User Guide
6 mins to read
Geotab Drive — Offline Mode Setup Guide
User Guide
6 mins to read
Learn how to use Offline Mode in Geotab Drive to provide maximum access to vehicle data and manage data when the vehicle is not in coverage areas, including accessing driver logs for compliance purposes.
Geotab Drive
June 2022
! IMPORTANT: If you encounter any issues while using this feature, we ask that you report them to Geotab Support. We work hard to improve our products, and your feedback is essential to us!
The Geotab Drive App is designed to work offline in order to provide maximum access to vehicle data. After the initial login, the App continuously receives updates from the MyGeotab server, using cellular networks to convey data and maintain Duty Status Logs.
In areas where cellular coverage is poor or non-existent, the GO device stores all recorded data, together with date and time information, in its internal memory. When the vehicle enters an area with cellular coverage, the GO device transmits the stored data to the server. From there, the server coordinates the data and sends the missing information back to the Drive app, ensuring that the driver’s logs are consistent and complete.
When out of cellular coverage, the App can still be used to access all logs up to the point where the vehicle moved out of the coverage area, and can still be shown to law enforcement.
This feature is available for devices on Regulatory and higher plans.
In cases where drivers need access to their full Duty Status Logs regardless of cellular coverage, an IOX-USB cable can be used in conjunction with an Android device to transfer data directly from the GO device to the Drive App. This solution is designed to prevent gaps from appearing on Duty Status Logs while drivers are out of cellular coverage.
When the IOX-USB cable is connected, the data sent from the GO device is used to create automatic Duty Status Logs on the Drive app. These logs appear as temporary logs until the vehicle re-enters cellular coverage and the data can be transmitted back to the MyGeotab server for processing. At that point, the server sends the coordinated logs back to the Drive app as usual, and the temporary logs are deleted.
✱ NOTE: Due to the restrictive nature of iOS, the IOX-USB cable is only supported by Android devices.
CAUTION! Prior to installing the IOX-USB, read and follow the telematics device installation instructions here to verify any existing GO device installation is correct, and that you are qualified to complete the IOX-USB installation. Incorrect installation of either the GO device, and/or IOX-USB can result in loss of vehicle control and serious injury.
You will need to use an IOX-USB cable to connect your GO device to the Android device. To install the IOX-USB correctly to the GO device, follow the instructions in the IOX-USB document.
To set up the Android device with the IOX-USB and GO device, follow the instructions or refer to the illustration below:
✱ NOTE: The Android device is also powered by the IOX-USB.
The Android device is powered by the GO device through the IOX-USB cable. When you open the Drive app after installing the IOX cable between the two units, you are prompted to allow the Drive App to access the USB accessory. Select OK to approve the access.
! IMPORTANT: Selecting Cancel will cause the IOX cable to go unrecognized in the Drive App. You will not be able to access the prompt again to select OK at a later time.
There are two ways to test your connection in Offline Mode.
! IMPORTANT: In order to log out of the application, you must have cellular coverage. Logging out while in Offline Mode will result in the application failing to log out.
After the IOX-USB is set up, you have the option to enable or disable IOX-USB functionality in MyGeotab. By default, the IOX-USB functionality is enabled. To enable or disable the IOX-USB, follow the steps below:
✱ NOTE: This feature was added in the 2001 release.
After the initial setup, when the IOX-USB is already connected, the Drive App skips the vehicle selection process and automatically assigns the connected vehicle to you. Upon successful assignment, the App displays a green popup notification message.
If you are assigned to a vehicle but connect an IOX-USB with a different telematics device, you are assigned to the vehicle connected via IOX-USB. If you are already assigned to a vehicle that is also connected to an IOX-USB, no message is displayed.
✱ NOTE: When you are logged into the Drive App and lose network connectivity, the vehicle will not be automatically assigned if you connect an IOX-USB.
The following is a list of known issues:
Version | Date | Editor | Changes | Approved by |
1.0 | 10/02/2019 | Product Editor | First release | Product Editor |
1.1 | 03/09/2020 | Product Editor | Updated per 2001 release:
| Product Editor |
1.2 | 07/28/2020 | Product Editor | Removed the Beta flag and Updated the Known Issues section | Product Editor |
1.3 | 06/14/2022 | Product Editor | Updated the note in the ‘After initial setup’ | Product Editor |