Best Van Tracking Systems: Fleet Management for Vans

Van tracking for your business is a no-brainer. You can maximise efficiency, improve security and increase your profits. If you have a fleet of vans that don’t currently use a vehicle tracking device, you’re missing out – plain and simple.

Verizon Connect is our top van fleet management pick, closely followed by Samsara. They both offer extensive van fleet management features from core tracking and driver communication needs to dashboards for van maintenance to keep your fleet fit and fighting. 

However, there are cheaper van tracking solutions, each offering advanced functionality for as little as £7.49 per month. Read on for a detailed comparison of our top six providers’ features and vehicle tracking costs, plus our guide on what makes a superb van tracker.

Verizon Connect – Best Van Tracking System for Monitoring Driver Behaviour

Verizon Connect was established in 2006 as the fleet management division of Verizon Communications and has since grown with the integration of acquired companies like Fleetmatics and Telogis.

Naturally, it has a lot of features that are appealing for tracking any vehicle, including vans. And there’s much more than that on offer too, depending on the extent of your plan, ranging from monitoring of driver behaviour and in-depth analytics on driving patterns to safety compliance and van efficiency performance. Here’s a brief look at what it can offer your fleet of vans.

Verizon Connect’s van-specific features

There are many features that we could pick out about Verizon Connect’s Reveal software, though we’ll focus on the ones that are most relevant to van-based fleets.

• Route optimisation for vans: With Verizon Connect, you can adjust routes based on specific van size and weight restrictions. This ensures your drivers avoid unsuitable roads and comply with local regulations, too.

• Vehicle diagnostics: You can also monitor van-specific engine data to preempt maintenance issues, reducing downtime and extending vehicle lifespan. If there’s a known problem, you can set an alert to have it checked every so often, too.
• Driver scorecards: Provides detailed assessments of van drivers, highlighting behaviours such as harsh braking, rapid acceleration, and idling—common in stop-and-go city driving.
• Real-time alerts: Sends immediate notifications about unsafe driving practices by drivers in your fleet vans, allowing fleet managers to address issues promptly. You can set up any alerts you want – from late starts and long stops to speeding and harsh braking, it’s easy to keep tabs on the individual performance of all your drivers.
• Customisable dashboard: And, through a highly customisable reporting dashboard, you’ll get 360-degree access to all the data you need to grow your van fleet into a van empire.

Verizon Connect pricing

Sadly, Verizon Connect is tight-lipped when it comes to its fees. But don’t fret – because where there’s a will, there’s a way. In this case, that way is taking a moment to complete our free webform. We’ll ask a couple of questions about the amount of vans you’re looking to track, and the industry you work in.

Then, you’ll receive quotes tailored specifically to the unique needs of your business. These will come only from the UK’s leading van fleet management companies (Verizon included), handpicked to help your business thrive and grow.

Samsara – Best Van Tracking System for Fuel Usage and Route Planning

A main speciality of Samsara, in our eyes, is its route planning.

The platform integrates advanced sensors and cloud-based software, enabling van fleets to optimise routes, reduce fuel consumption, and increase operational efficiency. It offers a comprehensive package to rival Verizon Connect, too. Here’s a quick look at its major pros and cons.

Samsara’s van-specific features

Samsara offers many of the same features as Verizon Connect, competing on all fronts as to which provider is the top option. However, there are some areas where Samsara shines in particular:

• Advanced route planning: Its route optimisation functionality is quite simply stunning – you’ll know the exact time it’ll take your vans to get to a job before they’ve even left the garage, and you can easily mitigate the frustrating effects of traffic conditions on journey progress. Like Verizon Connect, it caters to van dimensions too, helping drivers avoid low bridges and weight-restricted roads.

• Real-time fuel monitoring: Samsara tracks the fuel usage of each van, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for savings.
• Digital tachograph integration: To ensure compliance with driving hours and rest periods, tachograph functionality is essential for larger van operations.

Samsara pricing

Samsara has a bespoke pricing structure. Depending on your contract length and the van tracking product you choose, we understand that Samsara’s hardware will cost between £99 and £359, while a monthly licence for the software will set you back between £10.83 and £23.75. Samsara also offers a free trial of up to 30 days to test out its service.

Movolytics – Best Van Tracking System for Quick and Simple Live Reporting

Acquired by Norwegian fleet management company ABAX in December 2023, Cambridge UK-based Movolytics has been a player in the UK fleet management market since 2016.

It lacks the complexity of Verizon and Samsara and instead emphasises simplicity and usability. Namely, you’ll have user-friendly dashboards that provide real-time insights into fleet performance, fuel consumption, and driver behaviour. Here’s what else you can expect from Movolytics.

