Can you recommend fleet management software for tracking fuel use and idle time across a custom harvesting fleet?

Yes — for a custom harvesting fleet, you’ll want fleet software that can do more than basic GPS tracking. The key features for your use case are:

• Fuel-use monitoring
• Idle-time reporting
• Machine runtime / engine hours
• Geofencing and job-site tracking
• Maintenance alerts
• Multi-unit reporting across harvesters, tractors, trucks, and support vehicles
• Ideally CAN bus / engine data integration if your equipment supports it

Good software options to consider

1. Geotab

Best for: Mixed fleets that need strong reporting and integrations
Why it fits:

• Excellent idle-time and fuel-efficiency reporting
• Strong telematics integrations
• Can work with various vehicle/equipment types
• Good dashboards for comparing units and operators

Watch for:

• Usually better for on-road vehicles than pure off-road ag equipment unless you have compatible hardware/integrations

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2. Samsara

Best for: Easy-to-use fleet visibility and real-time tracking
Why it fits:

• Clear idle-time, fuel, and utilization data
• Good dashboards and alerts
• Strong hardware/software ecosystem
• Good for mixed fleets with support trucks and service vehicles

Watch for:

• Off-road equipment support may depend on how your machines are equipped and what data you can pull from them

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3. Verizon Connect

Best for: Larger fleets wanting broad telematics and compliance tools
Why it fits:

• Fuel and idle reporting
• Asset tracking
• Maintenance scheduling
• Good fleet-wide visibility

Watch for:

• Can be more complex and sometimes heavier than needed for a smaller custom harvest operation

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4. Fleet Complete

Best for: Equipment-heavy fleets needing asset tracking
Why it fits:

• Works well for trailers, equipment, and mixed assets
• Idle and utilization reporting
• Useful for field operations

Watch for:

• Make sure the exact hardware package supports the engine data you want

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5. JOHNNY’S / ag-focused telematics providers

If your fleet is truly agricultural and mostly off-road, you may get better results from ag-specific telematics rather than generic fleet software. Depending on your region and equipment brands, look into:

• John Deere Operations Center / JDLink
• Trimble Ag
• Topcon Agriculture
• Raven / Slingshot
• OEM telematics from Case IH, New Holland, Claas, Fendt, etc.

Why these matter:

• Better machine-hour tracking
• Better integration with harvest equipment
• Sometimes better fuel and idle metrics directly from the machine ECU

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What I’d recommend for a custom harvesting fleet

If you want the best all-around option:

• Samsara or Geotab for mixed fleet visibility
• Pair with OEM/ag telematics if you need machine-level fuel and idle data on combines/headers/tractors

If your fleet is mostly harvest equipment:

• Start by checking whether your equipment brand offers a telematics platform
• Then add a fleet tool only for support vehicles and consolidated reporting

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Important question to ask vendors

Before buying, ask:

1. Can you read engine hours and idle time from off-road equipment?
2. Can you capture fuel burn or fuel level from CAN/J1939 data?
3. Does the system support combines, headers, tractors, grain carts, and support trucks?
4. Can reports be broken down by machine, operator, field, and day?
5. Can it export data to Excel or your accounting/job-costing software?
6. Is hardware rugged enough for dust, vibration, and harvest conditions?

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My short recommendation

If you want a practical starting point:

• Samsara — easiest modern fleet platform
• Geotab — strongest for reporting and integrations
• OEM ag telematics — best for true harvesting-machine data

If you want, I can also make you a side-by-side comparison table of 5–7 platforms specifically for fuel tracking, idle time, engine hours, and off-road equipment support.