Car shipping is a fiercely competitive service, making it necessary that companies remain current on innovations and technology to remain relevant in the industry. Part of that involves tracking, a system transport companies have used for a while, but the technology is becoming more advanced. 

Many customers want the ability to trace the path of their vehicle as it’s shipped and prefer San Francisco auto shipping services that make this possible. The combination of “fleet management software and in-vehicle telematics” offers a solution whereby data is gathered for the carrier from the transported auto and driver as to the status. 

Tracking was a manual process in the distant past, but it is becoming more efficient and effective for the carrier and the client. Still, not all shippers use tracking.  It’s essential to ask the questions before committing to a transport company if there is a state-of-the-art tracking system available or if the business will you’ll be able to trace the car’s tracks as it travels. Let’s look more closely at tracking vehicles in transit. 

How Are Auto Transport Companies Tracking Vehicles in Transit

Customers shipping vehicles on their way to the final destination want a way to track the cars or trucks to know where they are on the journey. If a car transport company wants to remain relevant among the public in what is an exceptionally competitive industry, it’s critical to stay on top of the most current innovations in the field.

While manual tracking was the process in the not-so-distant past, it was still a method for gaining insight into their vehicle’s location. Not all car shipping service providers offer tracking.  If it’s a component of car shipping you must have, it’s vital to research thoroughly upfront and ask questions to ensure the business supplies the latest technology. Two primary tracking system categories are available, including passive and active tracking. 

• Passive

Passive tracking collects details on the auto’s location and saves it to either a memory card or hard drive, where it will be accessible on a later date. The tracker is placed in an auto and can be pulled from the car to plug into a computer to develop data-driven reports to show the vehicle locations throughout the trip, the length of time with each stop, and on. The problem with this tracking is it’s not in real-time. If an accident or other emergency were to happen while on the road, it would be less helpful. 

• Active

The active tracking system gathers the exact details as a passive system, which is received in real-time through cellular or satellite networking. It’s somewhat more intricate but much more beneficial and cost-efficient for setting up.  The system requires an internet connection and app availability but allows viewing of details with locations updated roughly every 10 minutes, depending on the system. Transport companies prefer these systems due to the detail they can achieve with real-time updates. 

Consider the Benefits of Vehicle Tracking

Car shipping services see many benefits when incorporating vehicle tracking into their business. 

• Communication is enhanced with the carrier and the driver

The business and the driver need clear communication that can be relayed to the customer, and routes can be remotely modified if issues arise. Carriers can also send out alerts to drivers when they notice less-than-favorable driving behavior.

• Reduced operational expenses

Car shipping companies can use their tracking systems to monitor driver routes, determine if the fleet is used for personal reasons, and allow owners to maintain cost calculations, all essential to decreasing costs and improving productivity. Drivers that outperform can be rewarded based on the savings they’re helping the company achieve. 

• Reduce risks for theft

Tracking provides real-time details to monitor the fleet and individual client autos. If those cars or trucks are stolen, the tracking system has the potential to trace its location to help authorities retrieve it.  It’s also possible to prevent vehicles from being stolen since the system will recognize unauthorized activity involving a car or truck and send a notification, allowing for a fast response to check on the activity. 

Final Thought

So many other benefits are associated with having a vehicle tracking system for cars being shipped, but primarily the customer’s peace of mind. As a rule, clients want autos to arrive as quickly as possible. Some of that is because they don’t know what’s going on with it. Go here for details on how to prepare your vehicle for efficient shipping. With vehicle tracking, they can watch as the car or truck makes its way to the arrival point.  The ability to check it at any given moment puts to rest the anxiety because you can see the driver’s efficiency and rest assured that it will get there safely, which is what ultimately matters.