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The Best GPS Fleet Management Services of 2023

By
Mark Fairlie
,
Contributing Writer
| Updated
Mar 27, 2023

Here are the best GPS fleet management services to help you stay on top of your company drivers and their cargo.

Best for Midsize Fleets
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Easily handles growing fleet data
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Built-in federal and state compliance
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Safety and maintenance tools
Best for Small Businesses
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Vehicle, driver and fleet monitoring
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Fastest GPS data refresh rates
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Over 200 third-party integrations
Best for Easy Implementation
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Plug-and-play tracking hardware
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Intuitive system dashboard
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30-day rolling contracts
Best for Ease of Use
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Get started in minutes
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24/7 customer support
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Intuitive control dashboard
Best for Home Service Businesses
Jobber
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CRM, invoicing and payment processing
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Fast-growing app marketplace
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30-day rolling contract
Here are the best GPS fleet management services to help you stay on top of your company drivers and their cargo.

Businesses use GPS fleet management services to keep track of their assets, vehicles, equipment and drivers.

As well as providing live data showing their current location, they also help companies save money on fuel, improve driver safety, deter theft and take charge of maintenance. Below, we list our best picks for small businesses in 2023 looking to invest in GPS fleet management.

Best GPS Fleet Management Services

Using GPS fleet management services, businesses can keep tabs on their assets, including drivers, equipment, and vehicles. The best services offer easy-to-use software, hardware that’s simple to install, and valuable tracking, driver safety, and fuel performance features. We researched a number of solutions, scrutinizing ease of use, price, and safety features before arriving at our best picks for small businesses in 2023.

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How We Decided
Our team spends weeks evaluating dozens of business solutions to identify the best options. To stay current, our research is regularly updated.
25
Considered
14
Researched
11
Selected

Compare Our Best Picks

ProviderUse caseEditor’s scoreContract lengthPricingRefresh ratesHardware typeDashcamFree/paid trialFree demo?
SamsaraSmall businesses9.236 monthsCustom1 secondPlug and playYesYesYes
Verizon ConnectMidsize fleets8.836 monthsCustom30 secondsPlug and play, hard-wiredYesYesYes
ClearPathGPSAffordability8.530-day rolling$20-$2530 secondsPlug and play, hard-wiredYesNoYes
Force by MojioDriver accountability930-day rolling$1810 secondsPlug and playNoYesYes
AzugaEase of use8.436 monthsCustom30 secondsPlug and playYesNoYes
FleetUpCustomer support8.8CustomCustom10 secondsPlug and playYesNoYes
GPS TrackitReporting8.3No contractCustomUnder 1 minutePlug and play, hard-wiredYesNoNo
JobberHome services business8.5No contract$39 per month 1 user, $119 per month up to 7 users, $239 per month up to 30 users.Not disclosedPlug and playYesYesNo
MotiveEasy implementation912 monthsfrom $20pm1-3 secondsPlug and playYesYesYes
NexTraqSafety features8.4CustomCustomNot disclosedPlug and play, hard-wiredYesNoYes
Teletrac NavmanVehicle maintenance8.312 months$35300 secondsPlug and play, hard-wiredYesNoNo

Our Reviews

Verizon Connect: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Midsize Fleets

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Verizon Connect provides built-in federal and state-by-state compliance features.
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The platform offers a wide range of apps and API integration.
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There's a free demo, but no free trial.
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Verizon Connect’s GPS fleet management service is ideal for midsize fleets because it simplifies the complex issues involved in driver and vehicle cost control at scale, ensures on-the-road compliance, and allows you to bolt on extra functionality specifically intended for growing fleets through its range of apps.

Editor’s score: 8.8/10

Verizon Connect collects the data on vehicles and drivers you need. It’s easy to run customized reports on its user-friendly dashboard, which we find helpful when searching for ways to cut costs and get more done. We like how you can extend Verizon’s functionality by utilizing one of the 40 apps in the Verizon Connect marketplace. If you need to get data from the platform into other apps and software, you can use the REST API, which has extensive documentation for your developers.

Compliance is a factor for larger fleets, and Verizon Connect handles this better than most. ELD, DVIR and IFTA requirements are built in, and as vehicles cross from state to state, the navigation software will ensure that your vehicles are driven only on roads they’re authorized to use.

