To install covert GPS vehicle tracking systems, you basically have two choices, pay a specialist company to install and maybe even interpret the data for you, or install your own system and save some money. Do it yourself covert GPS tracking systems are easily installed and, with modern user-friendly software, your vehicle will be easy to track as well. An added advantage with installing your own system is that you need access to the vehicle for only a very short period of time, which is important if you want to minimize the chances of being found out.

This article will look at installing the device in a vehicle, and how you start to use the software program.

Do It Yourself GPS Tracking System – The Installation

Your first decision, when fitting your unit, is what power source you are going to use. You can use the vehicles power supply, which is useful if you think you will be tracking the vehicle for some time, because you won’t ever need to worry about recharging the unit, but the downside to this is that it will involve linking in to the vehicles wiring system which can be complicated and takes some time. Your alternative is to opt for battery power, this makes for a very quick install and is very easy to carry out. With many of the latest units you have the choice of both power options.

When you have decided how you want your unit to be powered, you will need to insert the phone SIM card that comes with your device. Quick tip – make sure the SIM is not locked with a PIN number before you put it in the tracking device as this will stop it transmitting data, you can check the SIM by putting it in a normal cell phone first.

As soon as you have power and the SIM is in place you are ready to roll – it doesn’t get any simpler than that. You now have to make the toughest decision of the whole process, where to hide the unit in the vehicle. You need to choose somewhere that it won’t be found, because the whole point of fitting covert GPS vehicle tracking systems is the secrecy element!

The final thing you need to do is register your phone with the installed device if you want updates sent to your phone – this is easy to do but all systems are different so you’ll have to follow the install guide.

Do It Yourself GPS Tracking System – The Data Output

The software for each covert vehicle tracking device is different, so it’s impossible to give detailed instructions here, there are however some similarities between each package.

First you will need to install the software on your PC or laptop, which is usually as simple as inserting a CD into your computers CD drive, so this should be fairly straightforward. Your package should come with a GSM modem to link up your computer to the device fitted to your car, you will need one of these, so speak to your supplier if it wasn’t part of the deal. After you’ve uploaded the software there are just a couple of steps you will have to follow to enable each device to communicate with the other, these will be specific to the unit you have bought so just follow the install guide and you will be good to go. Once you’re finished, you will be ready to track the vehicle anywhere in the world.

Usually, a vehicle security means the sound of an alarm that gave out a weird noise. If a car is stolen, it was difficult to catch hold of the thief. Today the case is completely different. There are different types of car tracking systems that may help in catching hold of the person and the vehicle.

These systems or devices work fast, are easy to install and need no wires or antenna to function. They help to detect where the vehicle is at any given time. People may also get an idea of where the car has been. These systems need no software.

GPS car tracking system makes it possible to track a car on a computer map at the central monitoring station. The GPS car tracking system also helps in notifying the owner, if there is any possibility of damage to the car.

T-trac xs system is one of the best GPS tracking systems. Several private as well as federal security and detective agencies make use of this type of GPS tracking system. Research is still on in relation to the efficiency of these GPS tracking system in over 18 different countries. The GPS tracking system is easy and portable with easy to install and use features, so that a common person may also reap maximum benefits from it.

Other Benefits:

This vehicle tracking device is very useful in keeping a check on a teenager’s whereabouts. It is widely accepted by parents. In case of emergency such as accidents, it will help in identifying the accident spot. This vehicle tracking device also sets an alert, when individuals drive out of the specific area of the map.

These GPS systems and vehicle tracking devices also help to monitor rash driving and unsafe driving practices, which are a serious threat to vehicle owners. These systems help in notifying the speed limit of a car and alert the drivers accordingly. In short, it monitors any speed violations. These systems run on power batteries for a period of 3 months. These devices and systems come with various functions and are exchangeable.

Looking at X-Tra Delivery

When shipping companies first start up, they are all pretty much equal. Their success, however, can be determined by whether they can keep up with current technologies and stay competitive in their industry. X-Tra Delivers is a shipping company that provides a good example of this issue.

Outlining the Company

Now considered to be one of the most prestigious shipping and delivery services in New Mexico and Arizona, X-Tra Delivers Ltd. began operations in 1967 under a different name. Extra Deliveries originally specialized in moving large passenger luggage from one airport to another and shipping large packages for the USPS. They were only open for business for about 20 years the first time because they were squeezed out by larger companies like UPS.

Problems Galore

The small fleet of only eight trucks made it difficult for the company to keep up with demand. Before the more efficient delivery services arrived, keeping up with demand wasn’t a problem. The problem surfaced when the larger fleets arrived with their lower costs and faster shipping times. Extra could not compete with this. Although they did not have the technology that they have today, the larger fleets were naturally more adept at providing better service than Extra could ever hope to provide with such a small fleet.

