Geotab Drive
Upfront Cost + Monthly Fee
Pros
- Geotab services support almost any fleet
- Stellar online reputation
- The driver can use any smart device to log in to the Geotab app
- The reporting is pretty powerful and most importantly spot on accurate
Cons
- Geotab isn't transparent about its pricing and requires going through the full sales process to understand the cost
- Time-consuming login procedures
GEOTAB Drive is an outstanding industry telematics solution that offers a wide variety of companies with vehicle tracking hardware and software.
The software and hardware are suitable for large fleets and bigger companies which need to scale up the telematics software services.
Geotab has a variety of different products (which include hardware and software products), which can address a lot of small business needs.
Geotab’s GPS fleet tracking systems tend to work with two parts: The Geotab GO7, a smaller form-factor unit that directly plugs to the OBDII port of a vehicle, as well as the cloud-based of MyGeotab software.
Geotab fleet management software provides solutions to several fleet management challenges that are structured to impact performance, driver safety, and vehicle optimization.
These approaches comprise real-time fleet management systems, detection of unexpected stops, risk, and in-vehicle coaching, warning of accidents, safety reporting, use of a seatbelt, speed reduction, increased MPG averages, and engine diagnostics.
What is GEOTAB Drive?
Geotab Drive is Hours of Service mobile devices app built to record vehicle inspection, geotab driver id (driver identification), and also, geotab drive messaging.
Geotab Drive is a component of the Geotab Cloud ELD system, an FMCSA-compliant system for electronic HOS logging, in combination with the Geotab GO telematics device.
The GEOTAB Drive is FMCSA approved and also among the listed eld devices on the fmcsa website.
This all-in-one driver compliance solution streamlines ELD compliance, DVIR, Driver Identification, and much more
GEOTAB Drive smart mobile app integrates with the Geotab GO telematics device to ensure that you meet regulatory requirements, increase the efficiency of your fleet, and keep drivers safe.
Easily record HOS status from either a smartphone or tablet and also complete vehicle inspections.
With the transition from paper to e-log for HOS, an ELD system must be integrated into the fleet of affected trucking companies.
This is where the benefits of combining two fleet management solutions come in.
The GEOTAB Drive is simple to operate and also provides drivers with more time by streamlining the burden of documenting time to implement daily tasks.
The GEOTAB Drive app connects to the Geotab GO device and provides an automated process for creating detailed records about how much time a truck driver chooses to spend in each duty status: On Duty, Sleeper Berth, Not Driving, Driving, and Off Duty.
By integrating with the GO device, the app simplifies the switch between Drive and ON duty status as it was designed to detect the vehicle’s motion through the smartphone or tablet used in conjunction with the GO device.
Also, there is a display in the vehicle displaying the current status of a driver as well as the remaining hours for the other duty times (Driving, Rest, Duty, and Cycle).
These are the advantages of having two solutions incorporated into one system.
Feature includes:
- DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting)
- Automatic duty status changes
- Hours of Service reporting
- User-friendly dashboard
- HOS (Hours of Service)
- Driver Identification
- FMCSA compliance
- Onboard accelerometer/gyroscope
- Asset Tracking and Management
- Driver Safety Reporting and Coaching
Services Overview
The GPS fleet management system from Geotab captures real-time data on vehicle position, speed, fuel consumption, and idling.
The GEOTAB Drive MyGeotab dashboard brings all these features to fleet managers and enabling them to stay up-to-date with fleet and drivers.
My geotab drive dashboard is an integrated fleet management portal whereby administrators can see key metrics on the conduct of the vehicle and driver at a glance.
Driver scorecards provide driver safety as well as productivity side-by-side comparisons.
In addition to arranging reports with drag-and-drop and resize features, it is possible to add personalized reports to display fuel consumption as well as other important trends.
Geotab provides support through geotab drive user manual, installation, geotab drive documentation, customer forums, and support alerts in real-time.
Also, Geotab Marketplace provides additional resource expansion and can also be integrated with many other 3rd party management systems.
The software solution for MyGeotab GPS fleet tracking is available in English, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Polish, German, and geotab drive en español.
GPS Tracking Hardware
Geotab Go
The Go device is really a plug-and-play system, which means it can be mounted in seconds via the regular OBDII port of a vehicle
The information collected includes ignition, engine idle times, time, and distance of the route, and speed of the vehicle.
The Go device can pinpoint reverse collisions in the vehicle, and this is a unique feature for the FMS industry.
Furthermore, the Go unit is capable of capturing information that can be read from satellite tracking to temperature monitoring through additional add-on software modules.
Additional add-ons may also include hardware upgrades, such as cameras in the vehicle.
