{"id":12167,"date":"2021-08-20T16:19:22","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T14:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=12167"},"modified":"2021-08-20T16:19:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T14:19:22","slug":"telematics-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/08\/20\/telematics-31\/","title":{"rendered":"Why telematics should extend from tractor to trailer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advancements in telematics are helping fleets gain vital insights into their trailers and cargo, helping to reduce maintenance costs, improve uptime, and ensure customer satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Telematics has been helping fleets monitor truck location and system performance for many years. Trailers can benefit from this type of technology, too. The good news is that over the past few years, a lot of progress has been made regarding trailer tracking technologies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust a few years ago, trailer telematics was all about, \u2018Where\u2019s my trailer?\u2019\u201d said Jim Epler, executive vice president of\u00a0Phillips Connect Technologies<\/a>, a provider of intelligent predictive technologies for commercial vehicles. Trailer telematics soon evolved to help track mileage to assist with preventive maintenance scheduling. The evolution continued, ultimately leading to a fleet\u2019s desire to monitor key trailer systems such as brakes, lights, and tires.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow we\u2019re taking it one step further,\u201d Epler said. \u201cNow we\u2019re trying to understand how we can help prevent a fleet from dispatching a driver to a trailer that isn\u2019t healthy. A lot of the telematics technology gives a view of what\u2019s happening as it\u2019s happening on the road, which is very important. But we\u2019ve found that having the ability to pre-check a trailer\u2019s brakes, lights, and tires has a lot of value.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That means sensors are always on, periodically checking the lighting systems, tire pressures, cargo status, and more. \u201cThere are a multitude of sensors that should be monitored on a trailer,\u201d Epler said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The benefits of monitoring are clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe trailer is the asset carrying the valued cargo,\u201d said Lisa Mullen, CEO of\u00a0Dr\u014dv Technologies<\/a>, provider of the AirBoxOne comprehensive smart trailer solution. \u201cAdditionally, there are a myriad of safety concerns on the trailer that affect the operation of the connected vehicle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Credit: Dr\u014dv Technologies<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The AirBoxOne smart trailer system from Dr\u014dv Technologies incorporates 15 different sensors on a trailer, including those for wheel-end monitoring and automated tire inflation\/deflation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cTo maximize trailer use and uptime, and to protect the cargo inside, fleets need to know not only the location of their trailers but also the current status of trailer functions,\u201d said Jeff Geoffroy, director of marketing for Peterson, maker of the\u00a0PetersonPULSE trailer telematics system<\/a>. \u201cFor instance, if a tractor-trailer is hauling produce, cargo temperature is critical. Trailer telematics can give you real-time confirmation of the required temps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMonitoring and reporting load temp at varying points in the trailer is key to meeting customer requirements based on FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) standards,\u201d added Casey Ellis, president of\u00a0EROAD North America<\/a>, a provider of fleet management solutions and tracking systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trailer sensors can also monitor ambient temperature, which is directly related to tire pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOutside temperature can be crucial to interpreting what high or low tire pressure means,\u201d Ellis explained. \u201cStarting a run with low trailer tire pressure in a Minnesota winter requires far different action than low tire pressure in Arizona during July.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line is that fleets are now able to track a wide array of trailer functions. Common trailer sensors include:<\/span><\/p>\n