Vehicle Fleet Tracking

Vehicle Fleet tracking systems can offer many additional benefits over a standard tracking system. These systems are often aimed at larger fleets and include additional features that are targeted at specific vehicle uses and industry sectors.

Companies in the courier and haulage industry sectors for example, will quite often use a POD (Proof of Delivery) and/or a Job Dispatch System. Many vehicle fleet tracking solutions offer these systems integrated into one application as a way of monitoring the progress and performance of the vehicles whilst also providing a fleet management solution. Some tracking suppliers provide custom solutions that integrate into a companies existing POD or fleet dispatch system.

Driver behaviour and training systems can bring huge cost benefits to companies using vehicles that have high fuel and maintenance costs such as HGVs. These system work by linking into the vehicles Canbus which allows the tracking unit to feed back data such as engine revving, and miles per gallon. These systems are also able to report heavy braking, corning, acceleration and impacts from speed bumps and curbs etc. These systems allow companies to ensure that their vehicles are being driven responsibly and efficiently whilst keeping vehicle maintenance costs to a minimum.

Driver training systems access the same information as the behaviour systems but use the information to train and encourage the driver to improve their driving performance. These types of systems usually work on a ‘traffic light’ based system. Green, tells the driver they are driving efficiently and smoothly; Amber, means that the driver is losing efficiency and needs to improve; Red, means that the driver is driving with very little efficiency and if the driver does not improve within a set time period the fleet manager will be alerted. Again these systems can bring significantly reduce fuel and maintenance costs whilst proactively training and encouraging the driver to drive with more efficiency and safety.

Vehicle fleet tracking solutions can also use temperature monitoring, panic buttons and driver id systems for further control and reporting. Driver id systems monitor and determine which drivers have access to the vehicle. The driver can either have an electronic key or a RF (Radio Frequency) tag that is used to start the vehicle and also record who is using the vehicle on tracking application. Panic buttons are used by the driver to immediately alert the office that they are in trouble; this could be a hijacking or an accident. Temperature sensors are normally used for to monitor refrigerated trailers. Should the temperature rise or fall below certain parameters the tracking system can alert the fleet manager via email, SMS (text message) or via the application itself.

Other solutions include sensors that are fitted to log when vehicle doors are opened and closed and PTO (Power Take Off) switches. PTO switches report when an ancillary device is used on the vehicle, for example, a crane, lift or cement mixer etc.

Whilst these solutions are available for all companies they have been designed to specifically bring improved management and cost saving benefits to fleets using certain types of vehicles.

Vehicle Tracking
Vehicle Tracking Devices
Commercial Vehicle Tracking
Vehicle Fleet Tracking
Vehicle Tracking Software

User Comments:

From: hcampbell

since having tracking installed into my fleet which consists of 8 vans i have been more than pleased with the information it has provided me with. I hadn’t realised the amount of fuel wasted just for idling. the insight it has given me has been so worthwhile and i would recommend it to all companies out there who are looking for ways of saving money and improving areas of their business
From: Sarah Creamer

Yes you can save a fair amount on fuel but simply getting it installed. All of a sudden your staff do not fill up so often. When you get tracking you realise how much vehicles get used out of office hours.
From: Bill Cottrell

You are correct about the savings you make on fuel, but there is more to fleet tracking than saving money on fuel. If you really make the most of it, you can simply make your fleets so much more efficient and also just get more out of them than you could before.
From: Bill Mack

I did not realise there were quite so many features of fleet tracking systems. The advanced tracking systems appear to be able to monitor multiple aspects of your vehicle.
From: Lindsey Avila

Yes Bill there are a lot of features you can get with fleet tracking. Many of these features come as standard. But if you do have to pay extra for a feature make sure it is one that you will use. Otherwise it will just be a waste of money.
From: Richard Hanley

Another point worth pointing out regarding extra features is to consider them very carefully. Just because you did not originally consider getting certain features does not mean they will be of no use to you or will not save you money in the long run.
From: Jenny Wilson

Also another big advantage of tracking is the ability to monitor how your staff drive. Many tracking systems can watch and record how often drivers speed, break harshly and accelerate quickly. This can be useful to improve the quality of your employees driving. Which is important if you serious about duty of care. Plus it never looks good if your vans with your company name down the side are tearing around the streets.
From: Matthew Springer

What surprises me is that fleet tracking has not taken off much quicker. Yes it is popular, but with the emergence of pay as you go tracking by the major suppliers such as Quartix you would think it would have become an almost standard fitting by almost all companies with a fleet.
From: Kathy Warrington

Matthew, I think a lot of people just don’t realise the benefits of fleet tracking, either that or they think it will cost them the earth.

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