What data can IoT telematics collect from my vehicles?

With CAN bus integration: GPS position, speed, fuel level, engine RPM, coolant temperature, battery voltage, odometer, door status, ignition state, and dozens more parameters. The exact data depends on the vehicle make/model and what the manufacturer exposes on the CAN bus.

What's the difference between a basic GPS tracker and an IoT fleet device?

A basic GPS tracker only reports location and speed. An IoT fleet device like the Fletaro Box connects to the vehicle's CAN bus to read engine diagnostics, fuel level, battery voltage, door status, and dozens more parameters. It can also send commands back to the vehicle — such as locking doors or engaging the engine immobilizer — making it a two-way connected device, not just a tracker.

How much data does a connected vehicle generate?

At a 10-second reporting interval, a single vehicle generates approximately 8,600 data points per day. Each data point includes GPS coordinates, speed, and several I/O parameters. Monthly data usage is typically 50-100 MB per vehicle — well within standard IoT SIM plans.

Is vehicle IoT data subject to GDPR?

Yes, if the data can be linked to an identifiable person (driver or customer). You need a lawful basis for processing, clear retention policies, access controls, and the ability to respond to data subject requests. Fletaro includes configurable retention policies and role-based access to help with GDPR compliance.

IoT and Connected Vehicles: The Future of Fleet Management

The Internet of Things is transforming fleet management from reactive to predictive. Connected vehicles generate thousands of data points per hour — e...

What IoT means for fleet operations

IoT in fleet management refers to the network of sensors, telematics devices, and communication systems that connect your vehicles to a central platform. Unlike traditional GPS tracking that only provides location, a full IoT implementation captures engine parameters (RPM, coolant temperature, fuel level, battery voltage), driving behavior (acceleration, braking, cornering forces), and environmental data (ambient temperature, altitude) — all transmitted in real time over cellular networks.

Telematics hardware: sensors, protocols, and connectivity

Modern telematics devices like the Fletaro Box connect to the vehicle through the CAN bus — the internal data network that all modern vehicles use for communication between electronic control units. Through CAN bus integration, a single device can read hundreds of vehicle parameters without additional sensors: fuel level from the fuel gauge ECU, engine temperature from the engine management system, door status from the body controller, and odometer readings from the instrument cluster.

Predictive maintenance through vehicle data

Predictive maintenance is the highest-value application of fleet IoT data. Instead of servicing vehicles on fixed schedules (which leads to either premature maintenance or missed issues), predictive maintenance uses actual vehicle data to determine when service is needed. Engine hours, coolant temperature trends, battery voltage patterns, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) all provide early warning signals that a human reviewing a service log would miss entirely.

Data security and privacy in connected fleets

Connecting vehicles to the internet creates legitimate security and privacy concerns that must be addressed proactively. Vehicle telematics data includes location history, driving patterns, and potentially personally identifiable information about drivers. Under GDPR, this data requires appropriate technical and organizational measures: encrypted transmission (TLS 1.3), access controls (role-based permissions), data retention limits, and clear privacy policies for employees and customers.

Building an IoT strategy for your fleet

Start with the use case, not the technology. Define what business problem you are solving — reducing fuel costs, preventing breakdowns, improving driver safety, or enabling remote access — and work backward to the data and hardware you need. A fleet focused on fuel savings needs CAN bus fuel level readings and driver behavior scoring. A rental fleet focused on unmanned pickup needs door lock control and remote immobilizer. Not every vehicle needs every sensor.

Fletaro — Software de gestión de flotas con GPS y acceso remoto