Track Your Truck vehicle tracking solutions combine sophisticated GPS tracking technology with flexible, advanced mapping and reporting software. A GPS-enabled vehicle tracking device is installed on each vehicle to collect and transmit tracking data via a cellular or satellite network, whichever works best for your operations. But how exactly do you track a vehicle with GPS?

The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is powered by a global radio navigation system made up of a minimum of 24 operational satellites that continually orbit Earth. All GPS trackers rely on the same data from this satellite network to track and calculate the vehicle’s location.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network emits radio signals from medium Earth orbit to communicate with your GPS device. Receivers process the data contained within these signals to compute the exact position of the GPS device as well as their time and the velocity of travel. The data is then sent to your computer or smartphone using the cellular network.

GPS operation is based on trilateration, which uses the position of three or more satellites and their distance from the GPS device to determine latitude, longitude, elevation and time. Information about the satellite location and signal travel time of at least four satellites will quickly and accurately calculate your vehicle’s travel route, speed and more.

• Install a GPS tracking device in each vehicle or asset you want to track.
• Signals are transmitted from the satellite to the receiver.
• The receiver calculates the distance between itself and the satellites in real time.
• A report is created showing your vehicle’s travel distance or movement, coordinates and speed.
• The data is transmitted to the GPS server using a wireless or cellular network.
• GPS servers allow end-users to access reports in real-time from their computer, smartphone or tablet.
• End-users can set up automated alerts for the information that is most relevant to their needs.

Tracking a vehicle with GPS can help provide real-time or historic navigation data no matter the journey. Even if the satellite signals get blocked, the GPS tracker can use cell tower signals to estimate the vehicle’s location instead. The primary purpose of this GPS technology is to track and report your vehicle’s real-time location. The data can be utilized in various ways, reporting information such as speed, direction, idle time, diagnostics and breadcrumb trails of where the vehicle has traveled.