Verizon Connect also supports electric vehicles (EVs). As more businesses switch to EVs, this system allows businesses to see their EV charging status and battery levels and manage electric and gas-powered vehicles in one system. Additional features include electric vehicle-specific reports, alerts when an electric vehicle has a low battery, mobile app support and charge status shown on a live map.

Driver safety and efficiency are major focuses of the platform. Each driver is rated constantly on their style, safety and performance. The system keeps records of unsafe driving incidents that you can use to work out personalized training schedules for individual drivers.

You can also set up regular maintenance alerts for required services. The GPS hardware can warn you if a vehicle is developing a problem by sending you a DTC with a plain-English description of what it means. You can also see full service and maintenance schedules for each vehicle.

Read Verizon Connect Review

Samsara: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Small Businesses

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Samsara lets you start with just one vehicle and add as many others as needed.
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It offers the fastest refresh rates, a smart AI-powered dashcam, 24/7 customer support, and the ability to track assets and vehicles.
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Samsara requires a 36-month contract, and you can't try the service out before committing to it.
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Samsara is our choice as the best GPS fleet management service for small businesses because of how much money it can save you on fuel and maintenance, its real-time fleet management so you can see where every vehicle and asset is, and its easy scalability. We like how you can quickly add more vehicles and assets to your account when needed.

Editor’s score: 9.2/10

The control dashboard is easy to navigate and intuitive, meaning that most new users will require little to no training. If you do, its customer support team is available 24/7. When it’s up and running, Samsara can help reduce maintenance and fuel expenditures, improve driver safety, and keep you fully compliant with ELD, DVIR and IFTA requirements. Over 200 apps in the Samsara marketplace offer additional functionality and flexibility.

Samsara has the fastest refresh rates on the market. The easy-to-install, plug-and-play equipment sends vehicle and driver data to your dashboard every second. Additionally, you can see your entire fleet in real time on a map. Simply click on a vehicle icon to see who’s behind the wheel, their destination and how far they’ve traveled on their journey.

The extensive data Samsara collects allows you to run reports on vehicle activity, safety, compliance and maintenance. You’ll also get real-time DTC alerts letting you know if there is an emerging issue with a vehicle that you need to investigate.

Samsara lets you manage fleet servicing and maintenance, which can save you money on fuel and keep your vehicles on the road. Another way to save fuel and lower maintenance requirements is by switching on Samsara’s driver score. We were impressed with how each driver gets their own personalized rating, and Samsara tells you which bad habits each driver needs to be trained out of.

If you want to track plant, equipment, machinery and other assets now or in the future, you can do so on the same dashboard with Samsara.

Read Samsara Review

KeepTruckin: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Easy Implementation

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Motive is the most competitively priced GPS tracking provider with a dashcam.
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This is an easy-to-operate system.
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There is no free trial, and a 12-month minimum commitment is required.
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Traditionally, setting up and running a GPS fleet management system has not been easy. Motive, previously known as KeepTruckin, turned this on its head thanks to its simple-to-install hardware and easy-to-use dashboard. If you need help getting started, its customer support team is available 24/7, and there are a large volume of helpful tutorials, videos and guides on its website. For those reasons, we rate Motive as the GPS fleet management service with the easiest implementation.

Editor’s score: 9.0/10

Its service starts at $20 per month, with a one-year minimum contract.

The AI dashcam supplied by the company detects on-road and in-cab high-risk behavior. Unlike many of the dashcams on the market, the Motive dashcam captures video when the engine is turned off or has lost power. For insurance and evidential purposes, video footage is 1440p HD.

Motive helps fleet managers reduce fuel usage by monitoring driver behavior over time so you can benchmark your drivers against each other, identifying training opportunities. The built-in IFTA fuel reports allow you to get an accurate overview of fuel consumption across your fleet over periods of time you decide.

The system also simplifies keeping compliance logs (including charts and HOS) and identifies the drivers at the greatest compliance risk. The asset utilization feature helps you manage assets and shows you how to better use them. It also features advanced route optimization functionality, and in the event a driver runs late, you can share ETAs with recipients and end users.

An added benefit of Motive is that users can take advantage of the company’s partnership with Sentry Insurance to save 5 percent on their insurance premiums. The program, which requires drivers to share log information and dashcam data from the Motive platform with the insurer, is designed to reduce accidents and insurance costs, while increasing compliance and safety.

