You’ve Got Trucks on the Road Every Day, so Why Is Everyone Talking About GPS Tracking?
Anyone managing a small fleet of vehicles knows the drill by now. When vehicles roll out every morning, you’re essentially relying on your gut instinct to get them from point A to B. Calling drivers to check in on deliveries and service calls is seriously mundane, but it’s the only real way to know the current state of play in your business.
What if there were another way to do things?
There is, and three letters make it possible:
GPS.
This technology has come down in price recently, and it's not as difficult to set up anymore, making it a frankly excellent choice for not only large logistics companies but also teams on the smaller side of things like yours.
Overall, there’s less guesswork with GPS tracking for small businesses, so expect potentially more productivity and profitability within just a few months.
This blog post from LandAirSea (LAS), which specializes in GPS fleet tracking for small businesses, breaks down how this tech works, how much it costs, and why it makes so much sense for you and your team.
GPS Fleet Tracking, Explained
Okay, So What Is GPS Fleet Tracking?
The simplest explanation is probably this one:
GPS stands for the Global Positioning System, a network of satellites that orbits the Earth. Once exclusive to the U.S. military, you can now find the tech on your smartphone, laptop, or fitness tracker. It also powers small, discreet handheld products that track fleets of vehicles, such as:
- Delivery trucks
- Buses
- Rideshare vehicles
- Service vehicles
Here’s how you use GPS fleet tracking:
You attach a GPS device to a vehicle, perhaps in a place that’s out of the way and that nobody can see, such as inside the rear bumper or under the undercarriage. (Check out more of the best hiding spots for fleet tracking.) The product then pings its own location via satellite before sending data to a dashboard on your phone or computer.
Say you want to track a driver’s movements and see how long it takes them to get an order to a customer. You can conceal a fleet tracking device somewhere in their truck without them knowing, and then check where they’re going, what they’re doing, and how long they take doing it. All this happens in real time, so you can get up-to-the-minute updates at different stages of the delivery.
Larger fleet companies are already familiar with GPS tracking, but the market has shifted recently, with smaller operations like yours now reaping the benefits. You can see what’s going on in your business throughout the day, rather than calling drivers and asking them awkward questions that put them on the spot. Everyone’s a lot happier.
The other great thing about all this is that you don’t need a tech background to set everything up. You just attach your GPS device to a vehicle, download an app onto your phone or computer, customize a few settings, and start tracking almost immediately.
Benefits of Fleet Tracking for Small Businesses
What Does It Actually Do for My Team?
Small business fleet tracking has a wide range of advantages, from real-time driver visibility to better customer service.
Know Where Your Vehicles Are Right Now, Not Yesterday
Ever wondered why a particular driver took so much longer to deliver a package than others? Or have you ever found yourself guessing whether a specific job is still in progress or not? Investing in a GPS fleet tracking system answers questions like these. You’ll discover where your vehicles are at any precise moment, making life so much easier.
Now you don’t have to call drivers to get information because your GPS dashboard tells you everything you need to know.
Reduce Fuel Costs
Drivers who take the wrong route or the long way round can add hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars to your fuel bills every year, depending on the size of your fleet. Imagine this didn’t happen, and your team could get to where they needed to go quickly. Real-time tracking finds the best route every time!
Get Driving Insights
With GPS, you don’t just find out where your vehicles are; you also see exactly how drivers are driving them. The best products provide real-time insights into things like speed, idling patterns, and hard braking, which can help team members improve their performance on the road and not get pulled over by the cops (always bad for your reputation).
Improve Customer Service
If a customer asks where their delivery is, what do you tell them currently? Perhaps you don’t say a lot because there’s just no way to track your fleet in real time. After installing GPS devices in your vehicles, you can be much more specific, helping you manage customer expectations and provide better service.
