This buyer's guide provides insight into selecting the right GPS fleet tracking solution for businesses, outlining the differences between active and passive tracking, and the various benefits of implementing such systems. It emphasizes the importance of understanding specific business needs and includes a checklist of essential features when evaluating providers. The guide also highlights customer testimonials and offers an introduction to the nextraq fleet tracking platform.

1. Is fleet tracking right
for my business?
G P S F L E E T M A N A G E M E N T B U Y E R ’ S G U I D E

2. TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Why You Should Read This Guide
How GPS Fleet Tracking Works
Features & Benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking
Checklist for GPS Fleet Tracking Providers
The NexTraq™ Fleet Tracking Platform
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3. Selecting the right GPS fleet tracking solution for your business is not an easy
decision or one to take lightly. With an increase in the number of solutions
available in the marketplace, finding your way through the considerable amount
of choices can seem like a daunting challenge. The features and benefits of
each solution can and should differ depending on your company’s needs. A GPS
vehicle tracking solution is not a “one size fits all” solution. The needs of a
small to medium-sized business varies greatly compared to a large enterprise
organization’s needs. Finding the right system for your business requires careful
research of available options and solutions.
T H I S G U I D E I S A G R E AT S TA R T
To start, take a moment and consider your daily operations. Are you a small
HVAC company that makes service calls to residential locations within a small
metro area? Or, are you a national food and beverage distribution company
that needs to track vehicles that could be anywhere nationwide? Choosing the
solution that fits your company’s size will make installing the system easier
and get more of your employees on board.
In an Aberdeen Group benchmark study, 66 percent of respondents said
enhanced productivity and resource utilization was the most important factor
that pushed them towards a GPS vehicle tracking solution. 45 percent of all
respondents said they needed to speed up delivery of their services to
consumers. Consider what you’d like to get out of a fleet tracking solution.
This buyer’s guide will help you navigate the path to purchasing and adopting
a fleet tracking system and find the soution that maximizes your revenue while
reducing operating costs. The solution should not only be easy to use, but
should provide a quick return on investment. When it comes to adopting a
business solution, it always comes down to your bottom line.
In this guide, you’ll see how GPS fleet tracking technology works, what the
technology has to offer businesses and you’ll see how real customers have put
the system to use with great success. Finally, we’ll provide you with a checklist
for what you should look for when purchasing a solution.
Thanks for downloading this guide! Best of luck to you and your business!
W H Y Y O U S H O U L D R E A D T H I S G U I D E
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Adopting a new business solution
can be a daunting process.
Even after you begin to research a
solution, you may start to feel doubt
about whether it’s right for you.
Regardless of what your business
does and how many vehicles you
have – whether it’s 5 or 500 – a
tracking solution can work for you.
Here are just some of the industries
that have found success with GPS
fleet tracking:
HVAC
Construction
Electrical
Plumbing
Waste Management
Cable/Telecom
Food & Beverage Delivery
Landscaping & Tree Service
Pest Control
Paratransit
Security Services
Government
Utilities
Is fleet tracking right
for my business?

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W W
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There are two basic types of GPS tracking: active and passive tracking. These two systems
differ a lot. While they both track vehicles using GPS satellite signals and let you view that
data in a map interface, the big difference is in how the data is delivered to you and the
ability to react in real time.
A C T I V E T R A C K I N G
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The US has approximately 34 GPS satellites
in orbit around Earth. These satellites allow
devices to pinpoint their location.
Installed inside each vehicle is a
device that reads GPS signals
and transfers that data through
cell towers or satellite networks.
Cellular (both CDMA & GPRS)
or satellite networks read and
transmit data in real time.
The solution provider's servers
receive the vehicle data — speed,
location, heading — from the cell
networks and begin to churn
through the information.
The servers are accessible
via the Internet.
Using a customer
portal, users can log in
and receive real-time
updates about where
their vehicles are,
where they're heading
and how long they've
been stopped — among
other things. This is
most often done using
only a web browser.
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P A S S I V E T R A C K I N G
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Passive tracking use the same GPS satellite links as
active tracking solutions. Realistically, we only "see"
about 16 satellites at any point and only 12 are really
needed for an accurate position within 10 meters.
Installed inside each vehicle is a device that reads GPS
signals and stores that data. Devices can be battery-
operated or hardwired into the vehicle. They can also be
installed into the ODM port.
Using either a close-range
wireless connection (WIFI) or
by removing the device and
connecting it to a computer,
users download historical data
from their device. Software
installed on the computer then
plots out the historical data.
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H O W G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G T E C H N O L O G Y W O R K S
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5. While the same basic technology drives both tracking systems, there are some pretty sub-
stantial differences for different end users. For businesses, the difference between active
and passive tracking can be great. Depending on the nature of your business, and your
day-to-day needs, the pros and cons of each can range from dealmakers to deal breakers.
A C T I V E V E R S U S P A S S I V E T R A C K I N G
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A C T I V E T R A C K I N G P A S S I V E T R A C K I N G
PROS
Real-time data
Can reroute vehicles based on business
Can make workday decisions
Can handle issues as they arise
Help vehicles arrive at their destination
React to real-time traffic data
Solutions allow for smart phone access to data
Relatively inexpensive one-time cost
No installation costs
Gives accurate view of routes driven
CONS
Monthly fee
Often requires contract
Requires cell data coverage
Must download data often enough or memory
will overwrite itself
Cannot make decisions on the fly
Cannot communicate with driver through device
Cannot be used to track stolen vehicles
Data cannot easily be accessed on multiple
computers or smart phones
W H AT F L E E T T R A C K I N G C U S T O M E R S S AY:
“We originally had a low cost solution that didn’t provide enough functionality for our company.
Because we lease space for our trucks throughout our market area, it was important to track vehicle
movement at a moment’s notice.”
- Jeff Dumas, Vice President of Acres Group North