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Azuga: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Ease of Use

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Azuga is a powerful system that is very easy for fleet managers to use.
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The platform is feature-packed, and creating customized reports is easy.
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Azuga requires a three-year service contract.
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Azuga is our choice as the best GPS fleet management service because it has a simplified platform and service that makes it accessible for everyone. It takes just a few minutes to install the plug-and-play hardware and get your vehicles registered to the platform. The web-based interface is very intuitive, and the features that admins and supervisors use the most are rarely more than one or two clicks away.

Editor’s score: 8.4/10

We like the way that Azuga has balanced driver safety training and rewards. Azuga constantly monitors for “crash event predictors” when a vehicle is on the road. The smart dashcam records and sends each incident to the dashboard for later review. You’ll see what happened on the road and in the cab. It constantly scores each driver for safety, and you can choose to be alerted to unsafe driving events in real time. Azuga has created a set of videos that train drivers on how to drive better, and the platform chooses the videos most likely to be the most significant help to an individual driver. You can also reward your most responsible drivers with vouchers from online stores.

DTC code monitoring alerts you to emerging technical issues. It’s easy to schedule regular maintenance for each vehicle as well as look into an individual vehicle’s service history.

There’s a growing app store on the platform too, allowing native integrations with Salesforce, various advanced routing and scheduling services, fuel card providers, and fleet maintenance management services. Customer support is available 24/7, and Azuga’s online help database is among the largest available on the market. Subscriptions start at $25 per month.

Read Azuga Review

Jobber: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Home Service Businesses

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Jobber lets you see where all your vehicles are at any time, as well as their speed, fuel level and direction of travel.
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Priced per vehicle, this is the cheapest of all options reviewed per driver for GPS vehicle tracking.
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The platform doesn't include driver safety tools, route optimization, vehicle fault reporting or fleet maintenance features.

Jobber is much more than a GPS fleet management service. It’s a complete CRM system for home services businesses that has a GPS fleet management module on the side. Jobber allows you to manage your customers (including making bookings, handing leads, getting referrals and text messaging), track jobs, send quotes and invoices, and take credit card payments. It offers GPS waypoint tracking and live map views, including speed, direction and fuel level data.

Editor’s score: 8.5/10

You can also integrate Jobber with QuickBooks and run email and postcard marketing campaigns. Jobber has its own app marketplace offering further functionality.

Jobber’s service plans that feature GPS tracking cost $119 per month for up to seven users or $239 per month for up to 30 users (additional users are $19 per month). Those are annual rates. If you want to pay monthly, it’ll cost you 20% more.

The company offers a free trial, and you’ll be on a 30-day rolling contract.

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ClearPathGPS: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Affordability

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ClearPathGPS offers all clients a 30-day rolling contract.
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Its monthly rate per vehicle is the lowest on the market if you want dashcams for your vehicles.
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ClearPathGPS is the only provider to charge an additional $5 per month for API access and real-time alerts.

ClearPathGPS charges $20 per vehicle per month for all the main vehicle telematics features, including geofencing, traffic overlay, ELD support and driver reports. For real-time alerts and access to the open API, the cost is $25 per month. Given the range of features the service offers, we rate this as the best GPS fleet management service for affordability.

Editor’s score: 8.5/10

ClearPathGPS’s subscription rates were the most competitive for services offering a webcam. The company offers a 30-day risk-free guarantee and doesn’t ask customers to sign a long-term contract, unusual in a marketplace where a 36-month minimum contract is the norm.

Despite the competitive pricing and contract terms, ClearPathGPS have not compromised on the functionality you’d expect in a GPS fleet and asset tracking system. Full reporting is available on driver behavior (even if they switch between vehicles), and the system keeps your company compliant on hours of service, inspections, FMCSA DOT mandates and more.

The company has partnered with route optimization expert Route4Me to monitor and analyze route data to help get drivers to their destinations faster. This is particularly helpful for companies whose drivers make multiple daily drops. Route4Me plans and alters routes on the fly, even if new drop points are added. This decreases fuel usage, reduces vehicle wear and tear, and makes fleets more efficient overall.

