What Is GPS Fleet Management?

Learn More
< Back to Glossary

Introduction

By combining GPS fleet tracking and telematics technologies, GPS fleet management can unlock valuable information about fleets and help them to improve their operations. 

With GPS fleet management, fleet managers are able to do things like track their vehicles’ speed and location with GPS technologies, while also receiving information on engine status and safety measures via telematics devices. This is just a small sample of the wide array of data that GPS fleet management software collects. 

GPS fleet management software has many benefits. It can help fleets to improve their maintenance operations, boost their safety record, and lower their fuel consumption.


The technologies behind GPS fleet management software are advanced, but most systems are user-friendly and easy to operate.  

What Is GPS Fleet Management? 

The term “GPS fleet management” refers to fleet management software that uses telematics and GPS fleet tracking technologies. In order to understand what GPS fleet management is, it’s important to be familiar with its components—GPS, telematics, GPS fleet tracking, and fleet management software. 

What Is GPS? 

GPS is a navigation system that can provide data such as location, time synchronization, and velocity. It works on land, in the air, and even at sea – anywhere a satellite signal is available. 

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS was originally created by and for the United States military. The system has been around since the first GPS satellite was launched in February of 1978.

In March of 1996, US president Bill Clinton recognized the importance of GPS for civilian use and declared GPS a dual-use system. This allowed it to be used by both the military and civilians. He also created an executive board to manage GPS.

The United States federal government provides GPS technology—for peaceful uses—globally and free of charge. 

The Three GPS Segments 

GPS is made up of three components known as “segments”. These segments work together to provide GPS functionality. The segments are space, control, and user. 

  • Space – The space segment is comprised of 28 satellites. Each satellite has its own orbit, approximately 11,000 nautical miles above the surface of Earth. 
  • Control – The control segment consists of five ground stations, spaced all over the world. They interact with the space segment to make sure the satellites are in working order. 
  • User – The user segment is composed of receivers. Receivers interact with satellites to pinpoint their exact location. 

What Is GPS Fleet Tracking? 

GPS fleet tracking involves using GPS receivers inside of fleet vehicles to track their location, speed, route, and more. This information is sent to the fleet manager who can use it to understand driver behavior, reduce dangerous driving habits, and improve vehicle efficiencies.

What Is Telematics? 

Telematics combines GPS tracking with on-board diagnostics. A large amount of data can be collected with telematics devices and other sensors. This includes information such as vehicle speed, vehicle location, idling time, fuel consumption, and seat belt use. Telematics devices often plug into a vehicle’s OBD-II port to record engine data as well. 

What Is Fleet Management Software?

Fleet management software is a centralized information system used by companies to help them better manage, synchronize, and organize their fleets. Fleet management software helps ensure fleets run efficiently.


The goal of fleet management software is to reduce operating costs and boost the fleet’s performance. In addition, the software helps fleets keep on top of government regulations. 

Fleet management software has a number of useful functionalities, like route optimization and planning, maintenance scheduling, and safety monitoring. 

When you combine fleet management software with GPS fleet tracking and telematics technologies, you get GPS fleet management. 

Benefits of GPS Fleet Management 

GPS fleet management software harnesses the power of both GPS fleet tracking and telematics to help boost your fleet’s productivity and efficiency. There are many benefits to utilizing GPS fleet management. Here are three of the top ones.  

Optimize Your Fleet’s Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is a big expense for most fleets. Fleet managers know that it can be costly to pay for vehicle repairs and unexpected breakdowns. GPS fleet management software can help fleets reduce both of these expenses. 

For one, the software lets managers track vehicle performance. This provides them with the information needed to optimize maintenance activities. OBDII devices can interface directly with a vehicle’s on-board computer, providing alerts before a maintenance problem would otherwise be noticed.

GPS fleet management software also records maintenance history. In the event of a breakdown, technicians can utilize this information to help pinpoint the exact problem. The software can often even locate the closest shop for outsourcing repairs. 

Improve Your Fleet’s Safety

GPS fleet management software can utilize the power of the data from its many sensors to significantly improve the safety of your fleet. 

The software can help fleet managers monitor driver behavior and identify dangerous driving habits, such as not using a seatbelt and aggressive acceleration. 

This allows fleet managers to train and coach individual drivers based on their specific needs. Vehicle collisions are incredibly expensive for fleets. The sooner poor driving habits are corrected, the better.

Monitor Fuel Usage

Often the greatest monthly expense for fleets is fuel. It accounts for a big percentage of operating costs. It’s therefore important for fleets to track their vehicles’ fuel efficiency thoroughly and accurately. 

GPS fleet management software can do just that. It shows the approximate amount of fuel used by each fleet vehicle. The software also lets fleet managers track data such as idle time and fuel expenses. 

GPS fleet management software can also provide information on fuel consumption that helps managers to increase their fleet’s fuel efficiency. Fleet managers can identify fuel-guzzling vehicles that need maintenance work, or drivers who are frequently idling. 

Conclusion 

The complementary combination of telematics and GPS fleet tracking technologies makes GPS fleet management software a powerhouse of information. This information can be used by fleet managers in a number of ways to improve their fleet’s efficiency and optimize its performance. Three important ways that fleets benefit from GPS fleet management software are superior maintenance, safety, and fuel monitoring. 

< Back to Glossary

Fleet Dispatching

Dispatch software is a lifesaver when it comes to organizing your dispatch process and keeping operations streamlined. It offers a variety of features that make daily procedures so much easier, from fleet tracking to reports that help businesses make decisions. What features does dispatch software offer, and how do these features benefit fleets? We will break this down for you. 

