10 Best GPS Trackers for Managing Smaller Fleets

Fleet management isn’t a new concept. While the pandemic has reinvigorated the essence of telecommuting and remote offices, fleets in general, have been active for almost a decade, or even more. The idea of truckers reaching far into the interstates with substantial freight isn’t something that requires revisiting.

However, fleet management hasn’t been gauged seriously before the advent of the pandemic. While the occasional mishap has always been around the corner, truckers and fleet managers never had to pair high-cost fleet management applications, which eventually kept the logistical and mobility costs to a minimum.

The pandemic, however, has changed things with the trucks, cars, carriages, or a group of vehicles comprising a smaller fleet, requiring discretionary monitoring. Also, better integration between the connected fleet vehicles has started gaining predominance in the post-pandemic era.

But, tracking or management software only works to perfection if the main hub can establish consistent connections with the vehicles. This is why it is more than important to divert attention towards the relevant GPS trackers before talking about the software solutions at length.

Why Fleet Tracking is necessary?

Let us first address the elephant in the room before enlisting the resources for the same. With safety and cost being the most important considerations while running fleets, tracking solutions allow managers to keep a close eye on driver safety, real-time locational insights, vehicle maintenance requirements, and even fuel consumption.

Also, with trucks now instructed to barge into the remote areas for providing emergency supplies, tracking and management allow managers to plan the routes better, without impacting the HOS. Plus, tracking software allows the truckers to keep a close eye on the DOT loopholes whilst keeping violations and citations out of the way, proactively.

But then, making the most of these fleet management perks is impossible without having the best GPS tracker by your side. In the subsequent sections, we shall take a closer look at the best devices for managing smaller fleets with significant ease.

Best GPS Trackers For Small Fleets

Matrack OBD Fleet Tracker: Best Overall

Highlights

• Weather-proof
• Real-time Alerts
• Geofencing support
• Low battery alerts

Review

The best thing about Matrack is its exceptional range of products, starting from solar hardwired units to detachable, classic OBG plug-ins. While the hardwired fleet tracker is good enough for the older vehicles and more as an asset tracker for detachable trailers, we shall be talking about the MA-OBD plug-in variant, simply for the sake of usability.

This tracker allows you to monitor the vehicle conditions by offering insights into the diagnostics. Plus, its weather-proof nature ensures versatile usage whereas the rugged layout makes it easy to carry around. 

As far as the feature sets are concerned, this is one of the few GPS trackers to allow aggressive tracking, whilst offering road assistance. Plus, you get two real-time updates daily, either as an SMS notification or an email alert. 

Overall, if you seek a complete fleet tracker with GPS capabilities, the MA-OBD from Matrack is the best possible option.

Pros

• One year warranty on the product
• Waterproof for braving extreme weather conditions
• Aggressive theft tracking supported
• Offers road assistance

Cons

• Requires an OBD port

Family1st OBD Tracker: Best Runner-Up

Highlights

• Subscription-based setup
• Excellent tech support
• Can support indoor tracking via wireless networks
• Theft-prevention supported

Review

In case you are interested in a reliable and efficient OBD tracker that doesn’t only track the fleet but also offers historical data-centric insights for 365 days, it is best to invest in the Family1st OBD tracker.

As far as the features are concerned, real-time fleet tracking and monitoring are more than obvious. This product also offers Geofencing support, ensuring that the fleet only moves in and out of the approved regions.

Coming to the notifications, Family1st supports email and SMS-specific updates whilst helping you monitor engine diagnostics in real-time. 

Also, this is one of the few fleet trackers that make driver safety details available to fleet managers. Finally, if you are interested in a device that can monitor the miles, braking activity, late hours, hard acceleration, and other elusive details, the Family1st OBD tracker is the best bet to go with. 

Pros

• Helps you manage drivers based on their habits
• Allows you to store data for up to one year
• Easy to use and install
• Real-time updates are quick

Cons

• Doesn’t work in absence of an OBD interface

Optimus 2.0: Best for Clandestine Usage

Highlights

• Magnet case
• State-of-art proprietary software
• Customized alerts

Review

For those who are looking to use a fleet tracker in the clandestine mode, the Optimus 2.0 comes forth as a pretty reliable option, courtesy of the excellent real-time vehicle tracking performances and its ability to help managers monitor speed and route details.