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Force by Mojio: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Driver Accountability

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The RoadScore metric helps identify your more dangerous drivers and how you can train them to improve.
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At $18 per vehicle per month and a 30-day rolling contract, the company requires much less commitment compared to other providers.
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Force does not offer a dashcam option.

We selected Force by Mojio as the best GPS fleet management service for driver accountability because of the real-time alerts that warn you that a driver’s behavior is unsafe. With Force, drivers receive a safety score on every trip they make, and if a driver is running late for delivery or appointment, you can send their live location and ETA to the person waiting for them.

Editor’s score: 9/10

To thrive, local businesses must develop a reputation for keeping their promises and ensuring their customers stay informed. It’s easy to manage drivers’ work schedules with Force, making last-minute changes and additions if necessary. You can also stay on top of your drivers’ safety with Force’s continuously updated RoadScore metric. The safer the driving, the more money you save on fuel.

Another benefit for service businesses is Force’s integration with Housecall Pro. This allows you to manage your fleet, create estimates, send invoices and organize calendars from within Housecall Pro.

One limitation of Force is that you can’t grow your fleet beyond 30 vehicles. If you’ve got ambitious expansion plans and you want to future-proof your tech stack, Force may not be the right option for you. We also wish that Force offered a dashcam option.

Additionally, Mojio has partnered with Mechanic Advisor to create Steermatics, an auto repair shop solution that provides fleets with real-time diagnostic data and automated retention marketing tools. Auto repair shops that use Steermatics services can purchase 4G LTE-connected OBD-II devices to easily install in fleet customers’ vehicles. The device will allow shop technicians to monitor fleet vehicles and collect telematics data remotely. It will also automatically alert both the driver and technician for the fleet when the vehicle is due for service.

Read Force by Mojio Review

GPS Trackit: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Reporting

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The GPS Trackit dashboard makes it very easy to see vehicle and driver data in real time and to run reports.
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The Driver Behavior Scoreboard helps you identify training opportunities so you can increase safety and cut fuel costs.
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Its customer service team is available during business hours on the East Coast, so those in the western part of the country may have trouble getting support in the afternoon.

GPS Trackit makes it easy to create insightful, customized reports that companies can use to save time and money and increase driver safety. This makes it stand out from its competitors, and that’s why GPS Trackit is our choice as the best GPS fleet management service for reporting.

Editor’s score: 8.3/10

You can see where each vehicle in your fleet is live on its intuitive dashboard, drilling down into trip histories for each vehicle by clicking the icons on the map. The geofencing is well executed, allowing you to receive alerts every time a vehicle or asset enters or exits a predetermined area.

We like how supervisors are alerted if drivers use more fuel on a trip than expected. Poor driving behaviors like sharp braking or turning can often explain this. The system keeps a Driver Behavior Scorecard, highlighting the areas where drivers may need additional training.

The route optimization software is comprehensive, helping drivers to complete jobs faster using less fuel. It considers factors like driver performance, vehicle health, time to next refueling, traffic patterns and detours when giving directions.

GPS Trackit charges $23.95 per vehicle, with a 30-day rolling contract. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Support is available over the phone or via email, web chat or online ticketing Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and  4 p.m. ET.

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FleetUp: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Customer Support

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FleetUp's intuitive interface makes it easy for new users to get up to speed.
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Support reps reach out very quickly to customers in need, and its website is full of helpful guides and instructions.
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FleetUp doesn't publish its pricing or minimum contract term online, so you will need to speak with a sales rep for details.

FleetUp is our choice of the best GPS fleet management solution for customer support because it offers around-the-clock service, responding to emails within 30 minutes and picking up calls 97% of the time on average. Additionally, your account manager will check in with you every three months to see if you need any help.

Editor’s score: 8.8/10

Overall, FleetUp’s asset tracking system is data-rich and full of features. We especially like how the user interface is clean, minimal and presents data well. You can customize reports by selecting the most relevant information to your business that you can use to reduce vehicle and driver costs and increase productivity and efficiency.

FleetUp also handles vehicle maintenance and service scheduling impressively. Its hardware connects directly with your vehicle’s OBD-II port, transmitting data via the 4G network. If it detects a DTC, the equipment sends it to your dashboard. You can see the maintenance records of each vehicle and set preventive maintenance intervals.

