The relationship between GPS fleet tracking and odometer reading with Tracking Fox
GPS fleet tracking and odometer readings are closely intertwined. The Tracking Fox device offers deep insights into your vehicle’s status and the driving habits of its users. When plugged into the OBD-II port, the device collects a broad spectrum of engine data, blending it with real-time geographic positioning. This fusion allows for detailed monitoring of your vehicle’s routes and the occurrences during its journeys.
Grasping the link between GPS fleet tracking and odometer readings is critical, as the odometer provides essential data for fleet managers. An odometer’s readings aren’t just numbers—they signal important maintenance milestones such as oil changes, tire rotations, and thorough inspections. With Tracking Fox, you can rely on always having precise, updated odometer readings.
As your vehicles operate, the Tracking Fox device continuously logs their positions, parsing these into distinct trips. You can analyze reports to see the start and end points of each journey, trace the routes taken, and pinpoint every stop made.
At Tracking Fox, we understand that vehicles differ significantly. The engine diagnostic details can vary by manufacturer, and there’s no universal standard for issues like converting measurements from miles to kilometers or other complex scenarios.
Tracking Fox provides a holistic GPS tracking solution that adjusts to accommodate newly manufactured vehicles and updates support for existing models. Unlike other providers who may use generic off-the-shelf devices, all our technology—from hardware to software—is developed internally. This enables us to frequently update our systems, including device firmware, to deliver the most relevant and accurate data to your fleet.
Keeping an accurate odometer reading requires complex calculations. Occasionally, the data on your Tracking Fox dashboard might not align perfectly with your vehicle’s dashboard due to various factors:
- Engine Replacement: If the vehicle’s engine is replaced, but the onboard computer still operates based on the original engine’s data.
- Multiple Vehicles: If the Tracking Fox device is used across different vehicles with varying odometer readings.
- Firmware Limitations: If the current device firmware doesn’t support your specific vehicle model.
- Manual Input Errors: Mistakes made when manually entering odometer data into the Tracking Fox system.
These discrepancies can affect reports, such as IFTA filings, which rely on accurate odometer readings to assess mileage for tax purposes within different jurisdictions. You might encounter missing or inconsistent odometer readings depending on the issue at hand.
Tracking Fox utilizes a blend of direct readings from the vehicle’s onboard computer and precise GPS data to track the distance traveled. If a vehicle isn’t fully supported yet, GPS serves as an alternative measure. However, GPS data might be less reliable under conditions like driving through tunnels, parking underground, or in extreme weather, potentially leading to minor discrepancies in mileage reports.
We recognize that fleet managers strive to optimize efficiency and reduce costs, and understanding the relationship between GPS car tracking and odometer readings is key to achieving these objectives. If a vehicle’s engine is replaced, you can swiftly update the odometer reading on the Tracking Fox platform to correct the dashboard display. We manage an “offset value” to ensure consistency between the new data and the revised odometer readings.
Some clients deploy the Tracking Fox device across multiple vehicles, such as in vehicle rental services or for test driving purposes. Although this is a common practice, it means that engine data from various vehicles is aggregated.
We have recently enhanced the Tracking Fox platform with a sophisticated algorithm that scrutinizes the location history of each fleet vehicle to automatically adjust and correct any anomalies. It analyzes current data and extends backward through the vehicle’s history.
Your location data encompasses coordinates, trip details, and comprehensive engine diagnostics. We use this extensive dataset to precisely reconstruct traveled routes and validate odometer readings against known GPS distances. Should any discrepancies arise, we adjust the odometer readings to reflect the most accurate data.
At Tracking Fox, this latest update exemplifies our commitment to providing you with the most precise data available. This advancement ensures that the reports you depend on are based on the most current and reliable information, facilitating more effective fleet management without extra effort on your part.
Our dedicated hardware and software teams collaborate closely to support new vehicle models and continuously enhance our solutions, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to helping you manage your business more effectively.