Data Retention and Purge Policy

1. Introduction

Security, performance and transparency in handling location data and vehicle-event information are core to Tracknel. Because geolocation and event data can be sensitive, we define what is retained, for how long, and how it is automatically purged.

2. Scope

This policy applies to the following data sets within Tracknel:

• Position data: server timestamp, GPS coordinates, speed, heading, odometer and other telemetry.
• Event data: movement alerts, ignition, digital input changes, overspeed events, battery disconnects, and similar events.

Administrative data (users, registered devices, configurations) is not subject to automated purge under this policy.

3. Standard retention period

Tracknel keeps position and event data for a maximum of 90 days from the record timestamp.

Day 0–90: data is available for queries, reports and exports.

Day 91+: records are automatically removed by scheduled processes that run daily.

4. Deletion mechanism

Deletion is automated, auditable and controlled. Processes run daily and remove records older than 90 days in batches to avoid service impact.

• Daily purge: nightly job removes records >90 days.
• Batch processing: deleted in blocks (e.g., 20,000 rows) to minimize load.
• Weekly maintenance: VACUUM/ANALYZE and cleanup tasks to reclaim space and update statistics.
• Irreversibility: once deleted, records cannot be restored from production DB unless an export was previously requested.

5. Options for extended history

Clients that require longer history can request:

• Scheduled exports (monthly/quarterly) to client storage (S3, Google Drive, FTP).
• Extended retention windows (180 days, 1 year or more) under commercial agreement.
• On-demand historical backups delivered before purge (additional cost).

6. Benefits of a 90-day policy

• Improved query and report performance for large fleets.
• Platform stability and controlled growth of storage.
• Cost control for cloud resources, enabling competitive pricing.
• Alignment with data minimization and privacy best practices.

7. Impact for clients

Reports and queries will cover approximately the last 90 days. Clients who need to retain older records must request exports or extended retention before records reach day 91.

8. Limitations and responsibilities

This policy applies to data stored in the primary Tracknel database. Recovery is not guaranteed unless an export agreement exists. Clients are responsible for preserving exported archives.

9. Transparency and communication

Tracknel communicates any changes to retention periods, export mechanisms or fees in advance.

10. Conclusion

The 90-day retention policy balances historical availability, performance and data protection. Clients may request exports or extended retention agreements to meet specific needs.