GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems: Do I Need One?

GPS vehicle tracking systems are more affordable and more popular than ever before, but do you need one? Take this short quiz and keep track of your ‘yes’ answers. I’ll help you total your score and decide after you finish.

Step One: Take Quiz

  1. Do I use vehicles in my business? Yes/No(The definition of ‘vehicles’ includes heavy, medium and light-duty vehicles, construction equipment (dozers, graders, backhoes, etc), cars, motorcycles, RV’s, pick-up trucks, vans, tractor trailers, buses, trailers, dump trucks, snow plows, limousines, taxis, etc.)
  2. Have any of my vehicles been stolen in the past? Yes/No
  3. I’d like to know what is going on and where my employees/vehicles are during the day: Yes/No
  4. I’d like to reduce my fuel expenses and know if any of my vehicles are wasting gas: Yes/No
  5. Being able to give my customers accurate and precise arrival/delivery estimates is important to me: Yes/No
  6. It is important to know if any of my vehicles are used after hours or on weekends for non-business purposes: Yes/No
  7. I’d like save up to 30% on my vehicle insurance: Yes/No
  8. It is important to know if my employees are speeding or otherwise abusing my vehicles: Yes/No
  9. If any of my employees are using my vehicles to ‘moonlight’ or do work without my knowledge, I’d want to know: Yes/No
  10. Knowing about mechanical problems before they become expensive to fix is important: Yes/No
  11. If any of my vehicles are ever stolen, I’d like to locate them within minutes: Yes/No
  12. I’d like to have vehicle use data to compare with overtime requests as a way to guard against errors and fraud: Yes/No
  13. I’d like a reminder when it is time to do routine maintenance on my vehicles: Yes/No
  14. Occasionally, customers question when we were at their location, having the exact date and time recorded in our tracking system would really help in those cases: Yes/No
  15. I’d like to help my employees be more productive by seeing where they go each day: Yes/No

Step Two: Total Your ‘Yes’ Answers

Add up your ‘yes’ answers.

  • Fewer than 7 ‘yes’ answers:Thanks for taking the quiz, you don’t appear to want/need a vehicle tracking system.
  • 7 to 11 ‘yes’ answers: Thanks for taking the quiz. You could greatly benefit from a vehicle tracking system.
  • More than 11 ‘yes’ answers: Thanks for taking the quiz. You need a vehicle tracking system.

By the way, every question above (except question 1 & 2) is answered by using GPS vehicle tracking systems.

Step Three: Cost vs. Gain

The average business owner recoups their investment in GPS vehicle tracking systems within 6 – 12 months after purchase. Of course, your ROI may vary. Recovering one stolen vehicle may pay for your entire tracking system.

Vehicle tracking helps you reduce operating costs and boosts productivity.

Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by putting a spotlight on speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and drive up insurance rates. Vehicle tracking systems will also remind you when it’s time for preventive maintenance, like oil changes, helping you keep your vehicles on the road and making you money.

GPS vehicle tracking systems improve productivity by:

  • documenting long lunch hours,
  • exposing unauthorized breaks,
  • comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity,
  • highlighting unauthorized vehicle use after hours and on weekends,
  • eliminating driver logs.

Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.

Step Four: Due Diligence

GPS vehicle tracking systems are outstanding tools for vehicle and fleet management, but you need to find the right system for you. Take a look at the different types of GPS vehicle tracking systems.

Check a company’s hardware and software, as well as their monthly data access plan. You’ll also need to decide whether to buy or lease your GPS tracking system.

Good luck.

Source by Ken Sink

Heavy Vehicle Safety With GPS Tracking Solutions

When you think of dangerous work, what comes to your mind?

The defense force, firefighters and police might be at the top of your list, but what about heavy vehicle drivers?

In Australia, around 80 workers are killed each year while working in or around a high-heavy vehicle (Safe work Australia Chair).

Speeding and fatigue play a significant part in these deaths.

Here, having the proper fleet management systems in place is essential for managing vehicle and driver safety.

When heavy vehicles are involved in a crash, the severity of it is often a lot more serious because their vehicle mass elevates the crashforced involved.

