How to Track Drivers in Real Time

Learn how to track drivers in real time with the SmartRoutes Live Dashboard, monitor route progress and compare planned vs. actual routes.

Caroline Hassett
Caroline Hassett
Updated: • 2 min read

Real-time driver tracking in SmartRoutes provides complete visibility over your fleet throughout the delivery day.

Dispatchers and operations managers can monitor live vehicle locations, track stop completion progress, and compare planned paths against actual routes taken to ensure on-schedule operations. Live tracking eliminates the need to call drivers for status updates and allows your office team to respond proactively to on-road delays.

To monitor your active fleet:

  1. Click on Live Dashboard in the main left-hand navigation bar.
  2. You will see an interactive live map displaying your active vehicles alongside route progress cards for the day.

Monitor Driver Progress and Route Timelines

The Live Dashboard delivers real-time updates as drivers navigate their delivery runs:

  • Live Driver Location: See exact vehicle positions updated in real time directly on the map.
  • Timeline Progress Bar: Each active route features a visual progress bar that highlights completed stops, current stops in progress, and remaining drop-offs against the planned schedule.
  • Stop Statuses: Completed stops update instantly on the dashboard as drivers mark deliveries as successful or failed within their mobile app.

Compare Planned vs. Actual Routes

To identify route deviations and optimize future planning, you can review exact route adherence:

  1. Select a route from the Live Dashboard.
  2. Toggle on the Actual Route view.
  3. The map will display the original planned route alongside the actual GPS trail driven by the vehicle.

How Tracking Works with Offline Mode

Drivers frequently encounter areas with weak or no cellular reception. The SmartRoutes driver app is built to work seamlessly offline:

  • Drivers can continue viewing stops, capturing electronic signatures, taking photo proof of delivery, and logging notes without an internet connection.
  • All delivery events and GPS data are stored securely on the driver's device.
  • As soon as cellular connection is restored, the mobile app automatically syncs all pending data back to the SmartRoutes desktop dashboard.

Didn’t answer your question?

You can see our other guides here or contact support at support@smartroutes.io.

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