When choosing a GPS tracking service, “consider key features like real-time tracking, fuel efficiency, and driver safety,” said Tim Peters, chief marketing officer at Enghouse Systems, which specializes in fleet management and telematics.
Here are some factors that you should keep in mind during your search:
Hardware and Installation
All GPS fleet tracking services we reviewed offer plug-and-play hardware, including the trackers themselves. They plug into the OBD-II port on your vehicle. With most providers, it takes around 10 minutes to install a device and connect it to the software. You can move GPS trackers between vehicles at any time.
“Look for platforms offering robust data integration with telematics,” Peters advised, as they provide comprehensive fleet insights.
Some providers offer hardwired trackers. Some require professional installation, often at an additional cost. They are less prone to tampering and do not require as much maintenance.
Most providers offer dashcams (many of them powered by AI), asset trackers, trailer trackers, heavy equipment trackers and driver ID readers.

This Azuga dash cam is AI-powered and films the road and the driver in-cab. Source: Azuga
Driver Safety and Performance
GPS fleet tracking systems allow companies to monitor the performance of their drivers for safety and fuel efficiency.
Incidents of unsafe driving that waste fuel are recorded and sent to the control dashboard. These include events like harsh driving, speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, aggressive cornering, idling, fuel usage, cell phone distractions, unauthorized usage and engine on/off times.
Some systems create driver quality scores from this information, allowing you to quickly identofy which drivers are behaving responsibly and which may need additional training.
Vehicle Condition and Maintenance
Maintaining the health of your fleet is imperative to reduce costs and increase safety and performance. Fleet management software can record the fuel level, battery voltage, odometer reading and coolant and engine temperatures of each company vehicle. The sensors within your vehicle hardware also alert you to DTCs that indicate emerging problems, sending fault data to your control dashboard.
Many fleet tracking platforms allow you to set a timetable for preventive maintenance.
Alerts and Reports
Many systems send automatic alerts to drivers, system admins and supervisors, as well as people at destinations where your vehicles are headed. Choose what you want them to be notified of and the system will take care of it.
For example, in addition to DTC alerts, you can tell the system to notify you and your driver of unsafe driving habits in real time.
Your system collects and stores a lot of data on vehicles, drivers and trips. You can run reports on that data to identify driver training needs and fuel consumption trends, such as fuel wasted through unsafe or poor driving habits.
These reports provide the insight you need to save money and increase efficiency across your business.
Cost
It’s also important to consider pricing. It’s not just about the month-to-month costs but the value of what you get for the money spent.
Matt Graber, co-owner of Cool Hand Movers, said they prioritized finding GPS tracking software that allowed them to pay for what they need and not a bunch of add-ons they wouldn’t use.
“We have a relatively small fleet that operates locally 90 percent of the time, so it was important not to overpay for features we don’t need or a fleet size far larger than anything we would grow into in the next couple of years,” Graber said.

Many GPS platforms allow you to set alerts to be notified immediately on factors ranging from driver behavior to vehicle engine performance. Source: Samara
Usability
Fleet management systems are controlled via the online dashboard. All providers have attempted to create an intuitive UI, although some do this better than others. For brand-new fleet tracking system users, you may want to choose a provider with an extensive online knowledge base that offers tips and techniques about how to get the most from your system.
Some mobile apps offer system supervisors and administrators the full range of features available on the PC/Mac desktop dashboard; however, some providers offer limited mobile functionality.
Many providers offer REST API interfaces, allowing data on the platform to be integrated into third-party programs like Salesforce and other top CRM software solutions.
Customer Service
Customer service levels vary from provider to provider. Some offer 24/7 access while others are available during working hours only. Some make it easy to speak with representatives on the phone while others prefer you to communicate by email, help desk or ticketing system. A few companies provide named accounts or customer success representatives to customers.
Chris Dukich, owner of Display Now, said finding a provider that offered help getting set up in a seamless fashion was critical when searching for a GPS tracking solution.
“Onboarding support also was of pivotal importance as we expected no interruption during the course of the deployment,” Dukich said.
Future trends
Peters believes that business owners should keep up with the latest GPS tracking developments to ensure that they are using the latest technology.
“Future trends point towards AI-powered predictive analytics, enabling smarter route planning and vehicle maintenance, and 5G integration,” Peters said. “[This] will revolutionize data transmission speed for real-time updates.”