Here, GPS tracking provides the transport industry effective solutions to manage drivers and the chain of responsibility to ensure safety on the road. Here’s how:

1. Safety before a shift starts:
Mitigate risks with early detection, most GPS tracking solutions provide fit for duty declarations and pre-departure checks which take drivers through a set of customisable safety criteria before starting a shift.

If any issues are detected an alert is immediately sent to a supervisor by email or SMS and the driver will not be able to start the shift before the issue is addressed.

2. Reduce speeding:
Speed ​​is the leading contributing factor to heavy vehicle accidents. Loaded trailers take 20-40% farther than cars to stop, even further when the roads are wet and slippery (Transport for NSW).

The only way to mitigate the risk of speeding is to monitor drivers and prevent it from happening.

GPS tracking provides automated speed detection solutions across all speed zones, managers can be alerted:
– When a driver is speeding;
– Where a driver is speeding; and
– Why it happened.

With two-way communication managers, can provide drivers live feedback on their driving performance so they can make corrections in real-time and increase safety on the road.

GPS tracking and Fleet telematics provide safe driving solutions and reliable tools to detect speeding and identify the causes, managers can implement safe driving policies and train drivers to avoid speeding.

3. Fatigue Management:
Driver fatigue is unstoppable. Affecting anyone, at any time. Unfortunately, no matter how experienced the driver is, no amount of skill can defeat the biological need for sleep.

The truck driving industry denies the natural sleep pattern, with many long-haul drives going well into the hours of the night and through to the morning. Here, effective management of fatigue is crucial to the safety of heavy vehicle drivers.

GPS tracking provides a chain of responsibility systems which have control measures to address fatigue, including electronic log books, automated break alerts and recording driving hours.

Overall, GPS tracking and Fleet telematics solutions provide seamless and efficient communication between managers and drivers; instantaneous information is received via mobile devices and in-vehicle display unit so managers have an unprecedented level of knowledge of their operations.

Help your business grow and expand by maintaining a safe work environment, it will increase efficiency and most importantly, it will ensure your drivers get home safely.

Source by Georgia Campbell

Take 10 Minutes to Get Started With GPS Tracker

GPS which is normally known as Global Positioning System enables anyone to find the vehicle location at a current place. A GPS tracker will likewise help you to recognize any indirect driving like speeding and wrong way driving and will help you to do it correctly. A GPS tracker gives you the advantage to keep up your personal bearings and also yourself in a safe position. They are broadly used as a part of both business and personal works.

Here is why you be using a GPS Tracker when you travel

Productivity – Time is always important, to be on schedule for any meetings with your customers or to catch your next flight. GPS Tracking devices gives you the privilege to do it smoothly when you are new to a place. So while making arrangements for any business or going to a new place for travel, it is constantly best to use a GPS tracker to reach your destination at the quickest possible time.

Situation Control – With the use of a GPS tracker in business trucking  organizations and various delivery companies like pizzas, couriers, etc can guarantee that the vehicles reach the customer’s doorsteps safely and on-time without having to receive a negative review for the company.

Flexible Planning – GPS trackers are one of the fundamental devices for pre-arranging events before taking up the trek. Proper arranging is the best for business people and different workers who lend to go to new places everyday. Having used  the GPS tracker in the vehicle guarantees to offer the safe and bother free travel even in a new destination.

One main CON

There is only one main disadvantage of having a GPS Tracker, is that driving in urban areas can be difficult particularly where GPS network coverage is low.

Choosing A GPS Tracking System For Your Next Camping, Hiking Or Backpacking Adventure

The basic intention of a GPS tracking system is to allow the user to fix his or her location at any time. That is achieved by reading the screen on a hand-held unit that picks up a signal from a series of satellites in geosynchronous orbit around the Earth.

There are in fact various different styles of Global Positioning System units. One style is optimized for use at sea on a vessel, others function better in vehicles, and still others are ideal for use when hiking. Some fundamentals apply to each style, however.

The user must have to be capable of operating the controls and interpreting the display without being knowledgeable in electrical engineering. Many are not much more than electronic maps, various models will simply be static (they only store pre-loaded charts); others are capable of downloading fresh charts via wireless or through a Laptop / Internet connection. Some will certainly offer cryptic longitude and latitude readings, calling for you to interpret the location by using a map.