In 1983, Extra Deliveries went out of business and an era of large fleets came into being.

In 1992, founder Thomas Dillons’ son, Jacob, decided that he would bring his father’s dream back to life. This was the beginning of X-Tra Delivers. He began with a small fleet of just 16 trucks and ran them each on their own dedicated stretch of highway. He felt that, by doing this, he could keep the trucks moving without needing to refuel. These dedicated routes would also eliminate extra miles for the other trucks and overlapping routes. However, the problem was much bigger than he originally realized.

In the beginning, Jacob found it easier to let the drivers keep track of their own time and their own fuel consumption. However, as the reports began to show many inaccuracies that kept reoccurring, he began to see that these inaccuracies were costing him money. Customer service began to suffer and he was receiving an increasing number of complaints regarding the efficiency of his drivers.

Jacob did not want to run a business that was failing; however, it was suddenly easy to see why his father’s business had gone under.

Solving the Problems

The company struggled for six years. During that time, went through multiple drivers, the price of fuel continued to increase and the company felt lucky to make any profit at all. Jacob quickly realized that the company would never survive if he did not make some needed changes quickly. A GPS vehicle tracker placed in each of their trucks would allow them to start tracking fuel consumption, idling times, stops and starts, and speed traveled by the drivers. Having better control over their drivers and the vehicles would allow them to increase their efficiency and productivity.

X-Tra’s delivery trucks had vehicle trackers installed in them that required no interaction from the driver. They were fully automated and relayed information directly back to a computer in the office. The precise location of a truck and driver could be pinpointed on a map at any time and that information used to create the fastest and safest route to the next stop. Communicating this information with the drivers created a new kind of efficiency. Fuel costs and delivery times went down, and customer satisfaction increased.

X-Tra Delivers – Their Found Benefits and Cost Savings

Mapping the best route to a customer allowed for reduced fuel consumption.

Electronic time-sheets allowed for a reduction in labor costs due to the systems ability to verify the hours work and differentiate between personal time and company time.

Mapping systems let a driver avoid traffic jams and getting lost.

Viewing a drivers current location allows a dispatcher to give a customer an accurate ETA.

Security improved and the company was able to help police locate stolen vehicles or packages if necessary.

The advent of freely available GPS devices and vehicle tracking systems has meant that fleet managers have been able to keep a closer eye on the exact location of all of their vehicles quickly and easily. As GPS tracking has become more popular, free tracking systems have made an appearance, such as Google’s ‘Latitude’ and the independently operated ‘Locatea.net’. So if there are free vehicle tracking systems now available, why pay for a system?

Put simply, the free systems are not specifically designed for business users. Google’s Latitude in particular is more of an extension of the social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, enabling those who choose to participate in it to see the location of friends and family across the world. Although a very good (and fun) system, it really doesn’t have a practical application for the modern fleet manager who wants to incorporate an accurate vehicle tracking system into their business plan. In the same vein, Locatea.net allows those who are members of the site to see the location of those who wish to be tracked, and herein lies another weakness in the two sites’ application as a business tool. Participation is voluntary and those who do not wish to be tracked simply remove themselves from the database, effectively becoming invisible to the tracking system.

A paid-for system that is tailor-made to a business model design is far more accurate and reliable. Paid vehicle tracking systems are set up for the individual user, enabling them to track and monitor all vehicles in their fleet to within a few metres. But it’s not just a case of ‘Big Brother is watching you’ with vehicle tracking systems. Their use is also beneficial in many other aspects of modern fleet management, including optimising delivery route planning, providing protection for vehicles, reducing a fleet’s motor insurance levels, improving customer care levels and minimising the risks of unauthorised mileage or speeding offences. Once GPS devices have been fitted to a fleet the information can be relayed back in real-time to a central control point, through which the transport or fleet manager can then update drivers of any changes to scheduled routes or additional pickups or deliveries. This ensures that the nearest available vehicle can be despatched to a customer, reducing waiting times and improving customer relations.

Paid systems also benefit from regular updates and servicing by the provider – something that free systems do not offer. Although free services may update their mapping functions, for example, these are still only designed for general use and have no route-plan function availability. Although Locatea.net does offer a courier route planner, again it is only a general map-based GPS system rather than a specialised function that can be customised to suit an individual company’s needs.

Fitting a fleet with GPS tracking can also lower the cost of fleet motor insurance, making the company a considerable saving in the long term. It offers a greater degree of security and should vehicles be stolen, a silent alarm can be triggered informing a central control point of the theft. This gives a fleet manager the ability to respond more quickly to a vehicle theft, alert the Police and consequently have a greater chance of recovering the vehicle undamaged.

For professional and business use, a paid vehicle tracking system is a worthwhile investment and although the free systems are perhaps a fun and even useful addition to the general public’s GPS tracking network, for businesses they do not offer the comprehensive features that a paid-for system does.