{"id":12741,"date":"2021-11-21T10:56:57","date_gmt":"2021-11-21T09:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=12741"},"modified":"2021-11-21T10:56:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-21T09:56:57","slug":"smart-trailers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/11\/21\/smart-trailers-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart trailers are making trucking more efficient"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As trucking rolls into the high-tech 21st century, more advanced trailers are gearing up to make fleets more efficient, safer, and smarter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Everything is getting smart these days: From smart kitchen appliances to smart doorbells and watches. Trucks and trailers are getting smarter, too. After spending most of the 20th century slowly implementing new technology, the trucking industry is leaning into the smarter, technology-rich 21st century. Trucking\u2019s smarter future is safer, more efficient, and profitable because of its potential to make fleets smarter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cA smart trailer is a trailer that really talks to you,\u201d Nada Jiddou, EVP of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clariencetechnologies.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Clarience Technologies<\/a> and general manager of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clariencetechnologies.com\/family-of-brands\/road-ready.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Road Ready<\/a>, told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cIt is a trailer that knows its current state. It knows its systems and its operation, health, and status at any given point in time. It is also able to communicate that to the fleet\u2014or the operator\u2014comprehensively with a complete data set.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just having telematics on a trailer doesn\u2019t make it smart, Jim Epler, EVP of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phillips-connect.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Phillips Connect<\/a>, told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cThe difference between a trailer and Class 8 truck is you can\u2019t just plug an ECU into a trailer and it churns out all the faults,\u201d he said. &#8220;A trailer has to be able to tell you its health without that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While a PLC reader can note some faults on a trailer, he said, a smart trailer has many other sensors that can give fleets a better view of its health.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cA smart trailer is providing you the health of the trailer to be able to proactively warn against issues that the fleet might incur while the trailer is either stationary or in motion,\u201d Epler noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Orbcomm<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img title=\"Smart Trailer Orbcomm\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/16x9\/smart_trailer_ORBCOMM_.6165dafce883d.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Smart Trailer Orbcomm\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chris MacDonald, SVP of global transportation at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbcomm.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Orbcomm<\/a>, pointed out that this actionable data is nothing new. Cars have had \u201ccheck-engine\u201d lights for years that tell drivers they should take their vehicle to a mechanic. But those dashboard instrument lights on cars are vague\u2014noting a problem, not specifying it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIn this situation, a smart trailer provides you with better visibility of how you\u2019re running that asset,\u201d he told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cIt helps you maximize your utilization, keeps your trailers operational, and really helps you improve the overall efficiency of your asset.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A standard 53-ft. dry van trailer could have 20 to 25 federally required lamps on it, according to Ross Froat, VP of engineering and government affairs for <a href=\"https:\/\/petersonlightsandharnesses.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Peterson Manufacturing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Peterson Manufacturing<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img title=\"A Peterson PULSE mobile device helps drivers complete pre-trip walk-around inspections\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/16x9\/PetersonPULSE_Pre_trip_with_tablet.6165dae63039c.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"A Peterson PULSE mobile device helps drivers complete pre-trip walk-around inspections\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">A Peterson PULSE mobile device helps drivers complete pre-trip walk-around inspections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Peterson Manufacturing<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"The Peterson PULSE Intelligent Trailer system gives fleet managers 24\/7 visibility of their trailers, whether they are moving or parked. Issues are relayed to fleets via 4G and 5G cellular networks as they happen.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/PetersonPULSE_Mobile.6165daf3569d1.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"The Peterson PULSE Intelligent Trailer system gives fleet managers 24\/7 visibility of their trailers, whether they are moving or parked. Issues are relayed to fleets via 4G and 5G cellular networks as they happen.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\nThe Peterson PULSE Intelligent Trailer system gives fleet managers 24\/7 visibility of their trailers, whether they are moving or parked. Issues are relayed to fleets via 4G and<br \/>\n5G cellular networks as they happen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThen you have four wheel-ends, and then you have four sets of brakes, and then there&#8217;s eight sets of tires that are standardized through their manufacturer for pressure systems, temperature systems,\u201d he said. \u201cPlus, they are making sure that everything works\u2014in some cases\u201420 years after you buy the trailer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cGood maintenance programs for trailers lead to safety on the road,\u201d Froat told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cIt always comes back to safety because the trailer is the leading cause of CVSA violations and \u2018out of services.