5 myths about vehicle tracking

Thinking about introducing vehicle tracking to your fleet?

Worried that it might not be worth the investment, or that your staff will resist any idea of their movements being tracked? You’re not alone.

Many businesses feel that there are major benefits to be had from vehicle tracking, but are worried about the obstacles they feel may prevent them from introducing it.

However, of the companies that we've helped to introduce vehicle tracking, not one has regretted their decision. In fact, many wish they had grasped the nettle and introduced it earlier.

These are the top five reasons that made them delay — and you’ll be glad to know they’re all myths.

Myth 1: Vehicle tracking is inaccurate

Not true. Modern vehicle tracking systems use the Global Positioning System (GPS) which is capable of pinpointing any vehicle to within a handful of metres. You can easily track vehicles to their exact position anywhere in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Myth 2: Tracking requires major software upgrades

These days, tracking data is uploaded to the Cloud. Most modern systems allow you to log in using nothing more complicated than an ordinary web browser, instantly giving you full information about the position of all the vehicles in your fleet. You can also track vehicles using mobile devices, so you don’t even need to be at your desk.

Want to know more about vehicle tracking and how it can benefit your organisation? Click below to speak to one of our experts. 

Myth 3: I only need to track my fleet using mobile phones

You can track a fleet using mobile phones, but it’s time consuming, expensive and relies on your drivers being available to take a call. The bigger your fleet, the harder it is to use phones as your primary vehicle tracking device.

Installing GPS tracking devices does away with all these problems. You can access real time information about location from any web browser. And depending on the system you use, you can also gather information about fuel consumption, routes taken, driving style, vehicle speed and more — allowing you to devise more efficient routes, offer better customer service and uncover driver behaviour that could cause concern.

Myth 4: My staff will feel they’re not trusted

There’s a lot more to vehicle tracking than monitoring driver behaviour. In fact, when you use vehicle tracking devices, there are significant benefits for all staff, including:

• Operational efficiency — more efficient routes make the job easier and reduce the likelihood of confrontations with customers.
• Safety — tracking provides extra security for lone operatives.
• Fewer accidents — tracking speed and driving style ensures that drivers don’t bend the rules to complete their work faster, putting themselves and others at risk.
• Driver hours – monitoring whether employers comply with the European Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations, which place limits on driver weekly working time and on the amount of work that can be done in a 24 hour period for drivers operating on night shifts.
• Less administration – daily email reports log driver hours and calculate wages, so that drivers no longer need to fill in paper timesheets.

Myth 5: Vehicle tracking solutions are expensive

Vehicle tracking can actually help you to save considerably more money than you spend. More efficient routes, less fuel consumption, more productive use from vehicles between services, reduced overtime claims — they all add up to give you significant economies.

If you are unsure, it’s perfectly possible to measure the return on your investment on a monthly basis, and most vehicle tracking providers will provide you with statistics and case studies that prove these claims.

However, there is undeniably a capital cost involved if you own the vehicles in your fleet. You can eliminate this by leasing vehicles from a commercial vehicle hire specialist — if you opt for contract or flexible hire you can order vehicles with pre-installed vehicle tracking systems. This will add very little to your monthly leasing charge per vehicle.

That way you can reap the significant benefits of vehicle tracking without the pain of capital expenditure. We can guarantee you that this isn’t a myth!

Interested in learning more about vehicle tracking and how it can benefit your organisation? Click below to speak to one of our experts.