The Transformative Power of Truck Location Data Utilization

Real-Time Tracking and Operational Efficiency

Benefits of GPS Truck Tracking

• Operational Efficiency: GPS truck tracking systems offer more than just accurate vehicle monitoring. They allow managers to analyze collected data and gain valuable insights on vehicle maintenance, fuel consumption, and other information to streamline workflows and optimize operations.
• Profitability and Customer Satisfaction: Improved operational efficiency leads to increased profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Compliance and Safety: Motor carriers expect GPS trackers to help manage their fleet more efficiently, comply with safety regulations, and smoothen daily processes.

HOS247 4G GPS Tracking

• Latest Technology: Incorporates a 4G LTE network that is ten times faster than 3G systems, enabling real-time fleet monitoring and more transparent communication between operators and dispatchers.
• High-Quality Devices: Offers hardwired and ELD-integrated options that are tamper-resistant and provide insightful data. Easy installation by staff.
• User-Friendly Software: Easily downloadable and installable GPS software from an internet browser.
• Accessible Online Portal: Provides accurate reports based on trackers’ data, including idling, maintenance issues, and vehicle diagnostics.
• Optimized Dispatch: Facilitates the work of dispatchers by monitoring vehicles in real-time and improving load assignment.
• Increased Security: Notifies managers of unauthorized vehicle use, accidents, and helps recover stolen assets.
• Timely Maintenance: Issues automatic alerts for preventative maintenance, ensuring compliance with safety guidelines and prolonging vehicle life.
• Significant Savings: Helps cut fuel costs by identifying and correcting inappropriate driving behaviors, reducing the carbon footprint.

How GPS Tracking Works

Integration with ELD

HOS247 GPS Tracking Devices

• 24/7 Monitoring: Offers both hardwired and ELD-based GPS hardware options. ELD-integrated hardware is set up by plugging into a vehicle’s OBD II port.
• Security: The 24/7 monitoring hardwired tamper-proof device can be concealed inside the truck. Battery-powered, it functions even when the vehicle is off.
• Data Collection: Collects GPS coordinates every 30 seconds when the truck is in motion, ensuring accurate data recollection in remote areas and any weather conditions.

Legal Considerations

• Privacy Issues: Business owners monitor the location of their drivers, which may raise privacy concerns.
• Legality: It is legal to have a GPS tracking system installed in your trucks and assets, but it is important to check federal and state laws.
• Transparency: Business owners should inform employees about the monitoring to build trust and maintain ethical working conditions.

Customer Testimonials

• Abigail Freemantle, Schrader Co: "Awesome. Easy to install and use. Top notch customer service! I recommend it to everyone.”
• Evgueni Stoupine, GMS Global Group: “Great company to deal with. The support team is very responsive and competent. They provided a great deal of education for our company.”
• Anonymous: “Customer service is great. They helped me to set up everything and showed how to edit my logs. Thank you.”

Insights into Driver Behavior and Safety Improvements

Truck Activity Analysis Using GPS Data

Key Findings

• Data Sample: The study analyzed over 338 million GPS pings from 358,092 unique trucks over an eight-week period. The trucks were categorized based on their movement patterns:
  • Internal (II): 5% of trucks with trips entirely within state boundaries.
  • Internal-External (IE): 13% of trucks with trips starting inside and ending outside the state.
  • External-Internal (EI): 9% of trucks with trips starting outside and ending inside the state.
  • External-Internal-External (EIE): 69% of trucks passing through the state with at least one stop.
  • External-External (EE): 4% of trucks passing through the state without stopping.
• Coverage: The GPS data coverage ranged from 8% on US highways to 9% on interstates, with an average coverage of 8.5% across all roadway types. Coverage varied by district, with the highest coverage in District 9 (Northwest Arkansas) at 17%.
• Performance Measures: The study calculated various performance measures, including:
  • Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled (DVMT)
  • Average Truck Speeds
  • Travel Time Reliability (TTR)
  • Travel Time Variability (TTV)
  • Daily Delay
  • Percent of the Interstate System Mileage Uncongested (PISMU)
• Interactive Maps: The study developed interactive maps using ESRI ArcGIS tools to depict these performance measures, which were published online along with an implementation guide.

Case Studies

1. Truck Parking Usage Patterns: Analysis of parking usage to identify shortages and inform capacity planning.
2. Travel Time Delays: Examination of delays resulting from accidents to understand their impact on truck travel times.
3. Spatial Impacts of Inland Waterway Ports: Analysis of truck movements related to inland ports to assess their impact on the transportation network.

Recommendations

• Policy and Infrastructure Investments: The study suggests examining how policy and infrastructure investments can shift highway-based movements to inland waterways.
• Truck Parking: Continuous measures of parking usage are critical for determining where new capacity is needed and how to manage parking demands effectively.
• Crash-Induced Delays: Targeted programs to reduce the impact of crashes on highways, such as highway assistance service patrols, would benefit the trucking industry and the traveling public.

Conclusion

Future Work

• Match stop locations to business locations to infer industry coverage.
• Combine ATRI GPS data with data from independent owner-operators.
• Utilize Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) data to improve coverage and representativeness.