Top Fleet Asset Tracking Solutions That Your Business Needs

If you are a business owner, then fleet tracking should be one of your primary concerns. If you aren’t able to stay on top of what your fleet is doing, then there’s always the possibility that items could be lost or staff members could not be working their hardest.

Fleet tracking enables you to significantly improve your business’s daily operations, as well as work on strategies designed to improve your business’s performance. Improved performance will increase revenues and make your company more successful.

This article will tell you about some of the top fleet asset tracking solutions that your business needs:

Active Vehicle Tracking Systems

Active vehicle tracking systems are the most effective type of tracking system, with a variety of different types. There are many different variants of active tracking systems, from solar-powered asset tracking systems to standard GPS systems. Active systems transmit data in real-time, via satellite or cellular networks.

Active tracking systems are expensive when compared to passive systems (which we will cover next), but they are much more effective and make for a better investment. These devices can be installed by professionals, though it is easy to do it yourself. You just need to plug them into the vehicle’s port, and then subscribe to a tracking service that sends real-time updates. The two methods used in active tracking are as follows:

Satellite-based tracking is the most common method employed by active tracking systems. The devices that are used and the subscription costs can be expensive, compared to cellular tracking, but ultimately the report given is more detailed and tracking can be performed in real-time, whereas cellular tracking can only provide near real-time. Satellite tracking does not rely on cellular coverage, either. This means that assets can be tracked even in the world’s most remote regions.

Cellular tracking is the cheapest but least effective method because it relies upon cellular networks in order to transmit information and produce reports. If your assets are driving in areas with low coverage, then the reports will be incomplete.

If they are driving in rural areas, then you will get no coverage at all, which means that you won’t be able to compile a precise report, not to mention if your assets are stolen in a low-coverage area you may not be able to track them effectively and update the police.

Passive Vehicle Tracking Systems

Passive tracking systems are the most common type of fleet tracking system. Also known as GPS loggers, these systems gather data about a vehicle’s whereabouts and the route that it has taken. This information is stored on a memory card, which can be accessed later on. It cannot be tracked in real-time.

If you intend upon using one of these tracking systems, then you need to make sure that the tracking system is locked in a location that can’t be accessed by the driver or anybody else without a key. This is so that the driver’s movement information does not become compromised. Unlike other tracking systems, passive systems require a single one-off payment upon installation. This is why they are a popular choice because they allow businesses to save money.

However, as already mentioned passive systems do not provide real-time tracking information, which makes them unhelpful in the event of an emergency. With that said, it is entirely possible to install additional device add-ons that do allow for real-time tracking, for an added cost. The cost of these add-ons is sometimes more than an active system, so in many cases, it makes more sense to purchase an active system instead.

Benefits of Fleet Tracking Systems

There are many advantages to using fleet tracking systems. Not only are fleet tracking systems a more efficient method of managing one’s fleet, but they result in less fuel consumption. Additionally, they allow you to ensure that your routes are perfectly planned. Fleet tracking systems also significantly reduce insurance premiums, because they improve the chances of recovering one’s vehicle if it is stolen. Fleet tracking systems also increase asset productivity and reduce unnecessary downtime.

Another advantage to fleet tracking is that with it, you are able to monitor your vehicles’ health. This allows you to perform predictive maintenance. Finally, fleet tracking systems ensure both driver and vehicle safety, time management, and improved communication and clarity. Fleet tracking systems can benefit your business in many more ways than those that we have mentioned here, so definitely give them some consideration.

If you own a business that has a fleet, then you need to do your best to protect it. There are lots of dangers posed to delivery drivers and transportation professionals, with the most obvious being thieves. Asset tracking will ensure that your fleet doesn’t have to worry about these things.