MONITOR YOUR FLEET
The goal of this guide is to present the facts, offer some insight, and demonstrate some of the features, functions, and benefits of fleet monitoring.
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DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO BETTER FLEET MONITORING
Fleet monitoring is a pretty big umbrella term. It also means different things to different businesses.
Because every business is different, everyone is looking for a different solution to their difficulties and new ways to optimize their business. No matter what fleet monitoring looks like to you, one sure-fire way to get the most out of your business is to implement GPS tracking.
The goal of this guide is to present the facts, offer some insight, and demonstrate some of the features, functions, and benefits of fleet monitoring.
So if you’re looking to improve your fleet business this year, you’ll love this new guide.
- Respond to rapidly-changing conditions
- Use cases for fleet vehicle monitoring
- Benefits of fleet monitoring
- Main features and tools
- Using data to boost your fleet business
- How to pick a fleet monitoring solution?
- FAQs about GPS tracking and fleet monitoring
What is fleet monitoring?
Fleet monitoring is the overall management of a collection of assets that are vital to a business’ operations.
When you think “fleet” you may picture dozens of long-haul trucks, an armada of ships, a hanger full of aircraft, or a parking lot full of rental cars. Regardless what comes to mind, it’s likely correct. In reality, a fleet can be as few as two or three assets, or a group in the thousands.
For our purposes, a fleet is simply a business’ group of road-ready mobile assets – cars, pickups, semis, vans, trailers, etc. Fleet monitoring, therefore, is the management of a collection of vehicles and related assets owned and operated by a business.
While that is a tidy summary of fleet monitoring, the fact is, there is a lot more to it than simply “watching” or “management”. Modern GPS-based fleet monitoring allows for data collection and insight into the use, optimization, mechanical, financial, and administrative aspects of a company’s vehicles.
Why operate your fleet in the dark?
We know, you probably have some frustrations with your current way of managing your fleet:
- Not knowing where all of your assets and employees are at any given time.
- No guarantees that assets are well-maintained or being used efficiently.
- Relying on employee honesty and verbal commitment to proper asset use and treatment.
What you want for managing your fleet better:
- A proven, trusted solution, not a shot in the dark.
- Complete visibility and total control.
- Confidence that assets are not being abused, mis-treated, or under-utilized.
3 Most Popular Use Cases for Fleet Vehicle Monitoring
There are dozens of reasons for a business to invest in GPS fleet tracking and monitoring. Often, fleet managers are looking for a solution to one or two problems, or are hoping to optimize one aspect of fleet operations.
While Titan GPS is an all-in-one fleet management system with features and benefits suited for nearly every business’ unique needs, there is often overlap in what our customers are looking for. These are the three most common reasons that fleet operators invest in our solution, and how our fleet monitoring solution helps tackle the problems.
Use Case #1: Theft, Unauthorized Use, and After-hours Use Management
Many fleet drivers operate independently, taking their fleet vehicles home at the end of the day. As a fleet manager, how can you curb unauthorized after‑hours use that ultimately hurts the bottom‑line of your business? Modern GPS fleet monitoring systems like Titan GPS come equipped with a variety of tools that provide insight and data to mitigate or altogether eliminate some of the more common fleet driver issues.
Moonlighting
Moonlighting is a term used when someone holds a second job, often related to their regular job, outside of normal working hours. A study in 2017 showed that over 10% of Canadians aged 25 to 54 were holding more than one job. Having a second job isn’t inherently a negative for fleet managers, it’s only when employees use company resources to facilitate their second (or third) job.
Luckily, Titan GPS has the tools to help prevent the use of fleet assets for moonlighting purposes.
Reporting
Extensive reporting provides data on engine hours and distance traveled. If a company asset has significantly higher values in either of those data points in relation to expected use or comparable assets, it could be an indication of after‑hours usage.
Alerts
Ignition alerts notify users if a fleet asset is started during normal off‑hours. Titan GPS has a variety of alerts that can be configured to be sent via email or text message, notifying fleet managers when a fleet asset may be on the move without authorization.
