Learn how GPS Fleet Tracking can boost your fleet's productivity by:  Monitoring activities like speeding or excessive idling to save fuel and reduce damage done to the engine, brakes and tires.  Reducing Fuel and Maintenance Costs – The average operating cost per vehicle is about $1.50 per mile. A company can reduce at least 25 miles per week for each vehicle with a GPS fleet tracking system.  Increasing Efficiency – On average, each vehicle could complete at least one extra stop, job, or delivery per day by using a web based GPS fleet management system.  Reducing Delays  Reducing Insurance Rates by up to 35% – Many insurance companies offer discounted premiums for vehicles that have real-time GPS systems.

1. 16 WAYS GPS TRACKING CAN SLASH COSTS AND BOOST PRODUCTIVITY FOR BUSINESSES WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES

2. 16 Ways GPS Tracking Can Slash Costs and Boost Productivity for Businesses with Multiple Vehicles
GPS tracking technology is quickly becoming a vital part of operations for any business-large or small- that regularly uses several vehicles, whether to transport people, deliver supplies or provide services. If your company uses multiple vehicles in its daily operations, a GPS tracking system can offer some real advantages.
Fleet tracking uses GPS technology to identify, locate and maintain contact with one or more company vehicles in real time. This guide will provide you with an overview of GPS tracking systems and help you to find the best vendor for your business.
Key Benefits of GPS Tracking Services A study by the Aberdeen Group, Improving Productivity and Profitability through Service Fleet Management focused on ways in which fleet management affects both small and large businesses. The report listed chief reasons participants had chosen to increase efficiency by implementing fleet tracking technology.
Enhancing the customer experience through improved response times was cited as a top priority by 73 percent of the respondents.
Other reasons included:
 Reduce service response times (57 percent)
 Reduce fleet related operating costs (46 percent)
 Increase service related productivity (41percent)
 Extend life of service vehicles (16 percent)
Knowing where your drivers are at all times enables you to meet customer needs more efficiently. Companies that carry out services such as mobile repair or maintenance must be able to plan an effective schedule for their field workers.
GPS fleet tracking enables companies to quickly locate and dispatch the nearest employee to fulfil customer requests for service as quickly as possible.
Instant access to the location history of vehicles can help you to plan routes more economically and make adjustments as needed due to traffic variances, road conditions and other factors.

3. GPS technology allows field sales professionals to pinpoint their destinations in real time. When travelling in unfamiliar areas, sales agents can easily locate their prospects, get directions and schedule last-minute appointments.
A GPS tracking solution can also protect your company against employee fraud in terms of over-reported work hours. One company, after installing a GPS tracking system, discovered that some workers had been regularly claiming 1 to 2 more hours per day than they actually worked. Others habitually neglected to stop at some of the businesses on their route.
Another company discovered more than 120 hours of falsely reported overtime in a single week. Businesses have reported a return on their investment in GPS tracking solutions within as little as two weeks after resolving such discrepancies.
A GPS tracking system can save your company money in several ways:
 Operating Costs – By monitoring activities like speeding or excessive idling you can not only save fuel, but reduce damage done to the engine, brakes and tires. This will also reduce your fleet’s gas emissions, keeping your company green.
 Reducing Fuel and Maintenance Costs – The average operating cost per vehicle is about $1.50 per mile. A company can reduce at least 25 miles per week for each vehicle with a GPS fleet tracking system.
 Increasing Efficiency – On average, each vehicle could complete at least one extra stop, job, or delivery per day by using a web based GPS fleet management system.
 Reducing Delays – and time spent at unauthorized locations. With fleet tracking software you can easily establish a custom notification system for events like a driver going outside of a designated area, speeding or staying idle for too long.
 Reducing Insurance Rates by up to 35% – Many insurance companies offer discounted premiums for vehicles that have real-time GPS systems.
 Risk Avoidance – A GPS tracking system will help eliminate any liability for unauthorized vehicle usage.
Important Features of GPS Tracking Systems GPS technology has the capability to report the current location of your drivers, how many stops they make, their response times, and even how fast they are driving.
 Starts and Stops reports each time engines on your vehicles are turned on or off. This feature is included in most GPS systems.