Geotab Go Rugged
Geotab Go Rugged telematics device is also called Go; however, it is “rugged,” which means it can cope with extreme conditions.
It could even endure a commercial vehicle’s installation on the exterior. Its requirements meet the standard of IP67, a global standard for safety against forces of nature.
Ease of Use
For small business owners and owner-operators, Geotab’s MyGeotab software is a powerful platform.
It offers an excellent map for monitoring and evaluating your fleet, and it also has a great dashboard.
And the geotab drive website has many screenshots of the MyGeotab software.
Although there are many other more user-friendly and sleeker software solutions, Geotab is indeed a service that provides its users with a robust platform.
How Does It Work?
Do you want to know how to use geotab drive? The primary function of each part of the cloud platform is to ensure a stable, dependable, and accurate data flow.
On the MyGeotab server, GPS, as well as Geotab GO unit engine data, are processed.
The server transmits them to the Drive app together with location and engine data when the Duty Status logs were created.
- The Geotab GPS Tracking Hardware transmit to MyGeotab, the location, and engine data
- The vehicle driver’s duty status will also be sent to MyGeotab from the Drive App
- To create RODs, MyGeotab cloud server combines data from both sources
- Updated data will then be returned to the GEOTAB Drive App
All these happen every time you drive the vehicle.
Easy Installation
The GEOTAB Drive and Geotab GO9, as form-factor tracking devices, are easy to set up, so you won’t need expert installer support like some of the other e-log devices.
No need for wire splicing or antenna. And no special tools required for the installation. All you can really do is connect it to the vehicle’s OBD II port.
For vehicles that would not have such a port, there is also an adapter provided with the device. And this enables you to use this ELD solution in almost any vehicle.
Geotab Cloud ELD
Geotab Cloud ELD runs on a cloud-based platform that allows users to register, manage, and also share their RODS.
And the geotab drive eld secure interface links MyGeotab technology with a smartphone or tablet running the GEOTAB Drive app to the Geotab telematics network.
Cloud ELD is generally considered more stable and secure than hard-wired eld methods that are using Bluetooth to operate or download records and data via USB.
It contains geotab drive hos, which plays a significant role in commercial fleet business operations, just like all other types of ELD solutions.
In particular, Cloud ELD does have some distinct advantages over standard electronic logging solutions.
Cloud-based ELD reduces consumption of power to increase the device’s battery life, needs no pairing mechanism, and supports various platforms.
GEOTAB Drive App
The GEOTAB Drive app function through a cellular connection or Wi-Fi in sync with the MyGeotab system. It could also work offline, as well.
After the initial login, the server is continuously updating the data. If there is no cellular coverage, the GEOTAB Drive app will keep collecting data every time the connection is made.
All reported data are stored in the GO device’s internal memory. And Once the vehicle gains access a cellular coverage, vehicle data will be transmitted to the cloud server.
All of the missing aspects will be returned to the GEOTAB Drive App after coordinating the data.
Also, the geotab drive app enables drivers to easily change duty status, and the geotab drive dvir likewise collects data for both DVIRs as well as fuel IFTA management form.
Drivers and fleet managers will also be alerted on time for upcoming HOS violations through geotab drive application.
Push alerts provide drivers with enough time to pull over and complete their shift safely.
And the company also provides geotab drive hos driver instruction guide.
And this helps users to download information from the vehicle as well as duty status logs. Besides that, there is also the potential to upload manually generated logs.
Pricing and Contract
Geotab does not list information on its website about prices or contracts.
Following two discussions with sales staff from Geotab, they did not provide any additional information about pricing, contract structure, or if there is a minimum requirement for a vehicle.
To get more information, you will need to contact the sales department of Geotab and get through all the buying processes.
Services and Features
International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA)
Across all companies operating commercial vehicles in the united states, tracking the distances traveled, and fuel costs make much difference.
By completely removing the necessity for manual tracking, Geotab ELD will help increase accuracy and also save management time. And this makes things much more comfortable.
Safety
GEOTAB Drive offers driver scorecards to make you understand drivers that require coaching and which rewards for excellent performance might be provided.
In-vehicle driver input is also available, meaning your drivers may get on-road coaching. You can learn much more concerning the safety features of Geotab here.
Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting (DVIR)
geotab drive dvir workflow also enables full inspection. Faults can be detected, review inspections, add comments, and so much more.
Documents can be sorted to reveal either those with defects or all DVIRs. And this provides a detailed insight into the safety of the fleet.
Installation
Geotab provides a geotab drive installation manual for setup, and then you can learn more about installing your devices once you’ve got them.
Many fleet monitoring companies, as part of their business model also provide free installation. However, If Geotab does this or not, is not clear.
Here you can learn more about installation as well as hardware.
