In order for a fleet manager to remain competitive in today's challenging economy, he must improve fleet and driver productivity and reduce costs. This involves more efficient fleet tracking and fleet management. So how does the fleet manager do this? One of the ways is through a fleet tracking device. Both cost effective and practical, GPS fleet tracking devices enable the fleet manager to monitor, measure and make improvements to his fleet operations.

One of the most significant benefits of a fleet tracking device is a reduction in costs -- both labor and fuel. In terms of fuel savings, a GPS tracker helps to reduce fuel expenses by reducing speeding and eliminating excess idling. Both speeding and idling wastes unnecessary fuel.

Further, a driver who has an accident or has a bad safety record can jack up your insurance premiums. Additionally, curb idling is common among drivers who make frequent deliveries. A fleet tracking device alerts drivers when they have been idle for too long, prompting them to turn off the ignition. A side benefit of using a fleet tracking device to avoid wasting fuel, is that the fleet manager is doing his part in helping the environment become greener.

There's no doubt that there are optimized routes for almost any journey and destination. GPS fleet tracking devices can help you find the most optimized route for a delivery or service to a customer. GPS tracking can assist you in eliminating wasteful trips, which decreases your profit margin. An advanced fleet tracking device can show you the route that a driver took as compared to a more direct route that the driver should have taken.

Not only does GPS tracking enable you to optimize your routes and reduce excessive idling, but GPS fleet tracking devices help you to learn about any unauthorized uses of company vehicles. For example, through vehicle tracking, you can find out if employees are using your vehicle for personal errands, napping at home or even going to a second job. While you hope these cases are rare, the reality is they do happen. When employees know they are being monitored by a fleet tracking device, it's a good bet that they will stop.

Lastly, a GPS fleet tracking device can mean no more "lost drivers." With turn-by-turn directions, drivers will get to their destination more quickly, which means better service to your customers.