Intelligent route optimization is built into the system to reduce how long it takes drivers to reach their destinations. If you have preferred routes, you can program them into the dashboard and send them to the driver’s mobile app. Driver behavior is assessed and monitored constantly to train drivers out of bad habits. If a driver needs help, you can dial in live to their dashcam to see what they’re seeing and provide them with the assistance they need.

READ FLEETUP REVIEW

NexTraq: Best GPS Fleet Management for Safety Features

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NextTraq's driver safety monitoring is the central feature of its platform.
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The HD dashcam has a wide-angle lens, nighttime viewing and an in-cab camera to monitor drivers' attention.
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NexTraq doesn't publish prices or minimum contract lengths, so you will need to speak with a salesperson for a quote.

NexTraq is our choice as the best GPS fleet management service for safety features. If a driver has an accident, the dashcam records it so that you, your insurance company and law enforcement can see exactly what the driver saw. Additionally, NexTraq constantly monitors driver activity to help fleet managers identify which drivers present the most significant safety risks and which ones they can reward for good driving behavior. You can even use an in-cab buzzer to tell drivers to slow down or stop driving aggressively. We also were impressed with the number of training videos, including how to reduce aggressive and distracted driving, how to drive defensively, and how to improve fuel efficiency when behind the wheel.

Editor’s score: 8.4/10

You can use the control dashboard to track your fleet, view important metrics at vehicle and fleet-wide levels, monitor compliance and engine diagnostics, handle driver route optimization, and schedule vehicle maintenance. Its dashcam features LEDs for nighttime viewing, has a second camera for an in-cab view and films in HD via a wide-angle lens.

Motive offers 24-hour support to customers by phone, email, webform and live chat. Its service starts at $16.95 per month. There is no free trial, but there is a free demo.

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Teletrac Navman: Best GPS Fleet Management Service for Easy Vehicle Maintenance

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The platform includes built-in DTC, DVIR, IFTA and ELD functionality, making it easier for predictive and reactive vehicle maintenance.
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Teletrac Navman provides 24/7 customer support.
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You need to contact a sales agent directly to get pricing information.

Teletrac Navman’s fleet maintenance and fuel management systems provide instant alerts on emerging maintenance issues. We like how DTCs are quickly flagged. You can also schedule maintenance and track DVIR, IFTA and ELD data on the platform. For these reasons and more, Teletrac Navman is our choice as the best fleet management service for easy vehicle maintenance.

Editor’s score: 8.3/10

The platform’s smart route optimization software means that you can add extra jobs and change routes, increasing productivity across your fleet. Like many other providers, the dashcam and mobile app monitor driver behavior for insurance purposes in case there’s a crash. You can also benchmark drivers on factors like rapid acceleration, abrupt braking and aggressive cornering.

Where Teletrac Navman struggles is the fact that it refreshes data at five-minute intervals. This is significantly longer than that of their competitors, which refresh data at least once a minute.

Teletrac Navman’s customer support is available 24 hours a day. You can get in touch with it via webform or toll-free telephone number. You have to contact the company to get a quote tailored to your business and its needs.

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Pricing and Contracts

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to GPS fleet management. Providers know this, and they aim to provide solutions tailored to your business’s specific needs. While many providers require a 36-month contract, others offer 30-day rolling contracts.

The price depends on the number of vehicles or assets you track and the vehicle, driver and asset data you want. Some providers include all data and features with their per-vehicle-per-month price, while others offer a base set of functions that you can supplement with additional subscriptions and third-party contracts.

Tip

If you are new to GPS fleet management, you might benefit from choosing a provider offering a free or paid-for trial or a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, you can test whether you really need the service without committing your company to a long contract.

Buying Guide

What Is GPS Fleet Management?

GPS fleet management uses a combination of hardware and software to track company assets like trucks, equipment and drivers. The hardware can be an OBD-II plug-and-play or hard-wired device. When your vehicle is registered on the system, the hardware sends regular data updates to your GPS fleet management provider’s cloud. The software is typically cloud-based and accessible via any computer or mobile device with an internet connection.

GPS fleet management hardware records and sends a wide variety of data. You can use that data to improve driver safety, better maintain and service your vehicles, decrease fuel costs, protect against damage and theft, and increase the number of jobs individual drivers can carry out in a day thanks to route optimization.

 

What Should You Look for in a GPS Management Service for Your Business?

