

Using GPS devices for truck tracking can provide a host of advantages for company owners and fleet managers. You’ll be able to remotely monitor fleet location and employee driving practices to provide an optimal customer experience.

Employee Monitoring

One of the biggest challenges in fleet management is knowing where drivers are and what they’re doing when they’re on the road. A semi-ruck tracking device can pinpoint the location of the driver at any time during the trip. Fleet managers can also determine whether the driver is traveling too fast or not taking scheduled rest stops. From a safety and security perspective, these systems can indicate if a vehicle has been involved in an accident or stolen.

Further, GPS truck tracking systems provide automated timesheets reflecting when employees started and stopped work, when they took breaks and how long breaks lasted. Automation streamlines payroll and timesheet logging, preventing unnecessary pay due to timesheet fraud or error.

Safer Driving

GPS tractor trailer tracking systems can record how drivers perform to maximize safe driving. They document bad driving practices like speeding or hard braking, and some even alert drivers when they partake in bad habits so they can improve. Tracking systems can coach high-risk drivers, allowing you to create a personalized training program. You’ll also be able to reward team members who practice safe driving.

Smart-tracking technology reflects when drivers take a turn more than 60 degrees, excessive accelerations, hard braking, power disconnects, idle time and when the vehicle starts and stops, letting you monitor driver activity. Safe driving will lower your insurance costs, help minimize wear and tear on your vehicles, and optimize fuel usage.

Efficient Route Planning

Time is money in the transportation business. When you track a truck with GPS, you can deliver more route options, which can lead to more efficient planning. Drivers will get to their destination faster, spend less time on the road and consume less fuel, cutting costs. The driver dispatching process will also improve. Plus, if drivers get lost, you’ll be able to send them directions to get them back on track. Truck tracking systems will keep customer satisfaction at a high and maximize revenue.

Live Traffic Patterns

GPS devices for truck tracking can also provide real-time traffic information, which means dispatchers can alert drivers to avoid delays if they’re approaching a congested area or a construction zone with backed-up traffic. They can then suggest an alternate route to avoid the area and keep the delivery on schedule.

Safety and Security

Trucks and other equipment are expensive assets. Protect your equipment with truck monitoring systems. If a vehicle is stolen, you’ll be able to track its location and recover the missing items. Systems often notify you when equipment leaves verified areas through geofencing, which establishes digital borders, or if someone is using a fleet vehicle during unauthorized hours.

Some systems also notify you when your fleet requires maintenance. Regular and preventive maintenance will keep equipment and trucks in compliance, lower repair costs and increase a vehicle’s overall life span.

Compliance With Regulations

Beyond ensuring trucks are safe enough for drivers to operate, equipment must conform with government regulations. Standards confirm fleets are compliant with the law and keep drivers safe.

Standard regulations for fleets include:

ELDs: Electronic logging devices, or ELDs, help ensure drivers practice safe driving by recording their activity. An ELD will check whether a driver is taking the breaks they need as required by hours-of-service, or HOS, regulations. They record information like the date, time, location, how many miles a vehicle has traveled and engine diagnostics.
DVIR: Driver vehicle inspection reports, or DVIRs, ensure you maintain vehicles according to safety and inspection regulations, making the pre- and post-trip inspection process much more efficient. Drivers will be able to update managers with maintenance issues and can even include photo documentation. Plus, managers will instantly receive driver reports rather than waiting for when the driver has time to complete one manually.
IFTA: International fuel tax agreements, or IFTAs, simplify and standardize fuel tax reporting across the entire U.S. and Canadian provinces. Rather than having to file tax forms in each location you travel, your company will only need to file taxes through your base jurisdiction.

Improved Customer Experience

Your customers will also appreciate the benefits ofa semi-truck tracking device. You’ll be able to direct trucks to customers more quickly with optimized route planning and dispatching. Knowing traffic patterns will also help you keep customer satisfaction high by notifying customers when a truck may be delayed.

Tracking will also let you keep proof of services, noting when a truck arrived at a job site and its departure time as well as information about the job number and site location. You’ll be able to protect yourself against false overcharge complaints about services that were never delivered.

Remote Monitoring

GPS tracking software lets you see all your data in one location. The records are easy to access from mobile apps, allowing you to access your data from the field or whenever you have an internet connection. Truck tracking online will bolster your customer service and help you quickly respond to safety concerns when on the go.