Movolytics van-specific features

Movolytics might offer a more streamlined service compared to Verizon Connect and Samsara, but it has all the core functionality you could need at a more appealing price point. Here are a few of the features that you’ll be getting:

• Live van tracking: Enables real-time monitoring of van locations, facilitating efficient dispatch and improved customer service.
• Easy-to-use data dashboard: Presents critical van fleet data in a user-friendly format, allowing for quick decision-making.

• Customisable reports: Generates reports tailored to van operations, such as delivery times, stop durations, and route efficiency.
• Fuel cost analysis: Breaks down fuel expenses per van, helping identify high-cost vehicles or routes.

Movolytics pricing

For a standard, self-installed van tracking device from Movolytics, you’ll pay just £7.49 per month. For a hard-wired solution, though, you can expect to pay around £14.49 per vehicle over a 36-month period.

Quartix – Best Budget Van Tracking System

Established in 2001 in the UK, Quartix has grown to become a trusted provider of vehicle tracking systems across both Europe and the United States.

Specialising as a budget van tracking system, Quartix offers cost-effective solutions without compromising on essential features. Their easy-to-install devices and intuitive software provide valuable insights in a reliable package.

Even better, Quartix won’t tie you into a long contract, or petrify you with small print. Whereas providers such as Samsara and Verizon tend to set up their customers in three-year blocks, Quartix’s contracts are a refreshingly brief 12 months. Read on for a longer look into its features.

Quartix van-specific features

When it comes to features, Quartix still competes despite its cheaper price point. Here’s a few of the things it can offer:

• Replay daily route maps: Provides visual summaries of each van’s daily routes, aiding in route optimisation.

• Driver timesheets and vehicle utilisation: Automates the logging of van driver hours, simplifying payroll and compliance tasks for hours of service. Quartix also analyses how each van is used, highlighting underused vehicles so you can maximise fleet efficiency.

Quartix pricing

The pricing we listed above of £9.90 per month is for Quartix’s most basic plan, Infopoint. For a step up, you can opt for Infoplus at £11.90 per month, while the most advanced plan, Infofleet, will set you back a monthly fee of £16.90.

If you’d like to experience the full force of Quartix’s functionality, though, you’ll need to pay extra. Fuel card reporting, driver ID, auxiliary input and panic buttons are all features only available as add-ons, at a charge of £1 per month.

It’s important to state that these are price estimates based on our product research, and in reality, you’ll need to get a quote for each package with Quartix.

RAM Tracking – Best Van Tracking System for Small Fleets

RAM Tracking has been servicing the UK van fleet market since 2004, focusing its service on small to medium-sized businesses.

Its tailored approach ensures that even those without technical expertise can effectively manage their van fleets without over complicating things. Here’s what RAM offers in short.

Features of RAM van-specific features

Price point aside, RAM Tracking has a couple of other unique selling points.

• Cost-savings report: RAM is the only brand in the UK to provide a specific cost-savings report.
• Direct crash report data: RAM Tracking is also the only van tracking system to provide crash report data should your vehicles get into an accident.
• Simple reporting tools: Offers straightforward reports on van activity, suitable for managers without technical expertise. It might not be as extensive as other software on this page, namely Teletrac Navman, Samsara and Verizon Connect, but it does the job for the most part.
• Maintenance alerts: Notifies when vans are due for servicing to prevent breakdowns and extend the lifecycle of your vans.
• Geofencing capabilities: Allows setting up geographical boundaries and alerts when vans enter or exit these areas, enhancing security.

RAM pricing

With RAM Tracking, you’ll save when you opt for a lengthier deal – 5-year contracts are £8.99 per month, while 4-year contracts are priced at a competitive monthly charge of £9.99. In the shorter-term, a 36-month contract comes at a monthly cost of £10.99, while you’ll pay a highly reasonable £14 per month with a 12-month deal.

Teletrac Navman – Best Van Tracking System for Customisable Reporting

Formed in 2015 through the merger of Teletrac and Navman Wireless, Teletrac Navman brings decades of experience to the fleet management industry.

What we love most about Teletrac Navman is its ability to let van fleet managers generate bespoke reports tailored to specific operational needs, such as compliance management and an array of other performance metrics. Its sophisticated platform is closer to Verizon and Samsara than the other options on this page in terms of its breadth of tools.

Teletrac Navman is flexible, too – like Quartix, it offers contracts as brief as 12 months – though if you’re seeking longer-term stability, deals for up to five years are available. Here’s an overview of what it can offer your van fleet.

Teletrac Navman van-specific features

• Bespoke reporting: Create detailed reports focusing on van-specific KPIs like cargo delivery times, route adherence, and driver performance. You can also utilise big data to understand wider trends in van operations, further helping your strategic decision-making.
• Compliance management: Teletrac will help you manage legal obligations for vans, such as weight limits and emission standards, too.
• Various integrations: Teletrac Navman offers integrated dash cam capability for vans. That means you’ll have video replays of any incidents instantly at your disposal, saving you time and money when it comes to settling insurance claims. You can also integrate with other business systems, such as accounting, fuel cards or other fleet-related tools.