When choosing a GPS management service, you should ensure that the hardware and software can provide you with access to the data you need to improve and streamline operations.

Hardware and Installation

All GPS fleet management 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.

Some providers offer hard-wired trackers. They 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 artificial intelligence), asset trackers, trailer trackers, heavy equipment trackers and driver ID readers.

Driver Safety and Performance

GPS fleet management systems allow companies to monitor the performance of their drivers for safety and fuel efficiency.

Incidents of unsafe driving that wastes fuel are recorded and sent to the control dashboard, including 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 see 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. GPS tracking 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 GPS fleet management platforms allow you to set a timetable for preventive maintenance.

Alerts and Reports

Many systems send automatic alerts to drivers, system admins and supervisors, and people at destinations where your vehicles are headed. Just 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 (like fuel wasted through unsafe or poor driving habits).

These reports provide the insight you need to save money and increase efficiency across your business.

Location and Navigation

All GPS fleet tracking systems send back each vehicle’s position at intervals between one second and five minutes. You’ll be able to see each vehicle in real time on your control dashboard map, many of which allow you to click in to see which driver is behind the wheel, when they started their trip, their final destination, their ETA and other notes.

Most systems offer in-cab driving directions to drivers, often via a mobile app. This allows drivers to take the quickest and most efficient route. This type of GPS navigation is different from car navigation services offered by Google and Apple. Professional GPS navigation will direct drivers to roads that are legal to drive on depending on the type and size of vehicle they’re driving.

Tip

If real-time reporting is important to you, make sure the vendor you select truly offers it. Only a few of the companies we reviewed offer reporting from one second to the next.

Usability

GPS tracking systems are controlled via the online dashboard. All providers have attempted to create an intuitive user interface, although some providers do this better than others. For brand-new GPS 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 account or customer success representatives to customers.

The Importance of GPS Management for Businesses

With GPS management services, you can track and improve your drivers’ performance and safety, schedule vehicle maintenance, track your vehicles’ and assets’ locations, monitor and improve fuel efficiency, and optimize navigation. Monitoring your vehicles, assets and drivers can help you maintain a safe workplace and cut costs.

GPS management is especially important for businesses with high-value mobile assets like trailers, tractors, storage containers, construction equipment and generators.

How GPS Management Works for a Business Fleet

GPS management systems use hardware to collect the data from vehicles and other assets and software to present and analyze the data. On vehicles, the equipment can be hard-wired or plugged straight into the OBD-II port. On assets, monitoring equipment is normally attached to the outside of the asset and powered by batteries that can provide power for up to 12 months.

Most GPS fleet management providers don’t require you to download apps or programs to your PC or Mac to access data. You can access their platforms via internet browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Edge. You will need to download mobile phone apps.

On GPS fleet management dashboards, you can see live information on your vehicles, their location and the trip they’re making. You can run reports on driver safety and performance, fuel efficiency and optimization, geofences and route navigation, and vehicle condition and maintenance to improve efficiency.

Bottom Line

GPS fleet management offers a lot of benefits, such as improving driver safety and ensuring your vehicles are getting the right maintenance. This can help you lower costs and boost profits.

What Questions Should You Ask When Determining the Right GPS Management Service for Your Business?

When getting quotes for a GPS fleet management service, ask the following questions:

  • Do you offer a free trial or demo? Some companies offer a 30-day trial of their hardware and software. This is crucial if the company you’re considering requires you to sign a long-term contract. Even if you’ve already made up your mind, take advantage of the free trial period.
  • What is the refresh time? Many of the software vendors say they offer real-time tracking, but it is usually not technically in real time. GPS fleet management software may refresh anywhere from every second to every five minutes, depending on the company. Of the companies we reviewed, only a few offer real-time, second-to-second tracking. The rest have a refresh rate ranging from 10 seconds to three minutes.
  • What type of hardware and software do you include in the cost? Fleet management hardware are usually plug-and-play devices that are about the size of a deck of cards and can be inserted into your vehicle’s OBD-II port. More advanced hardware includes separate pieces that link with information centers in your vehicles. The software is usually cloud-based and usable on desktops, tablets and smartphones.
  • Is all functionality included? All services come with a wide set of features however some providers have tiered service plans that charge extra for some features. When speaking with a company, get a quote for the exact features you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which types of businesses can benefit from GPS management?