\u2019 So, safety amongst all that is really important in how that trailer is reacting to the braking functions, to the stopping functions, and to the awareness functions, such as lights, as it goes down the road hauling 80,000 lb., doing 70 mph.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">The future is near<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Data is going to develop more rapidly over the next five to 10 years, Orbcomm\u2019s MacDonald predicted. \u201cEveryone is getting into the \u2018smart business.\u2019 Whether it\u2019s fridges, TVs, or coolers, all the appliances now are \u2018smart,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAs the smart trailer expands, my belief is you\u2019ll be able to monitor a lot more than just brakes, lights, tires, doors, weight, fuel, reefer temperature\u2014all those things,\u201d he added. \u201cCamera technology is really going to grow incredibly over the next cell cycles. You\u2019re going to see OEMs come out with cameras. We have a camera now that we can look inside the trailer to monitor percentages of bulk and monitor cargo as the trailer is going down the road. It gives you real-time visibility into what\u2019s happening with your assets. As these types of technologies evolve and become a little cheaper, it\u2019s going to make much more data available.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Clarience Technologies<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"FleetViz, from Clarience&amp;rsquo;s RoadReady, helps fleets manage day-to-day operations.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/Road_Ready1_FleetViz_Road_Ready.6165db0b2f6b0.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"FleetViz, from Clarience&amp;rsquo;s RoadReady, helps fleets manage day-to-day operations.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<p>FleetViz, from Clarience\u2019s RoadReady, helps fleets manage day-to-day operations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Autonomous and electric fleets are going to need smart trailers, Clarience\u2019s Jiddou said. \u201cFor electrification to be effective in the industry, trailers must be smart,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe minute you solve the battery issue, you come into the range issue. Range is a calculation; it&#8217;s predictive analytics. It takes in data, and it spits out range. And to have a complete set of data, you must have intel on the trailer: What\u2019s the tire pressure? What\u2019s the load status? How much load do you have in there? How are you going to bring all those parameters together in order to drive range?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe future is smart. The future of supply chain is digital. It starts with smart sensing\u2014to smart trailers, to smart tractors, and the integration of the two to generate a smarter fleet, which then creates a smart supply chain,\u201d she added. \u201cThat future will then power autonomous driving as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jiddou said two things will drive the trucking industry to \u201ccollectively be smarter: That is electrification, which will force us to know a lot more about the state of every component we have, and autonomous, which to me will go hand-in-hand with electrification.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In five to 10 years, fleets will be relying on 5G networks, electrified tractors, and more autonomous trucks, Jiddou added. The smart trailer is just one big part of that connected, smarter future for trucking. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/technology\/article\/21181048\/supply-chain-could-impact-companies-still-relying-on-3g-communications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\"><b>See also: Older trailers face and equipment face 3G sunset<\/b><\/a>.]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The future of smart trailers is \u201cmore sensors,\u201d according to Phillips Connect\u2019s Epler. \u201cI don\u2019t think tires are going away, and air systems aren\u2019t going away.\u201d But those systems and TPMS are going to get more advanced, he said, adding there will be a lot more embedded technology.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Startup autonomous trucking companies such as Kodiak Robotics want their tractors and trailers \u201cto operate nearly 24\/7 at peak safety,\u201d Don Burnette, <a href=\"https:\/\/kodiak.ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Kodiak Robotics\u2019<\/a> co-founder and CEO, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/technology\/autonomous-vehicles\/article\/21167140\/bridgestone-partners-with-kodiak-to-integrate-smart-tires-with-selfdriving-trucks\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">told <\/a><i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/technology\/autonomous-vehicles\/article\/21167140\/bridgestone-partners-with-kodiak-to-integrate-smart-tires-with-selfdriving-trucks\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">FleetOwner<\/a><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/technology\/autonomous-vehicles\/article\/21167140\/bridgestone-partners-with-kodiak-to-integrate-smart-tires-with-selfdriving-trucks\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\"> in June<\/a> when the company announced a partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgestoneamericas.com\/en\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Bridgestone Americas<\/a>. The tire company made a minority investment in Kodiak and is integrating Bridgestone\u2019s smart-sensing tire technologies into Kodiak\u2019s autonomous trucking platform.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cEight years from now, there\u2019s going to be a lot of autonomous trailers on the road,\u201d Epler said. He and his team at Phillips can design smart trailer harness retrofits for the trailers pulled by autonomous tractors. Both the tractor and the trailer will be packed with technology.