From the paranoid conspiracy nut to the woman who is afraid of being followed by the employee who doesn’t want to be followed by her boss, the use of devices called GPS jammer is increasing. They are easy to purchase online. You can even find them on sites like eBay. Many people who use them likely assume they are legal and don’t bother to investigate the laws around them. But as an employer, how do you combat and spot employees who use GPS jammers?
What is a GPS jammer?
What Exactly Is A GPS Jammer And How Do They Work? A GPS jammer is a device that uses radio frequencies to transmit a signal that blocks, interferes, or interferes with GPS systems. These devices interfere with all aspects of GPS, including navigation and tracking.
The devices are usually small and most of them are easy to install. A user just needs to plug it into the lighter or car charger port (do cars still have a lighter socket?) And make sure the device is near the GPS tracker so it can interfere with the signal. It takes less than half a minute to turn them on, which makes them attractive to criminals and employees as you can simply plug them in when needed and remove them for the rest of the time.
How do I know an employee is using a GPS jammer?
The good news is, if you have one or more employees trying to use a GPS jammer to disrupt your fleet tracking system, you know. While your drivers may think the illegal jammers are making them invisible, they are instead paying more attention to their behavior.
When an employee uses a GPS jammer to jam the GPS signal, it will show up on the live tracking map or trip history map as a paused or missing trip. If you only connect your jammer during part of the journey, a line will appear between when the jamming started and when the device was turned off. Some later GPS tracking devices even have GPS interference detection. You can also create an exception rule that checks for GPS signal errors and triggers an alert or email when GPS interference occurs.
Once you discover that an employee has disrupted the GPS tracking, you can confront them. They also have a record of the GPS malfunction for disciplinary action like firing the abusive employee for cause.
Final thoughts on GPS jammers and staff
While GPS jammers are illegal, the devices are inexpensive and easy to obtain, especially online. The FCC relies heavily on the public to report the devices, but many people are unaware that it is illegal. Studies of the number of drivers using GPS jammers to hide their whereabouts from employers are inconclusive. However, their use appears to be increasing.
While most GPS jammer users are unlikely to use them to hide illegal activity, the reason behind buying, selling, or using the devices illegally is for public safety reasons. GPS jammers interfere with communication systems, navigation systems, and tracking systems, including emergency services and aviation.
It’s interesting that workers who use them think they can fool their bosses. Instead, employers can easily monitor when and if an employee is using GPS interference and record all incidents. If you are concerned that your drivers are tempted to use the devices, it is important that you monitor your reports and confront the staff who catch you.
You can also let your drivers know that GPS jammers will not help them hide from GPS tracking and that the devices can result in not only termination of their employment but also fines and jail terms for violating federal law. Ultimately, your drivers will find that the devices are simply not worth using.