Fleet Maintenance
GEOTAB Drive enables you to inspect engine diagnostics as well as other vehicle resources to help you make the most of your fleet.
The fleet maintenance feature can make a difference in letting you detect problems and help you plan maintenance; such as changes in oil or tire before you get on the road.
Alerts
You can also use Geotab to add multiple alerts, such as instant updates of incidents.
The company already has a feature that can provide drivers with in-cab notifications to enhance their safety.
Fuel performance
The GEOTAB Drive platform has many other reporting features for fuel performance. To eliminate counterproductive miles, and thus letting you should understand all facets of your fleet.
And, to take advantage of your fleet, you can monitor and control routes, speed, idle time, and maintenance of the vehicle.
Also, there are fuel cards that enable you to track the purchase and consumption of fuel quickly.
App Customizability
It makes a lot of sense that Geotab highlights their GEOTAB Drive customizable attributes. Even though the fleet management solution is intended for resellers to sell, any one of them can append their unique programs.
MyGeotab, therefore, developed with such an open API with a software engineering kit.
Its reporting mechanism is editable, making it possible for a wide range of parts and fleet management options and personalized dashboards.
GEOTAB Drive is probably one of the most personalized FMS commercially available on the market.
The geotab drive mobile app is available for ios and Android.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
MyGeotab ensures that those who do have their own vehicle tracking devices could easily connect to MyGeotab and run the program on hardware already in operation.
In other words, just about every fleet operator that has bought their in-vehicle systems from another vendor can, therefore, terminate their contract and swap quickly and make MyGeotab their preferred SaaS.
ELD Compliance
Geotab complies with ELD, however, depends entirely on the choice of service options.
Owner operator and Fleet managers will need to have the MyGeotab software, which runs the geotab drive cloud eld and GEOTAB Drive, a driver app that could also run on a tablet and synchronize with Geotab Go hardware device.
The GEOTAB Drive app features automatic changes in duty status, sends notifications if a breach occurs, and collects data for IFTA fuel management as well as Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs).
Customer reviews
Geotab accredited by the Better Business Bureau and received an A+ from the rating agency.
The company also has positive geotab drive reviews that speak to its overall quality on many other telematics review websites.
Overall, Geotab’s credibility online is high. However, some potential users complain about the lack of geotab drive support to provide customer support.
The company would not publicly mention any geotab drive customer service contact number that users can call for help, unlike many other FMS companies.
Instead of geotab drive contact number, the company provides contact details for the Approved Geotab Reseller, who will provide technical geotab drive training and geotab driver instruction guide.
By navigating to “Get Started & Help” while clicking the “Support” button, customers signed into their MyGeotab account will find reseller details. They also provide geotab driver training.
That being said, Go devices are simple to set up, and a lot of software and geotab drive driver instruction guide is available on the official geotab drive login.
Likewise, other people complain about the lack of transparency in the pricing and contract structure of the products offered by the company.
Although this is not generally a drawback, however, if you’re interested in collaborating with Geotab, you must go through the entire sales process before you could even realize what it’s going to cost you. N
Also, although not a negative, when you’re looking for services, lack of transparency is something to take into consideration.
- Geotab services support almost any fleet
- stellar online reputation
- The driver can use any smart device to log in to the Geotab app
- The reporting is pretty powerful and most importantly spot on accurate
- Geotab isn’t transparent about its pricing and requires going through the full sales process to understand the cost
- Routing can be glitchy and at times unrealistic
- Time-consuming login procedures
Conclusion
Geotab offers highly developed telematics solutions for owner-operators and small businesses. But Online transparency is clearly missing.
However, you will have to go through all the sales process to really get valuable information about the company’s offer.
Even though the scope of its operations and services is significant, it is hard to gain insight into the process of plan structure and pricing.
It doesn’t also disclose details in this category that other telematics services publish, such as software refresh time, length of the contract as well as vehicle minimums required to use their service.
Our recommendation is to get in touch with the company for more information about their product and service and the cost you will pay.
Moreover, evidently, the cloud-based software and hardware options for fleet tracking by Geotab are robust and relatively easy to use.
It is possible to tailor their services to attend to the particular needs of the fleet. The product works in large or small fleets for either heavy or light vehicles.
With this kind of ELD solution, the fleet will reduce the costs of management and traffic violations while simultaneously working to improve CSA score as well as operational efficiency.
And you can take comfort in knowing that over the long haul your investment in telematics will pay off. In fact, you are going to be in full compliance with the ELD mandate law.
Be careful, though, of resellers. Since separate third-party online retailers supply Geotab’s products, there seems to be a possibility of purchasing an irregular device.
However, if you need help in finding the best suitable ELD devices for your business, kindly fill our free consultation form, and we will provide support in no time.
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