Global Positioning System (GPS) vehicle trackers promise real-time fleet visibility and management efficiencies. But there are good reasons to carefully consider both the pros and cons before adopting GPS tracking across your fleet.
This guide will walk through seven downsides you must keep in mind when weighing GPS vehicle tracking for your organization. By outlining key disadvantages ranging from privacy risks to the total cost of ownership, you’ll have the complete picture to make an informed decision.
Overview of Key Disadvantages
Before we delve into each downside, here’s a high-level overview of the top seven reasons covered in this guide for potentially avoiding GPS vehicle trackers:
| Reason | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1. Privacy Concerns | Continuous location tracking raises employee monitoring issues |
| 2. Security Vulnerabilities | Trackers can be hacked, jammed, or spoofed |
| 3. Significant Costs | Thousands in upfront and ongoing costs per vehicle |
| 4. Reliability Gaps | Environmental factors interfere with consistent tracking |
| 5. Distracting Interfaces | Dashboard displays cause distracted driving risks |
| 6. Alternatives Exist | RFID, sensors, dashcams may suit needs better |
| 7. Careful Analysis Needed | Weigh limitations and tradeoffs for your situation |
Now, let’s explore each of these in more detail.
1. Privacy Concerns Abound
The ability to continuously monitor a vehicle’s every movement with precision GPS tracking represents a dramatic shift towards locational surveillance. And this understandably raises employee privacy concerns.
Without proper safeguards and policies in place, GPS vehicle tracking essentially enables microscopic oversight of drivers. The chart below shows what kind of invasive personal data GPS tracking can reveal:
| Type of Data | Insights Revealed |
|---|---|
| Detailed Driving Routes | Commutes, side trips, appointments visited |
| Precise Stopping Locations | Stores, restaurants, friends‘ homes frequented |
| Exact Arrival & Departure Times | Behavior patterns, workplace performance data |
| Complete Shift Details | Hours worked, rest periods, breaks |
And analysis of trends in this data can enable even deeper insights into drivers’ personal lives. Things like frequent out-of-route stops at particular locations can allow assumptions, right or wrong, about activities occurring at those sites.
83% of employees feel GPS tracking crosses the line on employer oversight when used without transparency according to one study. Another survey found morale suffers when workers feel constantly watched.
Crafting Ethical GPS Tracking Policies
The most ethical approach to balancing operational efficiency and employee relations is crafting clearly defined usage policies covering:
- Access restrictions and guidelines for GPS data analysis
- Protections against using insights outside of scope
- Data retention windows before automatic deletion
- Opt-out procedures for certain locations/times
The priorities, sensitivities, and rights of individual drivers should be balanced carefully against organizational tracking requirements for things to work smoothly long-term.
2. Data Vulnerabilities Undermine Security
On paper, the ability to track vehicles in real-time via GPS seems incredibly secure. But like any technology, GPS trackers carry security vulnerabilities that open the door to potential exploitation if precautions aren’t taken.
A recent analysis by cybersecurity firm Bitsight revealed alarming deficiencies in a popular commercial GPS tracker:
| Vulnerability | Risk Introduced |
|---|---|
| Data Encryption Lacking | Intercepted data readable during transmission |
| Unauthenticated Backend Access | Remote vehicle control by hackers |
| Insecure Default Passwords | Trivial account takeovers |
| Unvalidated Software Updates | Malware injection into devices |
And this is far from an isolated case. GPS spoofing attacks that override legitimate signals have been demonstrated at multiple cybersecurity conferences. Low-cost signal jammers are readily available to block tracking. And back-end account hacks would let attackers directly manipulate vehicle positioning data.
The operational security risks posed by these threats should serve as a wake-up call prompting extensive self-audits of planned or current vehicle tracking programs:
- Enforce device encryption and signal authentication
- Maintain change management programs for hardware/software
- Institute multi-factor authentication universally
- Perform routine penetration testing on devices + cloud infrastructure
Taking an approach of “security by design” focused on prevention rather than reaction reduces GPS-based risks substantially. But costs to properly secure an entire tracking ecosystem should be accounted for.
3. The Costs Really Add Up
Speaking of costs – that’s another area where organizations need to fully grasp the implications of outfitting an entire fleet with comprehensive GPS tracking. Here is a breakdown of expenses that quickly multiply:
Initial Hardware & Installation:
- GPS vehicle tracking unit per vehicle: $150+
- Professional installation fee per vehicle: $50+
- Additional antennae, wiring, materials per vehicle: $20+
Ongoing Cellular Data Fees:
- Cellular data plan per tracker: $10-20 monthly
Software & Support Overhead:
- GPS tracking software platform fees: $30+ per vehicle monthly
- IT infrastructure, maintenance, support staffing
Plus costs spiral higher when adding extra capabilities like:
- Satellite backups for dead zones: $500+ setup, $20 monthly
- RFID geofencing subscriptions: $15 per vehicle monthly
- Real-time video streaming: $100+ monthly per vehicle
And that tallies up very quickly for mid-sized fleets of 50, 100, or 500 vehicles. Suddenly a half-million dollar tracking investment doesn‘t seem so far-fetched.
The appeal of going "all-in" on cutting edge GPS functionality is understandable – but the bills can overburden limited transportation budgets pretty easily. Be conservative in adoption stages and clearly understand ROI before overcommitting financially.
4. Tracking Gaps Happen
It’s easy to envision GPS tracking as an infallible system for monitoring assets across all terrain types and environments. But reception interference remains a reality that businesses underestimate at their peril when relying heavily on GPS capability.
