How GPS Benefits Your Fleet

Many fleets are now beginning to use GPS to track their trucks. These devices are also called electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) and track a vehicle in real-time via GPS. Not only are fleet managers able to see where their trucks are at any given time, they also provide managers with a plethora of benefits for record keeping and more.

There are some major advantages to using GPS devices to track your fleet. Here are a few of the reasons why you should consider this time- and energy-saving technology.

Eliminates the need for drivers’ logs - Hours of Service regulations limit the amount of time your drivers can spend driving in a 14-hour period. In order to verify a company’s compliance, the government requires drivers to keep a detailed log of time they spend driving, on-duty time spent doing other things, and off-duty time. GPS recorders eliminate the need for these logs, as they monitor when the truck is moving and when it is parked.
Reduces Hours of Service violations - Despite the Hours of Service regulations, drivers who are paid by the mile are often tempted to falsify their logs in order to maximize their earnings. GPS recorders replace the need for a log and are impossible to falsify, reducing or even eliminating violations within your fleet.
Plan or change routes quickly and economically - With GPS tracking devices, you can be sure your drivers are following the most efficient routes for better time and fuel economy. In addition, if you need to get a truck to a client site quickly, you can easily check and see where the closest one is, and direct that driver to the client’s location.
Improve fuel economy - With the use of GPS recorders, you can easily identify problems that are wasting fuel, and take corrective action. For instance, the EOBR can be set up to alert you when a driver idles their truck for more than five minutes, which not only wastes fuel, but is also against the law. You will also be able to identify when drivers are speeding, which results in poorer fuel economy. GPS devices therefore work in tandem with your fleet cards to help you ensure you are not wasting fuel.
Help lost drivers or locate businesses - If your driver gets lost, you can easily help them get back on track with a GPS recorder, which tells you exactly where the truck is located. In addition, if you want to help your driver find a business or the closest gas station that accepts your fleet gas card, you can do that with the GPS tracker.

As you can see, there are many advantages to installing GPS devices on your fleet vehicles. From improving fuel economy and customer service to better adherence to Hours of Service regulations, the benefits to having EOBR installed make the devices well worth the cost.

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