Garman GPS is the market leader of these tracking systems, but they are not the only maker. Lowrance, Magellan and various other manufacturers make great models, as well. With such an assortment of models and manufacturers to select from, what should you be looking for? Of course, the answer will depend on what you aspire to use the tracking unit for.

For a backpacking GPS device, long battery life is essential. Ploting a route through some wilderness areas is typically done in a reasonably casual way, unless you become lost. If that happens, you require the device to remain active for a long time.

A water-proof tracking unit is a near must, as swift, unforeseen changes in weather conditions are typical in camping regions. Rain can start and finish before you know it. You do not want your GPS unit to stop operating or become damaged when you’re finding the way back to the campsite. Always remember to inquire if the tracking device you’re debating is robust. It is not ideal if it can not hold up to the harshness of the outdoors.

The amount of maps and routes, as well as the quantity of coordinates or waypoints, which a system can hold differs by model. The higher the memory the model has (similar to your laptop), the more it can store.

Map capacity bought to be at least twenty, but fifty or more is desirable. Coordinate capacity is often a strong five hundred for many units, but given that each position is a coordinate, this can add up quickly. Here again, more is preferred, but you pay up for that.

The facility to align the maps you see in various compass directions is very useful. The directions (bearing) to your next coordinate is standard, but verify to be certain. Knowing where you’re at a given time is frequently almost worthless. Your objective is to move from one point to the next, not merely to identify which latitude and longitude you occupy.

Ergonomic elements are reasonably important. The ploting device bought to fit snugly in your hand and not be too large as to result in fatigue. It needs to be pocket-size, but light enough so not to cause irritation when it’s there.

Be geared up to pay a little extra to acquire the ideal GPS tracking system. It bought to last for several years as they’re already packed with features, so you should not need to replace it within a year with the latest unit.

Source by Darren Lintern

GPS Tracking: An Executive Summary-Who, What and Why

GPS vehicle tracking systems are a popular tool for business owners; Original equipment manufacturers from General Motors to Bobcat are including tracking systems in their vehicles. Here’s some background information to help you:

Who uses GPS tracking?

GPS tracking systems are used by businesses in the service, transportation and manufacturing industries. Businesses of all sizes, with fleets of 1 to thousands of vehicles, readily upon their tracking systems to add to their profitability.

Types of businesses using GPS tracking:

  • Contractors who provide HVAC, plumbing or electrical services
  • Limousine and taxi companies
  • Uniform / Linen Services
  • Food and Beverage Distributors
  • Street Sweepers
  • Pest Management Services
  • Snow Plow Services
  • Car Carriers
  • Landscaping and Irrigation contractors
  • Cable Company Contractors
  • Bulk and Route Delivery
  • Fuel / Oil Haulers
  • Hazmat and / or Chemical Haulers
  • Produce / Perishable Delivery
  • Utility companies
  • City, county and state motor pool fleets

What is it?

GPS tracking systems consist of a device installed in the vehicle, a central server and software for the owner to access the information.

All GPS tracking devices use data from the US Government’s constellation of Global Positioning System satellites to determine a vehicle’s location, speed and direction of travel.

The tracking device transmits data from GPS satellites overhead to a central computer server via either communications satellite or, more often, via the local cellular phone network. The vehicle data is updated every 2 – 15 minutes, depending upon the owner’s preferences and manufacturer’s settings.

The central server makes the tracking data available to the system owner through the Internet. The owner logs onto the tracking company’s secure web server and sees their vehicle data on a map and in text form. Some tracking companies make the data available for download, so the owner could archive it on their own computer.

Why do they use it?

Users of GPS tracking systems have many reasons why they’ve installed them:

