Fleet management software incorporated with a GPS tracking system and other inbuilt features in your vehicles boost your fleet business in the way of profit and productivity.
The real-time tracking and monitoring system plays a key role in planning, tracking, and alerting risks- reducing the chance of error on roads.
GPS tracking devices allow you to track vehicle and driver performance, vehicle fuel management system, real-time route monitoring, increase your workplace efficiency, and aid in customer service issues.
With the help of a GPS tracking system, you can track short routes and give real-time instructions to drivers when they encounter obstacles on the routes. This feature helps to minimize the journey time and improve customer service.
The upgraded features in the tracking system can track fleet trucks and cars and become more precise and accurate. These improvements and advanced technologies proceed with popper legal rules and regulations for fleet operators and owners.
But what exactly does the law say about GPS tracking systems? Is it legal to track fleet vehicles? And how do you ensure your vehicle’s safety without invading your driver’s privacy?
In this article, let’s have a brief look at guidelines that companies are taking to ensure the tracking software does not violate laws and drivers’ trust.
Benefits of GPS tracking system in fleet management:
Fleet management software brings some significant benefits to fleet business operations and helps fleet owners to focus on upgrading requirements and policies.
GPS tracking devices become an integral part of fleet operations and assist businesses throughout the day – increasing productivity and improving profitability.
The efficient reasons of GPS vehicle tracker on fleet operations include:
GPS trackers provide route optimization
With GPS tracking software attached with a dashcam in your fleet vehicles send real-time telematics data about the vehicle location and route. This data helps you to guide drivers to take an ideal route to avoid delays due to accidents, traffic, constructions, and other adverse situations.
Drivers also use a GPS tracker to select a short route that is less problematic, decreases journey time and fuel consumption.
Improves customer service
Installing a dashcam in the cars with a GPS tracking facility would improve your response time with the customers. This device allows you to allocate the nearest vehicle to your customer’s location in an efficient way without any delay.
This action provides prompt vehicle service and also improves customer-responsive services.
Reduce fuel cost
One of the biggest expenses in fleet management is fuel costs. GPS tracking devices allow you to avoid ideal time in traffic by taking another optimized route or you can ask you to switch off the engine until traffic clears.
Improves fleet safety
GPS tracker integrated with AI dashcam in the fleet vehicle helps to identify drivers’ behavior or health conditions before an adverse accident. The monitoring system does not allow drivers to take unnecessary steps and put vehicles at risk.
Reduce theft
GPS trackers on the fleet of vehicles help to deter thieves and locate your stolen vehicle location and reduce potential losses.
Is it legal to use vehicle trackers on fleet vehicles?
Yes, it’s legal to install a vehicle tracking system in a vehicle that you own being driven as a fleet vehicle.
But, if you want to track vehicles that are not owned by you or leased vehicles driven as a fleet for time being, you have to follow proper legal rules – that vary from state to state.
Before integrating any advanced technology with your fleet vehicles, you have to be familiar with your state laws and other states that you are going to operate. Ensure the real-time tracking data and other telematics is safe and secured.
You have to be cautious if you choose to use GPS tracking on fleet trucks and cars business. Each state has different legal privacy regulations for employees and miuse of such devices can lead to costly lawsuits. Tracking and monitoring process requires your drivers/employee’s permission and assurance for their privacy.
Is monitoring your employee through GPS an invasion of privacy?
Being honest and upfront with your drivers about the tracking devices installed in the fleet vehicles is a good manner.
Informing and formatting a written policy with detailed reasons for installing GPS devices in a vehicle to drivers is a good practice.
This collaboration makes it clear to drivers that they are being monitored the entire journey and will notify them about the consequences of poor driving behavior or operating fleets after hours.
The above policy ensures complete transparency of your business operations and helps in building long-lasting trust.
With transparency operations, you can provide feedback on their driving performance without any hindrance and improve productivity. Information and telematics gathered from the trackers should be available to operators who have legitimate reasons to view and have those datas.
At the same time, you have to protect your driver’s privacy rights and don’t enclose other office-based managers. Finally, use legitimate approved GPS tracking devices only for legitimate business purposes and benefit from it.
Before implementing GPS devices, get legal permission from the state where your business is going to run and also provide necessary education about the device to your drivers.
Remember, you have the right to track your vehicle, but at the same time, cooperation and collaboration from your drivers are important. Make sure their private information and rights are handled responsibly and securely.