Become More Organized
The insights GPS devices provide are second to none, making you and your team more organized overall. For instance, you can see which delivery routes are likely to have traffic and quickly direct drivers elsewhere if there’s a jam. Or, you can discover where you’re losing time and resources during the day. If someone who works for you is taking a 30-minute break for lunch when they’re only supposed to have 15, you’ll know about it soon enough.
Any industry with a fleet of vehicles will benefit from handheld GPS devices, including:
- Logistics/freight (monitoring drivers/long-haul shipments)
- Plumbing (tracking service calls more effectively)
- HVAC (optimizing routes for equipment installs)
- Food and beverage (better adherence to delivery windows)
- Waste management (improving collections)
The Price of GPS Fleet Tracking
All Right, So How Much Is This Going to Cost Me?
GPS fleet tracking costs all depend on:
- The size of your fleet
- What type of devices you get and how many
- How much manufacturers charge to provide location insights
- Whether there are additional fees to set things up
Typically, this is how it goes: You pay a one-time cost for the device hardware itself, with some products costing more than others, depending on features, size, and so on. Manufacturers also typically charge a monthly subscription fee per vehicle for location insights, which is all the information that appears on your dashboard. If you don’t pay for this, you’ll have a GPS device, but you won’t be able to do much with it.
Here’s an example of a fleet tracking system cost:
At LAS, the price of the 54, the company’s flagship and entry-level GPS device, is normally $39.95, making it cheaper than many competitors on the market. You’ll then need to choose a subscription plan, which ranges from $19.95 to $49.95 per month, depending on how often you want location updates. There are no activation fees or contracts, and you’ll save even more cash by prepaying for a 6-month, 1-year, or 2-year subscription ahead of time.
An even more specific example: It costs $34.95 per month to receive updates on a driver’s location every 30 seconds. In total, that’s $74.90 per month. That’s just the cost of one device for one vehicle, mind. If you have a fleet of, say, 3 vehicles, the price will be $224.70 per month for the 30-second plan. If you have a fleet of 10 vehicles, the same plan costs $749 per month.
That said, LAS offers custom fleet tracking costs for companies with multiple vehicles, so get a free quote and see exactly how much you’ll end up paying. It could be a lot less than you think. Plus, you might save money in the long run by optimizing routes, reducing fuel, and other factors.
(All prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing.)
Again, this is all just a guide to help you out. The answer to the question, “How much does fleet tracking cost?” depends on your specific needs, how frequently you want updates, and how many vehicles you want to track.
How to Choose a GPS Fleet Tracking System
How Do I Pick the Right One?
There’s quite a lot of fleet management software for small businesses on the market now, so where do you start? Here are some things to think about before choosing a product:
Installation
Getting everything set up for fleet management shouldn’t be hard at all. If a manufacturer needs to send someone to install devices in your business, that’s probably a red flag that the tech will be difficult to use. There’s no reason you can’t get started yourself, even if you’ve never used a GPS fleet tracking system before.
Mobile App
While GPS hardware connects to satellites to provide location data, you’ll be checking insights day to day on its associated app, so you’ll have to feel comfortable using this technology.
LAS’s Silvercloud app, available for free on PC or mobile devices, provides information for the company’s GPS products. Use it to see someone’s location, check braking and speed data, plan routes, and more.
Customer Support
If something doesn’t work or you need help troubleshooting your device, you’ll have to turn to the manufacturer’s customer support team. Find out how easy it is to get help before you purchase one of their GPS devices, and whether you can contact a rep via phone, email, or live chat.
Your Unique Use Case
Ultimately, the best GPS fleet tracking for small business purposes depends on your needs. For instance, if you’re discreetly monitoring drivers, size matters, and you’ll want to pick a compact device that’s easy to hide in a vehicle. If you’re trying to improve driver performance, choose software that provides insights about speed, idling patterns, and more.
Most of the time, you won’t need the enterprise-level fleet management software used by DHL, USPS, or other massive logistics and freight companies. This provides telematics and other advanced capabilities you probably don’t require, making the subscription cost a waste of money. Instead, you’ll benefit from more “basic” features such as movement alerts and route history, which companies like LAS offer for an affordable monthly price.