Any business with a fleet of vehicles or high-value mobile assets can benefit from GPS fleet management. Although trucking companies are the primary users of GPS fleet management, other industries can take advantage of GPS management for their fleets or assets as well.

If you operate a business within one of the following industries, you can benefit from GPS management services:

  • Agriculture
  • Cable and telecommunications
  • Construction and heavy equipment
  • Distribution
  • Electrical services
  • Enterprise and rental fleet
  • Food and beverage
  • Government and public safety
  • HVAC
  • Landscaping
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Oil and gas
  • Pest control
  • Private investigations
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

What are the most common applications of GPS trackers for a business fleet?

The most common use for GPS fleet trackers is locating vehicles. It’s important for many businesses to know exactly where their vehicles, drivers and assets are at all times, for both safety and cost efficiency. Another common application is to monitor driver performance, fuel consumption and/or vehicle maintenance. The software connected to the trackers can provide insights on how vehicles are being used and what changes can be made for them to run more efficiently.

What are the security benefits of GPS trackers for a business fleet?

Installing GPS trackers on your business’s vehicles or assets allows you to keep tabs on where each vehicle and driver is, which can help prevent theft, accidents and misuse.

Many GPS trackers have a geofence feature, which allows you to set a specific perimeter for your fleet. If a tracked vehicle or asset leaves the geofenced area, you are notified. Geofencing helps you verify that your team is staying within a designated zone and not taking your vehicles or assets to unapproved or unsafe areas. Additionally, GPS trackers analyze fleet routes and provide recommendations for the safest and most efficient itinerary.

How should I compare GPS management services for businesses?

As you evaluate your options, compare companies based on the features that are most important to you. For example, if driver safety is your No. 1 concern, determine the specific safety features and alerts the different services offer, as well as what type of driver coaching and feedback options they have. If your primary goal is to improve fuel efficiency and vehicle condition, compare features like fuel tracking, maintenance scheduling and navigation optimization.

In addition to the primary features that matter most for your business, consider the type of hardware each company offers, pricing (including whether you will need to sign a contract and, if so, how long it lasts), the minimum number of vehicles it requires, the software’s ease of use and customer service.

What to expect in 2023

Overall, fleet management systems continue to grow in popularity as technology develops. According to a study by Future Market Insights, the global fleet management market could rise at a compound annual growth rate of 10.4 percent in the next 10 years, potentially reaching $37,300.17 million by 2033. As companies seek to comply with government regulations, address growing fleet safety concerns, and take advantage of advances in wireless and smart technology, fleet management software could see a significant boom.

In 2023 and the coming years, GPS equipment manufacturers are expected to add 5G capabilities to tracking devices and dashcams. Taking advantage of 5G’s much greater bandwidth and lower latency will allow devices to communicate with GPS fleet management provider cloud servers on a continuous basis, rather than a few times every minute as is common with most providers now. This will be particularly helpful for fleets in urban environments to get the latest traffic conditions for route optimization and enable more accurate ETAs.

On a related subject, there are already apps available that improve last-mile delivery, traditionally the most expensive part of multi-drop courier and delivery services. These apps will give drivers the chance to complete more drops during the day thanks to more efficient work distribution and route planning.

Delivery, haulage and transportation companies are continuing to switch to electric vehicles, a trend that may accelerate if gas prices continue to rise. The algorithms needed to measure EV use versus gas/diesel use are very different and widely acknowledged as not being particularly accurate. EVs also have fewer maintenance and servicing needs. We believe that GPS fleet management firms will focus more of their attention in 2023 and beyond on bringing up the standards of data reporting and analysis for EV vehicles.

Another window of opportunity in the market lies in the increasing popularity of mobility-as-a-service. As companies embrace ridesharing and other traditional commuting alternatives to reduce both traffic and carbon emissions, the development of fleet management software can optimize pick-ups and drop-offs, telematics, and payment.

Mark Fairlie
Mark Fairlie
Contributing Writer
business.comb.
Mark Fairlie has written extensively on business finance, business development, M&A, accounting, tax, cybersecurity, sales and marketing, SEO, investments, and more for clients across the world for the past five years. Prior to that, Mark owned one of the largest independent managed B2B email and telephone outsourcing companies in the UK prior to selling up in 2015.
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