As a fleet manager, you know that commercial vehicles and their freight are valuable—but so do thieves, who are becoming ever-more creative in their attempts to steal them.
Regardless, the financial toll is high, which is why it’s crucial fleet owners take extra steps to protect their vehicles. Here are three ways GPS technology can help you with asset tracking and vehicle recovery.
- Help Recover Stolen Cargo and Vehicles
With GPS Tracking, you can locate exactly where your vehicles are if one of them is stolen. This makes the recovery more likely and less difficult.
GPS tracking can also make the recovery of your vehicle timelier. Most fleets follow set routes, so if a vehicle leaves a certain geofence, your tracking software can transmit an automatic notification in near real-time. The fleet manager can then either get in contact with the driver to find out if there’s an issue or go straight to law enforcement.
- Gather Insights from GPS Data
GPS software provides you with valuable stats you can use to protect yourself against further attacks.
In the event of a theft, you can dive into the data and analyze what happened, where, and why the event occurred. You can then take preventative steps to stop it from happening again. For example, if recurring incidents occur at a certain location, you can identify patterns and change your route accordingly.
Video dashcams add an additional layer of security. Seeing is believing, after all—and if your insurance company wants video proof of a theft, your recorded footage will be the evidence they need to process the claim. Footage can also be used as a learning tool, helping you piece together the events leading up to a theft.
- Deter Thieves
Vehicle theft can severely impact a business’ bottom line, especially if the asset in question isn’t insured. Improving technology has helped drive down incidents, but the overall downward trend has taken an uptick in recent years, as drivers become more complacent and make avoidable mistakes, like leaving their keys in the door.
This includes basic tips like locking the door, keeping the keys on your person at all times, closing windows, and staying vigilant. The organization also recommends having a visible and audible warning device, as well as an immobilizer. Finally, equip the vehicle with a GPS tracking device. If a potential thief notices a GPS tracker, they may be deterred from attempting to steal the vehicle altogether.
Not all GPS trackers are created equally
Remember, there are diverse types of GPS tracking systems to choose from. Passive GPS tracking records the vehicle’s location but doesn’t transmit it. This means you’ll need to wait until the vehicle’s back at the base before accessing all that data—something that’s not particularly helpful in the event of a theft.
Always choose active GPS tracking, which follows the vehicle and sends the data back to the hub in near real time. This helps you and the authorities locate and recover your vehicle quickly.
Along with good maintenance, GPS tracking is just another way to limit incidents and keep your fleet running smoothly. With Fleet Complete Fleet Tracker, you can follow any equipped vehicle in real-time. This includes notifications of unauthorized vehicle usage through pre-set rules and geofencing, which tells you immediately if a driver has deviated from their set route or from the area that the vehicle was not supposed to leave at that time. This allows you to respond quickly and easily before too much damage is done.
If you want to protect your assets with a GPS tracking system, learn more by contacting iTracker.
