Biggest mistakes companies make when starting GPS tracking

Mistake 1: installing it secretly to catch people

The biggest mistake is thinking, "I won't tell them I'm putting it in, so I can catch them and deal with them." That is the worst thing you can do.

It does not build trust, and it backfires. You will catch somebody doing something wrong, and then you have a very uncomfortable conversation where you tell them you caught them with GPS you installed without saying so. If you let them go, you now have to find and train someone new, and you are back on the same merry-go-round.

Instead: tell them, and catch them doing something right

Tell your team you are putting it in, and why. Then use the information to notice good work. For example: "We've been looking at our stats and noticed you're getting seven calls done a day. Here's a $50 Tim Hortons card. Thanks for the great work."

Mistake 2: no written policy

Without a clear policy, nobody knows where the goalposts are, and the tracking becomes a source of arguments instead of accountability. Put it in writing before the first unit goes in.

Mistake 3: watching the map all day

Sitting and watching trucks drive down the highway wastes your time. Set up alerts for the things that matter and look at the map when a customer or a technician needs an answer.