4.  Integrated Maps within the tracking system enable you to view driver or vehicle locations on a map. Your reports will include a link to the map.
 Daily Usage breaks down the daily travel data of a vehicle, including the starting and ending position for each vehicle.
 Driver Analysis reports on the daily usage of a specific driver. You can see the duration of the trip, maximum speed, vehicle idle time and total distance covered by an individual driver. This feature is very useful for comparing the performance of your drivers.
 Mobile reporting lets you access live reports even when you are away, using an app on your iPhone or Android mobile device.
Drawbacks to Be Aware Of In some countries, you will encounter legal issues regarding the use of tracking technology. In the UK, for example, the law requires companies to inform drivers if they use tracking devices to monitor vehicles for any purpose aside from asset tracking.
Another potential drawback is one you may encounter with a less expensive form of GPS tracking; cell phone tracking. Cell phones can be more easily turned off, disabled, or purposely misplaced by employees who wish to avoid having their movements tracked.
Overdependence on the tracking system can be a disadvantage if the system is ever temporarily out of service and drivers have to perform tasks without the aid of the GPS.
Should You Choose an Active or Passive System? These are the two basic types of GPS tracking systems. Some companies utilize both types of systems; other users have a strong preference for one type or the other. The choice you make depends on your business and its needs. Here is a summary of the pros and cons to help you decide.
An active system collects driver and/or vehicle activity data in real time and sends this information directly to the central network. The vehicle’s current position and other relevant data can be accessed online via the company’s computer system, or remotely using a smart phone.
Advantages of Active Systems
 Real-time data
 Ability to reroute vehicles based on variables

5.  Users can make decisions and adjustments during the workday
 Can handle issues as they arise
 Helps vehicles arrive at destination on time
 Allows drivers to react to real-time traffic data
 Solutions allow for smart phone access to data
Disadvantages of Active Systems
 Requires a monthly fee
 Often requires a contract
 Requires cell data coverage
Passive tracking begins recording data when signalled, usually by the start of the vehicle engine. At the end of the workday or vehicle route, the GPS tracking device is removed from the vehicle and the data is then downloaded to the company’s computer system.
Advantages of Passive Systems
 No installation costs
 Relatively inexpensive one-time cost
 Gives accurate view of routes driven
Disadvantages of Passive Systems
 Memory will overwrite itself if data is not downloaded in time
 Does not enable users to make decisions on the fly
 Does not offer the ability to communicate with driver through device
 Cannot be used to track stolen vehicles
 Data cannot easily be accessed on multiple computers or phones

6. Top Questions to Ask when Comparing Vendors Begin by determining the particular needs of your company by considering questions such as:
 How many and what type of vehicles does your business use regularly?
 Will you be monitoring your vehicles continually or only on specific occasions?
 Do you need your fleet tracking system to be concealed or can it be installed in the open?
You can then compile a list of questions to help you evaluate vendors. Here are some key ones to ask:
 Does the vendor use a subcontractor for installations or does the company do the work? If the company uses a subcontractor, your installation could take longer than if the vendor itself performs the installation.
 Does the system require special software? With some systems, data can be accessed online and no software is required. Other companies offer a cloud-based system with no software to buy or support.
 How much does the system cost? Pricing varies; devices can range from $99 to $700, and monthly fees for active systems will be around $100 or less per month.
 What type of data does the system monitor?
 How long do repairs take?
Qualities to Look for In a Provider
 Excellent reputation—Carefully research each company by conducting thorough reference checks.
 Software—The company should provide a demonstration of their software and system.
 Wireless network—Find out about the wireless network the system utilizes to transmit the data from vehicles.
 Hardware component—Evaluate the hardware component you are purchasing; i.e., does it operate on a digital wireless network?
 Unlimited use for a flat monthly fee—Be sure to check the polling rate and monthly fees if you choose a real-time system.

