GPS vehicle tracking technology has been steadily improving in the last few years. So much so that many fleet managers are considering implementation to improve their business operations and make them more efficient and subsequently more profitable. However, there are still an unenlightened few out there who believe that the utilisation of GPS vehicle tracking solutions will do more harm than good and are just a more expensive answer to the problem of tracking fleet vehicles. It is hoped that this article will set out the most common misconceptions and attempt to ally any fears that fleet managers hold.

Numerous business managers have not yet implemented vehicle tracking systems due to the belief that it simply sends the wrong message to staff members. Some believe that it shows a deep mistrust of staff and a need to check up on them throughout the working day. This is simply wrong, these systems are not put in place to keep tabs on workers, they are instead a tool to increase efficiency; by controlling how the fleet is being driven and the maintenance of vehicles.

Understandably the fear of managers is also felt by workers. Many employees out there, on hearing that a vehicle tracking system is to be implemented feel that it is an invasion of their privacy. This fear however is easily allayed through effective education on how tracking solutions actually make life easier for drivers. Once it is explained that GPS technology can reduce the amount of time each operative spends on the road whilst also reducing their paperwork requirements, resistance is soon dissolved. The benefits are clearly there, it is simply about presenting them to staff members so they understand why implementation is a necessity.

A number of managers out there feel that GPS vehicle tracking solutions will not suit their operation. There is an element of technophobia in this standpoint, which is understandable. However the majority of fleet management companies are more than happy to provide full training whilst also implementing the system. After this training has been conducted the manager and workers can all understand how the system operates and are also able to use it effectively and with ease.

Another factor holding back implementation of vehicle tracking solutions is cost. The generally held belief is that GPS is far too expensive while running an existing system carries no implementation costs. This current system could utilise cell phones although the benefits of these systems are now being called into a question. While a cell phone gives the manager instant access to all workers, it does not deliver up to the minute information on their location, speed or direction. In addition it is too easy for workers to leave their phone in the car, making trips to the pub a possibility. GPS technology completely removes instances such as these, the result being a more dedicated workforce.

Naturally the costs of implementation are also a major concern for fleet managers. It is true that implementation costs in some cases can be great, although this is dependent upon the size of the fleet and the type of operation. Despite this, the majority of companies find that after a GPS vehicle tracking systems has been installed, the financial benefits in terms of savings and increased profits pay for the system in around six months to a year.

Hopefully this article has gone some of the way in dispelling misconceptions concerned with vehicle tracking. Today it is a viable solution to the problems of fleet managers.

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.

The advent of cheap (and even, in some cases, free) GPS tracking systems has revolutionised how the general public move from point A to point B. The days of paper maps are regarded as numbered by many. However, GPS has far more applications than acting as mere electronic maps and GPS tracking has become an important business tool in fleet management. Vehicle tracking enables fleet managers to keep a close eye on the exact location of all their vehicles and also allows them to gather information on how the fleet is operating, optimum routes and even incidences of speeding.

Recently Google and Locatea.net have thrown a new ingredient into the mix – free GPS tracking. Google has launched ‘Latitude’ – a free access system showing participants their exact (to within a few metres) location on the planet and the location of all their friends and family who sign up to the system. More of an extension of their highly successful ‘Google Earth’ package, Latitude is a fun way of keeping in touch with friends and family, but it doesn’t really have a practical application in the business world. The same is true of Locatea.net, which gives an accurate portrayal of the locations of everyone who wants to be involved in the programme. And herein lies the problem with free vehicle tracking systems. They are really more of an addition to social networking collectives and do not as such have a practical application as a business tool. Free vehicle tracking is also voluntary, so it’s easy to exclude yourself from the system should you so wish to.

Paid vehicle tracking is completely different. Designed for a specific purpose, it allows fleet managers to manage and control fleets of vehicles for business use. A paid-for system is a tailor-made business solution that is far more accurate and reliable than a free system. Not only does it allow a fleet manager to identify and locate all vehicles on the system – it also supplies vital additional information that can make an important contribution to the overall efficiency of the business. Vehicle tracking systems supply information about unofficial out of hours usage, calculate average speed of vehicles and can act as a locator beacon in the event of an emergency (particularly important if the fieldworkers are operating in remote locations). GPS devices also act as a security measure. If a vehicle is stolen, a fitted GPS tracking system will enable the fleet manager to locate it immediately, notifying police and ensuring that the vehicle is recovered as quickly as possible. Because of their use in this aspect, GPS tracking systems can also help to reduce the overall insurance costs of a fleet and so save the company money in the long run.

Another major advantage of paid-for vehicle tracking systems is the after-care and systems support that it brings with it. Updates and both hardware and software are covered by a warranty, which means that the system is always operating at maximum efficiency and running costs can be kept to a minimum. With free systems, updates are much more generic in nature and less frequent. Although the mapping functions may be updated regularly these are still only designed for general use and rarely have additional features attached that are business-specific in nature.

For fleet management and business use, a paid vehicle tracking system is a worthwhile investment. By carefully selecting a supplier that can provide you with a custom-made system which suits your business needs, the initial investment can actually turn into a business asset that will save your company money over time.

First, a few notes about the Magellan ColorTRAK GPS. It is so amazing that it has an internal lithium battery back-up that keeps the memory active for 10 years! That is a really long time! The Magellan ColorTRAK GPS is also scraggy and has a waterproof construction so you don’t have to worry it dunk into the water.

GPS for truck tracking is relatively new and have shown very good effects. It has been proved that tracking of your vehicles will keep your overhead down. For example GPS Tracking can eliminate the need for having your truckers fill out driving logs. The mileage tracking will allow fleet managers to observe vehicle performance and maintenance from the convenience of their computer.

GPS tracking is the term given to the process of being able to locate the exact location of a receiver on earth. Today, the devices can be very small. They are often used for a variety of purposes, and truck tracking is what actually remains as the most popular and widespread uses of GPS.

Today, mobile communication devices are becoming much more technologically advanced and offer more than the ability to just carry on a conversation. Cell phone GPS tracking is one of those advances. With GPS technology now more commonplace in many new cell phones, this means that the location of anyone carrying a compatible cell phone can be accurately tracked at any time. So GPS tracking is an excellent tool to use and take advantage of throughout our lives.

Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by putting a spotlight on speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and drive up insurance rates. Vehicle tracking systems will also remind you when it is time for preventive maintenance, like oil changes, helping you keep your vehicles on the road and making you money.

GPS tracking systems are continuously offering something new and amazing for your use. Some also included the feature that allows you to track your own car via the Internet. GPS tracking systems are also great solutions to track the vehicles should it be stolen. In the near future we should expect most new vehicles to have GPS equipment. That will reduce the huge costs that is now associated with the transportation sector. Trucks and the cargo they carry are stolen and the cost estimates now show that the figures are not millions of dollars but billions of dollars. Every year.