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cYou want to put cameras and sensors and ultrasonic and lidar and radar everywhere on these trailers,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just design the harness. They install it and it plugs in, just like on your truck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similar to what Kodiak and Bridgestone are designing, smart tire technologies can collect data and track whether weight is evenly distributed among truck and trailer wheels and axles, Burnette explained.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWeight distribution plays a critical role in vehicle dynamics, controllability, maneuverability, and thus safety and vehicle performance,\u201d he said. \u201cKodiak can also use data collected from the smart-sensing tire technologies to optimize autonomous driving operations to minimize wear and tear on tires.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8216;Only the beginning&#8217;<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe don\u2019t know what we don\u2019t know about the future,\u201d Lisa Mullen, CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drovtechnologies.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Dr\u014dv Technologies<\/a>, told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cTire management is the beginning\u2014but only the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Because the future is promising but uncertain\u2014and trailers can stay in use for 20 years\u2014Mullen said that Dr\u014dv CTO Peter Jankowski might have \u201cover-engineered the IoT board\u201d on the AirBoxOne, Dr\u014dv&#8217;s smart trailer technology platform.<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Dr\u014dv<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img title=\"Dr&amp;omacr;v&amp;rsquo;s AirBoxOne smart trailer system captures and sends multipoint operational data back to fleets.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/Drov_AirBoxOne____Ultrasonic_ECU.6165db2390288.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Dr&amp;omacr;v&amp;rsquo;s AirBoxOne smart trailer system captures and sends multipoint operational data back to fleets.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Dr\u014dv\u2019s AirBoxOne smart trailer system captures and sends multipoint operational data back to fleets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Dr\u014dv<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Dr&amp;omacr;v&amp;rsquo;s vehicle health display system can give drivers a live look at any problems with their equipment.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/Drov_Vehicle_Health_Display_MUST.6165db04a339f.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Dr&amp;omacr;v&amp;rsquo;s vehicle health display system can give drivers a live look at any problems with their equipment.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\nDr\u014dv\u2019s vehicle health display system can give drivers a live look at any problems with their equipment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cBut we&#8217;re using every communication portal,\u201d she said of the system, which offers at least eight data interfaces, including J1939, CAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and more. \u201cWe had to put on there what we know we need now and also what we might need in the future, so we didn\u2019t stop with just Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jankowski has been working on adding new features to Dr\u014dv&#8217;s smart trailer system. \u201cWe just added ultrasonic sensors to the back of the trailer for backing up\u2014just like in your car,\u201d he told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>, \u201cand a rear-view camera. Besides a cargo camera inside the trailer, we&#8217;ve also got a rear-view camera just like when you&#8217;re backing up in your car, you can see behind your trailer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said systems such as a rear-view camera could help fleets attract newer drivers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cTrailers are kind of like the forgotten asset sometimes,\u201d Jankowski said. With supply chain constraints for trailers\u2014and other equipment\u2014looking to extend deep into at least next year, trailers are becoming \u201cmore coveted and taken care of a little bit more,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\u2019s more important than ever, he noted, for fleets to know where their trailers are and how they\u2019re being used. And to get the most out of that equipment comes with making trailers smarter because it increases preventive maintenance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cKeeping the asset utilization is really key, but also extending the life of the trailer and making sure that\u2019s on the road for longer periods,\u201d Jankowski said. \u201cYou are seeing that with cars right now\u2014people are getting cars and keeping them longer. I think the same thing will happen with trailers because those things are going up in price; they\u2019re not going down in price. Just adding some smarts to a trailer will pay you back in spades.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Phillips Connect<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"center\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img title=\"Phillips Connect&amp;rsquo;s Smart-7 trailer system is a cellular gateway, GPS tracker, and sensor hub that delivers total awareness of trailer location, status, and health from various sensors to the cloud.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/16x9\/Philips_Connect_StealthNet.6165db027d528.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Phillips Connect&amp;rsquo;s Smart-7 trailer system is a cellular gateway, GPS tracker, and sensor hub that delivers total awareness of trailer location, status, and health from various sensors to the cloud.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Phillips Connect\u2019s Smart-7 trailer system is a cellular gateway, GPS tracker, and sensor hub that delivers total awareness of trailer location, status, and health from various sensors to the cloud.