Fleet management can be challenging, but having a transportation management system (TMS) that integrates with GPS can help. GPS and transportation management systems work together to give trucking fleet managers visibility into each aspect of their operations in real time.
With automated updates and accurate performance indicators, transportation management with GPS tracking is essential for the modern trucking fleet. Learn more about GPS fleet tracking as it relates to transportation management and the benefits of incorporating these technologies into your trucking operations.
What is the purpose of GPS tracking in transportation management?
A transportation management system helps fleet managers automate many business operations to gain better control over their supply chain. These systems use fleet management software to help optimize routes, improve unsafe driving habits, and ensure DOT compliance.
GPS fleet tracking also leads to more efficient trucking operations. GPS uses satellites to pinpoint a vehicle’s exact location, allowing fleet managers to know where their trucks, drivers, and shipments are at all times.
By incorporating GPS fleet tracking into transportation management, trucking companies can gain even more insight into their operations. Since integrated fleet GPS tracking reports the exact location of trucks, managers can know where shipments are in real time without relying on direct communication with drivers. Meanwhile, fleet managers can incorporate GPS data into other key metrics for more accurate data and business insights.
5 benefits of GPS fleet tracking integration
Incorporating GPS technology into transportation management yields several key benefits, including a fleet overview, improved performance, automation, telematics and route planning.
1. Combined fleet and freight management overview
Having real-time visibility over all aspects of fleet operations is essential for efficient trucking management. Not only can GPS tracking integration report the physical location of every truck in your fleet, but this data can also be used to monitor vehicle health and utilization.
A transportation management system with GPS can also create freight status updates based on vehicle location. This freight location overview helps generate more accurate delivery time estimates and aids in efficient route planning. Meanwhile, historical operational data on drivers, equipment and vehicles can help fleet managers plan for the future.
2. Better work performance
A TMS is designed to optimize trucking company operations and enhance performance while minimizing costs. GPS integration further aids in this goal by reporting precise location data that managers can use to improve on-time delivery percentages and ensure hours of service (HOS) compliance.
When a transportation management system is integrated with GPS, fleet managers can use the data provided to minimize vehicle downtime and reduce costs. These technologies can also increase productivity by tracking past company performance, tracking current orders and predicting future operational needs.
3. Automation
A GPS-enabled fleet management system helps automate daily trucking business processes. Rather than completing manual paperwork that takes time and effort to complete and risks human error, TMS automation can handle it in the background. Managers can also instantly see which vehicle is pulling a specific trailer and verify driver logs.
A few automatons are unique to a TMS with GPS. For example, geofencing alerts can notify management when trailers arrive or depart from a designated location. Meanwhile, dynamic ETAs provide the best delivery estimate based on routing, weather and traffic conditions.
4. Better telematics
Accurate and valuable data are essential for fleet managers to make the best possible decisions regarding their fleets. Telematics helps by monitoring trucks, equipment and other assets with onboard diagnostics and GPS technology. Fleet tracking with a GPS-integrated TMS makes it much easier to access data that can affect transportation management, such as:
- Vehicle speed
- Fuel consumption
- Fault codes
- Barometric pressure
- Battery voltage
- Coolant temperature
- Engine intake temperature
- Engine load
- Reefer temperature
This data can also be used to populate automatically generate reports that help managers maximize fleet productivity.
5. Route management
As any fleet manager knows, route optimization is essential for reducing cost per mile. A TMS with GPS integration can help managers know the exact location of each vehicle in their fleets and inform them of road conditions that may affect their routing.
For example, GPS positioning combined with a fleet management system can indicate excessive idling along a route or warn of impending bad weather. Route management can also help with dispatch by providing real-time ETAs. Armed with this information, trucking companies can make route adjustments to ensure on-time delivery.
Smart dashcams with GPS tracking and TMS integration
With a fully integrated transportation management system, you can streamline your trucking business operations and enhance performance. Along with a GPS-equipped TMS, smart dashcams can help reduce costs and improve driver safety.
Optimize your trucking fleet with a fully integrated transportation management system that includes smart dashcams and GPS integration.
FAQ
Supply chain management relies on GPS for real-time shipment location updates. With this GPS data, managers can better estimate accurate arrival times and get alerted when conditions may impact ETA.
A transportation management system helps trucking and logistics businesses track the movement of goods through automated reporting and key data collection. Fleet managers can better ensure compliance and improve operating performance with this information.
GPS coordinates are usually precise to within 10 feet. This precision is accurate for transportation management purposes, allowing fleet managers to track shipments in real time.
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