While for some fleets the 10-sec customization window might be way too much and not at par with the commercial GPS trackers, it can still be an asset for the convoys moving non-essential products and on defined routes.

This tracker comes with an affordable subscription plan but you can connect with the company to get a better deal for your commercial resources. However, the subscription model can be a hassle for most companies despite being easy to activate.

Also, the Optimus 2.0 boasts a 12-day battery backup and comes equipped with a pretty loaded companion application for monitoring speed and other metrics, sans lags. 

Pros

• Sleek and portable
• Comes with an SOS feature
• Decent battery life

Cons

• Subscription renewal might get frustrating at times

LandAirSea 54: Best Waterproof

Highlights

• Compatible with Google Maps
• Provision for pairing a SIM card
• Completely waterproof

Review

Most fleet managers prefer nifty and portable waterproof GPS trackers for braving diverse weather conditions. If you come with similar priorities, we would recommend the LandAirSea 54 as the preferred GPS tracker. 

If you want additional insights into the durability quotient of this GPS tracker, it is the extraordinary casing that makes it a great bet for real-time fleet tracking. Plus, the accommodative nature towards historical data and Geofencing also make the LandAirSea 54 tracker a lucrative bet.

Lastly, the battery lasts for at least a month, as tested by our experts. 

Pros

• Durable structure for withstanding inclement weather conditions
• Supports email alerts
• Massive battery life

Cons

• Requires a subscription plan

Aspenta Vectu: Best in terms of Portability

Highlights

• Small and stealthy
• Supports push notifications
• App-based compatibility

Review

The Aspenta Vectu GPS tracker should be one of your most preferred bets if you are looking for a more portable device in the concerned space. Firstly, this product offers SMS support and push notification access to the managers, thereby allowing them to stay connected with the individuals behind the wheels 

However, the best fleet-specific feature has to be its ability to locate the connected vehicles from a distance of 16 feet. The extended range followed by the availability of real-time updates makes the Aspenta Vectu worth investing in.

But then, you would still require a subscription plan to deploy this device at its topmost potential. 

Pros

• Excellent range
• Multi-OS compatibility
• Portable 

Cons

• Pricey subscription plan

Read more: How do GPS Tracking Devices Work?

Geotab GO7: Best for Geofencing

Highlights

• Works best with proprietary fleet management software
• Perfect for Geofencing
• Detects reverse collisions

Review

The Geotab GO7 is one of the more resilient and reliable fleet trackers on the market, best suited for OBD integration and detecting unwanted accidents. Therefore, any vehicle with an OBD port can hardly go wrong with this inventive device.

As far as the feature sets are concerned, this tracker comes equipped with support for Geofencing and idling. This means, as a manager, you can very easily keep a track of the driver’s whereabouts, whilst monitoring productivity, consistently. 

Also, this is one of the few trackers on the list that can help you keep a tack on the seatbelt usage of the driver, specifically for sending out warnings for countering DOT violations. 

Pros

• All-inclusive tracker
• Notifies truckers of seatbelt usage
• Best for fleet smarting under regulatory issues

Cons

• Pricey

MasTrack MT-OBD: Best for Live Feeds

Highlights

• Works perfectly if the vehicle has an OBD port
• Offers Geofencing support
• The tracker itself is powered by the vehicle

Review

If you want to get rid of the tracker batteries and the lingering issues relevant to charging, the MasTrack MT-OBD is certainly the best option to consider. However, you require OBD support and a dedicated port to pair this tracker with. Once paired, the running vehicle itself powers the same and you need not worry about charging the same after a few days or weeks.

The feature sets are at par with any premium tracker as MasTrack MT-OBD allows access to speeding data, idling time, and even the period when the vehicle is either turned off or on. 

Plus, as a manager, you can stay connected with the fleet at all times, via the dedicated mobile app. Not just that, the Geofencing abilities are top-shelf and allow you to keep a track of the locations the fleet has been at and even monitor the router, as per preferences. 