Fleet Replay
The Titan GPS live interface has the ability to replay fleet activity. The fleet replay menu enables single vehicle or full-fleet audits. With this tool, fleet managers can see where fleet vehicles went, when, and for how long.
Personal Use
Moonlighting isn’t the only way that fleet assets are commonly mis-used. Using fleet assets for personal use, whether it be taking the service van to the grocery store or using the work truck to tow a camper to the lake house negatively affects the return on investment of that asset, from maintenance costs, fuel, and overall longevity.
Geo‑Fencing
There’s many reasons an employee may take a company vehicle home overnight from time to time. Sometimes it’s for employees who are on call, and sometimes it’s just a business’ standard practice, but regardless of the why, personal use and work‑related activities can easily start to blend together.
A relatively simple way of dealing with this is to use virtual perimeters, or geo‑fence around home and job sites. Each time the vehicle enters or leaves these areas, fleet managers can be sent a notification. If dates and times line up with completed or expected work, everything is being done by the book, if a notification comes through when there’s no call-outs or scheduled work, chances are the asset is being used personally.
Breadcrumbs
The Titan GPS system uses live tracking, but it also records historical data, meaning tracked vehicles leave breadcrumbs, a virtual trail of where they’ve been, and for how long. Following the breadcrumbs can provide valuable insight into a vehicle’s use.
Theft
Theft is one of those things that often doesn’t really affect us until we find ourselves the victims. In reality, theft of vehicles and equipment is more common than you may think. The RCMP estimate that a vehicle theft occurs every seven minutes in Canada.
In both the United States and Canada, thousands of vehicles are stolen every year without ever being returned to the original owner. In fact, in 2017, only 22 percent of stolen equipment was recovered.
Modern GPS fleet monitoring systems equip fleet managers with the tools to recognize, react, and respond to vehicle theft as soon as it happens. Features used to combat moonlighting and personal use, such as Geofencing, Alerts, and breadcrumbs, are also a fleet manager’s best friend when it comes to vehicle theft.
In the event a fleet asset is taken, these tools allow for immediate notification of vehicle movement, as well as live updates for speed, location, and heading, giving law enforcement the upper hand. Rapid response means that not only are thieves increasing their chance of being caught, but assets are far more likely to be recovered in good condition, rather than fenced or chopped, limiting down time and insurance headaches.
Use Case #2: Fleet Fuel Monitoring
Regardless of what industry a fleet operates in, fuel costs are an unavoidable expense. What’s surprising though, is how much those costs can be affected by inefficient (and avoidable) practices.
Idling, speeding, aggressive acceleration, and inefficient routing and dispatching can have a serious impact on a fleet’s fuel costs, kneecapping even the most mindful businesses.
Fuel prices in Canada have risen year-over-year since 2000; this 19-year trend likely isn’t going to reverse any time soon, meaning that fuel conservation is going to continue to grow important for every fleet business. Finding a solution to help ease fuel costs is easier said than done.
The internet suggests everything from increasing tire pressure (which doesn’t work) to removing side mirrors (don’t do that either) and coating entire vehicles in drag-reduction films (seriously).
What To Do About High Fuel Costs
One answer is to optimize. But to optimize, you need data. The most successful fleets are closely monitored and controlled using actionable data. Telematics is the most reliable and consistent method of drawing meaningful fleet data.
Titan GPS is at the forefront of the telematics industry, and provides fleet managers with the technology and the reporting features necessary to completely optimize asset usage. These are just a few of our most commonly-used reports that transform raw data into actionable insights that can have a real effect on those monthly fuel bills.
Advanced Vehicle Idling Summary Report
One of the most alarming trends we found is that fleet vehicles, across all industries, spend roughly 33% of their engine time idling on average. That is a staggeringly high number, especially when compared to the consumer average, which is only 8 minutes per day. This amount of idling results in an average cost of $133/month lost to vehicles getting zero miles to the gallon.
