Fleet operations have become more involved and complex in many industries. GPS tracking is no longer used just for monitoring the location of fleet vehicles. It has evolved into a systematic and advanced method of tracking the operational conditions of each tagged fleet vehicle and its assets. GPS fleet management solutions provide fleet managers a way to remotely monitor their fleets in real time to help optimize risks and costs for improved fleet operations and efficiency.
Fleet management software gives fleet managers the ability to remotely manage fleets and track the actions of employees in the field. Fleet managers want to verify that workers remain on-task and aren’t misusing company fleet vehicles and resources. For example, lawn care services need to know all equipment is being returned to its proper place and that work crews are working in their designated areas for the expected amount of time.
With GPS tracking, fleet managers can receive detailed reports that monitor the activities of their employees in the field, including their locations and driving habits.
These tracking reports can provide insight into employees driving behavior in regards to:
This data can be used to manage cost savings and fuel usage and serves as a tool for improving and grading driver performance.
Breakdowns and equipment failures that require unscheduled maintenance servicing can throw a wrench into a fleet’s budget and daily operations. The cost to replace broken or rundown vehicles and equipment can negatively impact a business’s efficiency levels and productivity.
Preventative maintenance helps businesses spot irregularities and performance issues with their fleet vehicles and assets before they become a serious problem. Such practices are beneficial to any type of industry. For instance:

Executive fleets using high-end, luxury cars can have expensive maintenance and repair costs due to the quality of the parts that may need to be ordered.

RV rental companies care for several different models and styles of RVs that all require their own individual maintenance

Lawn care equipment, too, is complex and operates using a large amount of moving parts and mowing blades that must be replaced regularly
By integrating a GPS tracking device with a vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system, fleet managers can track when maintenance services are needed and monitor engine performance.
With a fleet management solution, you can keep track of which vehicles and equipment have been serviced for improved maintenance scheduling and effective cost management. Fleet managers can also set custom alerts to be notified when fleet vehicles need:
Many businesses have expensive, valuable assets that are vital to their fleet operations — which makes them valuable to thieves as well. RV rental companies, for example, are responsible for monitoring multiple RVs and trailers traveling on and offsite with new renters, and executive fleets are mostly composed of vehicles from luxury car brands. Landscaping equipment is another popular target since many of these machines cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Rastrac’s fleet management software offers a geofencing tool that allows fleet managers to define and modify outlined areas and routes where fleet vehicles are allowed to be. Custom alerts can be set to alert managers via text or email when any tagged fleet asset enters or leaves one of the specified map areas, including:
Signals when a vehicle leaves or enters a geofenced area.
Live map tracking monitors when a driver activates a panic button on certain GPS devices.
Fleet managers are notified when a vehicle's ignition is turned on or off.
Notifies when a fleet vehicle deviates a certain number of miles from its geofenced route.
With geofencing and a remote starter disable feature that lets fleet managers remotely turn a fleet vehicle’s ignition on or off, the safety of a business’s valuable assets is increased. Plus, if a crime is committed, fleet managers can provide law enforcement with updated tracking reports so they can easily track down stolen assets.
Having access to the vast amount of fleet data provided from GPS tracking can help businesses in any industry monitor the efficiency of their fleet. A fleet management solution helps increase fleet productivity for better customer service and reduced costs from proper preventative maintenance strategies.
Want more information about how a GPS tracking solution can help with your business? Check out our resources page for industry-specific guides and feature sheets outlining how GPS tracking can improve each industry’s operations. Or, speak with a Rastrac representative to schedule a demo of Rastrac’s fleet management software!
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