Live Tracking
GPS pings, live map, real-time driver location, and ETA estimates for dispatchers and customers.
Live Tracking
NextRoute provides real-time location tracking for drivers in the field. GPS data powers the live map in the web dashboard, ETA calculations, and historical route replay.
GPS Pings
While a route is in_progress, the driver's mobile app sends GPS pings to the server at regular intervals. Each ping records:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
lat / lng | Current GPS coordinates |
speed_mph | Current speed in miles per hour |
heading | Direction of travel in degrees |
accuracy_m | GPS accuracy in meters |
battery_pct | Device battery percentage |
timestamp | When the ping was recorded |
route_id | The active route |
user_id | The driver |
Pings are stored in the gps_ping table and retained for historical analysis.
Live Map
The web dashboard includes a live map view that shows:
- Driver location: Real-time position of each active driver
- Route progress: Completed stops (green), current stop (blue), upcoming stops (gray)
- Route path: Line connecting stops in sequence
- Driver info: Name, current speed, battery level on hover
Accessing the Live Map
- Go to Daily Routes in the sidebar
- Select today's date
- Click the Map toggle to switch to map view
- Active routes with in-progress status show driver locations updating in real time
ETA Estimates
NextRoute calculates estimated arrival times for upcoming stops based on:
- Current driver location — from the latest GPS ping
- Travel time — estimated driving time from current position to next stop
- Historical data — average service duration at similar stops
- Remaining stops — accumulated travel and service time for subsequent stops
ETAs are updated in real time as the driver progresses through the route and are visible:
- In the web dashboard route detail view
- In the driver's mobile app for route planning
- In customer notifications (if service notifications are enabled)
Driver Status
The live tracking system provides status information for each driver:
| Status | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Active | GPS pings received within the last 2 minutes |
| Idle | GPS pings received but speed is 0 for extended period |
| Offline | No GPS pings received recently |
Historical Route Replay
After a route is completed, you can replay the driver's GPS trail:
- Open a completed route
- Click Replay on the map view
- Watch the driver's path animate along the route
- See timestamps for arrivals and departures at each stop
This is useful for:
- Verifying route adherence
- Analyzing time spent at stops vs. in transit
- Identifying route efficiency improvements
Privacy & Data Retention
- GPS tracking is only active while a route is in progress
- Tracking stops when the driver completes or ends the route
- GPS data is retained according to your data retention policy
- Drivers are informed about tracking through the app's terms of service
Related
- Driver Mobile App — GPS tracking from the driver's perspective
- Dispatching — sending routes to drivers
- Daily Routes — route progress and stop statuses