GPS tracking: Real-time business fleet monitoring

No. In FleetMax GPS is entirely optional and can be fitted only to the vehicles you choose, with no need to equip the whole fleet. You might, for example, fit GPS only to the commercial vehicles or the most valuable machinery, and manage the rest as normal without any device.

This flexibility lets you start with fleet management alone and add GPS later to the vehicles where it makes sense, in line with your company's needs and budget.

FleetMax offers several GPS device models to suit different needs and vehicle types. The options range from self-install devices, which are simpler and more flexible to fit, to devices with CAN bus reading, which collect more advanced information straight from the vehicle, such as fuel level, real mileage or engine revs.

To find out which device best suits your fleet, talk to the FleetMax team and we will advise on the right solution for your case.

The FleetMax software, in both the web and mobile versions, works in any country — all you need is an internet connection to manage your fleet from anywhere.

As for the GPS service, it is available across every European country. In Portugal we handle device installation with specialist technicians. In other European countries we supply self-install devices or ship the equipment with installation handled by the client. For use outside Europe, talk to the FleetMax team so we can check service availability.

The GPS device is bought by the client at the start of the contract, and the SIM card is included for the duration of the commitment period. So once that period ends, the device is already yours and already paid for.

If you want to carry on with FleetMax, you simply renew platform access and the SIM card subscription, with nothing more to pay for the hardware. If you would rather cancel the service, the device stays in your possession and you can use it as you see fit, including with another compatible tracking service — you just swap the SIM card.

The GPS device can be moved from one vehicle to another whenever needed — after an accident, a sale or a vehicle replacement, for example. You therefore do not lose your investment in the hardware when a vehicle leaves the fleet.

If it is a self-install device you can make the swap yourself, with no technician required. In all other cases, simply contact the FleetMax team to book the transfer with a technician and update the pairing on the platform.

Geofences are geographic zones you draw on the map around places that matter to your business — sites, clients, depots or premises. Whenever a vehicle enters or leaves one of those zones, FleetMax records it and can send an automatic alert.

In practice, geofences help you know how long each vehicle spent at a site or a client, confirm visits and trips, and automatically allocate costs to cost centres based on the zones visited. They also contribute to fleet security, by making it possible to spot movement outside authorised areas or improper use of vehicles.

With FleetMax GPS you can set up a range of automatic alerts that warn you when something relevant happens in the fleet, such as:

• Speeding: when a vehicle goes over the limit you set
• Geofence entry and exit: when a vehicle enters or leaves a zone you marked out on the map
• Out-of-hours use: when a vehicle is on the move outside expected hours, at weekends or in unauthorised periods
• Vehicle being towed: when the vehicle is detected moving without being driven
• Device disconnected: when the GPS device is unplugged or removed from the vehicle

These alerts help you act in time, strengthening fleet security and making it quick to detect risky situations or improper use of vehicles.

FleetMax assesses driving style on every journey, looking at behaviours such as harsh acceleration, aggressive braking and speeding. Based on those factors it gives each journey a score that reflects the quality and safety of the driving.

By following this analysis over time you can identify the drivers with the most aggressive style, work with those who need support and encourage more efficient driving. In practice, smoother driving means lower fuel consumption, less wear on the vehicles and greater safety for drivers.