5 Ways GPS Tracking Helps to Combat Rising Auto Theft Rates

According to the most recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), motor vehicle thefts increased in the first half of 2017 by 4.1% when compared to the same period of 2016. This is despite property crime offenses in general decreasing 2.9% during that same time period.

When fleet vehicles are stolen, this not only results in downtime and lost productivity, it also means that you must pay to replace the vehicle that has been stolen if it is not recovered.

Luckily, there is a way that fleet managers can protect their organizations’ investments: Through the use of GPS tracking for fleet management.

GPS Tracking for Fleet Vehicles

Global positioning system (GPS) technology taps into the power of the satellites that orbit the earth to triangulate the position of whatever you’re tracking with pinpoint accuracy. Originally created for use by the United States government for military purposes, this technology has been available in the commercial sector for decades.

Additionally, in conjunction with GPS vehicle tracking software, most modern GPS devices can track a variety of other vehicle and driver activities and events.  

1. Track Vehicles Anytime, Anywhere in Real Time

When you use an effective and agile fleet management system, you’ll never again have to wonder where your vehicles are or if they’re where they’re supposed to be. With live tracking software, you can track any of your fleet’s GPS device tagged vehicles in real time — even on private roads.

With Rastrac’s GPS tracking system for fleet management, you can upload your own maps as well as use the built-in ones. Additionally, you can monitor a variety of other vehicle-related activities as well, including driver behaviors and activities such as driving speeds, acceleration and deceleration rates on a turn-by-turn basis. By monitoring these activities and using the data to address bad driver behaviors, this helps you to:

• Make your fleet more efficient
• Save on fuel costs
• Makes your vehicles easier to maintain

2. Monitor Multiple Tagged Vehicles Simultaneously

Tracking multiple or even dozens of vehicles at once? No problem! Rastrac’s GPS tracking system enables you to track a multitude of vehicles at the same time — all in one intuitive, easy-to-use dashboard. You can track a variety of vehicle- and trip-related information for every individual, such as:

• Who is driving
• Where the vehicle is headed
• At what time the driver left
• When they arrive
• If they stay on route for the duration of the trip or veer off course
  

3. Be Notified When Your Vehicles Enter or Leave Areas

If you want to stay in the know about whether your vehicles enter or leave specific areas, you can set up alert notifications using the geofencing tool. Geofences can be set up in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet your needs, including long-distance trips.

These alerts will notify you via text or email each time that a vehicle enters or leaves the specified area, helping you to stay informed without having to live in your GPS tracking software dashboard.

4. Notify Law Enforcement with Accurate Information

An effective GPS vehicle tracking system eliminates the delay in the reporting of automobile theft, and also can be used to track the location of your fleet property. Using the software dashboard, you can know when assets move from their assigned location — for example, from your fleet headquarters or a warehouse. It also provides you with documented data that law enforcement can use to track and find your lost or stolen vehicle.

This system also can be used to track heavy construction equipment, generators, and other assets in the event of theft.

5. Remotely Disable Vehicle Starter If a Vehicle is Stolen

A helpful but lesser known feature of some of Rastrac’s GPS tracking devices is that they can be wired for a starter disable function. This function can be used to disable a vehicle for a set time range or used on an as-needed basis using Rastrac’s user-friendly software. The disable function also can be turned off at any time using the same step.  

For example, you can set the disable starter feature for after hours if your fleet vehicles are stored at your headquarters or another fleet location so that the vehicles cannot be operated during that time. Or, you can set it so that the ignition of a vehicle that is running can’t be started again after the user turns off the ignition.

As you can see, GPS tracking devices serve as good anti-theft devices for trucks, cars and other fleet vehicles. Learn more about how a GPS fleet tracking system can benefit your organization in terms of theft prevention and other fleet management-related advantages.