Some of the biggest users of vehicle tracking systems today are urban organizations which have an urgent need to know where their vehicles are, or where other of their transport modes are currently located. Trucking firms also make extensive use of vehicle tracking systems, because it is essential for good customer service to know where trucks and their loads are at any point in time. In today’s world, vehicle tracking systems have become a very necessary part of the overall transportation business, and the information provided by these systems is used in a variety of critical ways.
What is a Vehicle Tracking System & How Does it Work?
Most vehicle tracking systems today operate by using the global positioning system (GPS), which is a global radio navigation system of 24 satellites working in tandem with stations on the ground. The GPS tracking method is one way of figuring out exactly where some object currently is, and that could be a person, a cell phone, a vehicle, or any other type of fixed or portable unit.
Any GPS system will operate by using a fundamental mathematical principle which is known as trilateration. In order for this to work, there must be at least three satellites within view of any object equipped with a GPS device. Then it is necessary to know the distance between that GPS device and each one of the three satellites. Because this information can be coordinated between these three satellites, it is possible to pinpoint the location of the object carrying the GPS device to within a very high degree of accuracy.
A system like this is capable of recording additional information besides the location of an object, for instance the speed at which it’s traveling. There are two primary types of vehicle tracking systems, those being passive and active systems. A passive GPS tracking system is capable of monitoring location, and can record wherever the GPS device has been for the past 12 hours or so.
An active GPS tracking system is considered to be a real-time operation, because it forwards all information to a central tracking system just as events occur. This type of system is probably more suited to fleet tracking, because it provides up-to-the-minute information which is critical for that kind of function.
What are Vehicle Tracking Systems?
A vehicle tracking system is a special operation which uses several technologies in order to determine the history of where a vehicle or other object has been for some period of time. Other types of vehicle tracking systems can provide real-time information, such as the precise location of a vehicle at any point in time, as well as the speed at which it’s traveling. The majority of vehicle tracking systems nowadays use GPS technology, although other technologies can be used for tracking.
Why is There a Need to Track Vehicles?
There are several reasons why vehicle tracking systems have become so popular around the globe, beginning with the fact that they are extremely efficient at monitoring a company’s vehicles and/or employees. These can be important things to know, so that you can ensure that vehicles and employees don’t go to unauthorized locations, and that time is not being wasted at other locations.
If a vehicle should ever be stolen, it will be possible to track it by using a vehicle tracking system, and this could be very important for your business, because you will not only have lost the vehicle but whatever load it was carrying as well. Tracking inventory is always important for a business, and when some part of your inventory is in transit to another location, it’s important that you know exactly where those goods are, and how long it will take before they arrive at their destination.
This will allow you to keep customers informed about the progress of the load, and will help to build your credibility as a shipper. Another big advantage of using a vehicle tracking system is that it will allow you to pay smaller insurance premiums, since many insurance carriers offer discounts to vehicle owners who have tracking systems installed. In many cases, the amount of the discount offsets the cost of the system itself, so it’s a very worthwhile deal.
It’s also true that having a vehicle tracking system installed can help to improve employee safety. If one of your drivers should ever become stranded with a disabled vehicle, you will quickly be able to respond and get help to them promptly. One more way that a vehicle tracking system can be extremely beneficial is by saving on fuel consumption. When you have a system like this installed, drivers are forced to operate their vehicles more responsibly, by not speeding and not using jackrabbit starts which consume fuel at a higher rate.
What Technology is Used to Track Vehicles?
Typically vehicle tracking systems of today will use the global positioning system (GPS) to locate fleet vehicles or other GPS devices. It’s also possible to use the GLONASS technology, although this does not enjoy the widespread popularity that GPS systems do. Information provided by one of these systems can be displayed on an electronic map, so that it is possible to pinpoint the precise location of any vehicle or other object carrying a GPS device.
What are the Best Devices for Fleet & Driver Tracking?
In the modern business world, it has become critical to know the exact status, speed, and location of all vehicles or other assets that a company may own. There is no better way to accomplish this than by using a vehicle tracking system which operates by using the global positioning system. When you’re looking for vehicle tracking solutions for your company, look no further than GPS Technologies to find everything you need. From simple systems up to high-end sophisticated monitoring systems, there is a particular tracking system for literally every company. Contact us today to find out more about our vehicle tracking systems, or to inquire about any of the systems we make available to clients.