  1. Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by targeting speeding employees, who waste fuel, cause excess engine wear and extremely, drive up insurance rates.
  2. Using the system’s automatic mileage reminder reduces downtime and enhancements vehicle resale values ​​by encouraging scheduled, preventive maintenance. Your tracking system will remind you when it’s time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled maintenance.
  3. Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles protected with tracking systems.
  4. Productivity is improved by: a. documenting long lunch hours, b. exposing unauthorized breaks, c. comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver activity, d. logging personal vehicle use after hours or on weekends.
  5. GPS tracking systems improve customer service by showing you which employee is closest to the client who just called. WOW your customers – give them precise arrival or delivery estimates, based upon the actual location of your vehicles at the moment they call.
  6. Your system can tell you the exact time and date each employee reached each customer. If a customer questions when your employee arrived or left –prove it to them.
  7. Is one employee more productive than another? –Check the data. Is it time to add a vehicle? –Use your system and there’s no more guessing.
  8. Use your system to correlate overtime performed with your employees’ overtime requests. See who is putting in extra time.
  9. Never make another phone call to find out where your employees say they are.
  10. Simplify asset management by displaying everything on one computer screen. Make work easier for your dispatcher.
  11. Tracking systems work without any input from the driver. No driver logs needed.

Buyers of GPS vehicle tracking systems say they recover their investment in an average of six – 12 months, by both reducing expenses and improving productivity. While some users recoup their own investment at one time by recovering a stolen vehicle, most users are repaid more gradually.

Source by Ken Sink

Cell Phone GPS Tracking – Privacy Issues

Although there are many advantages to cell phone GPS tracking, there are also privacy concerns. As most people carry their mobile phone with them at all times, the ability is in place to track the exact movements of all individuals. Is this a case of Big Brother, and who can access this information?

Cell Phone GPS tracking can prove useful in many walks of life and especially when an emergency arises. Picture the scene of a road accident where injuries have occurred. A 911 call made from a GPS mobile phone would significantly speed up the arrival of the emergency services if the GPS signal from the phone can be pin-pointed to an exact location. This feature alone could save many lives.

For these reasons the FCC has instructed that wireless network providers provide the cell phone GPS tracking location for 911 calls which have been made by callers. This is known as E911. In essence this is no different than a 911 call made from a land line, as the land line is registered to an address and the relevant emergency services can be quickly dispatched to that address.

However, where the difference occurs is that a property does not move but the tracking of a GPS phone is registering the day to day movements of an individual, and that has given rise to the privacy concerns of who can access such private information.

However, the relevant law relating to E911 is fairly explicit. It allows carriers to provide tracking location information to third parties for e911 emergency calls only, however not under any other circumstances whatever without the consent of the mobile phone owner.

The privacy of phone GPS tracking has also been backed up by a number of recent court hearings. Recent court hearings have disallowed the requests of law enforcement agencies to obtain cell phone GPS tracking information from the phone companies for suspects. The courts have ruled that Congress has not authorized location tracking without actual evidence of wrongdoing and that probable cause is not sufficient reason for the release of records.

These events will ensure that the advantages of cell phone GPS tracking will not be compromised by privacy issues and that its long term future and usefulness is secured.

Source by Alan Chestnutt

Where Are Your Kids – Children GPS Tracking

Those of you with kids know that keeping track of where they are can be a huge job, especially as they get older. If you want to lessen the stress and make your life more peaceful why not consider using GPS tracking of your children.

GPS is Global Positioning Systems and it is one of the greatest technological advances for keeping children safe. In this day and age a GPS tracking system for your kids can mean the difference between stress and peace in your life.

GPS these days is extremely reliable and accurate. And it is so small that it can be placed in so many different objects ranging from watches to backpacks. This gives you the ability to know where your children are at all times of the day (and night if necessary).

Because the GPS tracking devices can be placed in such objects as watches and cell phones it’s typically not hard to get younger children to wear them because they think these things are cool and it makes them feel older. Actually you would not even need to let your kids know the GPS device is in their new gadget if you do not want to.

Older children are of course a bit more challenging since they have value their privacy and do not want you ‘tracking’ their movements. Of course these teens are the ones that require tracking the most since they are able to range so far away from home. Teens definitely will not appreciate your tracking their movements, but there is a possible compromise you can work out with them.

The compromise is to buy them a car with the understanding that you will be installing a GPS system in the car. That way you can have the peace of mind knowing where they are and how to get in touch with them and they will get the increased independence and freedom that comes with having a car. For sure they may still not like it, but I’ll bet they take you up on it since having a car is such a huge step towards independence for most teens.

The ability to keep your kids safe is the number one priority for most parents and when we fail here it can lead to many unwanted consequences. With the affordability and ease of use of GPS tracking for kids there’s no reason not to know where your kids are at all times. GPS tracking gives you the wherewithal to keep track of and protect your most valuable possession. Just think of the peace of mind you’ll have know where your kids are and knowing that if they have an emergency you can get help to them so quickly.

