GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems: A Big ImprovementOne of the major improvements in fleet management that has occurred over the past few years has been the introduction of GPS vehicle tracking systems. Previously even when some form of fleet management software was used to help with the overall vehicle management, it was impossible to get really accurate running data of each individual truck or car and the fleet as a whole. But with the advent of the GPS tracking system this has become the norm. The systems have many benefits in fleet management, though some of the main ones include an increase in fleet productivity, better customer service, much more accurate billing, and a reduction in theft and insurance premiums. This article will look at these points in turn and discuss some of the things that need to be considered when buying a GPS vehicle tracking system. The increase in productivity is one of the really big benefits to the fleet manager of having a GPS system. Without accurate tracking it is impossible to tell where a vehicle is on the route, and so knowing an estimated time of arrival is very difficult. Since GPS tracking gives a highly accurate report of the vehicles location, it is possible for the fleet manager to know when the vehicle will reach its destination and therefore be ready for another job. This increase in vehicle turnaround time can add many dollars to the bottom line. Knowing when the vehicle will arrive, especially if the vehicle is a truck carrying an important and urgent load, has very positive effects on customer service. A customer anxiously waiting for a freight load to arrive will often call the freight company to find out when he can expect the consignment to be delivered. A good GPS tracking system will put that information right at the fleet manager's fingertips, and he can relay this information to the customer immediately. This makes for much higher customer retention. Another thing that gives a great boost to the level of customer service that a fleet can give is being able to give highly accurate bills to its freight customers. GPS tracking will enable the fleet company to present a highly accurate report to the customer at billing time, giving details of distance traveled, fuel spent, time for the job to be completed and much more. This reassures the customer that the freight billing is accurate. One thing that all fleet managers have to worry about is theft, especially if the trucks are known to be carrying high value consignments. With GPS tracking installed on the fleet, the manager can see exactly where the vehicle is and can know whether it has deviated from the route. Any deviation can be checked out to see whether the vehicle has been stolen. This cuts down on the chances of theft by enabling the fleet manager to contact the police as soon as anything goes wrong. Having a GPS system can also cut down on costs by reducing insurance premiums. With all these advantages it is obvious that GPS tracking systems are a great addition to the fleet manager's arsenal. In order to find which is the best package for your needs take a look at some of the many GPS tracking software packages on the market today and do some good research before deciding which is the right one for you. |