10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a GPS Tracking Device for Your Fleet

Using a GPS tracker device for your fleet has become incredibly common in the commercial shipping world. This is because GPS trackers benefit businesses in a number of ways, including improving safety, productivity, optimizing routes, monitoring driver behavior, and scheduling vehicle maintenance.

Yet, there are numerous GPS tracking devices on the market, so how do you know what to look for when selecting a device? Below, we’ll go over 10 factors to help you choose the right GPS tracking device for your fleet.

Real-time tracking

Real-time tracking devices use satellites or cellular modems to monitor where vehicles are throughout the day. Real-time tracking devices can send vehicle locations out at different frequencies, ranging from every 15 seconds to once per day. Having a real-time tracking device allows you to see where drivers are throughout the day and prevent data loss.

Affordability

The alternative to real-time tracking is passive tracking, which requires someone to download the location data from a vehicle after it’s returned. This prevents you from monitoring drivers in real time and can also lead to data loss.

Because passive tracking isn’t as useful as real-time tracking, some companies with a smaller budget may opt for these devices thinking they’ll save money. However, this isn’t always the case. You should be able to find a real-time GPS tracker that is affordable. Furthermore, the benefits you’ll receive from a good GPS tracker will provide more value than the price tag alone.

Notifications

A good GPS tracking device will send you notifications and alerts depending on drivers locations along with other options that you can opt into yourself. For example, poor driving behavior or passing through a geofence.

Geofencing

Geo fences are predetermined areas that are set up. If a driver passes through the geo-fence you can receive a notification alerting you that an employee is leaving their designated route or area.

Dispatching

Real-time tracking is also ideal for dispatching. Dispatchers can have immediate access to all drivers’ locations to improve communication for drivers on the road.

Mapping

Another good factor to have for a tracker is mapping. This allows you to view your GPS coordinates on a map and zoom in or out to collect more data regarding drivers’ surroundings.

Durability

In addition to passive tracking, some managers opt for cheaper GPS trackers that are less durable. High-quality GPS trackers are waterproof, impact-resistant, and heat-resistant.

Reports

A good GPS tracker also comes with reports and summary option that will display the history of travel for your fleet. This provides vital data relevant to optimizing your fleet.

Alerts

 GPS tracking solutions provide important alerts for fleet tracking managers, including alerts for speeding, harsh braking, and idling. Another useful feature is maintenance alerts. This takes some of the burdens off fleet managers to manually track miles and maintenance schedules for all of the vehicles in the fleet.

Simplicity to install and maintain

Some GPS trackers are overly-complicated. GPS tracking devices are supposed to make your life easier, not more difficult. Therefore, stick to simple devices that are easy to install and maintain.

Look to LiveViewGPS for all of your GPS fleet tracking needs.

You Are Here: LiveViewGPS Blog » 10 Factors to Consider When Choosing a GPS Tracking Device for Your Fleet