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit-text\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">Phillips Connect<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-v-259ab3b8=\"\">\n<section class=\"ebm-content-body page-contents__content-body\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"img-align-right\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-content-teaser-image\" align=\"right\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\" data-v-7c371d60=\"\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" data-v-6aadc94c=\"\">\n<figure class=\"ebm-image-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"credit\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon-wrapper\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-icon ebm-icon creditImage\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-wrapper ebm-tooltip\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\" data-v-83d44b70=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-tooltip__trigger\" data-v-6994b89d=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\n<div class=\"ebm-image\" data-v-44905a20=\"\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Phillips Connect&amp;rsquo;s solar-powered smart trailer system.\" src=\"https:\/\/img.fleetowner.com\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2021\/10\/Philips_Connect_SolarNet.6165daee251d4.png?auto=format&amp;w=1500&amp;h=843&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Phillips Connect&amp;rsquo;s solar-powered smart trailer system.\" data-v-44905a20=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ebm-image-caption\" data-v-44905a20=\"\">\nPhillips Connect\u2019s solar-powered smart trailer system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smart trailers will need to continue to integrate all the critical components on a trailer with improved edge computing, according to Justin Garver, FleetPulse sales manager at <a href=\"https:\/\/greatdane.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Great Dane<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSmart trailers will eventually need to be able to recognize everything a professional driver would recognize as a potential issue and be able to communicate that to the tractor for us to realize an autonomous future,\u201d he told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>In the next five to 10 years, Garver sees \u201cthe integration and communication between truck and trailers being the major improvements moving forward. It is a must that the critical data being collected on trailer components makes its way to a driver or autonomous power unit to take corrective actions in real-time.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Smart as standard<\/h3>\n<p>While many vendors are looking to provide smart trailer retrofits, the smart trailer could become standard for all manufacturers by the end of this decade, according to Bill Hicks, SAF product manager for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.safholland.us\/us\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">SAF-Holland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis technology is on a fast track; it isn\u2019t a fad or some short-term industry trend,\u201d he told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cThe ROI value proposition with the added safety benefits are simply too strong to ignore. Catching just one major trailer road event could pay for a system\u2019s upfront emergency service, downtime, and avoid possible fines and even worse litigation costs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Plus, the smart trailer space is getting crowded, Orbcomm\u2019s MacDonald noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver time, I think the OEMs are going to have to stand up and agree on a universal communication path,\u201d MacDonald said. \u201cAnd when that happens, I think you\u2019ll see this be much more OEM-driven. Everybody is getting away from the hardware, and we\u2019re all doing things based on a software play. A SaaS model is really where a lot of this is headed. I think you\u2019ll see a much more significant play on the OEM side as this goes forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Orbcomm, for example, is partnering with the new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hyundaitranslead.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Hyundai SmartSense<\/a> trailer system. More OEMs will offer their own IoT systems, he said. \u201cWhere they offer it to customers for free for a few months\u2014like XM Radio when you buy a car,\u201d he added. \u201cThen fleets will see they can\u2019t live without it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finding that \u201cuniversal communication path\u201d that MacDonald mentioned will be critical to future trailers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of our fleets have said, &#8216;We really want one platform, we do not want five, we don&#8217;t want four, and we don&#8217;t want three or two. We want one platform to be able to accept all of this data,&#8217;\u201d Dr\u014dv&#8217;s Jankowski said. \u201cI think that\u2019s where it\u2019s headed\u2014even more than just reading data\u2014more sophisticated applications are going to come on the market.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As autonomous freight movement becomes more sophisticated, trailer technology will need to grow with tractor technologies. \u201cFleets need to take the long view in terms of where they want to get to in the next five years or 10 years in terms of technology,\u201d Dr\u014dv&#8217;s Mullen said. \u201cSo the opportunity might not be that you put the fully instrumented trailer together today, but make sure you choose a company and a platform that can take you there when you\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mullen said she tells her fleet customers looking to retrofit equipment that maybe they should start with something basic. That could be focusing on safety or tire management, or temperature sensing. \u201cBut as you add capabilities onto your builds, you\u2019re able to do that and still be supported under the same platform and you\u2019re still supported by the same company.