Our “Advanced: Vehicle Idling Summary Report V2” report was built with this in mind. Identify the worst idlers in your fleet and set a more conservative target. Even small reductions in idling can represent significant fleet‑wide fuel savings
Aggressive Driving Report
This report covers off two problem areas – aggressive driving and excessive fuel consumption. The Aggressive Driving report can provide data on which employees are the worst offenders, and how prevalent aggressive driving is in a fleet. The report tracks and measures hard braking, aggressive acceleration, excessive RPM, and over-speed events, all of which contribute to increased fuel use.
Natural Resources Canada estimates that by accelerating gently, maintaining a steady speed, anticipating traffic, and coasting to decelerate, in conjunction with reducing overall speed, drivers can decrease fuel consumption by as much as 25%. Identifying and working with aggressive drivers can seriously benefit a fleet business’ bottom line.
Utilization Reports
Closing up holes in fuel efficiency by solving issues related to idling and aggressive driving is an effective strategy to reduce costs. But another aspect of efficiency is utilization.
Tracking vehicle kilometers and comparing that to engine hours is a good measure of which employees are using time efficiently, and which ones are wasting time. Like our other reports, drivers are measured against their peers, so that employees involved can see their performance against their coworkers.
Peer comparison brings about a sense of constructive internal competition that fosters optimization and builds morale. Many companies across all industries actively utilize reports such this one to boost utilization.
Use Case #3: Driver Behaviour
There’s plenty of reasons to monitor employee driving habits and behaviours. For starters, they are the representatives of your company; reckless and aggressive driving reflects poorly on the business, and can result in lost contracts, public traffic stops, and a poor image.
A business’ image is affected by more than just a speeding fleet truck. Seeing drivers without a seatbelt could lead a potential client into believing your business doesn’t care about safety. A service van parked outside the bar during lunch or after work can make customers think twice before calling you next time they require tour service.
While the damage done to a business’ image from irresponsible driving can be real, the more important consideration is safety. The World Health Organization has stated that an increase in average speed by 1 km/h can result in a 3% higher risk of a crash involving injury, and a 4% increase for crashes that involve fatalities. There is an abundance of information out there that details how dangerous aggressive driving can be, but without a way of knowing for sure (and being able to prove) that an employee is driving erratically, it can be difficult to correct the behaviour.
Aggressive driving such as speeding, hard braking, and unnecessarily fast acceleration is not only dangerous, it contributes to premature wear-and-tear of vehicles (not to mention adding to fuel costs). This added factor can affect a business in a number of ways.
Wear-and-tear can be hard to predict. Tires, brakes, transfer cases, differentials, and pretty much every part of a vehicle has an expected lifetime – essentially, we know (or at least expect) that we can go X number of kilometers, months, or years before worrying about part XY. Aggressive driving habits can increase premature wear-and-tear, and start cutting into those expected maintenance timelines.
Not only can this result in additional costs, such as replacing brakes or tires more often than should be necessary, it also opens the door for unexpected part failure, which can result in asset downtime at best, and an accident at worst.
Fortunately, many modern GPS fleet monitoring systems have tools that can help combat these issues. At Titan GPS, we’re prepared for nearly any possibility when it comes to driver monitoring. Our features can help a business with everything from speeding and personalized driver scorecards to maintenance tracking and seatbelt use.
Whether you have concerns about after-hours use, excessive fuel consumption, aggressive driver behaviour, something else entirely, or a combination of everything, we’re here to help.
Read our Case Study about how Fire Protection Inc. used Titan GPS to keep drivers accountable and curb poor driver habits.
Benefits of fleet monitoring
As fleet operator, you’ve got your work cut out for you. From simply keeping track of assets to ensuring maintenance schedules are kept and operations are running smoothly, your job is ceaselessly demanding.
Businesses everywhere are recognizing that technology isn’t a crutch, but rather another tool that can be used to optimize different aspects of operations. Investing in a GPS fleet monitoring solution can be the difference between organized chaos and a well-oiled machine.
While GPS tracking seems straight-forward – keep track of trucks on a map – the reality is that there is far more to it than that. We’ve already gone over a few common reasons why businesses turn to GPS monitoring, but this section will demonstrate just how many benefits a modern fleet monitoring system can provide.
