How van trackers and telematics can benefit your fleet

Reducing fuel costs

Almost everything monitored by GPS van tracking systems can work to help reduce fuel costs. Speeding is a major contributor to high fuel consumption. Maintaining proper speeds can significantly reduce the fuel consumption of your vehicles. Many telematics solutions provide speed data and will alert you when a van exceeds a set speed limit.

Excessive idling is another hidden cost for many businesses. When drivers leave the engine running to use the van as a climate control system, it’s essentially burning money. Van tracking systems can help limit idle time by sending alerts when a vehicle idles longer than a set duration, so you can step in and address the issue. Van GPS tracking systems also provide location-based information dispatchers can use to provide proper routing information to technicians and vehicles in the field. In addition, many GPS tracking systems have the ability to locate the closest vehicle to any specific job site. That means you can send the technician who’ll arrive fastest—saving both time and fuel in the process.

Improving driver behaviour

Other major contributors to high fleet costs are unauthorised vehicle usage and improper driver behaviour. Vehicle tracking systems can provide detailed insights into driver behaviour, such as speed, engine start-up and shut-down times, and idling duration, all via a GPS device connected to your business vehicles’ onboard diagnostics (OBD) port.

Fleet managers can use this information to enforce driving policy and curb unwanted behaviours like excessive speeding, harsh braking and extended idling. Studies show that tracking your vans and other vehicles encourages staff to work more effectively and stop utilising company vehicles for personal use.

Quality vehicle tracking solutions can also automate timesheets. You will know exactly when staff start work, how long they take for lunches and breaks, and when they clock off—all without relying on manual timesheet entries. Accurate and verifiable timesheets will streamline payroll processes. This helps you avoid paying excessive overtime due to inaccurate timesheet data.

Increasing safety and security

Although not a security device per se, a GPS tracking solution can play a part in improving the security of your fleet. For example, GPS tracking can provide real-time data to assist in asset recovery if a vehicle is stolen. In addition, some systems offer features that alert owners immediately if a vehicle is operated outside of authorised hours or exits a designated area, thanks to geofencing technology.

Some telematics providers feature alerting functions to let you know when vehicles are due for regular servicing. Staying on top of scheduled maintenance helps ensure your fleet meets safety compliance standards and can save you money by preventing costly repairs down the line.

Better customer service

With proper mapping software, fleet owners and managers know the exact location of every vehicle in their fleet in near real-time. This gives dispatchers the ability to effectively direct drivers to any job site. In addition, you can locate and dispatch the closest vehicle to any job site. Van GPS tracking provides better routing and dispatching which reduces fuel usage and mileage and increases the number of jobs completed in a day.

Fleet management solutions can incorporate a number of features that help improve customer service. More efficient routing means faster response times, and you’ll be able to track exactly when a vehicle arrives at and departs from a job site. This provides accurate, verifiable proof of service that you can confidently share with your customers.

Active vs. passive vehicle and van tracking

Active tracking means that data from the vehicle tracking device is sent to a remote user at regular intervals, giving you near real-time location updates.

For passive tracking, all the GPS data is stored in the vehicle tracker and must be downloaded once all the vehicles return to base. It’s important to be wary of tracking systems that only offer updates every 5, 10, or 15 minutes as this isn’t truly live tracking, and you can often be charged extra if you request additional location pings during these gaps.

Despite its higher cost, near real-time (active) tracking has become the most popular method for tracking vans—thanks to the significant advantages it offers in providing up-to-date vehicle location data for on-demand fleet management decisions.

Web-based vs. client-based van tracking

Many van fleet tracking systems still rely on proprietary software that needs to be installed directly onto your computer. These types of solutions often require regular manual updates and downloads. Another drawback to proprietary software is that the interface can only be used on devices where the software has been properly installed.

GPS fleet tracking solutions can provide information securely over the internet. As long as you know the login and password, you can access your account from any internet-connected computer. This level of flexibility and 24/7 accessibility makes web-based tracking a far superior option when choosing a GPS solution for your fleet.

The importance of mapping

Fleet tracking requires current and clear mapping. Some fleet tracking software providers have partnered with trusted mapping providers to ensure you get the most reliable and current map data available.

The best mapping tools allow you to zoom all the way down to street level and provide street, terrain, satellite and hybrid street/satellite modes. Ideally, your mapping system should also include near real-time traffic information in order to help drivers avoid delays.

Using reports and alerts

GPS tracking solutions—such as the Reveal platform—allow you to automate concise and easy-to-understand reports on a weekly or monthly basis. You can also generate reports on demand. The data can be organised to give you information about daily vehicle or driver activity, speeding incidents, breaches of company driving policy, job logs, excessive idling times, and more.

Van location tracking solutions also offer comprehensive historical reporting features. You can compare the performance between staff, or benchmark an individual’s driving habits against company averages in areas like speeding, idling, kilometres travelled, and engine usage.

Alerting features can easily notify you of unwanted behaviour. Alerts should be flagged in relevant reports and you have the ability to be notified of any alerts via email or smartphone app as soon as a violation occurs. Alerts can also be triggered for excessive speeding and idling, engine start-up or shutdown times, unauthorised vehicle use outside business hours, or when a van enters or exits a designated area.

Explaining van GPS tracking to staff

Once you’ve decided to implement GPS tracking across your fleet, it’s important to get your drivers and staff on board. Tracking is a way to recognise great performance and address behaviours that could be costing the business money.

Let your drivers know that vehicle tracking provides an important safety function for your business and the drivers as well. GPS allows you to keep up with proper maintenance, keeping vehicles safe on the road. It also speeds up asset recovery in the event of theft, helping the business avoid major financial setbacks.

Vehicle tracking is also an essential customer service tool that can lead to happier customers and increased business opportunities. Having a solution in place can also protect drivers against false complaints, such as disputes over charges or claims that services weren’t delivered.

Most importantly, tracking your vehicles provides numerous benefits that help increase revenue. Increased revenue strengthens your company’s financial stability and provides drivers with long-term job security. Many businesses use the increased revenue to reward staff with bonuses—boosting morale and encouraging greater acceptance of the tracking system.

Even if vehicle tracking is new to your business, GPS technology is well established and is quickly becoming the industry standard for businesses with vehicle fleets. Choosing not to track your most valuable assets could leave your business—and your team—vulnerable to unnecessary risks.

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