GPS Technology Offers Many Features

Our family recently took a trip in our minivan using GPS technology. We used it for all the typical reasons—primarily to get us from here to there and back again as quickly as possible. We were able to tell how long it was going to be to the next turn or exit from the interstate. And we also used the “time remaining” and “distance remaining” features to know how much longer our trip was going to take (eager to get home, we were repeatedly disappointed at that information).

All those uses are pretty typical for anyone taking advantage of GPS’s regular features. But GPS technology’s abilities go way beyond that and can be used for a variety of purposes, many of which can be helpful to companies that engage numerous vehicles—from just a few trucks to a large fleet. GPS technology can give management a great deal of information on each vehicle, if such features are activated.

While not exhaustive, the list below gives other uses for GPS technology beyond its basic “when will we get there?” features.

• Some GPS networks allow employers not only to track location and speed of their vehicles, but also to alert supervisors when a driver is exceeding the speed limit. These network systems update information every few seconds, so anyone overseeing the driver’s speed can tell whether it’s a momentary lapse, whether the driver is speeding to make it up a hill (in the case of large trucks, for instance), or whether it’s an ongoing problem for which the driver needs to be warned or disciplined.


• Another asset that GPS technology offers is the use of an integrated fuel card. Simply put, this is a charge card that drivers are required to use when purchasing gasoline for company vehicles. Details about the fuel purchase—where, when, how much, and even a report on the truck’s fuel efficiency—are all fed immediately into the GPS database.


• Today’s large trucks are equipped with an Electronic Control Module (ECM). It’s designed to govern the truck engine’s emissions, fuel efficiency, and so on. The ECM can be electronically linked to a GPS network, allowing companies further immediate feedback on engine performance and potential mechanical problems.

It should be noted that many of these features cost extra beyond the initial investment in the GPS devices. Some are available only through subscription or by paying extra monthly fees.

Google+
GPS Technology Offers Many Features