The list of benefits of fleet tracking and management through GPS is constantly growing. These are just some of the most common benefits found by businesses using Titan GPS.
Vehicle and Fleet Maintenance
Using a telematics company to track the hours, mileage, and overall use of fleet assets can tell you a number of things that would otherwise be left to educated guessing or combing through receipts and old mechanic records. The Titan GPS system streamlines all of that maintenance and service tracking so that you never have to guess which assets need what service again.
Titan GPS provides fleet operators with an automated vehicle service and maintenance monitoring and alert system. Setting vehicle service and maintenance intervals based on odometer value, engine hours, calendar date, recording past and/or upcoming vehicle requirements, and even alerts to diagnostic trouble codes detected allow fleet operators to improve the overall fitness of the fleet.
Even the most basic of maintenance tasks can be optimized with fleet monitoring systems. Following manufacturer-recommended fluid change intervals isn’t always easy, even for personal vehicles. When talking about fleets with anywhere from a handful to a few hundred vehicles, it becomes nearly impossible. One easy solution is to keep all of that data in one place, and be alerted whenever a vehicle is approaching a service deadline.
From a financial perspective, it simply makes sense to automate a fleet’s maintenance. When your vehicles are out of commission in the shop, you’re losing money; it’s as easy as that. Titan GPS digital vehicle and equipment inspections allow drivers and mechanics to eliminate paperwork and ensure assets are inspected regularly and according to any mandated requirements – including DVIRs.
Alerts, maintenance reports, and hour/mileage tracking go a long way toward preventing downtime. Simply setting reminders to inspect and rotate tires can save a business hundreds of dollars a year per vehicle.
Compliance
More and more fleets are beginning to take action on emissions. While it’s certainly good practice to make sure your fleet isn’t over-doing it on the emissions, it’s also a legal requirement. While a GPS tracking system isn’t going to automatically make your fleet compliant, it can alert users to emissions-related trouble codes and remind fleet operators to have exhaust systems inspected regularly.
On top of exhaust systems, in many states and municipalities, engine idle reduction is enforced by law, and punished by fines as great as $2,500. GPS tracking can help your business monitor and curb excessive idling, and remain in compliance in those states.
Fuel Consumption
Regardless of the industry a fleet operates in, fuel costs are unavoidable. Fortunately, if it can be measured, it can be improved. Using GPS tracking enables the monitoring and analysis of fleet routes and fuel consumption.
With a GPS fleet tracking solution, wasteful behaviours such as excessive idling, speeding, and aggressive acceleration can be minimized, if not eliminated. Utilizing features such as in-cab alerts, driver scorecards, aggressive driving alerts, and advanced reporting, fleet managers can collect data and hold drivers responsible for wasteful habits.
Adjustments to driving behaviours don’t need to be extreme for fleets to see real benefit, either. According to Natural Resources Canada, fuel consumption can be up to 20% greater when travelling 120 km/h as opposed to 100 km/h. A 20% decrease in fuel consumption can mean big savings for any size fleet.
Eliminating speeding isn’t the only way fleets can save on fuel. Fleet operators are often surprised at the amount of fuel burnt by idling vehicles. According to our aggregated data, the average engine/idle time ratio is 39%. That means that over a third of a vehicle’s running time is spent idling instead of moving. At an estimated average fuel consumption 0.6 litres/hr for an idling vehicle, it’s easy to see the savings.
Don’t let a heavy foot cut into your business’ bottom line. Titan GPS has a variety of reports and features specifically tailored to help fleets target wasteful driving and idling practices.
Driver Assistance
Safety is a cornerstone of any successful business. That is especially true for fleet-based companies that put employees behind the wheel every day. Eliminating the same aggressive driving behaviours that burn fuel can also drastically increase safety – speeding alone is estimated to contribute to over 20% of all traffic fatalities.
While slowing down drivers and keeping everyone safe is an ideal outcome, in the event that a vehicle or driver is somehow disabled due to an accident, assistance can find them quickly and efficiently with GPS.
In the event of a simple breakdown, the nearest drivers or units can rapidly be identified and dispatched, filling the first asset’s spot and minimizing downtime.