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Peterson Manufacturing\u2019s Froat noted that the trucking industry will see technology regulation changes that also help drive this adoption. Smart trailers, he said, complement current technology, such as electronic logging devices, and emerging technology, such as automated driving systems. A big reason is they make tractor-trailers safer\u2014whether there is a driver in the cab today or it\u2019s a driverless tractor in the future. For a futuristic autonomous fleet with no driver or an owner-operator that eschews automated driving systems, \u201csmart trailer technologies can still support you in a lot of different ways.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSmart trailer technologies can support your mission, goals, wherever you decide, because you need that communication to know all the safety components are in operation, in status OK, for roadside [inspection] to trust your equipment to keep going,\u201d Froat said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ebm-web-content-body-sidebars\" data-v-0ef410d0=\"\" data-v-259ab3b8=\"\">\n<div class=\"sidebar\" data-v-0ef410d0=\"\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span lang=\"EN\">Smart Basics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Smart trailers go beyond GPS tracking devices and wireless sensors monitoring cargo and door activity, according to Justin Garver, FleetPulse sales manager at Great Dane, which has been building trailers for more than a century.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trailers become smart \u201cby providing data and analytics that help fleets improve operational safety and profitability,\u201d Garver told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cSmart trailers are connected with wired networks and equipped to collect data coming off key components on the trailers. A smart trailer provides data that can be used in real-time to predict and prevent critical component failures that can lead to unscheduled and roadside maintenance events and DOT violations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The goal is to get as much data from trailers as possible. But data overload can be as challenging as not having enough data, according to Jim Epler, EVP of Phillips Connect. The Phillips Connect1 system offers fleets a glimpse of all their assets on a global or individual scale. \u201cWe really focus heavily on the analytics part of all of the data to make sure that these alerts are going to be accurate,\u201d he told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tires and air systems<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSo, let&#8217;s just talk about the trailer&#8217;s air system,\u201d Epler said as an example. \u201cWe&#8217;re monitoring the air from the tractor, we&#8217;re monitoring the air to the air tank, and we&#8217;re monitoring the air to the regulator from the HS control valve to the air that inflates the tires. Then, we also have individual TPMS sensors on every tire. That\u2019s a lot of sensors. But until you monitor that many sensors, you don\u2019t know what\u2019s really going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monitoring the trailer\u2019s tire inflation system\u2014whether the trailer is moving or stationary\u2014can help with ROI, Epler said. Phillips\u2019 smart trailer system monitors how much air the inflation system is using. \u201cIf it\u2019s not putting out enough, you can easily address it\u2014that\u2019s been really valuable,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the other thing that we do is we monitor the tire pressures whether the trailer is moving or sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twice a day, the system within a stationary trailer will boot up and record a tire pressure reading, which can alert fleets to air leaks even if the tire inflation system keeps tires inflated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWhere we&#8217;re going with our business is we&#8217;re not going to 100% rely on the fleets to know all of this. They&#8217;re just too busy,\u201d Epler said. \u201cWe have another team that we&#8217;re putting together that will do advanced analytics of data so that we are 100% accurate in our diagnosis of what&#8217;s going on with the trailer. I think you&#8217;re going to need that. I think there&#8217;s a lot of people that are going to be in for a rude awakening when they start measuring everything that&#8217;s going on on these trailers and make it actionable.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brakes and lights<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ross Froat, VP of engineering and government affairs at Peterson Manufacturing, said that current smart trailers can help fleets and drivers combat the potential perils on the road. \u201cKnowing if a light is out or if brakes are out of adjustment or pad wear is low, to how cargo is secured, can help ensure a driver keeps moving safely,\u201d he told FleetOwner. \u201cAll these things now have sensors tied to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trailer wiring harness, like what Peterson offers, has all the technologies tied to it. \u201cIf you look at the skeleton of a trailer, the harness is the veins, going throughout the trailer and leading to the beating heart, which is the nose box controller,\u201d Froat explained.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThey control all the sensory objects that are on there. You can tie other systems to it, such as tire inflation sensors, automatic tire inflation systems, weight-in-motion sensors, brake slack adjuster sensors, also pad wear sensors. Everything can be combined in a very good union that can all communicate through the intelligence system on the trailer. And that intelligence system can be communicated through a telematics provider on the trailer as well. So it does take other resources to make it all work together, but as long as you have a good foundation system for it to be tied in, that\u2019s really what it comes down to.