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Why van tracking is a must for UK Fleets in 2025
In 2025, van tracking is helping businesses do more than just prevent theft - it’s transforming how fleets manage fuel, support drivers, and deliver better service.
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What is van tracking?Real benefits you’ll actually noticeBetter efficiencyHappier customersSafer driversLower fuel billsStronger securityABAX Fleet Management FeaturesThinking about van tracking?The latest van theft statistics paint an alarming picture – van-related crime is on the rise across the UK, costing businesses over £61.9 million in lost tools and goods since 2016.
Recent studies show this trend is not slowing down:
Over 11,000 vans were stolen in 2024, with an estimated loss of £200 million – that’s around 31 vans stolen every day.
London tops the chart with 14,529 van-related crimes in 2023, averaging 40 thefts or break-ins daily.
West Yorkshire recorded 2,133 van thefts between January 2022 and February 2024. Merseyside leads in break-ins, with 3,749 incidents reported during the same period.
The most stolen van in 2023 was the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313 CDI, with 938 reported thefts.
With inflation driving up costs and economic uncertainty tightening budgets, no business can afford the disruption that comes with vehicle theft. Fleets of all sizes are investing in van tracking systems to protect their assets and gain peace of mind.
What is van tracking?
Van tracking devices use GPS technology to monitor and track the movements of your company's vehicles. By installing these devices, you can receive real-time data about their location and insights into your drivers’ behaviours. This data is easily accessed through a web-based portal or mobile app – both of which ABAX offers – allowing you to monitor your fleet from anywhere.
These systems don’t just tell you where your vehicles are. They give you detailed insights to help optimise business operations, reduce overheads, improve customer service, increase safety, and even prevent theft.
Real benefits you’ll actually notice
Van tracking isn’t just about theft prevention. Businesses across the UK are seeing measurable results in customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, cost savings, and workforce accountability. Below are some of the key benefits – supported by real-world examples from ABAX customers.
Better efficiency
ABAX customers have reported noticeable improvements in fleet efficiency thanks to better route management and driver accountability. For example, businesses are using the platform to ensure vans are being used appropriately, jobs are completed faster, and assets are no longer sitting idle without explanation.
With real-time vehicle tracking, you can pinpoint where your vans are, how long they’re stopped, and whether they’re following the most efficient routes. This visibility helps you reduce wasted time, cut unnecessary mileage, and boost overall fleet efficiency – all while keeping service standards high.
Happier customers
Wrights Roofing, a family-run roofing company, uses ABAX’s platform to view staff locations and delivery progress in real time. This enables them to update customers on when to expect staff on site and when vehicles will return to the yard — helping streamline communication and reduce customer uncertainty.
No one enjoys being left in the dark about arrival times. With tracking, you can give customers real-time updates and accurate ETAs. Wrights Roofing, for example, uses ABAX’s system to keep clients informed without having to micromanage staff. It's a simple way to improve customer experience and build trust.
Safer drivers
Monitoring driving behaviour might feel invasive, but it pays off. Tracking systems let you view metrics like speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration – allowing you to coach drivers toward safer habits. The result? Fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums, and a better brand image.
Lower fuel bills
Midtech Building Services Ltd identified multiple cases of employees not being where they claimed to be, including using vehicles for personal reasons. After implementing ABAX’s van tracking system, the company reported saving thousands of pounds through improved driver discipline and reduced fuel wastage.
Fuel costs are no joke. By identifying inefficient driving – idling, speeding, or detours – van tracking helps you cut fuel use. Midtech Building Services uncovered misuse of company vehicles and saved thousands by using ABAX’s GPS van tracking system to change driver behaviour.
Stronger security
Barford Van Hire recovered a stolen hire vehicle 150 miles away by using ABAX’s live GPS data to guide police directly to its location. The tracking platform allowed the company to relay updates to the control room in real time, increasing recovery speed and minimising disruption.
With van theft costing UK businesses millions, GPS tracking adds a critical layer of protection. Barford Van Hire recovered a stolen van 150 miles away by working with police using live tracking data. Real-time location tracking increases recovery chances and gives you peace of mind.
ABAX Fleet Management Features
ABAX Fleet offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline your fleet operations:
Digital mileage log: Eliminate manual mileage logs with an easy-to-use digital system that complies with HMRC tax legislation.
Real-time maps and driving routes: Monitor your fleet's location in real-time, assign drivers efficiently, and track travel history.
Geofence: Set up virtual boundaries around specific areas like construction sites or warehouses, receiving alerts when vehicles enter or exit these zones.
User-friendly reports: Access over 20 different reports providing valuable insights into vehicle usage and driver behaviour, all designed for ease of use.
Thinking about van tracking?
If you’re searching for the best van tracking system for businesses, ABAX offers a reliable, easy-to-use platform with full fleet visibility and insightful reports. It’s designed to help you work smarter – not harder – with real-time data on vehicles, drivers, and fuel use.
Whether you want to improve service delivery, prevent theft, or lower fuel costs, van tracking is a smart investment that delivers tangible returns.
Combining multiple data points into one simplified central platform, we help businesses across UK and Europe to optimise and streamline fleet management.
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