Driver Accountability Measures
Driver behaviour is usually a major factor for businesses that are considering GPS monitoring. Motivations for monitoring drivers range from increasing safety to lowering fuel costs and minimizing asset wear-and-tear. What they all have in common though, is adding a layer of accountability.
Productivity often increases and driving habits improve when GPS tracking is implemented. This is due to employees driving and working more efficiently when they know their vehicles are monitored. Whether there is any sort of driver scoring system or incentive program in place or not, employees are simply more accountable for their actions when they know someone may be watching.
In fact, Titan GPS customers typically see a 50-99% decrease in aggressive or unsafe driving events after adding GPS tracking.
Although the knowledge they are being monitored is a powerful motivator to improve, sometimes a driver may not even notice their bad habits until they are pointed out. With multiple reporting options and alerts available to GPS monitoring users, fleet operators have all the tools, data, and information they need to help employees correct inefficient or unsafe behaviours.
Improve Productivity
With increased accountability resulting from more accountability, GPS fleet monitoring systems often see an increase in productivity.
Reducing or eliminating unproductive employee habits like late arriving at work, extended breaks, leaving work early, and unwarranted overtime can have a serious impact on a business’ bottom line.
Based on a conservative industry average of gaining 30 minutes of productivity per day, per fleet vehicle, fleet operators have the opportunity to significantly boost their productivity. At an average billing rate of $150 hour and a gross profit margin of 40%, that 30 minutes a day gained equals an additional monthly contribution potential of $660 per fleet vehicle. With just 15 vehicles, that’s $118,800 per year in additional productivity contribution.
Fleet businesses can also improve productivity in the back office. More accurate onsite billing, exact travel time, and overtime hours are all supported with the data gained from GPS tracking.
Additionally, route planning and dispatching can see significant benefits from GPS monitoring. Choosing the most direct routes and avoiding construction, incidents, road closures, and slow-moving traffic can significantly reduce fuel expenditures, unnecessary mileage, and cut down on overall travel time.
Driver Safety
Unsafe driving behaviour can have significant costs. When your drivers are unsafe, you risk legal conflict, vehicle repair costs, traffic violations, or accidents. GPS fleet management can help you track metrics like driver speed, aggressive driving patterns, seatbelt use, vehicle health, and more.
Plenty of evidence exists that links reduced speeds to decreased risk of fatality or injury. With all the features available for managing driving habits through Titan GPS, the benefit to driver safety can’t be ignored.
With or without any changes in driving behaviours, your drivers will surely appreciate the knowledge that, if anything were to go wrong, their precise location is known. Accidents happen — with a GPS tracker installed, you can respond quickly.
Scheduling Jobs
It’s a good day when there’s plenty of work available for your drivers, but unexpected jobs might throw a wrench into otherwise fully‑planned schedules and routes for the day.
With GPS tracking devices in each of your fleet vehicles, you’ll be able to monitor traffic and other driving conditions, as well as manage new jobs that might come up unexpectedly. With the help of GPS tracking, you’ll be able to send the nearest driver to their new job location without any disruption of other duties.
GPS fleet monitoring is the future of job scheduling. The days of consumers accepting estimated times of arrival and 6 hour service windows are gone. Customers will be much happier hearing “We have a service representative currently in your area finishing up a job. His name is John, and he can be at your address in 30 to 40 minutes with traffic.” With GPS monitoring, this type of customer service can set your business apart.
Sustainability
Whether you have a fleet of five vehicles or 50, practicing sustainability can help improve your business both in a social and in an economic sense. Making progress towards sustainable initiatives can show your stakeholders and the greater community that you’re dedicated to a greater cause outside of your business.
Titan GPS has a history of working with organizations to meet sustainability goals. Our work with the Town of Banff is a testament to helping customers become models in environmental and social responsibility.
Theft Prevention and Asset Recovery
As explained in the previous section, theft prevention and asset recovery is a common motivation for businesses to invest in GPS tracking solutions.
