The State of GPS Tracking in America: Which Regions Are Driving the Industry

GPS technology is used for personal safety, fleet management, and in verticals ranging from agritech (agricultural technology) to transit, but regional trends in GPS tracking have the potential to significantly impact the way the overall GPS industry grows. When rapid urbanization increases the need for compact GPS trackers for delivery drivers and transport providers, that segment of the market gets a boost. Similarly, when expanding agricultural efforts require advanced GPS solutions, research and development in these areas receive significant investment.

By understanding GPS tracking use by region, businesses can see the impact this technology is having right across the nation — and across specific industries.

What is GPS Tracking?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It’s a U.S.-owned utility consisting of multiple satellites, control systems for those satellites, and end-user devices. These aspects of the system work together to provide accurate, real-time location information.

There are any number of uses for this technology. Individuals use GPS tracking devices for navigation, personal safety, and monitoring of at risk family members. Commercially, GPS trackers help protect assets, monitor the movement of equipment and resources, and make fleet management more efficient.

How has GPS Tracking Been Adopted in the U.S.

The GPS project was approved in the 1970s as a purely defense-based initiative. Today, over 170 million Americans own a GPS tracking device — not including their smartphones. GPS has become a part of life, but it’s not all about personal tracking.

GPS has numerous, significant uses within business and infrastructure. Across the United States, urban transit operators are utilizing GPS for tracking buses and other vehicles. The data they gather helps transit organizers understand traffic trends, peak times, and delays — and they can use this data to inform and improve their services.

Many businesses utilize GPS trackers to monitor and protect assets from theft. Construction is a major player here. Statistics suggest that the theft of construction equipment could cost American businesses up to $1 billion each year. Experts suggest that GPS tracking, in tandem with advanced surveillance and asset tagging, is a core aspect of preventing these costly thefts. However, GPS is used for more than just theft prevention in construction. Project managers can use GPS trackers to create geofences that alert them when in-use equipment leaves an area, helping them monitor employee activity.

Agriculture also uses GPS in a similar way, monitoring the movement of large-scale equipment and employee actions and safety. Some of the lesser-known uses of GPS devices in agriculture are for accurate soil sampling, ensuring crops are placed in optimal locations for the best yields.

What are the Regional Trends for GPS Tracking Adoption?

Regional growth in GPS tracking is driven by these sectors — and more — as each opts for increasingly advanced tracking technologies. Here are just a few regional trends in GPS tracking.

Northeast

The Northeast “Megapolis” represents some of the most urbanized areas in the United States. It’s unsurprising, then, that cities in this region heavily utilize GPS. Corporations use GPS for fleet management, monitoring employee movements, mileage, fuel use, driving habits, and many more aspects. A 2023 report shows that at least 31% of fleet managers noted a positive ROI within just 6 months of implementing GPS tracking solutions.

GPS also helps logistics providers, helping the supply chain run more smoothly for multiple industries. In busy cities like New York, transport would grind to a halt without GPS helping taxi drivers and bus operators manage busy routes and bypass road traffic incidents.

Midwest

Moving from the urban to the rural, the Midwest — America’s heartland — is famous for its agricultural innovation. States in this region heavily utilize GPS for freight management and the tracking of raw materials, crops, and other resources.

When exploring GPS tracking use by industry, agriculture must get a mention. Farming experts suggest that GPS is revolutionizing planting and seeding, irrigation and water conservation, and the automation of machinery.

Illinois and Iowa are just two states utilizing GPS for advanced crop management and increased yields. Kansas and Missouri are also finding techniques like the aforementioned GPS-based soil sampling useful for farms where soil quality varies considerably.

South

States in the South experiencing increasing urbanization note a rise in the number of delivery drivers and transport providers. In Texas, for example, urbanization is rapid but sporadic, leading to small outfits that require cost-effective tracking technologies.

Similar patterns are seen in states like Florida, where GPS is also used for tracking environmental changes. When combined with drones, machine learning, and other advanced technological solutions, GPS helps accurately pinpoint locations where conservation efforts are required or where weather patterns may cause significant disruption.

West

For examples of GPS in smart tech, go west to California. Smart homes with energy-saving features are the new housing trend here. Many smart devices can integrate with GPS. For example, if you leave your home, you may trigger a geofence alert that switches your AC or lights off.

On a more macro scale, smart cities can also make good use of GPS. Seattle is one of the “smartest” cities in the United States, rapidly adopting the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to help keep citizens connected and safe. GPS technology is a major part of that, helping reduce surplus food via effective resource tracking, improving transportation, and connecting citizens with emergency services faster.

It's also worth remembering that these states have vast outdoor areas that both locals and visitors want to explore. GPS tracking and navigation solutions help empower people to get active, explore, and have adventures in the outdoors.

Future Trends in GPS Tracking in the U.S.

Expect to see the trends in California and Washington spread throughout the States. GPS technology will get smarter, connecting with IoT to work with multiple devices. Integrated GPS trackers are a recent development and are sure to be a major driver of GPS use for retailers, manufacturers, and more. These devices help track assets from their creation to end-of-life, reducing or even eliminating the need for additional GPS units.

GPS Tracking Technology — Final Thoughts

If you’re surprised at some of these regional trends in GPS technologies, you’re not alone. Many people don’t realize just how integral GPS is to industries like agriculture in the Midwest or urbanization in the South.

As technology advances, expect GPS to become more integrated into emerging technologies and become an even more vital aspect of core businesses and infrastructure sectors. For more information on any aspect of GPS technology, contact LandAirSea today.