GPS technology has been available to the general public for almost thirty years. Since becoming available for public use, many different applications have been commercialized. GPS tracking is one of the applications in widespread use by individuals and commercial interest.

Commercial shipping interest around the world use GPS tracking to keep track of ships and their locations. Cargo containers aboard ships are often tracked by companies to keep track of shipments and arrival times. You could actually use a GPS tracking device for each sea going container to locate it anywhere in the world at any given time.

Shipping companies such as Fedex and UPS use tracking devices to keep track of vehicles and cargo. Some companies use tracking devices to keep track of commercial trucks and drivers. Some companies use tracking devices for delivery trucks making their daily runs to more effectively pick up and deliver cargo. These tracking devices also help locate a vehicle if it is stolen.

Wildlife management is made easier and more efficient by tagging wildlife with tracking devices to study their range of movement. Tracking devices are used to locate pets and by hunters to keep track of hunting dogs.

Cell phones can now be equipped to track the user for safety reasons. 911 personnel uses calls made by cell phones equipped with GPS capabilities to pin point the location of needed help.

Cell phones and other tracking devices are used to track family members. People use car trackers to locate a car for many purposes including if the car is stolen or driven in a forbidden area.

GPS tracking is used by law enforcement to track criminals by numerous different types of trackers. Courts often use a GPS tracker for people released on house arrest or even parole. These types of trackers usually are a bracelet or anklet device. These types of trackers can be used to track people having special needs such as Alzheimer patients as well.

Commercial air traffic uses GPS for navigation as well as for location for safety reasons. It is possible for more air traffic to use the same air space safely using GPS tracking technology.

Boating is made safer by the use of tracking devices for both boats and the people using them. Thousands of lives are spared each year by tracking devices used by boaters when they are stranded due to power failure and accidents. By wearing a tracking device on a life vest, a person can be found in a mater of hours after an accident. Many people die needlessly because of the lack of a personal tracker when accidents occur. I believe a personal tracker should be required for each person in a boat in large bodies of fresh water or the sea. Untold amounts of resources could be saved by not having to look for them. If the proper type of GPS tracker was required along with the life vest, it would be a matter of sending one rescue unit to pick them up rather than many looking for them. I might add, the chances of them surviving would be far greater.

I have mentioned several uses for GPS tracking devices. The number listed is not complete. There are many more uses for tracking devices I have not listed.