Stopped vehicles tucked among skyscrapers…travel along tree-lined backroads…drivers passing through tunnels…there are still numerous scenarios in 2022 where dense obstacles combined with natural physics degrade signal locking:
| Factor | Complication |
|---|---|
| Urban Canyons | Narrow satellite visibility windows between tall buildings |
| Foliated Canopies | Leaf blockage attenuated signals even at peak reception times |
| Subterranean Travel | Unable to penetrate solid foundational layers |
In ideal circumstances, GPS can achieve accuracy within 16 feet. But a 2021 analysis found GPS receivers still averaged 68 feet of error just from environmental factors under typical conditions.
And when you combine ambivalent physics with the volatility of current events, tracking uncertainty creeps even higher:
| Situation | Impact |
|---|---|
| Solar Superstorms | Satellite disruption from geomagnetic interference |
| International Conflict | Military signal obstruction escalates as geopolitical tensions boil over |
| Manmade Signal Jamming | Cheap jammer gadgets block reception |
The operational risks from potential monitoring gaps must be accounted for, despite promises of 360-degree omniscience through GPS tracking. Supplemental technologies like RFID tagging smooth visibility but rarely eliminate blind spots completely.
5. Dashboard Components Cause Distraction
GPS navigation has become such an intrinsic driving aid that it’s easy to overlook the fundamental fact that dashboard interfaces contribute to distracted driving.
This manifests in two primary ways:
Manual System Interaction:
Inputting addresses, changing routes mid-trip, and manipulating controls manually rather than via voice take a driver‘s eyes off the road and hands off the wheel.
On-Screen Map Monitoring:
Glancing repeatedly at a map display to understand upcoming route changes or check progress similarly degrades attention and reaction times.
And this heightened distraction threat affects commercial drivers even more acutely due to vocational demands:
| Driver Type | Unique Distractions |
|---|---|
| Long-Haul Truckers | Fatigue impacts ability to refocus vision between monitoring GPS vs. road conditions |
| Urban Navigators | Complex routes require more interface manipulation to understand frequent changes |
| Delivery Personnel | Time pressures incentivize glancing at GPS more to avoid delays |
In 2020, over 15% of fatal crashes involving large trucks were linked to driver distraction as a causal factor.
While GPS trackers offer routing efficiencies, their front-facing componentry can undermine road safety when vehicle operators divide attention between multiple stimuli.
6. Alternative Approaches Exist
Given the downsides covered so far, it would be easy to dismiss vehicle and fleet tracking out of hand as an endeavor causing more headaches than value.
But innovative approaches exist that can deliver visibility and business intelligence without the negatives accompanying GPS tracking implementations:
RFID Tracking Networks
Battery-free RFID tags placed on vehicles communicate with an array of roadside readers to triangulate location via proximity data. Mature solutions like HOSS achieve accuracy within 5 feet in dense urban environments while preserving privacy far better than GPS tracking.
CANBUS Diagnostic Sensors
Plugging directly into a vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic port, CANBUS sensors translate engine performance metrics and driving dynamics into actionable intelligence for fleet managers:
| Metric Reported | Operational Value |
|---|---|
| Engine RPM Analysis | Identifies acceleration/braking habits indicating aggressive driving |
| Fuel Economy Rates | Confirms driver compliance with eco-friendly efficiency policies |
| Battery Voltage Data | Enables proactive maintenance scheduling |
And some CANBUS platforms like Samsara even offer GPS hybridization for flexible location data gathering balanced against needs.
AI Dashcams
Windshield-mounted cameras leveraging edge AI provide continuous driving oversight without the complexity or privacy issues of GPS tracking:
| Insight Type | Improved Safety Usage |
|---|---|
| Traffic Sign Detection | Warns drivers of speed limit changes in real-time |
| Driver Attention Monitoring | Detects and alerts for distraction or drowsiness |
| Emergency Maneuver Detection | Flags hard braking or swerving for coaching |
As the technology continues progressing, dashcam-based solutions address many fleet management use cases with less drawbacks than GPS options.
7. Careful Analysis Required
At this point, the multitude of balancing acts required when adopting GPS vehicle tracking are clear:
- Employee Relations vs. Operational Oversight
- Security Precautions vs. Convenience
- Continuous Coverage vs. Dead Zones
- Present Costs vs Future Scalability
There are inevitable tradeoffs when utilizing technology like GPS tracking to enhance operations – no perfect one-size-fits-all answer exists.
That‘s why undertaking methodical analysis tailored to your organization‘s specific constraints, objectives and risk tolerance is so vital:
- Survey personnel to gauge attitudes on adoption
- Compile total cost of ownership projections for different scales
- Conduct environmental signal testing in your coverage geography
- Research options for bolstering security and privacy controls
Executing due diligence around factors like these helps minimize the likelihood of unpleasant surprises down the road while building staff buy-in.
And if evaluations conclude GPS tracking introduces too many disadvantages for comfort? Vetting alternative visibility approaches we‘ve covered allows pivoting to next-best options aligned with your needs.
Key Takeaways
After reviewing the top disadvantages of GPS vehicle trackers in depth, several key takeaways should stick with you:
- Substantial risks exist beyond superficial convenience GPS tracking appears to offer
- Take a measured approach weighing benefits against limitations for your situation
- Ensure security, privacy and relations safeguarding measures are priorities
- Combining GPS with supplemental systems can offset some downsides
- Alternative tracking options may better suit your organization‘s constraints
I hope mapping out these seven reasons to carefully consider GPS vehicle trackers gives you the complete picture to make the smartest choice for your needs. Don‘t hesitate to reach out with any other questions as you evaluate options!
