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Have you ever been responsible for picking up relatives at the airport or bus station?  You carefully planned your schedule around the airplane or bus scheduled arrival time. Maybe you even got off work early or missed lunch in order to be ready at the airport or station, only to find when you arrived that things had been delayed and your passenger wouldn’t arrive for another forty-five minutes. You know the frustration that scenarios like this can cause and the kink it can cause in a carefully planned schedule. Bus drivers, understand this because bus companies have begun to use GPS tracking devices on their buses.

This utilizes the normal GPS tracking system, which consists of a series of twenty-four satellites orbiting outer space (plus a few extras in case of technical failure). These satellites work together in groups of twos or threes to determine the latitude and longitude (otherwise known as location) of the receiver on earth.  The receiver is attached to an individual, a pet, a car, or in this case, a bus. The information downloads to the internet or a mobile device.  Active tracking gives real-time information whereas passive logs simply record the data for later review. GPS tracking has many capabilities, including geofencing, routes, speeds, and many more.

This idea is a variation on fleet tracking devices already used by companies like UPS.  Managers use GPS tracking to determine if their drivers are following the most efficient routes, if any delays or problems arise, and if the vehicle travels off route. A gps tracking system reports the information on location as well as delays and other alerts.  The estimated arrival time will update to reflect information on delays.  One example of how this works is at MIT.  MIT has implemented this system on their campus buses in order to prevent long waits by students during inclement weather or during nighttime hours.  The students are able to see exactly where the bus is on a map and when it will arrive. The information downloads to the internet where students can check the information in real-time.  While it may seem like overkill to use this type of tracking system just to save a few minutes, those minutes can be priceless to a busy college student. More studying at the library could mean a better grade on that exam. Efficient students make every hour count so that jobs and socializing can fit on their schedules.  Even for non-college students, saving a few minutes and avoiding the inconvenience of delay is beneficial and well worth the investment for transport vehicles. After all, if your customers are inconvenienced – they will not use the system and resort to alternate modes of transport. It’s best to make every hour in the day count! Gps tracking can help you discover your inefficiencies and tighten them up for better customer satisfaction.