The short version: Approved Auto Transport now provides live GPS tracking on shipments through Super Dispatch.
A few weeks ago we wrote about the honest state of vehicle tracking in this industry — what's real, what's marketing, and why "yes, we can track it" usually means less than it sounds like. We landed on wait and see as the only honest position, because too much of what gets promised in this industry doesn't hold up once you ask how it actually works.
That wait is over on our end. GPS tracking is now active on our shipments through Super Dispatch, sourced from the driver's app and phone location services, not the truck's ELD. We tested it ourselves on real shipments with real carriers before saying so publicly.
What This Means For You
Once your vehicle's in transit, our team can pull up its last known location and a rough drive-time estimate to delivery — a real answer, sourced from the driver's app, not a guess. How often it updates depends on the driver: some check in close to hourly, others less often overnight or in weak-signal areas, and that's normal.
We request tracking with the carrier's dispatcher on every load — it's something we ask for each time, not a background default. Checks run through our team by design: it gets you an accurate answer while keeping a driver hauling multiple cars from getting flagged down by every customer on the load. Call or text us any time for a current location and we'll pull it directly, or reach out to the carrier for a fresh check.
How Vehicle Tracking Actually Works
"Tracking" gets used for at least four different things in this industry, and most brokers don't say which one they mean:
GPS via the driver's mobile app. What most modern dispatch platforms run on, including Super Dispatch. Reports the phone's location while the app is running and location services are on.
ELD data. An Electronic Logging Device is federally mandated equipment that logs a driver's hours of service for compliance — not a customer tracking tool. Some platforms use it as a location source; ours doesn't.
Dedicated GPS hardware. Permanent telematics units some larger fleets install. Less common among the independent owner-operators who make up most of this industry.
Personal trackers. An AirTag or Samsung SmartTag in the glovebox — covered in our last post. The only option here that doesn't depend on us, the carrier, or any platform.
Most "tracking" claims you'll hear are the first option. That's what we use too. Now you know what to actually ask a broker who says it.
A Quick Reminder From Our Last Post
A quiet tracker for a few hours is usually just a rest break, not a problem. Same advice as last time on backups: an AirTag or SmartTag in the glovebox, still worth it — this adds to that, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between GPS tracking and ELD tracking?
GPS tracking through a driver's app reports the phone's location while it's running and location services are on. An ELD is separate, federally mandated equipment that logs hours of service for compliance — not a location feed. Most platforms, including the one we use, run on the phone app.
What should I ask a broker about tracking before booking?
Which platform actually powers it, whether it's the driver's phone app or the truck's ELD, and whether you get direct access or go through their team. A broker who can't answer specifically is likely reselling a name without knowing how it works.
Is tracking active on every Approved Auto Transport shipment?
Not automatically — we request it with the carrier's dispatcher on every load. Ask us and we'll confirm it's active on yours.
How often does the location update?
It depends on the driver, not a fixed schedule — sometimes close to hourly, sometimes longer stretches overnight or in weak-signal areas. Either way, it's a real improvement over calling and hoping for an answer.
Approved Transport Group LLC — USDOT# 9677802 | MC# 45556873 | Licensed Property Broker | Grasonville, Maryland
Related Reading
- Where's My Car? What Vehicle Tracking in Auto Transport Actually Gets You
- What We Check Before Your Carrier Is Dispatched
- What You Need to Know Before Shipping Your Car Cross-Country
- Auto Transport Scams, Red Flags, and the Documentation Problem
- Nationwide Auto Transport — Honest Answers From a Licensed Broker
