How to Track a Vehicle With GPS - How It Works | Track Your Truck (2024)

How to Track a Vehicle With GPS

Track Your Truck vehicle tracking solutions combine sophisticated GPS tracking technology with flexible, advanced mapping and reporting software. A GPS-enabled vehicle tracking device is installed on each vehicle to collect and transmit tracking data via a cellular or satellite network, whichever works best for your operations. But how exactly do you track a vehicle with GPS?

What Is GPS Vehicle Tracking and How Does It Work?

The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is powered byaglobal radio navigation systemmade up of a minimum of 24 operational satellites that continually orbit Earth.All GPS trackers rely on the same data from this satellite network to track and calculate the vehicle’s location.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networkemits radio signals from medium Earth orbit to communicate with your GPS device. Receivers process thedata contained within these signalsto compute the exact position of the GPS device as well as their time and the velocity of travel. The data is then sent to your computer or smartphone using the cellular network.

GPS operation is based on trilateration, which uses the position of three or more satellites and their distance from the GPS device to determinelatitude, longitude, elevation and time.Information about the satellite location and signal travel time of at least four satellites will quickly and accuratelycalculateyour vehicle’s travel route, speed and more.

Here’s how a GPS vehicle tracking system works in your fleet:

• Install a GPS tracking device in each vehicle or asset you want to track.
• Signals are transmitted from the satellite to the receiver.
• The receiver calculates the distance between itself and the satellites in real time.
• A report is created showing your vehicle’s travel distance or movement, coordinates and speed.
• The data is transmitted to the GPS server using a wireless or cellular network.
• GPS servers allow end-users to access reports in real-time from their computer, smartphone or tablet.
• End-users can set up automated alerts for the information that is most relevant to their needs.

Tracking a vehicle with GPS can help provide real-time or historic navigation data no matter the journey. Even if the satellite signals get blocked, the GPS tracker can use cell tower signals to estimate the vehicle’s location instead. The primary purpose of this GPS technology is to track and report your vehicle’s real-time location. The data can be utilized in various ways, reporting information such as speed, direction, idle time, diagnostics and breadcrumb trails of where the vehicle has traveled.

How to Use Track Your Truck’s GPS Vehicle Tracking System

Once the tracker obtains a fix, theGPS vehicle tracking device willdeliverthe data to Track Your Truck’s application, NetTrack, which you can access through the web at any timefrom your PC or mobile device. You receive real-time vehicle tracking updates, including location, direction, speed, idle time, start/stop andmore— allowing you to manage a tighter schedule and a more efficient fleet.Get the most out of your GPS vehicle tracking system with these features:

• Ourvehicle tracking devicessend a new GPS location update a minimum of every two minutes and typically more frequently as the device changes statusordirection.
• Track Your Truck’sequipment trackerutilizes satellite coverage to senditsGPS messages,allowing you to track your assetsin the most remote of areas.
• Track your vehicles with GPS for real-time mapping with automatic refresh,live tracking from yourcellphoneanddetailed truck activity reports.

Fleet managers use GPS trackers every day to keep track of their vehicles, divers, equipment and other assets. You can install a GPS tracker in any vehicle or asset, gathering more than just its current location. Tracking your vehicles with GPS provides valuable information for many scenarios to help you improve your fleet’s compliance, efficiency and safety.

Do you need GPSvehicle tracking for your company? If you are operating a fleet of two or more vehicles, wish to improve the efficiency and safety of those vehicles, and have a passionfor reachingyour customers more effectively and efficiently, then the answer is yes. GPS fleet vehicle tracking helps companies keep tabs on their vehicles anddriverstomaximize these assetssufficiently andreach their customers and clients effectively. It also helps reduce fuel waste, improve maintenance practices and make customer service more positive.

Start Tracking with Free Devices

When it comes to GPS tracking systems, you havemanychoices available to you, but only one offers the comprehensive features combined with affordability that you will find with Track Your Truck. Our products stand out for a number of reasons, including:

Smart Tracking Technology

Do you want more accurate tracking of your vehicle’s activity? With Track Your Truck’sSmart Tracking Technology, every time your vehicle makes a turn, your unit will send a fresh updatetogive you more detailed reports and a clearer picture of your vehicle’s route.

Easy-to-UseWeb Desktop and Mobile Apps

We provide you and your businesswithsimple and efficient ways to track your fleet with our NetTrackvehicle tracking software. With ourmobile app,you can takethis technologyanywhere you go!

Proprietary System

NetTrackvehicle tracking is unique to Track Your Truck. We’ve worked hard to ensure our system has everything you need while eliminatingunnecessaryfeaturesforsmaller fleetstohelpcontrol costs.