7. Making Your Final Selection It has been said, “There is a price to purchase, and a cost to own, and if you purchase the wrong product, the cost to own will exceed the purchase price several times over.” At InsideUp, we know how vital it is to make the right purchasing decisions for your business. InsideUp.com can help you choose with confidence by providing free, no obligation competitive price quotes from top GPS fleet tracking vendors who match the needs of your business.
Glossary of Key Terms
A-GPS (Assisted):
Assisted Global Positioning System refers to a GPS tracker using both satellite and cellular technology in operation. Typically, a GPS tracking device will record location data using satellite technology, but then transmit that data using cellular communication technology that allows users to remotely access live data. Active: Also known as real-time GPS tracking, active refers to a GPS device having the ability to transmit data where it can be viewed remotely. This form of vehicle monitoring is popular among businesses seeking to improve fleet management, families interested in monitoring a elderly or teen driver and people looking for a auto-theft prevention tool. Alkaline Battery: A battery that can be purchased at most retail locations, alkaline batteries are widely known for being rated as a quality power source, and having a long shelf-life. Atomic Clock: The most precise method of measuring time through a process of using the movements of atoms, atomic clocks are utilized in both GPS navigation and GPS tracking devices to assist in the calculation of determining GPS location. Business Tracking: Using GPS monitoring devices and other surveillance tools such as keystroke loggers and hidden camera systems to observe employee activity. Business tracking helps reduce fuel consumption, and other social activities that can weaken employee performance while on the clock. CDM: Cellular Data Module, or CDM, is a component used in real-time GPS trackers to transmit location data using cellular networks.

8. Covert Monitoring: The process of secretly observing activity of person, place or object. Covert monitoring often refers to using Spyware to observe activities conducted online, or GPS tracking devices to observe driving activities. Data Plan: A monthly service obligation required due to the cost of transmitting data using telecommunications and cellular networks. All mobile communication devices (cell phones) and real-time GPS trackers require a data plan for the device to be operational. The data plan cost will vary depending on how much information the user transmits. Drivers: An internal computer system component that controls a particular technological device. Driving Activity: The collection of information related to driving that includes how long a motorist stopped at a location, how fast they drove, the total mileage driver for a particular day, the number of locations a driver stopped at per day and more. By observing driving activity, businesses can gauge whether a company employee is working at a satisfactory level while out in the field. Employee Monitoring: Using technological tools such as GPS tracking devices to ensure staff are not misusing resources or company time. Fleet Tracking: Also known as fleet management, fleet tracking refers to the ability businesses have of overseeing and controlling the activity of mobile assets and employees working out in the field. The most common tool used for fleet tracking and management is the GPS tracker, which gives fleet supervisors the tools required to observe an entire fleet of vehicles within seconds through real-time tracking! Geo-Fence: A feature common among real-time tracking devices that allows the user to create essentially a virtual
boundary around a vehicle or location. When the vehicle breaches that pre-determined perimeter, a alert notification is sent to the user by either text message or email.

9. Global Positioning System: The network of satellites that rotate around the Earth, and transmit low-level radio frequencies that help GPS tracking and navigation devices determine locational information. The Global Positioning System was originally developed by the Department of Defense for military applications. Google Earth: Satellite image program that offers 2D & 3D methods of viewing locational information. Google Earth also offers a popular feature known as "Street View" that provides an intimate view of almost any location in the world. Google Earth is the primary satellite imaging program for many GPS trackers. Google Maps: Web-mapping service program that is commonly used on smart phones to retrieve directions to and from a particular location. Many GPS tracking device programs will incorporate Google Maps either as a routing utility feature, or method of showcasing addresses arrived/departed. GPS Tracker Shop Leading provider of real-time GPS trackers, GPS data loggers and personal GPS tracking solutions for families, companies and police agencies! GSM: GSM, or Global System for Mobile Communications, is basically a digital telecommunications device that was created to be an alternative to solution to analog. GSM is the international standard, and only form of telecommunications used in Europe. GSM is also often times referred to as SIM card technology. Hard-Wire Connection: Hard-wire connection refers to the permanent installation of a GPS vehicle tracker to the electrical 12-volt system of an automobile. Hard-wiring a GPS tracking device to a automobile allows the user to never have to worry about battery-life, as the GPS device will pull power directly from the car battery. Internal Antenna: Internal antennas are components used in GPS tracking devices that assist in the unit receiving GPS signals from the Global Positioning System orbiting the Earth. Internal antennas result in a navigation or tracking device that is more compact, keeping the footprint of the device much smaller. When engineered correctly, internal antennas on GPS trackers can actually acquire signal even when the device is placed underneath a target vehicle, as the antenna picks up GPS signals reflected off the ground.