Fleet Tracking and Saving Money
Will I Save Cash or Not?
If you pick the right device and software, small business fleet tracking could provide a nice return on investment when all is said and done. Here’s how:
Fuel Savings
The more vehicles in your fleet, the higher your fuel costs every month. While GPS fleet tracking won’t change the price at the pump, it gives you smarter routing and idle time insights so you can make every dollar of gas go further. According to one study, users of GPS fleet tracking saved 16 percent on fuel costs in 2025.
Labor Savings
When you start fleet tracking properly, you’ll see which drivers are taking too long on the road, which routes are ineffective, and so on. All of this helps you identify cost savings in your small business and make it more profitable.
Insurance Savings
Some insurance companies offer rebates and lower prices if you install GPS devices in vehicles. So, although these products cost money, you could pay less in premiums every month and plough any savings back into your business.
Fewer Maintenance Costs
GPS devices help identify driving issues among team members, such as idling and speeding. By identifying these concerns early, you can stamp out bad habits and avoid costly repairs from vehicle damage.
More Efficient Dispatching
With fleet tracking, you can get the right vehicle to the right place, with less wasted time between deliveries and/or service calls. Overall, your dispatch process will become quicker and more effective.
Quickly Respond to Theft
Another use for GPS trackers is to protect valuable items that you might keep in vehicles or deliver to customers. If someone steals one of your fleet, you’ll see exactly where they went and can quickly alert the police. In fact, the best devices notify you immediately if a vehicle leaves a pre-determined area that you choose, called a geofence.
You could see these benefits in as little as a few months. It all depends on how consistently you use your tracking software and how quickly you act on the insights it provides.
GPS Fleet Tracking FAQs
The Questions LAS Hears the Most
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about GPS trackers:
Is a GPS Fleet Tracking System Difficult to Install?
No, the best manufacturers make things easy with simple instructions, video tutorials, online guides, and a customer support team you can contact when you need them.
The LAS 54 has a simple three-step activation process that almost anyone can follow.
Do My Drivers Have To Do Anything After Installing a GPS Device?
No, you don’t even have to tell them you’re using GPS devices. Once you securely place a tracker in a vehicle, that’s it until you remove it again, with everything happening on your phone or computer via the corresponding mobile app.
Can a Vehicle Support a GPS Tracker If It Doesn’t Have an OBD-II Port?
It should be fine, as you can attach most GPS products to multiple places in a vehicle, including under the dash and behind the rear screen bumper.
LAS’s 54 and Overdrive trackers don’t need an OBD-II port because they come with rechargeable batteries, and you can place them almost anywhere that’s convenient to you.
Is the Data on a GPS Device Secure?
It should be, but again, it depends on the brand and how it handles these kinds of things. A lot of information comes with GPS fleet tracking for small businesses, so the company should protect it and not share it with third parties.
What Happens if a GPS Device Gets Lost or Stolen?
You’ll be able to track it and learn what happened if you’ve set everything properly. If you can’t get it back, you may receive a replacement or have to purchase a new product, depending on the manufacturer’s policies.
Have a question about GPS tracking for your small business? Contact LAS at 847-462-8100.
Summing Everything Up
AKA The Bottom Line
It never used to be, but GPS is 100 percent accessible for small fleets like yours right now. The good news is that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a monthly contract made for enterprises anymore.
To recap, GPS fleet tracking for small businesses offers the following benefits:
- Driver visibility
- Asset protection
- Theft awareness
- Fuel savings
- Potentially more performance, productivity, and profit
The next step? Choosing the right small business fleet tracking system. One option is an LAS device, which provides real-time, accurate location data insights thanks to the Silvercloud mobile app. Check out these products now, and take fleet management to a whole new level. In a few months, you could start seeing a real return on your investment.