Source by Steven Walters

The Purpose of GPS Tracking Devices

A GPS tracking device is not the same as a car GPS. Both GPS devices work by utilizing information via satellite coordinates. The basic purpose of a GPS tracker is to track a specific target vehicle or vehicles. The tracking device is able to relay information concerning where the vehicle has traveled, how long the vehicle stopped, etc. GPS tracking devices are usually installed in vehicles. However, GPS tracking devices can also be used for motor cycles, scooters and bicycles. Some GPS trackers are designed to monitor and track movements of laptop computers if computer is lost or stolen.

All GPS trackers use global positioning satellites which can determine accurately a vehicle’s location and speed. The GPS tracking system sends information to orbiting GPS satellites which route the data through a cellular or phone network back to an associated receiving device. GPS trackers can also send information via the internet and alert the recipient via SMS text messaging.

Like a common car GPS system, GPS trackers can also provide detailed mapping information showing where a target vehicle has traveled. The mapping details acquired can be archived for later reference.

GPS trackers are used by law enforcement, private investigators, fraud or insurance investigators, corporate and private individuals to secure information necessary for investigative purposes. Some companies, like limousine companies, cab companies and delivery companies, use GPS trackers monitor and keep accurate data records on how corporate vehicle fleets or properties are being utilized. In addition, GPS tracking devices can be used to track company vehicles if stolen.

Some companies used GPS tracking systems to improve productivity by monitoring mileage and speed of company vehicles to control fuel usage, thereby saving fuel cost. GPS tracking systems can also be used to log how employees use company vehicles for customer related delivery of products by detailing exactly when a product was delivered and received.

In addition, GPS tracking devices can be used legally to monitor family activities, i.e. children or spouses. However, the use of GPS trackers is controversial in these areas. Though GPS tracking devices can be used in most States, legally without a special permit or license, one should check applicable State or Federal regulations concerning the use of GPS tracking devices.

There are also functional differences between a GPS tracker and a GPS system. A GPS tracker is a device used to collect data by monitoring a target vehicle’s movements. This by default means the occupant or occupants inside the vehicle are tracked. A detailed map of the vehicles location can be sent a cell phone or computer system. The data received is not only recorded, but stored. GPS trackers are sometimes used by law enforcement officials to covertly track and monitor potential suspects being investigated.

GPS systems require installation of mapping software which allows devices to provide directional information for various locations. GPS trackers do not require mapping software to be installed in order to operate.

A GPS system is technically not designed to track a vehicle, but rather actively provide information to enable the driver to navigate successfully from one specific location to another preprogrammed destination.

All GPS systems use overhead satellites to acquire and relay latitude and longitude information which can pinpoint exact locations traveled. A GPS systems purpose is to provide directional information, while a GPS tracker purpose is to provide tracking information which can be used for investigative, corporate or private purposes.

Source by Carl B Jones II

How To Detect GPS Tracking Units

The new GPS auto tracker technology allows just about anyone to track anyone else. In addition almost all new cell phones have GPS tracking capabilities built in to them. Some even have the ability to transmit location information even with the battery removed. All of which make you wonder what happened to personal privacy. The answer is that there really is no privacy. Granted there are legal restrictions as to how and when you can use the new tracking technology however detecting GPS tracking units can sometimes be difficult.

There are basically two types of GPS tracking device technology available to the public. The simplest is called a passive or logger tracking device. This device is also the most difficult to detect and defend against. These devices can be as small as a matchbook and can be hidden just about anywhere. They are attached to a vehicle or individual and after a specific amount of time they must be retrieved. After retrieval the device is usually attached to a personal computer and the information is downloaded into a data base that is provided by the device manufacture.

Probably the best defense against passive / logger tracking devices comes in the form of a GPS blocker. These small units typically plug into your automobiles cigarette lighter port and provide protection for about 30 feet in any direction. Small handheld units are also available that run on batteries that also provide short range blocking. These units can range in price from $ 200 to $ 850.

