Between hustling to get loads delivered, finding your next contract and running your business, you have a lot of responsibilities as an owner-operator. And if you have more than one truck on the road, keeping up with all your vehicles can feel like an impossible task, especially if you’re still using old-school business practices. Fortunately, you can take the hassle out of monitoring your assets and get other business benefits by investing in a truck tracker solution. These devices go beyond the capabilities of an electronic logging device (ELD) and provide real-time insights you can use to thrive as an owner-operator.
Let’s take a closer look at why you may want to install a tracker on your trucks.
What are truck trackers?
Truck trackers provide information about a vehicle’s location, speed and direction of travel. However, they don’t just track vehicles — they perform a combination of functions. Top options double as an ELD. But what really sets these solutions apart is their ability to provide you with up-to-the-minute diagnostics data about each of your trucks.
While truck trackers are not required under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ELD rule, adding real-time monitoring can make running your business a whole lot easier.
10 ways truck trackers benefit owner-operators
Truck trackers allow you to maximize your earning potential and unlock numerous other benefits, such as:
- Lower fuel costs
Installing vehicle trackers can reduce fuel costs by enabling you to closely monitor your fleet’s driving habits. These devices also detect potential equipment issues that may increase fuel consumption, and the sooner you know about these issues, the faster you can remedy them.
- Improved maintenance
Other than fuel, vehicle maintenance is one of your biggest recurring expenses. While vehicle maintenance comes with the territory of being an owner-operator, resolving small problems before they become big ones can keep your expenses in check.
Truck trackers can help you follow maintenance schedules. They can also reveal mechanical issues by communicating with the truck’s computer.
- Reduced insurance costs
Some insurance companies offer discounts for installing vehicle tracking devices because these trackers promote driver safety. They can also help safeguard against theft. So you should find out whether your insurer has such a program.
- Increased productivity
Top truck tracking software includes user-friendly reporting tools that you can use to see how your staff and vehicles are performing while out on the road. This way, you can identify efficiency issues and take action to correct them before they impact your company’s bottom line.
- Automated record-keeping
Keeping up with driver logs is critical if you want to avoid fines or other penalties from the FMCSA. However, maintaining detailed records using low-level software can be a hassle.
The good news is that you can automate your recordkeeping processes with a modern truck-tracking solution. The best options do almost everything for you so you can spend more time driving, managing and turning a profit.
- Improved route planning
Since trackers have onboard GPS technology, they can also assist with route planning and optimization. Taking optimized routes leads to lower fuel costs and less wear on your truck. It saves time and helps you move on to the next load sooner.
- Enhanced customer service
Want to establish yourself as a reliable, trustworthy owner-operator? If so, you need to avoid unnecessary downtime and make your deliveries within set deadlines.
Truck trackers help you do both. A vehicle tracking solution will provide you with alerts about potential mechanical problems that could delay you. It will also optimize your routes so you can get where you are going on time. The end result is happy clients.
- Real-time monitoring
Vehicle trackers enable you to monitor your assets in real-time. Thanks to their continuous reporting features, you can easily launch your mobile app and find out where your trucks are going and how fast they are traveling. You can use these monitoring capabilities to plan your next pickups and keep your customers in the loop about delivery timelines.
- Driver behavior monitoring
Every time a driver leaves the yard in one of your trucks, you are taking on a significant amount of liability. Truck trackers allow you to hold them accountable, no matter where work takes them.
You can monitor everything from average speed during a trip to fuel efficiency. If you detect concerning behavior, you can proactively work to protect your business and your drivers.
10. Enhanced cargo security
Truck trackers are a great deterrent for thieves. If your cargo is stolen, you can provide live updates to law enforcement, which expedites the recovery process.
Are truck tracking devices a smart investment for your business?
Whether you work solo or employ a number of truck drivers, investing in a GPS tracker is an excellent way to monitor your assets. Installing truck trackers in your vehicles will provide you with real-time information about your truck’s location and status.
You can choose from many GPS and ELD solutions on the market, so we suggest doing plenty of research and weighing the pros and cons of each option before making your final decision. By doing so, you can find a tracking solution that makes your life as an owner-operator a whole lot easier.
FAQ
Some insurance companies will offer you a discounted rate if you use a vehicle tracker. Contact your insurer to learn more.
Many owner-operators find vehicle trackers to be a great investment. They are also far more affordable than you might expect.
A GPS device typically only provides truck location, speed and direction of travel. More advanced trackers provide GPS data as well as diagnostics and performance information about your trucks.
Sign up for a FreightWaves e-newsletter to stay informed of all news and trends impacting supply chain careers and operations.