Assign and Monitor Jobs

It is easy to assign and monitor jobs with dispatch software because it uses fleet tracking. Fleet tracking allows you to assign jobs to crews in the field. If you need a lead technician for a job, it’s simple to attach that lead tech to any job you need. You can even sort jobs based on their status, whether they’re one-time, recurring, or multi-day, or based on urgency. 

When workers finish jobs, they can mark the job as complete on their end. This way, you can know when each job concludes and when your technician moves on to their next task. 

Easier Communication

Back and forth calls between technicians and managers are no longer a problem. With dispatch software, you simply input the job you want your technicians to address. Your technicians access it from their phones and know what to do from there. When they’re done, they can mark it complete and view their next job right away. They can track their time, update their schedules, and input notes all while on the go. Everything you need to know will be on your screen when you need to know it, no need to track the information down. 

Improve Customer Service

Dispatch software can improve your business’s customer service reputation in a variety of ways. Firstly, GPS tracking allows for route optimization software, which gets your technicians to their destinations quickly and efficiently. No more late technicians making your customers wait. Furthermore, dispatch software allows you to assign technicians to customers they already know, building an improved relationship with your business. And with all of your customer information in one place, it’s easy to respond to disputes and issues in a timely and personal manner. 

All of your client and order information is available in a field service CRM that details everything you need to know about your customers and the jobs you’ve done for them. 

How to Get Dispatch Software

Azuga offers state-of-the-art dispatch software that your business is sure to benefit from every single day. These benefits will improve your fleet’s daily operations, boost customer service, and maximize productivity among your workers. These features and more bring your fleet to its maximum potential, allowing you to focus on making important decisions to help the business grow and thrive. Find out everything you can do with dispatch software by trying out a free demo today. You’re certain to be impressed with the improvements.

Read More

Multi-Drop Route Planning

A multi-drop route planner is a process that plans a route for a driver to make more than two deliveries in multiple locations. It uses vehicle routing software to collect and analyze thousands of data points and determine the best delivery route. This route planning software can plan, re-route, and reschedule without causing any danger to the driver, environment, or business. It considers many factors, such as the number of distribution centers, warehouses, or residential areas a driver has to visit, resource availability, and driver safety. 

How Does Multi-Drop Route Planning Work? 

The route optimization software tracks the vehicle while factoring in when deliveries need to arrive. Of course, a human being should ensure that everything has been planned out properly, but the process should be automatic. Both this person and the system should look at distances, travel time, and fuel consumption. 

Once a route is set, the route optimization software compiles data to choose the best vehicle and driver depending on the delivery. It uses data based on the route and the client’s needs. At this point, it also considers the driver’s hours and weather conditions to determine how much time is needed. These systems need to work in real-time to ensure that managers and clients can connect with up-to-date information. 

Benefits of Multi-Drop Route Planning

There are various benefits to multi-drop route planning. It maximizes productivity, keeps fuel costs low, promotes driver safety, and helps businesses stay compliant with federal driver hour regulations. Your business will save money by using its drivers effectively and not using as much fuel. 

Where to Get Multi-Drop Route Planning Software

If you’re looking for this software, you don’t need to search any further! Azuga’s route optimization software allows for multiple stops. It provides the best routes based on historical data, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and machine learning that helps it create the best routes for you in real-time. See what you can do with route planning software by trying out a demo today!

Read More

Fleet Dispatching

If you manage a fleet, you probably already understand the delicate dance that is fleet dispatching. If not, you may not realize just how crucial this process is to the success of any fleet-based business. 

What Is Fleet Dispatching?

Simply put, fleet dispatching is the process by which commercial fleet drivers are sent out into the field to make deliveries, service customers, and handle other business-related tasks. But it involves so much more than simply telling drivers, “you go there.” Good fleet dispatching may also involve considerations for traffic conditions, road hazards, driver skill sets, customer preferences, and onboard equipment. When done correctly, it’s a skillful juggling act that helps a business reach its daily goals. When poorly handled, it can be a disaster for all concerned.

What Is a Fleet Dispatcher?

A fleet dispatcher is a person in charge of scheduling and arranging dispatch for a commercial fleet. Small fleets may have a single dispatcher to manage all calls, while larger enterprise fleets may employ an entire team. 

A fleet dispatcher must clearly understand schedules and routes, job proficiencies, fuel management, fleet maintenance, and regulations related to hours of service and other fleet compliance issues. A good fleet dispatcher knows the drivers in the fleet well and can anticipate their scheduling needs and which jobs they are most suited to handle. Fleet dispatchers must be masters of communication and have elite organizational skills.

Fleet Dispatch Software from Azuga

Fleet dispatching is as much an art as a science, and it can be overwhelming at times. The best way to support the fleet dispatchers on your team is to give them tools and technology that make the job easier. Fortunately, Azuga offers the answers to all of your fleet dispatching conundrums

Our GPS Fleet Tracking software can keep track of all the vehicles in your fleet along with large equipment and other assets. Dispatchers can use this information to see which vehicles are nearby when a job pops up. What’s more, we offer top-notch route optimization tools to help guide drivers around road construction, accidents, and other hazards that might prevent them from getting to their destination on time. We can even help you schedule routine maintenance, promote road safety, and automatically deliver dispatch notifications to drivers in the field. 

Learn about all the ways Azuga Fleet can help your commercial fleet stay productive and efficient while simplifying maintenance schedules and creating a culture of safety on the road. Schedule an Azuga demo today!

Read More