There are many different GPS trackers for trucks, cars, and other types of equipment. Whether you’re a fleet manager for a commercial truck fleet, an equipment rental company, or a construction company, odds are that there’s a GPS tracking solution out there that’s just right for you! But how do you know which is the best solution for your fleet? The Rastrac experts are here to break down the basics of GPS tracking devices and list our top five picks for the best GPS tracking devices for motor vehicle fleets.
Quick Links:
- What is a GPS Tracker?
- What Types of Motor Vehicles Can Use GPS Fleet Tracking Devices?
- What are the Benefits of Using GPS Fleet Tracking Devices?
- The Best GPS Tracking Devices for Each Type of Motor Vehicle
What is a GPS Tracker?
GPS stands for Global Positioning Satellite, which is a system that utilizes a transmitter and a series of satellites to triangulate the position of a specific object. When a vehicle, mobile asset, or other similar equipment is tagged with a GPS tracker device, this technology allows commercial fleet managers to pinpoint its exact location remotely and in real-time. Some GPS tracker devices even have additional capabilities that allow fleet managers to monitor driver safety habits, vehicle conditions, implement geofencing, and more.
What Types of Motor Vehicles can Utilize GPS Trackers?
GPS tracking devices can be placed on nearly any kind of motor vehicle, including:
- Cars, trucks, and buses
- Government and municipal vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Snowplows
- Public safety vehicles
- RVs
- Boats
- Refrigerated vehicles or units
By utilizing GPS tracking devices in your fleet, you'll be able to experience the many benefits that this technology can provide. No matter what kinds of vehicles comprise your fleet, you'll almost instantly see reduced inefficiencies and wasteful spending, increased productivity, and overall simplified fleet management.
What are the Benefits of a GPS Tracker?
There are numerous benefits of implementing GPS tracking devices in your commercial fleet management toolkit, such as:
- Enhanced productivity and efficiency
- Improved theft prevention and faster asset recovery
- Reduced fuel consumption and costs
- Improved preventative maintenance and repair scheduling
- Improved dispatch control and faster response times
- Lower fleet insurance costs
- Higher customer satisfaction
- Increased driver accountability
The Best GPS Tracking Devices for Each Type of Motor Vehicle
It's important to keep in mind that while implementing a GPS solution can yield many positive results for your business, every GPS tracking device on the market has different features, capabilities, advantages, and disadvantages. Choosing the one that is the best fit for your industry, budget, goals, and unique needs is essential for success. To help you narrow down your search for the perfect GPS tracking device, here’s a list of five of our top GPS trackers for commercial motor vehicle fleets.
XT-2400: Fast & Easy ODB-II Compatible Vehicle Tracking
With a built-in OBD-II connector, installing the XT-2400 tracker is fast and easy. This GPS vehicle tracking device simply plugs into your vehicle’s OBD-II port, minimizing the complexity and cost of installation down to almost nothing. This particular device is great for fleet managers who need to track driver behaviors in their vehicle fleets. However, because it is an OBD-II port-mounted unit, it is easy to find and remove - this would not be ideal for discreet tracking.
GV600MG: Heavy Duty Fleet Vehicle Tracking
Some commercial vehicle fleets need a highly flexible and reliable GPS tracking system to meet their needs. The GV600MG is an LTE product specifically designed for heavy-duty vehicles including trailers, tankers, refrigerated, and flatbed trucks. Its ruggedized waterproof design ensures the product remains reliable when installed in the harsh environments commonly found in heavy transportation such as fuel and chemical transportation. This device can withstand temperatures ranging from -30C to 80C (-22F to 176F) and can work for up to three months without external power, making it ideal for tracking trailers even when disconnected.
GV75: Waterproof Tracking Device
One of the most important elements of a tracking device is how resistant it is to weather conditions or other significant environmental features. The G
V75 device has a robust weather-proof casing, which makes it perfect for a wide range of use cases involving harsh environments, including watercraft and marine vehicles, agricultural and heavy machinery applications. Its multiple interfaces allow it to provide additional capabilities, such as temperature monitoring and driver ID identification.
TTU-2800: Great Long-Term Trailer Tracking
The weatherproofed TTU-2800 is specifically built for reliable, long-term tracking deployments for an individual asset. While the TTU-2800 can draw power from an attached source, it also has a built-in rechargeable battery pack—making it ideal for managing assets that are normally tethered to 12 or 24-volt power systems but may sit disconnected for set periods of time, such as cargo trailers or rental equipment.
This battery backup feature and the weatherproof design make the TTU-2800 ideal for tracking flatbeds and cargo trailers because these assets are often connected to a semi-truck’s power, but may sit unconnected for hours or days at a time in shipping lots or at cargo transfer points. When on a fully charged battery, the TTU-2800 can last for up to 500 message cycles before requiring a recharge. Not only does this GPS device offer great anti-theft functionality for trailers, but the built-in accelerometer can provide insights into driver behavior as well as some impact detection.
XT-4900: Solar-Powered Asset Tracking
The XT-4900 device brings a different twist to long-lasting, battery-based tracking. This tracking device has a lithium-ion rechargeable battery connected to a solar cell. As long as the solar cell gets sufficient light, the battery will keep charging. This makes this GPS tracker uniquely well-suited to long-term field deployments where you need frequent data updates. Normally, the more frequently you update GPS data on a battery-powered unit, the faster the battery drains. But, with the solar energy source, the GPS can recharge in the field.
Turn to the Experts at Rastrac for your Asset Tracking System Needs
One of the most important aspects of using GPS tracking for your high-value assets is that it can give you information much faster than waiting on a manually generated report. Even better, GPS trackers don’t lie, and they don’t fudge the numbers. Your fleet management team gets a clear understanding of where, when, and how the movement of your assets is impacting your business!
With the speed and accuracy of GPS data, you can take proactive measures to control your assets in the field; which leads to greater efficiency and effectiveness. Learn how your business can use GPS tracking for its assets today with Rastrac!
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