6. So now that you know how the technology works, you’re probably wondering how it can
benefit your business. The features of each solution provider do differ, but many offer the
same basic functionality.
F E AT U R E S & B E N E F I T S O F G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G T E C H N O L O G Y
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Mapping
Using the device locations, fleet tracking software will
plot where your vehicles are on a mapping interface.
Depending on the service, map software can be proprietary
– meaning it must be installed on a computer – or web-
based, meaning you can access the map with just your
Internet browser. Some mapping software offers familiar
tools, such as satellite view, zooming and panning and a
street-level snapshot.
Locations & Geofences
Within the mapping interface, you should be able to define
locations as addresses and general areas. Locations can be
job sites, customer businesses or even employees’ homes.
Saved locations allow you to quickly route vehicles and
also receive alerts when vehicles arrive at, or leave an area.
Alerts
With an active tracking solution, real-time information is
available around the clock. But you shouldn’t have to hover
over a computer all day. With alerts, fleet tracking systems
let you know (either by text message or email) when a
driver does something you’ve asked to be alerted about.
Examples include speeding, first movement, excessive
idling and after-hours use.
Reports
Generating reports through a fleet tracking system can
help you see where your operations need improvement and
where they are performing up to par. Many fleet tracking
systems also integrate maintenance scheduling and
reporting into the application. By running this report, you
can see which vehicles need scheduled maintenance.
Reports should be able to be created in multiple formats.
Closest Vehicle
When emergency situations arise, finding the closest
vehicle to a location can make a big difference. With
active tracking solutions, vehicles can be found based
on how close they are to a given location.
Routing
Routing is an important feature of active tracking
solutions. You can create a complete itinerary with
multiple stops and then name and save any number of
customized routes. Systems may also provide an efficient
route tool, which reduces your fuel costs and makes drivers
more productive by giving them the shortest route for their
workday. Routes also help reduce your payroll expenses
by reducing the number of overtime hours paid out to
your employees.

7. F E AT U R E S & B E N E F I T S O F G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G T E C H N O L O G Y
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Dashboard
Dashboard applications allow managers, drivers and
dispatchers to see how their vehicles are performing over
a period of time in an easy-to-understand, visual platform.
The application should let you set benchmarks based on
idle time, miles driven, engine-on hours, stopped time,
moving time and speeding violations. You should also
be able to define what time period and vehicles you
are looking at.
Map Overlay
Solutions with a robust product will often offer web map
services. With web map services, you can overlay your map
data onto the applications. This gives you a view of where
your vehicles are in relation to your points of interest.
This is especially helpful for those who deal with locations
not found on standard maps. Custom integration can also
pull in weather radar, making sure your employees stay
ahead of a storm.
Sensors
Many solutions offer sensors that monitor different aspects
of your vehicles. Other sensors include temperature
sensors (for refrigerated cargo), Power Take Off (PTO)
sensors (for equipment operation) and Pick Up/Drop
Off sensors (for passenger transport). These sensors
can be especially helpful if a claim is ever made against
your business.
W H AT F L E E T T R A C K I N G C U S T O M E R S S AY:
“If there is a customer dispute about the hours our technicians spend at a location, I can pull up the
report and validate time spent on the job. With this data in hand, our billing and customer invoices
are accurate and we aren’t losing service revenue.”
- Louis Turner, Operations Coordinator for Premium Electric
Historical Replay (Breadcrumbs)
A major advantage of both active and passive tracking
systems is their ability to replay a driver’s route. With
passive tracking systems, the data is stored on a device
that then has to be transferred onto a computer – usually
by plugging in the device. An active tracking system
uploads the data to a web server that can be accessed by
any web browser. Historical replay allows you to see if your
drivers are sticking to their approved routes and scheduled
stops. With this functionality, there’s no need to hover
over a computer to watch your drivers’ every move.
Asset Tracking
Some systems will offer to track assets as well as vehicles.
These devices are more rugged for outside mounting and
can be hard-wired into the power supply, fed by battery
power or a combination of the two. Asset trackers generally
only send signals a few times a day, as opposed to
continuous trackers on vehicles. They can run on cellular or
satellite networks, so they can be used to track anything, at
any time, anywhere. They can also report back information
such as engine-on hours or unauthorized movement.
Starter Interrupt
In the event of theft, or unauthorized use, this feature can
remotely deactivate the starter on the vehicle, preventing
the vehicle from being started.

