Geofencing is a technology that creates a digital boundary around a real-world location. When a vehicle or asset crosses this boundary, the system triggers alerts, records events, or even performs automated actions. For example, a fleet manager can see when a truck enters a customer site, prevent unauthorized use outside business hours, or monitor how long a driver spends in a specific zone.
In fleet management, geofencing goes beyond basic vehicle tracking. Standard GPS tracking shows a vehicle’s location, while geofencing highlights its interactions with defined areas. This makes it possible to control operations, enforce compliance, and increase security in ways that simple tracking cannot.
Geofencing combines GPS, cellular networks, and mapping software. A geofence is created by drawing a digital perimeter – circular, polygonal, or multi-point – on a map. Once the zone is set, the device continuously compares the vehicle position with the geofence boundaries.
When a vehicle enters, leaves, or stays in the geofence, predefined rules are activated. These rules can generate notifications, create log entries, or even trigger physical actions such as activating a digital output (e.g., immobilizing the vehicle).
Key technical aspects include:
Geofencing can be applied in many industries, but in fleet management, it delivers severe value by combining location intelligence with automation. Some of the most common use cases include:
Fleet and asset tracking. Companies use geofencing to monitor fleet movement, ensure drivers follow planned routes, and confirm timely arrivals at depots, customer sites, or fueling stations. This improves accountability and visibility in everyday fleet management.
Marketing and location-based notifications. Geofencing is widely applied outside logistics. Carsharing or rental companies can place a geofence around a city center and trigger special offers when customers drive into the area. This connects vehicle tracking with real-time marketing, boosting engagement.
Driver time tracking and access control. With geofencing, driver working hours can be logged based on arrival and departure from worksites. Vehicle access can also be restricted: if a truck leaves a designated zone, the system can trigger a digital output to cut power or alert the manager, preventing unauthorized use.
Geofencing goes beyond simply establishing digital boundaries because it significantly changes how fleets are managed, how data is collected, and how decisions are made. The main benefits include:
Ruptela offers advanced geofencing features across its GPS tracking hardware portfolio, including HCV5, LCV5, Pro5, Plug5, Smart5, Eco5, Eco5 Lite, and Eco5 BM. Unlike many providers where geofences must be created only within fleet management software, Ruptela gives businesses flexibility: geofences can be set up either on the software side or directly inside the GPS device itself using Ruptela Configurator. This device-level approach ensures that critical events are detected and acted upon even if connectivity to the platform is temporarily unavailable.
Key capabilities include:
Ruptela offers simple and effective hardware and firmware solutions for geofencing, whether its goal is to secure vehicles, streamline site operations, or optimize routing. With real-time notifications and seamless integration into fleet management systems, businesses can confidently scale their operations.
Ruptela devices support circular geofences with a radius between 25 m and 250,000 m, as well as polygonal or multi-point geofences. This allows for both the quick setup of general coverage zones and the highly detailed creation of perimeters for precise sites.
No. GPS tracking shows a vehicle’s position, while geofencing adds rules and triggers when vehicles interact with predefined areas.
Yes. Alerts can be configured for entering, exiting, or staying in a zone beyond a specific dwell time. They can notify managers, alert drivers, or activate outputs such as immobilization.
Ruptela devices support up to 250 geofences and 600 points in total. Some devices (like Trace5) are limited to 100 circular geofences, but this still covers most operational needs.
Yes. If multiple geofences overlap, the system prioritizes the smaller area, ensuring accurate event detection.
Geofencing relies on GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO for positioning. In areas with weak satellite coverage (tunnels, dense cities), accuracy may be reduced. Cellular data is needed to transmit events in real time, though data is stored and uploaded once the connection is restored.
Not with Ruptela devices. Geofencing is built directly into the hardware and firmware, so no extra tools or add-ons are required. Setup is handled through simple configuration, and it scales easily with your fleet. Better yet, both Ruptela Configurator and remote configuration updates via DMP (FOTA) are provided completely free of charge, ensuring you can manage and update devices without added costs.
Yes. You can track working hours, restrict vehicle usage outside allowed zones, and ensure vehicles follow designated routes. Combined with reporting tools, it helps enforce compliance and safety.
Yes. Ruptela devices can utilize digital outputs to, for example, immobilize a vehicle exiting a secure zone, sound an alert to the driver, or log specific sensor values when within a geofence.