Types of GPS Truck Tracking Systems

You can choose among various GPS truck tracking systems to fit your company’s needs and seamlessly integrate your current vehicles and technology. Track Your Truck offers multiple solutions for your company, including:

Plug-in: Commercial plug-in trackers are easy for your company to install, getting your tracking software up and running quickly and saving you time and money. Plug-in trackers don’t require wiring, as you only have to plug the device into an OBDII port. You can also choose to include extension cables to maximize potential placement options. Track Your Truck’s plug-in vehicle trackers offer incredibly accurate location monitoring and support a variety of data types.
Hardwired: Hardwired trackers also track fleet location in real time. These units include expanded features compared to their plug-in counterparts without a significant price increase, though they do involve a more complex installation process requiring someone who has electrical knowledge about vehicles. Hardwired trackers’ advanced capabilities include starter disable, remote door locking capabilities, increased driver monitoring and driver validation through a key fob.
Trailer: A GPS trailer tracker allows you to monitor fleets from a distance. You’ll be able to view a unit’s location in real time when it’s tethered to a power source, and its passive tracking capability updates its location up to six times a day. The rechargeable battery the system uses for passive tracking notifies you when its power level is low.
Satellite equipment: Equipment is a valuable asset for your company, so any loss or theft can prove to be a significant expense. Satellite GPS equipment trackers can protect your assets to ensure your equipment stays protected and arrives at the proper location on time. Track Your Truck satellite equipment trackers offer depot-to-depot tracking and standard passive tracking with a maximum of six location updates a day. Further, this tracking system doesn’t require wiring, as it runs on a lithium battery.
Dashcams: You can easily monitor any fleet from the driver’s seat with a dashcam. You can save on insurance costs through real-time video by proving driver claims and correcting reckless driving. In the case of an accident, dashcams will also keep the footage and send it to the account manager.

Questions to Contemplate When Researching Truck Tracking Systems

When looking to buy a GPS truck tracking system, you should begin by creating a list of questions. Contemplating your company’s needs will help you narrow down your options to select the best system.

Start by asking yourself these 10 questions when evaluating the best truck tracking system for your company:

Do I need tracking systems to report on vehicle location information in real time, or will historical data suffice?
What type of information about drivers and fleets will I need to track?
What’s my budget for upfront costs and recurring fees?
Will a system help my business operate in a more eco-friendly way?
Will I benefit from a system that comes with a mobile application? How often do I have to monitor vehicle location from out in the field?
Do my employees log hours accurately? Could I improve processes like hour logging and payroll with automation?
Is vehicle theft a significant concern for my company?
Does this fleet management software integrate with my company’s other technology?
Will I need to train employees in using the software? Is my company able to integrate it independently?
What features can I use immediately, and which might I need in the future? Will the system scale with my growing business?

Features to Consider When Selecting a System

Before choosing a GPS truck tracking system, create a list of features you need. You’ll want to ensure the system you choose includes all the resources your business requires.

Popular features that come with truck tracking systems include:

Passive and active tracking: With passive monitoring, the receiver stores data on the semi’s GPS tracker, meaning that team members will have to download data once the fleet vehicle is returned to the office. Active tracking, however, provides real-time information about a vehicle’s location and movement. While more expensive, active tracking provides real-time, hassle-free tracking, making it one of the most popular tracking methods. If you need to track a work truck or fleet, you should consider using a system that provides updates in real time.
Quality of location tracking: The system you choose should provide accurate location tracking. Track Your Truck’s NetTrack GPS mapping software is accurate to within 10 to 15 feet in optimal conditions. You’ll also want to identify how long the data stays in the system and choose a program that fits your reporting needs.
If the company uses a third party: You should consider whether a company sells its own software or uses a third party. If a company provides its own software, you should check if its customer support team will work with yours to provide custom solutions. For companies that use a third-party software provider, you should ask if they have a plan if the provider goes out of business — this protective measure will ensure you don’t end up with a lot of devices and no software to which they can connect.
Compliance: Make certain that the system you choose is compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ELD requirements.
Scalability: GPS truck tracking systems should scale with your business. Because your fleet management solutions change as your company grows, you should be wary of companies that offer automatically renewing contracts.
Customer support: Many companies prefer to work with a tracking system provider that offers extensive customer support during the tracking system’s integration and operation. However, the system should be easy enough to use that your team can integrate it with minimal help.

Partner With Track Your Truck for GPS Tracking Systems

Track Your Truck tracking solutions make it easier for fleet managers to reduce costs and provide better service. With our advanced GPS truck monitoring technology, you’ll be able to improve driver efficiency and safety. Our software is also customizable, which will allow you to adapt the devices to your unique vehicle requirements, continually giving you an excellent return on your investment.

We offer exceptional customer service, videos and training materials so you can properly implement your system for your specific needs. Plus, partnering with Track Your Truck is risk-free since we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty.

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