10. Lithium-Ion Battery Pack One of the newest forms of battery system, lithium ion battery packs are commonly used in mobile communication devices and real-time GPS trackers. What makes lithium-ion battery packs advantageous is that they are more leak resistant than alkaline batteries, have a tremendous shelf-life and are ideal for technological and electrical consumer products. Meter: (Metric System) The most common form of measurement, a meter is a measure of distance that is equal to 3.28 feet. Operating System: A form of software that is used for managing various programs of a particular computer device. Passive: Refers to a GPS tracker that does not transmit vehicle location or data. Users of passive tracking equipment must remove GPS device from the target vehicle and download historical driving records. Also known as a GPS data logger. Real-Time GPS Tracker: Also known as a live tracker, real-time GPS tracking systems record a variety of information related to position and travel, transmitting that data using telecommunications technology. This allows users to have remote access to where a vehicle is located, and everywhere that vehicle has traveled. Real-time GPS trackers are often used for auto-theft prevention, law enforcement surveillance and business fleet management. Refresh Rate: Also referred to as a sampling rate, the refresh rate is the frequency of locational positions that are updated and stored by a GPS receiver. Occasionally thought of as "bread crumb trails" or "pings", the refresh rate can vary on the type of GPS tracking device the user is operating. Spot: Manufacturer of personal location devices Spot HUG: Real-time tracking solution that uses 100% satellite technology. Spot HUG GPS was designed specifically to help safeguard boats and other expensive water vessels.

11. Teen Tracking: The process of observing the driving habits of a teenage driver through the use of a GPS monitoring device. By calling upon a GPS vehicle tracker, parents can identify whether a teen is driving aggressively or going to locations that are "off-limits". Telematics: The integration of wireless, computer, and mobile devices for information and other communications. Telematics provide the ability for real-time tracking devices to effectively transmit data, allowing users to obtain remote access of locational data. Tracking System Direct: A global distributor of both real-time tracking devices and GPS data loggers, Tracking System Direct works with both businesses and consumers to deliver quality vehicle surveillance products at wholesale prices. USB Port: Electrical connection point on a personal computer or Mac system that provides interface with various technological gadgets, including, MP3 players, mobile communication devices, iPhones, desktop printers and some GPS trackers such as the GPS Tracking Key (GPS Tracking Key was engineered with a USB drive that allows the user to connect the unit directly to the USB port of a computer for manual download of historical driving activity). Virtual Boundary Alert: Also referred to as a "Geo-fence", virtual boundary alerts are a common feature among real- time GPS monitoring devices that allow the user to set a boundary over a satellite mapping program such as Google Earth. When a driver enters or exits this set virtual boundary, the user is sent a alert via text message and/or email. This tool is helpful for notifying businesses when employees arrive/depart from a particular job site, or parents wanting to know the moment their teenage driver gets home. Waterproof: The ability to keep all water and moisture outside of the internal workings of a device. In order to ensure complete water protection for those intending on using a GPS tracker outside of a vehicle, most GPS tracking companies will recommend consumers invest in a waterproof casing accessory.

12. Water-Resistant: Devices or products that are classified as "water-resistant" often can continue to operate without interruption when faced with a very light splashing or misting of water. Although products such as GPS tracking devices are often described as having water-resistant capabilities, the limited ability to keep moisture out of the device should be something users pay close attention too. That is because using a GPS vehicle tracker outside of a automobile exposes the device to a wide range of elemental conditions, and can cause damage to the product. Most companies do not offer warranty protection to devices that are water damaged.