In the United States, annual estimates of the direct cost of equipment theft range from $300 million to $1 billion. In Canada, auto theft is just as big a problem; the RCMP claim that automobile theft costs Canadians close to $1 billion CAD annually. On top of losing vehicles and equipment altogether, a company that relies on fleets also loses business when it doesn’t have the assets available to respond to a job.
Main Features and Tools of Fleet Monitoring Solutions and Equipment Systems
Modern GPS fleet tracking and monitoring systems offer a huge variety of functions and features that provide significant benefits to fleet operators in any industry. With such a broad range of features, not every fleet operator will find the same level of use for each.
Regardless of the type of fleet or the industry it serves, there are a few main features essential to a modern GPS monitoring system.
Feature #1: Live Tracking
See the location and status of all of your tracked fleet assets live on a map. Powerful auto-position updating literally has your fleet updating in real-time as they move turn-by-turn. Tracking resolution can be set to include timed intervals, heading changes, and event or status changes to fit your fleet.
Primary Benefits
- Instant location verification
- Increase productivity
- Improve efficiency
Feature #2: Geo-fence
Create virtual perimeters around any area on the map and record and quantify all activity associated with that landmark. Use landmarks for customer sites, warehouses, or even specific routes. Track times of arrival and departure, speed, and PTO use within a landmarked area, and configure exception-related alerts.
Primary Benefits
- Location entrance and exit notification
- Accurately measure onsite time
- Customize for unique needs
Feature #3: Real-time Alerts
Stay on top of your fleet without constant monitoring. Be alerted to just the events you consider important. Create customized rules to trigger email or text messages for any kind of tracked fleet activity, including landmark breaches and excessive idling. Customize alerts to be sent to the anyone that needs to know.
Common Alerts
- Speed and aggressive driving
- Possible theft/unauthorized movement
- Arrivals and departure
Feature #4: Reporting
Turn data into actionable insight with Titan GPS’s advanced reporting and analytics engine. Get the answers to questions every fleet operator should be asking. Roll up by branch, region, asset, or driver, and get key performance indicator reporting.
Primary Benefits
- Reduced administration time
- Fact-based data and analytics
- Customizable reports for a wide variety of events and situations
See more of Titan GPS’ advanced system features, including Electronic Logging Devices, Driver Coaching, Advanced Vehicle Diagnostics, Public Link, and more here, or book a free web demo to see the features in action.
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How to Get Started with Fleet Tracking and Equipment Monitoring
3 Steps to take to get started with fleet tracking and equipment monitoring.
The process of choosing and installing a GPS fleet monitoring solution can pose a few challenges. Fleet managers should take caution and do research to ensure they’re getting the right tracking solutions for their unique business.
- Set Up A Budget and Goals
At the end of the day, installing GPS systems is usually about saving money and taking control of your fleet. As such, it’s important to choose GPS fleet trackers that make sense for your business– if you choose a model that’s too expensive, or that doesn’t have the features you need, you might end up causing an even bigger headache.
Before you purchase, take the time to carefully assess your fleet applications and the potential technical specifications that may be required. Be aware of specifications such as hardwired or plug-and-play, inputs for PTO or beacon lights, 12 volt or 24 volt system, does it need to support Electronic Logging Devices?
Then, brainstorm what you hope to accomplish with your new equipment. Are you hoping to maximize driver safety? Do you want to improve fuel economy? Make a list of your priorities so that you’ll be better prepared to find an option that meets your top needs.
- Choose The Right Software
Once you’ve determined your fleet’s needs, it’s time to select the best tracking software and equipment. It’s not often you find an off‑the‑shelf product that will meet all of your requirements. Your telematics partner should be capable of working with you to develop a tailored GPS tracking solution that meets your specific needs and budget.
Look for providers that use a consultative approach, and be prepared with your list of desires and priorities. The fleet management experts at Titan GPS can help find a solution that ticks all the boxes, and work with you to get a solution that fits your pre-determined budget.
- Introduce Carefully
Once you’ve obtained the tracking equipment, introduce it to your drivers and other employees with tact and honesty. Sometimes, drivers view GPS trackers as a breach of trust, or as a form of micromanagement.
