A GPS system is a great way for transportation companies to track the use of their vehicles, and become aware of suspicious and questionable driving techniques. This is especially important to company owners in the transportation industry. And while all GPS systems have value, there are distinct differences between the two major kinds: passive and real-time.

Passive GPS devices are more for companies, who do not want to be bothered at all times with the driving activity of their vehicles. It isn't that these companies do not care; they may simply not have the manpower to monitor and browbeat a fleet of trucks or delivery vehicles. Companies with deeper pockets and larger profit margins will probably wish to engage the more up-to-date real-time GPS devices because these empower them to monitor suspicious activity at the time that it occurs. This can lead to reduced theft and abuse of equipment.

But no matter what you decide, GPS is a must for any entity that trusts their company-owned equipment to employees. It's just good business! Here are four commonalities you will find between real-time and passive GPS devices:

1. Excessive speeding: Your company may have set requirements for how fast a piece of equipment can go. Should that limit be breached, GPS devices, passive or active, can bring it to your attention, saving you money in costly fines, and maybe even preventing accidents. Of course, with real-time GPS, you will have access to this information more quickly, but it's never far from your fingertips no matter which you choose.

2. Entry to clearly marked locations or zones: Part of the problem with passive GPS is that the extensively helpful information it provides is not available to you until after the fact. Whether it is at the end of a day or when the equipment finally returns to your home base, the information you see is past tense. With real-time GPS and the means to monitor activity, you can stay on top of things such as location. What time did your driver enter a specific zone? Real-time's inclusion of automatic e-mails and two-way messaging will put you in constant contact with the driver of the vehicle.

3. Idle time: Idle time is the bane of many, especially when gas prices are on the rise. Reducing your idle time as much as possible translates to improved gas mileage and the savings of many thousands of dollars or more, depending on the size of your company and the number of vehicles you own. Passive and real-time GPS give you a clear overview of what your drivers' idle times are, so you know beyond all doubt how efficient your equipment is.

4. Movement: Has your driver been sitting longer than he should have been, or has he been operating the equipment beyond the legal limits. With passive and real-time GPS, you will always have the power to track the movement of your vehicles keeping your staff and your company ahead of the curve on revenue and legal requirements.

If you are operating a fleet of vehicles, and you have not yet decided on GPS vehicle tracking technology, you are doing your business a disservice. Whether passive or active, it's a requirement for the successful transporter of the 21st Century.

Carrie Wagner writes for www.SpyTechOutlet.com, a site that carries the latest spy gear and spy equipment, helping you protect your home, business and loved ones. We offer low priced surveillance equipment including spy cams, gps tracking devices , hidden camera systems and more.

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