Certified Devices

Don’tjusttake our word for the integrity of our system—all of our devices arecertified by independent labsand come activated, tested and ready to use.

Wireless Carrier Certified

GPS fleet tracking is only helpful when it works, and Track Your Truck only offerscarrier-certified devicesto ensure full function and superior quality.

30-Day SatisfactionGuarantee*

We fully expectyou tobe more than satisfied with our tracking system, but if it’s not a good fit, we will gladly refund your money. We also offer full warranties on all of our devices.

U.S. Support

Support is available via phone and ticketing services, all answered by our U.S.-based,trained support professionals. Therearealso “how-to” videos to help you use our tracking service to its fullest.

Flexible Service Agreements

Fleet tracking is not a one-size-fits-all product, and we offer flexible plans to fit your needs. Beware of thoseothercompanies offering “evergreen” contracts (auto-renew), as fleet tracking technology and the needs of your business are ever-changing. What you need today may not fit your needs in the future.

ConstantImprovements

We are dedicated to maintaining our system with frequent enhancements and software updates. We strive to provide the most relevantservices and features, such as Google Maps.

Benefits of GPS Vehicle Tracking

Track Your Truck’sGPS fleet managementand vehicle tracking systems include convenient, sophisticated features to give you peace of mind by improving your fleet’s safety, accuracy and compliance. Working with our company offers various benefits, like certified devices, flexible agreements and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and the technology itself can improve your operations in several major ways.

The powerful features and components of our fleet management software allow you to:

1.See Your Vehicles’ Exact Routes on a Map Screen

Get precise locations, routes and times for all your vehicles updated live on detailed maps.WithNetTrack GPS mapping software, you can identify the location of your trucks, adjust routes based on real-time traffic conditions and provide clients with more accurate estimated arrival times.

Track Your Truck’s GPS vehicle tracking software uses Google Enterprise Edition Maps to provide the most reliable mapping capabilities.The map generates a breadcrumb trail, allowing you to see each vehicle’s exact route in real-time. See if there were any unauthorized stops and verify any detoursmade along the way.

2.Monitor Exceptions With Real-Time Alerts

Receive notifications and reports customized to include the exact information you need.NetTrack’s real-time alerts featurecan provide arrival and departure updates, detect after-hours usage, monitor idling and trackwhen speed is exceeded by a set amount. Know the moment anunsafe or unauthorized action occurs so you stop it quickly.

3. Track Your Drivers in Addition to Your Vehicles

Combined with driver ID technology, Track Your Truck’s fleet management systems offer additional insight into the driver of each vehicle. Know who is driving your trucks at all times andkeep yourvehicle data separatefrom your driver data. Verify the official start and end times of eachemployee to supplement timesheets.

4. Eliminate Bad Driving Behaviors

GPS fleet management software canincrease driver safety and performance by monitoring speeding, after hours usage, excessive mileage and more. You can also use data to set criteria for rewarding the good habits of your drivers. When excessive speeding is addressed quickly, you effectively reduce fuel waste, safety risks and insurance rates.

5.Minimize Fuel Costs and Travel Time

Our real-time GPS tracking allows you tomanage and dispatch work vehiclesquickly and effectively. Find and assign the closest driver to a drop-off location or service call, optimize routes to eliminate the wasted time between stops and significantly reduce your fuel costsby controlling speeding, idling aggressive driving, wasted mileage and after-hours usage.

6.Receive Only the Most Vital Tracking Information

Updates from high interval GPS reports can make critical information more difficult to find, especially for long-distance transport.Smart Trackingoffers a better way to track, only sending a message when particular events occur without the unnecessary data. In addition to getting reports at regular, predetermined intervals, you will receive notifications anytime there is a turn, ignition or accelerometer event.

7.View Full Reportsof All Activity for Each Vehicle

Track Your Truck’s GPS fleet tracking system offers detailed reporting tohelp youmake informed decisions based on various vehicle patterns and events.Current and historical fleet performance analysis lets you createtruck activity reportsfor total operating hours, total miles, total stop time and total standstill time.

8. Validate Completed Work and Improve Customer Service

Fleet managers can use real-time vehicle locations to optimize driver routes and provide customers with increasingly accurate arrival times. Offer the most convenient customer experience by informing your clients when they can expect a delivery or other service.

Sometimes, customers may question how much time you’ve billed them for and might even claim your employees never showed up at all. GPS trackers can keep a record of your driver’s activity— electronic proof they worked the hours in their invoices. Delivering more accurate time estimates and demonstrating evidence of completed work can help build trust with your customers.