Pros

• Competent Geofencing support
• Self-charging unit
• Offers access to idling data

Cons

• OBD port is required for seamless installation

Amcrest Tracker: Best in terms of Battery Life

Highlights

• Supports real-time tracking
• 14-day battery backup
• Smart alerts are supported

Review

If steady battery life is one of your priorities, we would urge you to invest in the famed Amcrest GL300. This fleet tracker comes with multi-faceted benefits and allows you to track the movements of cars, busses, and other personal and commercial vehicles.

However, we were most impressed with the exceptional tracking capabilities of this top-shelf tracker. As a fleet manager, you can very well rely on the Geofencing support on offer followed by the provision for procuring real-time alerts.

Lastly, you can access the web interface to set up five-second feed updates, as per your requirements. Overall, the Amcrest Tracker is a portable option that also comes equipped with 4G LTE support. 

Pros

• Excellent battery life
• Consistent readings

Cons

• A subscription model is involved

Logismatics Mobile-200: Best Audio Monitoring

Highlights

• Offers SIM card support
• Location updates are faster than usual
• Supports audio monitoring

Review

There are times when audio access to the fleet or the dashboard becomes important, specifically if you want to relay certain information from one point to the other. This is where the Logismatics Mobile-200 tracker comes in handy as it offers a dedicated contact number for you to connect with the drivers.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to state that the Logismatics Mobile-200 is one of the better trackers for notifying managers of roadside emergencies. Plus, it also comes with dedicated Geofencing support whilst ensuring historical data coverage for 90 days.

However, it lacks OBD compatibility and requires you to charge the battery after the vehicle has elapsed two weeks’ worth of usage.

Pros

• Live audio tracking is an investing feature
• Battery life exceeds expectations
• Easy to set up

Cons

• No OBD support
• Pricey subscription

Americaloc GL300: Best for Massive Commercial Units

Highlights

• Tracking history goes back a year
• Excellent coverage
• Features the CAT M1 technology

Review

The Americaloc GL300 is one of the few IoT-ready tracking devices in the market, boasting excellent battery life and the ability to monitor multiple movements and data insights with ease. Plus, this GPS fleet tracker also allows you to keep a track of vehicle data that dates back even a year.

When it comes to the alerts, this tracker offers ready and actionable insights into fleet-specific metrics like speeding, movement, and even parking tendencies. Plus, the real-time vehicle tracking support is one of the more inventive inclusions.

Lastly, this is one of the better fleet tracking devices that supports SOS intimations and allows managers to access insights using the intuitive companion app. 

Pros

• CAT M1 technology makes it power-efficient
• The companion app is intuitive
• SOS support

Cons

• Costly resource

Tips to Consider before getting a GPS Fleet tracker

Here are some of the aspects that you need to consider before purchasing the right GPS tracker for your fleet:

1. Before making the purchase, cross-reference the type of vehicle you wish to connect the tracker with. While battery-operated trackers are most common, you can even opt for the plug-in units that draw power from the OBD II slot.
2. Also, you need to take care of some key tracker features, including the signal reach. For fleets though, it is advisable to consider worldwide coverage followed by the availability of real-time fleet tracking support.
3. Alerts, notifications, and availability of trip history need to be checked before taking a call. Besides, you should also look for trackers with dedicated SOS functionalities for helping the drivers intimate the managers, in case of an emergency. 
4. Geofencing is yet another feature that you need to look for, provided the fleet regularly treads international borders.
5. Lastly, you should keep a close eye on the weather-proofing quotient of the tracker followed by reliance on 24×7 access and ease of installation. 

Final Verdict

If you have fleets running far and wide across the country, it is advisable to invest in a credible and feature-packed GPS tracker. While you might be tempted to opt for dedicated hardware, a small and portable tracker is often more than adequate, provided it comes with the requisite specs sheet.

Plus, with the ELD mandate getting activated way back in 2017, vehicle tracking for recording HOS and other aspects of the fleet has become all the more important, especially for keeping the citations, fines, and violations at bay.

This is why smaller fleets need to rely on portable GPS trackers that are easy to install and over round-the-clock monitoring support to the managers who want to track mileage, fuel costs, parking time, idling period, speed, and other aspects of freight movement. 

If you are still unsure as to which GPS fleet tracker is the best option for you, we would recommend the Matrack MA-OBD, precisely for its all-inclusive specs sheet and reasonable pricing.