8. F E AT U R E S & B E N E F I T S O F G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G T E C H N O L O G Y
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Dispatching
With active tracking solutions, there is often an added
feature available, which allows businesses to route drivers
on the fly. Dispatching functionality may integrate with
personal navigation devices (PNDs) and can feature job
scheduling. This is especially helpful when responding to
emergency situations where time is critical.
Messaging
Along with routing, dispatch solutions can offer messaging
features that work with the PND or other devices. Common
responses can be stored – called canned messages – to
minimize the time a driver has to spend replying to the
dispatcher. With cell phone based tracking solutions, this
feature is already built in by the nature of the device,
though the carrier may have a per message charge.
Role Hierarchy
Some systems will allow you to organize access to certain
vehicles based on your business. For instance, a division
manager may only see his employees, while a higher-level
manager may see all vehicles. This is especially important
for larger organizations that have numerous divisions.
Driver ID
For businesses that don’t assign drivers a permanent
vehicle, Driver ID allows for a “check out” using a key fob
or other sign-in credential. The system then knows which
driver is using which vehicle.
M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N :
Fleet tracking systems vary greatly and can offer services
other than the ones listed here. For the best insight,
contact a sales representative for a demonstration.
The demo should be free.

9. C H E C K L I S T F O R C H O O S I N G A G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G S O L U T I O N
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For many companies it is easy to
realize the benefit of GPS Fleet
Tracking, but it can be difficult to
choose between the ever-growing
numbers of companies that provide
the service. When considering
providers, it is important to look
at the company. Here is a simple
checklist with the top 10 things
all providers should have.
L O N G E V I T Y
GPS fleet tracking providers come and go. They should
be financially stable and, even though this is a relatively
young industry, they should have a proven track record
of at least 10 years.
V A L U E
Value doesn’t mean the cheapest solution. It means the
total package, including the company, its solutions, the
people and their level of commitment to your success.
R E L I A B I L I T Y
Unexpected outages are not unheard of but should not be
accepted. Companies should have a system uptime in the
99.999% range.
A B E S T- I N - C L A S S I N S TA L L E R N E T W O R K
Companies should use installers that are not only conve-
nient and local to their customers but that are the best at
what they do. All installers should be certified to ensure
a smooth and seamless implementation.
I N N O V AT I O N
A quality provider should have industry-leading technology
with extensive investments in research and development.
They should have a proven record of industry firsts. They
should also have an aggressive software development
roadmap. All upgrades should be automatically applied
and should be provided for free.
T O TA L C O V E R A G E
Not only should the company offer both CDMA and GPRS,
they should offer satellite coverage as well. They should
offer top quality hardware that is diverse enough to track
any type of vehicle or asset.
S T R AT E G I C P A R T N E R S H I P S
The best GPS fleet tracking companies have industry
leading technology and solution partners to provide great
features and value to their customers. These partners
should include mapping partners, network providers, fuel
card companies and other 3rd party vendors that can fully
integrate with their clients’ business applications.
E X T E N S I V E T R A I N I N G
Training should be free, unlimited and ongoing. It should
offer new user orientation and advanced training. The
company should have dedicated training resources to ensure
that customers are getting the most out of the solution.
S U P E R I O R C U S T O M E R S E R V I C E
A company’s customer service associates should be highly
knowledgeable, professional and should respond quickly to
customer requests. Moreover, they should be available nights
and weekends as well as during normal working hours.
S AT I S F I E D C U S T O M E R S
Providers should have customers that realize ROI in as little
as a month and cite up to a 20% decrease in fuel costs and an
increase in driver productivity by 35%. They should have a
customer referral rate around 95%. They should also have case
studies and customer testimonials as proof of their reliability.

10. M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N :
For more on the NexTraq Fleet Tracking platform and its host of applications, please visit nextraq.com or call 800-358-6178.
One of our sales representatives will be happy to provide a free online product demonstration.
Thank you for taking the time to look through this buyer’s guide. We know you’re well on
your way to understanding what features are available for fleet tracking solutions. While
you’re considering new solutions, please consider the NexTraq™ Fleet Tracking platform
and its applications – Fleet Metrics, Fleet Dispatch and Fleet Mobile.
T H E N E X T R A Q ™ G P S F L E E T T R A C K I N G S O L U T I O N
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T H E N E X T R A Q F L E E T T R A C K I N G P L AT F O R M
T H E N E X T R A Q F L E E T M E T R I C S
A P P L I C AT I O N ( A B O V E ) A N D
C L E A R P AT H R O U T I N G ( B E L O W )
QUICK FACTS:
All NexTraq
hardware is
MADE IN
AMERICA
Customers have
seen a return on
their investment
in just 1 month
MONTH
195PERCENT
of customers
would refer
us to another
business