Have you ever wondered how big organizations operating lorries, cars, or delivery vans know where everything is at any given time? Or have you ever noticed that your pizza delivery always knows which house to go to?
The answer is mostly through something called fleet tracking. It’s like having clever tools to keep track of vehicles, whatever they do.
The following article will explain fleet tracking and how it works, showing the incredible technology behind it and why it has become so helpful for businesses. If you are curious about how things work or want to know more about the vehicles you see on the road, this should be interesting.
What is fleet tracking?
Fleet tracking lets a company know where all its vehicles are at all times of the day. A fleet is simply a name for a company with many different cars. So basically, it would be called:
- A fleet of delivery trucks
- Taxis or ride-sharing vehicles
- Service vans that come to one’s rescue and repair thingamajigs at home.
- Even in a company car, which employees use
Fleet tracking employs unique technology that records these vehicles. Every vehicle has GPS installed that tells the company where and what it is doing.
How Fleet Tracking Works
Fleet tracking is already understood; let’s see how it works. When we break it down, it truly is exciting!
1. GPS Technology
GPS, the Global Positioning System, is at the core of fleet tracking.
A small device consisting of a GPS receiver should be installed in each vehicle. The GPS receiver connects to satellites way up in space. It works by analyzing signals from various satellites, giving an exact position on Earth where any vehicle is currently located. It’s the same technology your phone uses when using a mapping app to get around.
2. Data Transmission
Now that the GPS device knows where the vehicle is, it has to let the company know. Here’s how that happens:
- The car contains a cellular radio, much like your cellular phone’s.
- It then uses this radio to send the location information over the internet.
- This happens every couple of seconds or minutes, according to the individual setup of the system.
3. Software and Mapping
All this location data would be useless if it were just a series of numbers. That’s when the special software comes in:
- The company has a computer program that dumps all vehicle data.
- This program can plot the information onto a map so fleet managers know where each vehicle is located.
- It can also perform other excellent functions, such as calculating the speed of a moving car or determining the quickest route.
4. More Sensors
Many fleet tracking systems do not only track location but many other things.
- Fuel levels: Therefore, companies know whenever their vehicles need fuel
- Engine health: To spot problems before they get big
- Door Openings: To find out when deliveries are realized
- Temperatures: The most crucial thing when transporting food or medicine by truck.
These sensors send their information with location details.
Why Do Companies Use Fleet Tracking?
It sounds like spying, but it helps businesses in many ways. Here’s how:
1. Safety
Knowing the location of vehicles guides evidence to keep drivers safe. God forbid, the company knows exactly where to send assistance in case of an accident or if a driver seeks help.
2. Efficiency
Fleet tracking allows firms to plan good routes strategically, thus saving time and gas. It is also equally suitable for the environment.
3. Customer Service
The company knows where its vehicles are located and can tell customers more precisely about their orders, similar to how pizza delivery apps show how close the driver is to your house.
4. Maintenance
By monitoring the use of vehicles, companies will be in a better position to look after them, leading to fewer breakdowns and safer cars on the roads.
5. Saving Money
All these benefits culminate in savings. Less fuel used, fewer accidents, and happier customers make the company spend less and earn more.
Wrapping Up
Fleet tracking involves an interesting combination of several technologies that work together to assist companies in driving better control of their vehicles. From the GPS satellites high above the Earth to the mini sensors in each car, it is one system that works through—keeping things moving on our roads.
As we have demonstrated, fleet tracking does more than indicate a vehicle’s location. It aids in keeping drivers safe and businesses efficient, even helping the environment since less driving is needed. The next time you see a delivery truck or taxi go by, remember that there is some pretty fantastic technology helping it get where it needs to go! Who knows?
You may be working with fleet-tracking technology yourself. Whether you’re driving one of these vehicles, managing a fleet, or dreaming up a new purpose, it pays to know how fleet tracking works in an ever-more-connected world.