Is it possible for my driver to disconnect the GPS units? Will I be able to know if the GPS units are disconnected?
Power Losses
Many of our devices will notify you of a power loss to the device, called Main Power Source Lost (for Dash Cameras, the event is called Power Failure but is essentially the same thing).
The only requirement to know if the power source was disconnected or not, is that the device has a functional backup battery. Without this, the device will go offline right away, without the ability to stay online to transmit its status.
The majority of GPS devices today have a backup battery installed, but keep in mind the limitations of that battery: unless it is specifically a large-battery unit (such as a QTT trailer-tracker or a Sat Solar asset tracker), the battery on regular GPS trackers is quite small and only designed to operate for 30 minutes or less. The battery will also degrade with time as all batteries do.
However, the unit only needs a matter of seconds to transmit a message with its power-lost status, so the batteries for that purpose will last for some time.
Tampering
If your drivers have access to the GPS unit, for example if it is hardwired in an accessible location, or if it is an OBD / JBUS plug-and-play device, it is possible for the driver to disconnect the device.
The device should in this case transmit a power-lost event to our service.
For the security of the device and your asset, always install hardwired units underneath the dash of your vehicle, well out of reach of drivers or thieves.
For OBD units, you can speak to your account manager about obtaining an OBD splitter to help hide the device, which can also protect it from accidental disconnection as well (such as the driver striking the unit with a knee or foot when entering/leaving the vehicle).