Short answer
A vehicle tracking system is a GPS device fitted to a vehicle that sends location, speed, ignition and operating data over the mobile network to a server, where this information is shown as maps and reports on a computer or phone. The fleet owner sees where the vehicles are, which routes they take and how long they run; planning, cost tracking and security decisions are based on this data.
How does the system work?
A small tracking device is fitted in the vehicle, usually behind the dashboard or somewhere out of sight. The device determines its location from satellites and sends this information to the server at regular intervals through its SIM card. The vehicle's ignition, speed, stops and operating time are sent the same way.
On the user side, there is a web panel or a mobile app. Here, vehicles appear on a map, past routes can be replayed, and daily and monthly reports can be generated. On a road with no network coverage, the device keeps the data in memory and sends it when the signal returns.
How often the location is sent can be adjusted. Frequent updates draw a smoother route on the map but use more data. When the vehicle is stationary, updates become less frequent, and they become more frequent once it starts moving. These settings are made according to the fleet's needs.
After installation, each vehicle is identified on the panel by a name or license plate, and vehicles are divided into groups. For example, if vehicles going to Siverek and Viranşehir are tracked in separate groups, regional managers see only their own vehicles and reporting becomes easier.
What information does it provide?
Even a basic system collects important information for fleet management. With additional sensors and connections, this list grows.
Not every fleet needs all of this information. For a distribution company, the arrival time at the delivery point matters, while for a company renting out construction equipment, operating hours and whether the machine has left the site matter more. Deciding before installation which information will be useful to you avoids unnecessary sensor and reporting costs.
- Real-time location and route history
- Speed and exceeding a set limit
- Ignition on, ignition off and idling time
- Entering and leaving a defined area (geofence)
- Use outside working hours
- Mileage and operating hours
- With additional connections, fuel level, door opening or refrigeration temperature
- Which driver used the vehicle, via a driver card
What does it bring to a fleet?
The most concrete benefit is planning. A dispatcher who knows where each vehicle is sends the vehicle closest to the customer; vehicles do not go to the same area twice. For a team providing service between fields on the Harran Plain or a company distributing between districts, this cuts unnecessary mileage.
The second benefit is cost tracking. Long idling, use outside working hours and speeding show up in the reports. These directly affect fuel consumption and tire and brake wear. The effect on fuel varies with the makeup of the fleet and driving habits; you see it in your own reports by comparing before and after.
The third benefit is security. The location of a stolen vehicle can be tracked, and with some devices the ignition can be cut remotely. Maintenance is reminded based on mileage, and inspection and insurance dates are not missed.
How large these benefits are varies from business to business. Writing down the problem you want to solve before installing the system makes it easier to judge, a few months later, whether the system is working for you.
Expert note: Before installing the system, decide who will read which report and how often; if the reports are not checked regularly, data piles up but is not reflected in decisions.
- Live location and route
- Idling and operating time
- Speed and zone violations
- Maintenance and inspection reminders
- Driver identification
- Mileage and usage report
Device types
Wired devices connect to the vehicle’s electrical system and read the ignition and other signals directly. They are the most common choice for fleet vehicles. The installation must not damage the vehicle’s electrical system; if the vehicle is new, check the installation conditions of the manufacturer and the authorized service.
Plug-and-play devices plug into the vehicle’s diagnostic socket. They are easy to install but also easy to remove; the driver can unplug the device.
Battery-powered devices work without an electrical connection and are usually used for assets such as trailers, construction machinery or containers. They send their location less often but can run for a long time without a battery change.
The type of vehicle also matters when choosing a device. Trucks, minibuses, construction machinery and passenger cars have different electrical systems. Extra needs, such as a temperature sensor in refrigerated vehicles or engine-hour tracking in construction machinery, change the choice of device.
Drivers and KVKK
A vehicle tracking system records the vehicle’s location, and therefore where the driver using it is. This information may count as personal data under Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data. Employees need to be informed about the system in writing, and you need to decide for what purpose and how long the data will be kept and who will see it.
The scope of tracking should be set carefully, especially when the vehicle is also given for private use outside working hours. For the details of the legal obligations, it is best to consult an expert.
Talking openly with drivers also makes the system easier to accept. Explaining from the start that the system is installed for planning and safety reduces objections.
You should also decide who will have access to the data. Setting permissions in the panel so that each user sees only the vehicles and reports they need both helps protect personal data and prevents confusion.
What is it used for?
Besides large transport companies, small businesses with just a few vehicles also use vehicle tracking for different purposes.
- Delivery planning for distribution and courier vehicles
- Job dispatching for service and technical team vehicles
- Route tracking for staff and school shuttles
- Engine-hour tracking for agricultural machinery and tractors
- Monitoring use of construction machinery outside the site
- Location and mileage tracking for rental vehicles
Expert note: If route information for shuttle vehicles will be shared with parents or employees, decide from the start what will be shared and who will see it.
Questions to ask when choosing
When getting a quote, ask not only about the device price but also about the monthly or annual terms of use for the software, who pays for the SIM card and line, where and for how long the data is stored, and whether reports can be exported. Whether the device can later be moved to another software platform is also an important question.
Try out the mobile app as well. For a manager working in the field, being able to see the vehicles quickly on the phone is as important as getting reports on the computer. You should also discuss how easy it is to reach the support line and how a faulty device will be replaced.
Desa Bilişim installs and sets up vehicle tracking systems and works with you to decide the device and report setup your fleet needs.
Frequently asked
Does a vehicle tracking device drain the car battery?
Correctly installed devices run in low-power mode when the ignition is off. If a vehicle will be left unused for a very long time, the device's standby consumption and the condition of the vehicle's battery should be assessed together.
Does it work outside the city and on rural roads?
Because the location comes from satellites, it can be determined anywhere. Sending the data depends on the mobile network; where there is no coverage, the device stores the data and sends it when the signal returns.
How large a fleet does it make sense for?
It can be installed on a single vehicle too, for example against theft. The benefits of planning and cost reports become more noticeable as the number of vehicles grows. The decision depends on how the fleet is managed and which problem you want to solve.
Let’s set up the right tracking for your fleet
Tell us how many vehicles you have and what you most want to track, and we’ll plan it together.
