Global positioning system (GPS) can be discussed as a system that allows monitoring and following the exact position of vehicles and any objects such as materials or products that are necessary for the supply chain functioning. There are two basic purposes for which the GPS is used in transportation and logistics systems. These purposes are navigation and the tracking control.
Such companies as Nordic Parcel and ARI Logistics usually use the advanced GPS for navigation of their vehicles in long routes. The GPS navigational systems integrated in these companies’ vehicles allow operations similar to operations of automated vehicles during complicated routes, when the driver needs assistance in navigation. In this case, the routes for vehicles are applied automatically, and the system can operate as a ‘machine’ driver.
On the contrary, US Perishables and Integrity Express Logistics are more interested in the constant monitoring of the freight location. Therefore, they have applied the GPS in order to find the location of the freight with the help of satellites and signals from the GPS tracking devices installed in trucks. In this case, both the company and the client can follow the movement of the truck in order to conclude about the location of the freight.