5 Features to Look for in a Vehicle Tracking System

Vehicle tracking systems play a critical role in today’s world to ensure safety on the roads and cost-efficient operations.

Many tech companies are investing their resources to bring advanced GPS tracking systems powered by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Telematics. These state-of-the-art GPS tracking systems have transformed the way fleet businesses are run.

From real-time vehicle tracking to fuel management to route optimization and scheduling, the modern GPS tracking systems exemplify the true power of telematics in the fourth industrial revolution. That said, the market has seen a rise in the number of companies offering GPS tracking solutions as telematics has become a hot market for investors.

And with each new entrant comes new GPS tracking features. But have you ever wondered which of these features are useful to your fleet business? This article explores the 5 must-have features of any fleet vehicle tracking system.

1. Real-Time Location Tracking

One of the dominant features of today’s vehicle tracking systems is the ability to monitor the fleet in real-time.

With a GPS tracking system, dispatch and transport managers can map the location of their vehicles as they move from one point to another. This helps to quickly optimize the routes in case of obstacles or last-minute changes.

Real-time vehicle tracking also helps to improve customer service as you’ll be able to inform your customers of their package’s estimated time of arrival (ETA).

But location tracking is the functionality of a GPS tracker at its most basic level. Some fleet tracking systems such as Samsara or Ram Trucks come with advanced features such as geofence alerts. This allows you to create geographical boundaries and get alerts when a vehicle enters or exits the geofence.

2. Trip History

Trip history is a useful feature that a good vehicle tracking system must-have.

With this feature, you can track all the trips made by your vehicle. You will also be able to tell if your driver has been making unauthorized trips or diverting from the optimized routes to attend personal businesses.

The trip history feature lets you see information such as distance covered by the vehicle, acceleration, idling, and stoppages made. With this info, you’ll not only save on fuel costs but also keep a tab on your drivers’ activities.

3. Driver Behavior Monitoring

Failure to monitor your drivers’ behavior can hurt your business and affect your bottom line. If not monitored, your drivers might slack off or engage in unprofitable activities.

However, with a good vehicle tracking app, all these problems can be avoided. A good fleet tracking system will give you insights into a host of various driving behaviors. 

From speeding data to harsh braking to average time spent on job sites, you’ll be able to track your driver’s behavior and performance at any time. This information can help to ensure safety, minimize fuel consumption, and ensure drivers represent your company responsibly.

4. Route Optimization & Scheduling

Is your fleet taking the optimized routes?

The best vehicle tracking tools come with some sort of route optimization and scheduling features. With these features, you’re able to plan and optimize routes based on traffic data, reduce fuel consumption, and increase productivity.

The results? Customers will enjoy faster delivery time and you’ll get to save on fuel costs. You’ll also be able to improve customer service and build a good reputation for your brand.

5. Tracking Vehicle Maintenance

Managing your fleet means more than just tracking your vehicles and monitoring your drivers; you’ll also have to ensure your fleet is well maintained.

Some of the world-renowned brands like Ram Trucks and Ford, feature in-built fleet tracking systems that also alert drivers about maintenance. 

Ford, for instance, comes with Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) that automatically monitors the vehicle’s oil life using an onboard computer system, then alerts the owners when it’s time for an oil change so they can address the issue soon.

But if your fleets don’t have inbuilt systems that can send maintenance alerts, a car tracking system can do the trick. 

A good tracking system can monitor your fleet’s health and spot new maintenance issues. It will let you optimize your vehicle’s performance and prevent breakdowns with preventive maintenance, timely vehicle diagnostics, and real-time fault code alerts.

What other features do you look for in a good vehicle tracking system? Share with us in the comments section below.