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cargo<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Avoiding trailer and cargo theft can be a simple way to increase a fleet\u2019s ROI with smart trailers, according to Nada Jiddou, EVP of Clarience and general manager of Road Ready. \u201cSometimes a trailer goes missing; sometimes the cargo on the trailer goes missing,\u201d she said. \u201cIn any event, not only are they losing the utilization of that trailer and that asset to generate revenue, but they&#8217;re also losing the insurance deductible if they have insurance on the cargo or asset.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just having simple location data allows fleets to generate ROI, she said. \u201cAdd to that all the other sensor capability and all the other data that you can pull off of that trailer, including how fleets can optimize their maintenance schedule and optimize their driving miles of each trailer,\u201d Jiddou explained. \u201cAll of these generate value to that business. The smart fleet managers are capitalizing on that.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ready to roll<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOne of the pain points for fleets is they\u2019ll dispatch a driver to pick up a trailer without knowing if the trailer is ready,\u201d Phillips\u2019 Epler said. \u201cDoes it have a flat tire? Has it got dunnage in the back of it? Does it have a light out?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Phillips Smart7 system\u2019s cellular radio is always on. \u201cIf you want to precheck, you can just push a button before the driver even picks it up and it checks the whole trailer,\u201d Epler said. \u201cI mean it\u2019ll actually light up all the lights on the trailer without a tractor hooked to it. It&#8217;ll check everything on that circuit and everything on our PCP BUS, which is the air system. It&#8217;ll tell you if the door is open or closed. We have a cargo camera that will give you a clear snapshot of what&#8217;s in the trailer, in addition to a cargo sensor. That will show if it\u2019s empty or where the cargo is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prechecking the trailer before the driver arrives can make for a happy driver, Epler notes. \u201cIf you can get that driver a healthy trailer where he can just connect to it and go, that\u2019s huge,\u201d Epler said.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Equipment shortages and uptime<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A smart trailer can maximize fleet and trailer uptime, \u201cwhich is vitally important during these times of equipment shortages and build delays,\u201d Bill Hicks, SAF product manager at SAF-Holland, told <i>FleetOwner<\/i>. \u201cBy monitoring and communicating any operational issue before a trailer goes into service, the fleet manager can address any situation beforehand. This allows for controlling service costs and scheduling as well as replacement part ordering in a timely and cost-effective manner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With well-equipped smart trailers, it\u2019s not just about the trailer\u2019s condition before it leaves the yard; it\u2019s knowing the trailer is safe as it rolls down the road, Clarience\u2019s Jiddou said. Smart trailers should be able to warn a driver that a light just went out or a tire could potentially blow before it happens. Pulling over before an event happens can save a fleet, she said. \u201cRoadside assistance is costly, and if you can avoid having to call roadside assistance by going to get a tire inflated or getting a light replaced at your next stop, it reduces downtime and eventually optimizes the driver experience as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Smart trailer technology can also encourage some \u201cself-policing,\u201d Epler said. If the people loading a trailer know it has a cargo camera, \u201cthe trailer might be loaded differently,\u201d he explained. \u201cHe actually might put the straps in that he didn\u2019t put in before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cargo shifting can lead to damaged freights and insurance claims, along with driver injuries when cargo isn\u2019t properly secured. \u201cWe\u2019re uncovering things like that,\u201d Epler said. \u201cPutting a camera in there has revealed a whole of new ROI.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By <span data-v-d60371b0=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/21704597\" data-v-d60371b0=\"\" data-feathr-click-track=\"true\">Josh Fisher<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"posted-by\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner 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valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<div class=\"g-cols wpb_row type_default valign_top vc_inner vc_custom_1585038969469\">\n<div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"w-post-elm post_content\">\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/who-we-are\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>KNOW WHO WE ARE<\/strong><\/a><\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/who-we-are\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11695\" src=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/AFMC4000-300x150.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/AFMC4000-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/AFMC4000-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/AFMC4000-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/AFMC4000-2048x1024.jpg 2048w\" alt=\"\" width=\"430\" height=\"215\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As trucking rolls into the high-tech 21st century, more advanced trailers are gearing up to make fleets more efficient, safer, and smarter. Everything is getting smart these days: From smart kitchen appliances to smart doorbells and watches. Trucks and trailers are getting smarter, too. After spending most of the 20th century slowly implementing new technology,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[41],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12741"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12741"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12743,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12741\/revisions\/12743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}