The second type of GPS auto tracker or personal GPS tracking units are called real time tracking devices. These units do just as the name impressions, provide current real time location information on the individual or vehicle that is being tracked. This is accomplished through the use of cell phone technology. Recent technology improvements have greatly reduced the size and reliability of these tracking devices. You can purchase a battery operated unit the size of a small cell phone that will provide tracking information for up to a week before the battery requires charging. More commonly these units are attached to a vehicle and use the vehicles power supply to provide power to the tracking unit.

Real time tracking devices generally require the user to contract with a GPS tracking service company. These companies frequently provide the tracking devices and the software necessary to track the device on your personal computer. Depending on the contract the information is uploaded to you at time specific intervals. The most common information uploads range from 5 to 10 minutes.

Defending against this type of tracking device is reliably easy with a combination cell phone / GPS blocking device. These units range in cost from $ 300 to more than $ 1000. Of course either a cell phone or a GPS blocking device may accomplish the same affect. In addition if you feel that you are being tracked illegally you can contact your local law enforcement agency and let them do a scan of the vehicle or personal effects in question. Many small law enforcement agencies do not have this capability and in that case you have the option to purchase a scanning unit and do the scan yourself.

A word to the wise if you are involved in a criminal enterprise. Much of what we have outlined here will not prevent US government agencies from tracking you and your vehicles.

In most cases it is illegal to track just about anyone without their permission. However given the fact that is so hard to detect many tracking devices it is likely that illegal GPS auto tracker and personal tracking device technology will continue to be used.

Source by Jim Kesel

How to Detect If Someone Put a GPS Tracking Device on My Car?

If you’re like many people, you may be wondering how to detect if someone has placed a GPS tracking device on your vehicle. GPS Tracking devices have gotten so small, they are commonly the size of a pack of cigarettes, and some are even as small as a quarter! With devices that small, they can be hard to detect, especially if you’ve got a large vehicle.

The first thing you need to know is that there are two different types GPS tracking devices:

GPS “Loggers”

A GPS Logger is a passive device, meaning that it doesn’t actively transmit your GPS location. This means whoever put a GPS logger on your car will have to place it on your car, and then retrieve it later in order to view the driving data, which is stored on the device. A popular example of this is the Sleuthgear iTrail GPS Logger, which is only 1.5″X1.5″ big.

GPS “Trackers”

A GPS Tracker is an active device, meaning that it actively transmits your location “live”, usually to a secure website, where the person who placed it there can view your location and driving information via a web browser or special program. Once they put it on there, they do not have to retrieve it, they can just view the information online. They will likely come back later though, because the battery life on active tracker is usually less than 30 days.

Here’s where knowing the difference between the two types of tracking devices is important. A GPS Logger (like the iTrail GPS) can only be detected manually – meaning you’ll have to physically search for it. The reason for this is because since they don’t actively transmit a signal (they just store data to the device), then a bug detector or bug sweeper won’t be able to pick up any kind of transmission or signal. If you suspect that you might have a GPS logger on your vehicle, the first place to look for it is UNDER THE VEHICLE. This is the most popular place to hide a GPS tracking device, and is accomplished by placing the device inside a magnetic case, which securely attaches to the metal on the underside of your vehicle. Other places to look are in the glove box, center console, and the truck (including under the spare tire).

If you suspect that you might have an active GPS Tracker on your car, a manual search is always the first step. Look under the vehicle, in the glove box, and in the trunk. These type of units are usually bigger than GPS Loggers because they need a bigger battery in order to actively transmit a signal. If you don’t have time to do a manual search, you’re in luck, because active GPS Trackers can be easily detected by a GPS Detector.

A GPS Detector is a handheld device that is usually battery powered that allows you to “sweep” your vehicle (or wherever else you want to locate a GPS Tracker) and will alert you when it detects a transmitting GPS signal that is sending out your location. There is an adjustable sensitivity knob that allows you to hone in on the exact location of the tracker, so you can remove it from your vehicle.

A GPS detection device will also detect cell phone signals, because cell phones are commonly used as makeshift GPS tracking devices, since owners of cell phones can often use a “locate” feature of their phone to find out where it is at.

So if you want to find out if someone has placed a GPS tracking device on your car, first conduct a manual search, and for a quicker and easier search, use a GPS Detector.

Source by Jason Levine