Created by the United States Department of Defense in 1973 for use by the American military, the Global Positioning System at first used 24 satellites to provide location information from anywhere on Earth. The United States government controls use of global positioning technology. Civilian uses of global positioning technology are now as different as geotagging digital pictures to synchronizing clocks. The fleet management tracking fleet system has proven to be essential to the modern vehicle industry. Through increasing route efficiency, saving fuel costs, and decreasing insurance premiums, vehicle companies are enjoying much improved profits numbers.