How to select a tracking system for fleets?

If you have your own fleet of trucks, it must be very important to you to know the location of each vehicle at all times, especially when transporting high-value goods.

That's where global positioning systems, also known as GPS, come in. Keep reading to find out what they are, how they work, and how to choose the one that best suits your needs.

What is a satellite tracking system?

A satellite tracking system, or GPS system, is a method of remote geolocation. A device is installed on the vehicle or tractor-trailer, which connects via satellite to a monitoring platform that can be accessed from anywhere.

This allows you to track the location of your fleet in real time and even automate certain aspects of your operations.

Why It's Important to Have a Satellite Tracking System for Freight Transport

A good satellite tracking system will allow you to view the current status of your fleet. Your monitoring team will be able to immediately detect if a vehicle strays from its authorized route or makes an unauthorized stop.

How to Choose a Satellite Tracking System for Tractor-Trailers?

To choose the GPS system that best suits your operation, we recommend that you consider the following factors:

Real-time report

It is extremely important that your tracking system reports at short intervals, unlike a system that reports periodically. We recommend that reports be generated every minute and at every turn.

SIM card compatibility

Your GPS system should be multi-carrier, meaning it should be compatible with as many mobile carriers as possible—ideally both local and international—to ensure that it always performs at its best.

Service and Maintenance Coverage

In addition to the quality of the equipment and the platform, we recommend that you consider the coverage area of the company providing the service. If you operate nationwide, make sure your provider has a presence in at least the cities where your fleet is most active.

Possibility of automation

Using geolocation, some GPS systems are designed to send alerts or automatically trigger a lockout when certain parameters are detected. For example, an automatic alert can be programmed to trigger when the vehicle enters the customer’s geofence, or an immediate lockout can be triggered if the truck strays from the authorized route.

A GPS system is not a safety system

If you’re transporting high-value cargo, or if you operate in an area with high crime rates, it’s highly likely that a GPS system alone won’t be enough to protect your truck, trailer, cargo, and even the driver.

A tracking system can detect incidents such as deviations from authorized routes or stops at unauthorized locations, but it won't automatically alert you if the vehicle is actually being stolen.

To this end, there are cargo transport security systems designed and developed specifically to prevent highway robberies. Among the most important security solutions are:

These types of security systems can be integrated into the tracking system to provide robust protection against theft during transit.

With our solutions, we can eliminate theft from your cargo trucks in less than 90 days. Learn more by clicking here, or contact one of our advisors for a free initial consultation.

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