Teletrac Navman Pricing

Exact pricing for Teletrac Navman’s solution isn’t available, though we can tell you that it offers three-tiered plans.

Essential, the cheapest, includes timesheets, idle time monitoring, and real-time tracking. For safety and driver behaviour analytics you’ll need to opt for the Professional plan, while the most expensive plan, Enterprise, adds API support, compliance features, and connected camera solutions.

Van Tracking Buying Guide

If you are new to van tracking, and vehicle tracking in general, it’s worth giving you a quick crash course on what you need to know. Let’s start with discussing the types of van trackers you will find on the market and which hardware should work best for your needs.

What are the different types of van trackers?

In short, there are three types of van trackers on the mass market:

Plug-and-play trackers: Easy to install via the OBD-II port, they tend to offer real-time tracking of location, speed, and routes. They are portable, require no professional installation (literally, plug-in), and activate quickly.

Hardwired trackers: Installed directly into the vehicle’s electrical system for discreet tracking. Professional installation tends to be required, though you may be able to install it yourself if you know your way around a van. This type of installation makes them less visible and more tamper-resistant.

Battery-powered trackers: Portable and flexible, powered by rechargeable batteries. They offer good mobility but require periodic charging or battery replacement.

All three of these tracker types can be considered part of two overarching categories of tracking systems:

Active Trackers: Providing real-time tracking via satellite GPS, ideal for instant updates and alerts. They require a power source and tend to have higher subscription costs for the ongoing use of accompanying software. Having eyes on your vehicles at all times, with live information on their current status and location (even via a mobile app) is suitable for van fleets that need to continually update the location of goods or services.

Passive Trackers: Store data for later retrieval, used for historical route analysis rather than live tracking. They are cost-effective but do not provide real-time updates or alerts. These can often use RFID technology instead of GPS. We would say vans in warehouse conditions would be a good fit for these systems. It works by fitting ‘tags’ onto cargo or vehicles, that can be read when passing RFID scanners as if checking in and out of certain locations.

Which type of van tracker best suits your van fleet?

All the six providers we discussed on this page offer plug-and-play devices, and most offer hardwired trackers too. They are all active tracking systems too, meaning battery-powered trackers are not appropriate for the demanding needs of live updates 24/7.

Usually, you can tell if your van(s) has an OBD port by looking beneath the dashboard, near the driver’s seat (though consult your vehicle manual if you are unsure).

In general, all vehicles manufactured after 1996 have an OBD-II port for plug-and-play devices. In the UK specifically, all gasoline vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2001, and diesel vehicles after January 1, 2004, were required to be OBD2 compliant. So this should give you a rough guide as to which type is more suitable for your fleet of vans.

If that’s not possible, hardwired installation should be appropriate for all vehicles. Albeit, you will get less information about your van with this method compared to plug-and-play devices. With battery-powered devices, you may not get any vehicle data at all beyond its location, but this can vary depending on the specific hardware.

Overall then, you get the most rich experience with active, plug-and-play van trackers, which is why we recommend them above anything else. But if you don’t require the level of features described offered by the providers listed above, then one of these other types may work.

What are the benefits of van tracking?

There are three major benefits of using van tracking systems.

• Cut costs: Monitor driver performance, optimise routes, reduce fuel usage, and lower insurance premiums all aid efficiency which can help cut costs.
• Simplify maintenance: Prevent breakdowns by monitoring metrics like fuel efficiency and sending alerts for MOT alerts or custom maintenance scheduling.
• Increase security: Real-time tracking aids in recovering stolen vehicles.

How much do van trackers cost?

Entry-level van tracking systems start from around £7.49 per month, though how much you pay will depend on the specific solution you choose – the provider, the type, and the level of features you require.

Hardware (the actual trackers that go in your vans) is often billed separately, with costs reaching up to £359 to purchase, or around £10 to rent every month. Some providers offer additional features as ‘add-ons’, available at an extra cost, while others market value-enhancing ‘bundles’ that include extra technology, such as dashcams.

Next Steps: Getting Your Van Tracking System

If money is no object, Verizon Connect and Samsara are the most feature-rich van tracking systems on the market. There’s no question that their real-time GPS tracking, in-depth driver behaviour monitoring, fuel usage analytics, route optimisation, and vehicle diagnostics tailored specifically for van fleets set them apart from the competition.

Though we understand how important price is. And with van tracking being a competitive market, it’s well worth shopping around to make sure you get the best deal for your business. With so many variables involved, and so many providers keeping their exact prices private, it’s hard to table an accurate price for your fleet without some basic information about what you’re looking for. 

With that in mind, simply fill in this short form to help us get a sense of your requirements. You’ll receive tailored quotes from Expert Market-approved suppliers – and will be reaping the rewards of an effective van tracking system in no time at all.