Real Time Tracking Systems Give A Total Picture Of Vehicle LocationThe internet has made the job of the fleet manager much easier than it was in the past. Managing a large fleet often meant dealing with huge amounts of paperwork and having to do lots of manual entry of data, but with the advent of real time vehicle tracking systems much of that drudge work has gone. As the name implies, a real time tracking system collects vehicle data in real time throughout the day. This data can be viewed over the internet and enables the fleet manager to give excellent customer service by being in total control of each vehicle in the fleet, while also enabling the data to be viewed from different places. This article will look at some of these points and what to consider when choosing a real time vehicle tracking system for you fleet management requirements. The term collecting vehicle tracking data in real time is not exactly true. There is always some lag in the data, though this is so small as to make little practical difference to the fleet manager job. In practice the data is relayed from the vehicle every few minutes or so, the frequency of tracking data updating depending on the type of system being used. However, even with a slight delay in the relay of tracking data, the fleet manager can see more or less exactly where any vehicle is at any time. The way this is done is by the data from the vehicle being relayed from a GPS device fitted into the vehicle to a server run by the vehicle tracking system provider. The fleet manager can then log into his account with the provider and view extremely detailed data about the vehicles in his fleet. This can include not only things such as vehicle location, but also real time driver profiling, showing speed and driving style, and also mechanical data about the vehicle itself, therefore showing potential mechanical problems and a need for maintenance on return to the depot. The advantages of this type of system are obvious, in that true real time vehicle tracking gives total control over the fleet at any time of day or night. This is important for all fleet managers, and can substantially cut down on the chance of theft. But it is extremely important for the company which wants to provide a high level of customer service, such as a freight company which needs to track freight consignments and keep customers informed of the location of their consignment. It can also enable the fleet manager to respond quickly to changes in schedule and to allocate certain vehicles and drivers to new jobs as they come up. For the larger fleet manager, real time fleet tracking over the internet allows for the fleet, or different parts of the fleet, to be managed from various locations. There could be one office and each office could deal with different parts of the fleet management. Real time web-based tracking enables this since the data can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Real time tracking via the web is also important for fleet managers who require US-wide tracking over various US states. Keeping track of vehicles as they cross state lines enables the fleet manager to manage the fleet far more effectively To use a real time tracking system, a fleet manager must sign a contract with a fleet tracking software provider. Since the system is web-based, often no software is needed to be downloaded to the fleet company's computer systems, with the software residing on the fleet tracking provider's servers. The fleet company will usually pay a monthly fee in order to use the software. There are several elements to a real time vehicle tracking system, but the most important is the amount of control and flexibility the system gives to fleet managers who require it. If the fleet management needs real time control, especially if customer service is paramount, then real time tracking could well be the way to go. By bearing in mind the points raised above it should be possible to find a real time tracking software package which helps you track your fleet to a high degree of detail. |