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Vehicle tracking system

A vehicle tracking system combines the installation of an electronic device in a vehicle, or fleet of vehicles, with purpose-designed at least at one operational base to enable the owner or a third party to track the vehicle's location, collecting data in the process from the field and deliver it to the base of operation. Modern vehicle tracking systems commonly use GPS or GLONASS technology for locating the vehicle, but other types of automatic vehicle location technology can also be used. Vehicle information can be viewed on electronic maps via the Internet or specialized software. Urban public transit authorities are an increasingly common user of vehicle tracking systems, particularly in large cities.

Stolen vehicle recovery: Both consumer and commercial vehicles can be outfitted with RF or GPS units to allow police to do tracking and recovery. In the case of LoJack, the police can activate the tracking unit in the vehicle directly and follow tracking signals.

Fleet management: When managing a fleet of vehicles, knowing the real-time location of all drivers allows management to meet customer needs more efficiently. Whether it is delivery, service or other multi-vehicle enterprises, drivers now only need a mobile phone with telephony or Internet connection to be inexpensively tracked by and dispatched efficiently.

Asset tracking: Companies needing to track valuable assets for insurance or other monitoring purposes can now plot the real-time asset location on a map and closely monitor movement and operating status.

Field service management: Companies with a field service workforce for services such as repair or maintenance, must be able to plan field workers’ time, schedule subsequent customer visits and be able to operate these departments efficiently. Vehicle tracking allows companies to quickly locate a field engineer and dispatch the closest one to meet a new customer request or provide site arrival information.

Field sales: Mobile sales professionals can access real-time locations. For example, in unfamiliar areas, they can locate themselves as well as customers and prospects, get driving directions and add nearby last-minute appointments to itineraries. Benefits include increased productivity, reduced driving time and increased time spent with customers and prospects.

Trailer tracking: Haulage and Logistics companies often operate lorries with detachable load carrying units. The part of the vehicle that drives the load is known as the cab and the load carrying unit is known as the trailer. There are different types of trailer used for different applications, e.g., flat bed, refrigerated, curtain sider, box container.

Surveillance: A tracker may be placed on a vehicle to follow the vehicle's movements.
Transit tracking: This is the temporary tracking of assets or cargoes from one point to another. Users will ensure that the assets do not stop on route or do a U-Turn in order to ensure the security of the assets.

Fleet management
Fleet management, also known as fleet maintenance, is a standard of procedure, with a goal to keep a company or agency’s multiple vehicles and their operators in top-running condition. One of the highest costs involved in operating a fleet management business is labor, followed closely by its mobile assets, which includes cars, vans, trucks, even boats and airplanes. Fleet management also covers large, moveable equipment related to the operation of the organization.
The primary objective of fleet management is twofold:
Establishing the close monitoring of drivers on the field from home base for the most efficient and effective delivery of goods and services.
Controlling the costs of operating and maintaining vehicles and equipment to retain their values and extend the life of their usefulness.
Fleet management is about establishing the best possible level of control over an inconsistent environment, where factors such as weather, traffic, breakdown, customer demand and availability of manpower and equipment can change from day to day or even hour to hour.

How GPS Tracking Helps Fleet Management?
GPS tracking is the preferred and most up-to-date and efficient method of managing a fleet of vehicles. GPS tracking systems, which use U.S. Department of Defense satellites for location and navigation, are accurate and reliable, and can help greatly reduce the incidents involved with human error.
Through a sophisticated mathematical formula called triangulation, the GPS tracking receiver will find its location, usually within a few feet of accuracy. Incremental position updates are made every few seconds or minutes.
The data collected includes:
Day and time
Directional heading
Latitude and longitude (or street address)
Duration of stops
Speed of the vehicle
Miles logged
With a passive GPS vehicle tracking device, the raw data is recorded inside the unit, which can then be downloaded at a later time. Custom-designed software translates the raw data into detailed travel history reports that are easy to read and analyze.
Real-time vehicle tracking devices collect locating data in the same manner as a passive device, and then transmits the GPS tracking information from the vehicle to a server on the Internet for “live” viewing on a remote computer. Cellular data communications is the most common and cost-effective method of real-time data transmission.
From a computer at home base, a dispatcher or manager can view every unit within a fleet at the same time, or isolate the information on just one single driver. GPS tracking reduces the need to have close verbal contact with the driver by cell phone or by two-way radio.
GPS tracking systems are also quite cost-effective and has the potential to gain a quick return on investment when used for fleet management.

Benefits of Fleet Management
A fleet management program saves companies money by making them work “leaner.” It focuses not only on vehicle operation, but the personnel and equipment that support them.
Fleet tracking can:
Inform management about wasted time, wasted fuel, overlapping routes and unnecessary trips.
Assist payroll, bookkeeping and billing since it gives an accurate accounting of hours logged, addresses of stops and miles driven.
Help in scheduling routine maintenance, control breakdowns and extend the life of the vehicles.
Curb unwanted driver behavior such as personal errands, excessive idling, speeding or other erratic driving.
Increase safety, reduce accidents, and possibly lower vehicle insurance rates.
If using GPS fleet tracking in real-time, companies have the additional advantages of:
Schedule flexibility for the unexpected call, to add or remove a stop from the schedule, navigate around traffic tie-ups and substitute one driver for another.
Security and theft recovery.
Geo-fencing: receive a text message or email alert when a vehicle travels outside a predetermined geographic zone.
More accurate Estimated Time of Arrival for customers.

Who Can Benefit From Fleet Management?
Localized material transport: cartage, catering, messenger service, parts delivery.
“People movers”: bus and taxi services or car rental agencies.
Public service organizations: police, rescue, snow plowing, environmental and forestry services.
Companies that specialize in time and temperature sensitive, classified or hazardous materials.
Long-haul trucking