Explain your businesses goals, and how installing equipment is meant to help the whole team thrive, not to punish employees. Pointing to the added safety benefits is also an excellent way of connecting to employees.
If you change everything overnight, it can be overwhelming. But by carefully researching, planning, and introducing your GPS management system, the benefits can be immediate, and organizational buy-in will be much easier.
Using Data to Boost your Fleet Business
Data is the key to getting the most out of any GPS fleet tracking and monitoring system. Features like alerting and live-tracking are certainly handy, but finding real efficiencies and cost savings comes from collecting and analyzing data that drives improvement across the fleet.
How your business decides to use the data from a GPS monitoring solution is just as important as collecting and understanding it. These are just a few of the ways data can help optimize your fleet business:
How can I use data and insights to make better decisions?
Titan GPS’ suite of features are designed to increase productivity across the board. Insights into maintenance can help inform decisions about when to service which assets and historical monitoring can help identify and correct inefficient routing and dispatching, to name a few data-driven decisions.
How can I use data to make me look better to my boss?
As the saying goes, money talks. Finding efficiencies and new ways to save is always a sure-fire way to impress the higher-ups. Using data taken from driver scorecards can help identify drivers with poor habits, reporting data can show assets that spend a significant amount of time idling, historical reporting can find inefficient routes.
All of this data can help a fleet manager find ways to save money, which will impress decision-makers and show the value of a fleet manager armed with information.
How can I use data to win more business?
Making informed business decisions that optimize your business reflects well on the organization as a whole. Customers do their own research, and tend to be impressed by businesses that lead their industry. If you can cut costs, add efficiencies, and keep your drivers accountable, the ripple effect throughout the company will result in a better reputation and a stronger foundation to market.
How can I use data to see a positive ROI?
Fleets that implement GPS tracking and monitoring systems can see return on investment in multiple ways. For example, typical Titan GPS customers see a 7% increase in productivity, along with average fuel savings of 8% per vehicle. Some customers have experienced upwards of 20% fuel savings across entire fleets.
Add those gains to the bottom line with the benefits to customer service and increased safety, and the returns become very real.
Even the most organized administrators and fleet operators can’t keep track of everything, all the time. For companies that rely on vehicles, data can show all kinds of valuable information and allow for significant improvements. GPS technology has revolutionized the way organizations can monitor their vehicles, products, cargo, and more.
How to Pick a Fleet Monitoring Solution
As with any investment, outfitting your fleet with a GPS monitoring solution should be well thought-out and researched. In previous sections, we explored how to get started with a GPS fleet monitoring solution.
One of those steps is choosing a provider. It’s important to have a list of priorities for your unique business, and choose a provider that checks those boxes, but there is more to choosing the right provider than just covering off the obvious bases.
Here are 10 things to keep in mind when finding the right solution for your business.
1) Is your fleet mandated to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)?
If it is (or will be), you choose a solution that will work hand-in-hand with ELDs offered through a provider that also offers everything your fleet needs to be ELD compliant.
2) Does your fleet operate in remote areas?
GPS monitoring solutions aren’t all built the same. It’s important to consider your area of work, and find a solution that is purpose-built for your fleet needs.
3) What sort of hardware is required?
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all GPS solution. Different industries require different GPS hardware – choose a provider that can make sure you’re covered.
4) Are you happy with simple?
Sometimes it’s fine to keep things simple and easy. For others, making an investment in GPS tracking is a step toward taking your business to the next level.
5) Are you often on the go?
A system with a cloud-based platform is excellent. It allows for constant monitoring from the comfort of your office – but sometimes you need to work on the go. Titan GPS offers a mobile app to make sure you’re always in the loop.
6) Does the provider offer training?
Titan GPS training is designed to be intuitive and easy-to-use, but everyone needs help sometimes. We offer custom training and webinars to make sure you get the most out of your investment.
7) Do you like new features and functions?
Some businesses just need to solve one problem – and that’s fine. But at Titan GPS, we’re constantly evolving, upgrading, and adding new features to serve our customers.
