At its core, GPS fleet tracking refers to systems designed to monitor the whereabouts of vehicle fleets and associated assets. Yet, modern solutions go beyond mere location tracking, encompassing a range of metrics like fuel consumption and vehicle condition.
Furthermore, advancements in technology have unlocked unprecedented visibility into fleet operations, comprising features such as driver activity monitoring alongside proactive vehicle maintenance scheduling. When integrated into business and company ecosystems, GPS fleet tracking can transform data into actionable insights, thereby leading to improvements in overall organisational efficiency.
But, in order to get the most out of GPS technology for your fleet, it helps to inform yourself on the numerous details and features that make it up. For this reason, we’ve put together this guide to answer ‘what is GPS and how does it work?’ in the context of fleet management, while also covering the pros and cons.
The Global Positioning System, most commonly referred to as GPS, is a satellite-based navigation system that provides users with the ability to determine location and track movement anywhere in the world.
GPS consists of three segments that interface with one another to produce information. These refer firstly to a constellation of 24 or more satellites that orbit the Earth and transmit signals containing geographical position and time of day data. Secondly, to a control segment consisting of monitoring stations, a master control station, as well as ground antennas distributed across our continents. And lastly, to user equipment that includes receivers which capture satellite signals and thereby enable devices such as smartphones to calculate accurate positions.
GPS works by using a technique called trilateration. Trilateration is where a GPS receiver calculates its position by measuring the time it takes for signals to travel from multiple satellites orbiting the Earth. These satellites send signals which are then received and interpreted by a GPS device at a receiver's location.
Trilateration involves comparing the time differences between signals received from various satellites. This comparison allows the receiver to gauge the distance between itself and each individual satellite. To achieve accurate positioning, the receiver needs information on distance from at least four satellites, given that a single satellite can only provide the receiver with its distance relative to that particular one.
Therefore, by combining the distance data from multiple satellites, a receiver is capable of precisely calculating its three-dimensional position - i.e., with reference to latitude, longitude, and altitude - alongside determining the exact time.
Finally, it should be noted that as a GPS device moves, the distance to the satellites changes. With these changing distances, new spheres of potential locations are generated. By analysing these spheres and considering the time data received from the satellites, it’s not only possible to determine the device's position but also calculate its velocity. Consequently, from here, estimated times of arrival (ETA) for destinations can be predicted, an important factor in fleet management.
The idea of using satellites for navigation first arose in The Soviet Union. Thereafter, the U.S Department of Defense began development of GPS for military purposes.
Despite its space-age and military history, GPS was quickly recognised for its potential in regard to civilian application, and so it was eventually made publicly available in 1983. In the 21st century, advancements in technology gave rise to generally better receivers, ultimately making GPS more usable within consumer devices and whole branches of industry such as fleet management.
Currently, it’s easy to see that GPS is now a part of our daily lives. Yet, while this timeline is certainly helpful, it should be mentioned that other countries have also created their own satellite navigation systems, those which make up the GNSS network.
GPS use cases fall into five main categories. Namely, to determine the geographical coordinates of a certain position (location), to aid in getting from one place to another via directions and routes (navigation), to monitor the movement of objects, vehicles, or people in real-time (tracking), to create detailed geographical representations of areas (mapping), and to take accurate time measurements (timing).
More specifically, GPS usage is often found in emergency response teams during rescue operations, weather applications for location-specific forecasting, health and fitness applications to track outdoor activities, and of course, the logistics departments of transportation companies who manage vehicle fleets.
Fleet GPS tracking works through a combination of vehicle tracking software and hardware. Specifically, tracking devices attached to vehicles' OBD ports or CAN-bus systems leverage global positioning systems to continuously gather information on the current status of all fleet vehicles and personnel.
The collected data on location, speed, and other parameters is then transmitted to a cloud-based database before being presented on a centralised management dashboard in real-time for analysis.
