How Do Vehicle Trackers Help Fleet Managers?

Vehicle trackers are an essential tool for fleet managers, providing numerous benefits to aid the management and efficiency of their operations. Here is a detailed look at how vehicle trackers could assist your fleet management.

Real-time vehicle tracking capabilities

Vehicle trackers offer GPS-based real-time location updates, allowing fleet managers to establish exactly where vehicles are at any given time. This is crucial for efficient route management and ensuring schedules are kept. Accurate location data helps fleet managers to provide accurate delivery times and quick responses to customer enquiries, enhancing customer service.

Vehicle trackers come with a range of useful features including European coverage, accessible data reports and optional engine immobilisation, to name just a few. If you’re considering implementing such a system, it’s important to get one that works with how your business operates. A supplier of big-name brands or distributors in the field of GPS tracking will be able to guide you in your choice of tracker depending on your requirements. They will be able to give you bespoke advice, based on your business, on which systems work best for you and your budget.

Enhanced route optimisation

Vehicle trackers enable the monitoring of routes which allows fleet managers to identify the most fuel-efficient routes to save on fuel costs and eliminate unnecessary mileage. Optimised routes help drivers to avoid congested roads or traffic incidents to reduce travel time and improve productivity.

Enhanced fleet security

Vehicle tracking is a huge asset in terms of the security of a fleet. A stolen vehicle with a GPS tracker transmitting real-time location information is much more easily recovered and returned to its owner. Geo-fencing features can be used by fleet managers to set specific boundaries and receive alerts should a vehicle move outside of the designated areas.

The significant costs involved in replacing a stolen vehicle plus the disruption to business operations are minimised. An added advantage comes with the fact that most insurance companies are willing to offer reduced premiums to those prepared to provide extra protection for their assets.

Maintenance management

Many vehicle tracking systems can send maintenance schedule reminders based on mileage or engine hours. This can help to reduce the incidences of breakdowns and can help to maximise the lifespan of a vehicle. By ensuring fleet vehicles remain in good workable condition, managers avoid expensive repairs and vehicle downtime.

Driver behaviour monitoring

Vehicle trackers can greatly promote safety and compliance by remotely monitoring driver behaviour. A fleet manager can ascertain whether their driver is speeding or using harsh braking and acceleration techniques thereby putting themselves and others at risk. Are they speeding because their route is badly planned? Information conveyed will also tell fleet managers if their drivers are spending too long idling in traffic jams. Information from tracking devices helps to promote safer driving and compliance with traffic regulations and allows fleet managers the opportunity to correct any dangerous driving habits.

Managers are able to track vehicle usage patterns to establish whether there is unauthorised use of a vehicle so ensuring that vehicles are used only for appropriate business purposes.

A tracking device can verify drivers’ shift patterns, contributing to more accurate payroll processing and increased accountability of driving hours.

Vehicle trackers can ensure compliance with regulations covering drivers’ hours of service. Digital inspection logs can ensure regular compliance with safety regulations and reduce paperwork for fleet managers.

Help to go green

Vehicle tracking technology can help managers to achieve sustainability targets by analysing route history and fuel use to work out the carbon emissions of each vehicle. This could help in the decision on which type of fuel will enhance future business operations.

Armed with all the information, a vehicle tracker can provide fleet managers with some real benefits. It can help them more easily identify cost savings and improve productivity with maximum control over their fleet, ensuring they remain competitive in today’s market.