What does phone tracking show, and what does it miss?
Phone tracking collects location, speed and direction about once a minute during an active work trip or booking. It does not receive data from the vehicle, so it cannot show ignition, engine hours, engine faults, harsh driving, tampering or camera footage. An IntelliTrac device is the recommended option for continuous vehicle tracking.
What data does the driver app collect?
While a trip or booking is running, the app samples the phone's GPS roughly every 60 seconds, captures position, speed and heading, and filters out low-accuracy readings. It works in the foreground and background, and it only tracks during work trips, never around the clock. Drivers can see exactly when it is active.
How does it compare with an IntelliTrac device?
| What you need | Phone GPS | IntelliTrac device |
|---|---|---|
| Live position on the map | Yes, about once a minute | Yes, second-by-second |
| Trip history and replay | Yes, trip-level | Yes, full detail |
| Ignition and engine data | No | Yes |
| Works without the app running | No | Yes |
| Harsh driving events | No | Yes |
| Driver identification | App sign-in | RFID and driver ID options |
| Camera footage | No | With a dashcam or multi-camera recorder |
Which option should we use?
Use IntelliTrac devices for vehicles that need dependable tracking and vehicle data. Use phone GPS as a temporary or lower-commitment option where hardware is not yet fitted. Both can appear on the same map and feed the same vehicle history.
Related questions
- Which tracking devices does IntelliTrac support?
- Can we mix phone-tracked and device-tracked vehicles?
- Can I track a fleet without GPS hardware?
Last updated 12 July 2026.