GPS Errors: Mileage Gaps

Understanding Mileage Gaps

There are two main reasons a vehicle will have a mileage gap:

1. Hardware Issue

If the truck’s ELD has a hardware issue or went offline for a period of time, the only way to recover the data and fill in the missing miles is to add them into Truckspy manually.

⚠️IMPORTANT: Although they are contained within one device, the ELD and GPS function separately from one another. This means that although your driver logs may appear correct, the GPS may not be functioning properly. If the reports sent to you by Truckspy are missing data, this almost always indicates that we did not receive the data from your third-party ELD system. This is an external issue, thus why it can only be resolved if we fill in the missing data manually. 

2. Truck was re-labelled:

This means that the truck number was changed for a period of time in your connection. In this case, the missing data will likely be associated with another truck number. If this happens contact Truckspy Support for further assistance. Data will have to be transferred from one truck to another. 

⚠️IMPORTANT: Mileage gaps of this kind can usually be avoided if the device is transferred at the same time as the truck number is reassigned in your connection. Properly managing your truck numbers is a simple way to avoid delays and potential frustration.

Identifying the Error

Once logged into your Truckspy account, click the Vehicles tab and then click on the truck number that has thrown an error. 

If you see one of the following error messages, it is possible that the error is resulting from a mileage gap:

Click See Error.

This should take you to the Data View for this vehicle, and should automatically show you where th error is occurring. A mileage gap will look similar to the examples pictured below:

📖Note: The positions causing the error will in most cases be highlighted in red as seen in the above examples. Positions highlighted in purple have not been processed.

Key indicators of a mileage gap include:

• A gap in time between positions ranging anywhere from one day to several weeks or even months.
• A gap in odometer readings between the positions.

📖Note: The most important factor to look for is a gap in odometer readings. If there is a gap in time but no missing miles between the two odometer readings, a mileage gap is likely not the cause of the error.

Addressing the Error

Once you have determined that the error on your vehicle is caused by a gap in mileage, determine whether or not the device associated with this truck number was moved during the time period of the gap. If not, you are likely dealing with a hardware issue and there are two options for handling the situation:

1. Ignore Error

You may see the option to ignore the error, but this is usually not recommended. If you choose this option be advised that this will result in a gap on your IVMRs. You will have to fill out these missing miles on paper, and we will not have that historical data in our system to reference later.

If you select Ignore Error you will also have to enter in an odometer adjustment on the date ending the gap to set the correct mileage going forward; see the example below:

⚠️IMPORTANT: If you choose to ignore the error and do NOT make an odometer adjustment, the IVMR will automatically attempt to close the mileage gap, which will result in incorrect mileage going forward. This means that the mileage gap may not be visible on your report, but you will receive an Exception Gallons Report from FedEx later due to the missing miles that were not accounted for.

2. Fill in positions manually

For further instructions on how to manually add positions/trip histories in TruckSpy, click here.