Geotab has incorporated the latest in RFID technologies - Near Field Communications (NFC) - to deliver driver identification for personnel that switch between vehicles. Driver ID allows fleet managers to have a full view into their driver activities regardless of the vehicle they are currently driving. This allows running reports, rules and exceptions by driver or vehicle. Driver ID can be combined vehicle immobilization wherein a valid Driver ID keyfob must be touched to the reader before the vehicle will start.

Understanding drivers

When using Geotab, a Driver is special type of user account that is configured by your administrator. A driver can be issued a physical driver key (NFC or GO key) which is then used to identify that specific driver when in a vehicle.

Driver keys

When a driver enters a vehicle, they use their Driver ID keyfob to associate their user account with that vehicle. When using NFC, this process is performed by tapping the Driver ID keyfob on your equipped vehicle’s driver identification reader.

• NFC: Driver identification is done by tapping their key (or tag) to the Geotab NFC IOX reader. Each key has a visible unique serial number which is associated with a user account.
• GO key: Legacy driver identification which is inserted to the reader. GO keys are designed for Geotab GO2 and GO4 devices and do not have a visible serial number.

Using driver identification

When a driver enters a vehicle equipped with a driver identification system they should first use their driver key to identify themselves before starting the engine. If they do not first identify themselves, an audible sound will remind them that identification is required.

The identified driver will then be associated with that vehicle for the duration of a single trip, or until another driver identifies themselves.

If a driver attempts to use their driver key before it is assigned to their user account an exception will be generated letting you know that an unassigned key has been used to identify a driver in a vehicle.

Note: Your account must first have the driver identification feature enabled.