8) Is GPS monitoring common in your industry?
This is a bit of a trick question – it doesn’t actually matter. Regardless if it’s industry-standard or if you’ve never heard of anyone else doing it, you can take your business to the next level – Titan GPS has a solution fit for every industry.
9) Are you going to be stuck with stuff you don’t really need?
GPS fleet monitoring doesn’t need to be like your cable package with a bunch of channels you’ll never watch or features you’ll never use. Titan GPS uses a consultative approach to ensure you get everything you need, without paying extra for what you don’t.
10) Do you operate a mixed fleet?
While some fleets might consist of just one make of pickup, many more include a variety of light- and heavy-duty trucks from every make, with some trailers and equipment mixed in. At Titan GPS, we’re experts in mixed-fleet monitoring, and can ensure your whole fleet is covered.
FAQs About GPS Tracking and Fleet Monitoring
Still have questions after reading this guide? Here are some of the most common FAQs and myths we hear at Titan GPS.
How Does GPS Tracking Work?
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a pretty common acronym, but there is much more to it than three letters. Simply put, GPS is a network of satellites that determine a receiver’s location by a mathematical process called trilateration. Read our blog article on remote GPS tracking for additional detail into the process.
What is an GPS tracking system?
GPS tracking systems are a combination of hardware and software, which enables the user to know the activity and the movement of a commercial vehicle or piece of equipment at any point in time, from anywhere in the world, and by any authorized tracking user.
What data is transmitted by GPS?
Each GPS record consists of the following data: time, location, date, speed, and the direction the automobile is traveling.
What can I use this tech for?
You can track individual vehicles and entire fleets, as well. The primary benefits involve being able to instantly track your entire fleet through GPS technology and mapping tools. Since live tracking is available, you’ll be able to instantly verify specific products, hauls, and trucks; as well as significantly improve productivity and efficiency.
Will installing a GPS tracking system jeopardize any other electric device inside an automobile?
No, installation of a GPS tracking device will not affect any other kind of electronic installed inside your car or truck.
Common Myths
Myth #1: My Drivers are Trustworthy– I Don’t Need to Track Them
While your employees are no doubt trustworthy and dependable, even the most reliable team can still benefit from GPS tracking hardware.
This technology was not designed to monitor your drivers’ every move, but instead to limit operating costs and boost efficiency.
Myth #2: GPS Tracking Equipment Is Just Too Complicated
Many experienced fleet managers have found a comfortable and effective routine for running their business. For these established companies, adopting new technology can seem like an unnecessary hassle.
Though any new equipment may be confusing at first, GPS trackers are designed to be exceptionally intuitive, especially since the interface is meant for use while driving. With a brief training session or two, you and your team will be able take full advantage of the benefits of GPS monitoring.
Myth #3: Tracking Systems are Too Expensive
Many money‑smart leaders don’t see the point of paying for tracking equipment to help them do a job they already do well. Though GPS trackers are an investment, this equipment also offers a hefty ROI when it’s used to its full potential. Using trackers will reduce expensive fuel waste, increase safety, and cut maintenance costs, all of which lead to a more profitable operation.
Myth #4: It Damages Manager/Employee Relationships
Too often, individuals see GPS fleet tracking as a sign that managers don’t trust their drivers, or that they want to control everything. In reality, GPS tracking is more about giving drivers greater control and access to information than it is about micromanaging.
Many drivers come to rely on GPS trackers for more efficient dispatch and proof of work. With real‑time tracking, everyone can do their jobs better, which fosters accountability, trust, growth, and prosperity throughout your team.
Myth #5: My Company Is Small, So Tracking Is A Waste
This is by far the biggest misconception of GPS tracking. Regardless whether you run a business with a few vehicles or a massive fleet with hundreds of pickups, semis, trailers, and heavy equipment, there is always something to gain with the insights provided by GPS tracking.
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Every fleet is different, and there are many variables that go in to finding what fleet tracking solutions are right for you. Request more information today so one of our reps can analyze your fleet and find a solution that fits your business the best. We will schedule a demo of our tracking systems as well as provide you a customized quote.
