Before the development of the technology of the Global Positioning System (GPS), it was practically impossible to monitor mobile assets such as trucks, cars, vans, containers, heavy equipment, and trailers once they leave the garage. Fleet managers had to rely solely on the reports of their drivers and other employees about their travel. They could never really know if the vehicles had been idle and if so, for how long, or if the prescribed route was followed. Perhaps the only measurable data they had was what came from the vehicles’ odometers.

Today, virtually all large fleets are equipped with an asset tracking system that continually feeds data to the managers. This normally consists of a vehicle-mounted electronic device that utilizes GPS signals to transmit data to the main office where these are assembled and analyzed by a computer application. Such information affords a hands-on monitoring of the vehicles in the field. These are often posted on the web so that even if a manager is himself or herself mobile, data can be accessed with a laptop. Some applications can even be programmed to forward data to the manager’s cellular phone.

With a system such as this, it is almost impossible for drivers not to follow the instructions of their managers when taking any vehicle out of the garage.