This user-friendly interface provides fleet managers with immediate access to data visualisation tools, enabling them to generate reports, identify areas for improvement, and consequently make more informed decisions.
GPS fleet tracking systems find usage across diverse industries, catering to the needs of organisations ranging from small enterprises to large-scale corporations. Irrespective of industry nuances, these solutions offer scalable and customisable features.
Namely, this versatile technology can be tailored to suit the unique requirements of any given organisation, spanning sectors such as transportation and logistics, waste and recycling, and bus services, among others.
The foremost benefit of GPS vehicle tracking is the level of visibility it affords. GPS provides accurate and accessible worldwide coverage, and this equates to instantaneous, real-time location transmission. If it were not for GPS, then fleet managers would have to depend on unreliable and inefficient manual updates from drivers.
GPS fleet tracking systems increase operational efficiency and lead to significant fuel savings by providing detailed insights into driving habits. With precise data on vehicle routes, speed, and idling time, companies can pinpoint inefficiencies and implement strategies to decrease fuel consumption, ultimately resulting in substantial fleet cost savings as well as reduced carbon emissions.
By monitoring driver behaviour and providing real-time feedback on risky driving practices like speeding and harsh braking, fleet managers can proactively address safety concerns, improve driver performance, and reduce the likelihood of incidents. And, if a breakdown or collision does occur, GPS means that fleet managers can quickly respond.
Vehicle theft happens more often than you’d think and, prior to GPS vehicle tracking, it would leave fleet managers in a helpless position. Having a sustained watch on a fleet’s vehicles singularly mitigates these circumstances and permits expeditious recovery. Considering that GPS is rather cost-effective, any monetary resources used to attain the technology are wholly justified by this aspect.
In the age of online shopping, virtually everyone appreciates knowing accurate ETAs for their deliveries. GPS vehicle tracking makes it easy for fleet managers to offer this information to a business’s clients and customers, and this quality of service will work to strengthen your working relationship with them.
GPS fleet tracking streamlines compliance with safety regulations by facilitating accurate recording of driver hours of service and vehicle maintenance schedules. In turn, organisations can avoid costly fines and penalties. Additionally, by consistently promoting a commitment to risk management, companies may qualify for decreased insurance premiums.
From a certain perspective, continuous GPS vehicle tracking is viewed as quite contentious. Reason being, that ceaselessly monitoring drivers somewhat strips them of any privacy that they may be accustomed to, as if they were under surveillance for misbehaviour. As such, data transparency, law compliance, and consent is key here.
Although the range of GPS vehicle tracking is expansive, satellite signals aren’t faultless. Receivers can only take on a GPS signal if there are no obstructions. For example, if a driver’s route took them into an underground tunnel then this would disturb the quality of the signal and cause it to drop, albeit, temporarily.
As is the case with anything that promotes convenience, it can be a pitfall to depend on it too heavily. Reliance on technology becomes a problem when the technology fails because it can reveal a rift in skill. If a driver is not used to employing a standard map, or has not assimilated the journey themselves, then inefficient detouring can be the result.
If you want to get the most out of GPS vehicle tracking, then it’s necessary to have a solid solution in place that strives to nullify the potential cons, all while guaranteeing your business the pros. MICHELIN Connected Fleet consists only of experts in the field who are equipped to provide you with both the technology, as well as the personal support and data insights that are needed.
Our fleet management solutions simplify GPS vehicle tracking so that its capacity can extend further than the basics. Rather than just showing you the location of your drivers, our solutions enable you to plan optimised routes, set up geofenced zones, monitor the fuel of each fleet vehicle, and view up to 10,000 vehicles simultaneously with active alert functionality and historical visibility.
We are dedicated to increasing the overall productivity, sustainability, and safety of vehicle fleets while reducing the involved operational costs. If you’re interested in such a GPS vehicle tracking solution paired with a leading consultative service, then be sure to make an enquiry into how we can help improve your fleet today.