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Trailer tracking: What and how?

Being active in transport and logistics, you face the challenge of managing your trailers as efficiently as possible. To make this job a whole lot easier for you, you can implement a trailer tracking solution. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what trailer tracking is, how you can do it, and how to benefit from it. Because using a solution to track your trailers can help you optimize your operational processes in a cost-efficient way.

What is trailer tracking?

Before we look at different methods to track trailers and the benefits that come along with it, let’s define trailer tracking. With trailer tracking, you track the position and usage of a trailer via a tracking device that is attached to the trailer. Once this information is captured, a communication or satellite network is used to transfer the data to one central point where you can consult it.

How can you track your trailers?

To know where your trailers are, anywhere and at any time, you can equip them with an asset tracking solution. The GPS trackers that are part of this solution make it possible to track non-powered assets, like trailers, in an energy-efficient way. The information on location and usage that is gathered by these GPS trackers is transmitted to the cloud and can be analyzed in a web application.

The web application offers you the real added value since it provides you with crucial data, all gathered in one place. By having access to these detailed insights you can optimize your planning processes, your logistics flow, and day-to-day operations. To make the benefits of trailer tracking more tangible for you, we will list some in the next paragraphs.

What are the benefits of trailer tracking?

Visibility on decoupled trailers

Traditional tracking solutions are often attached to a truck itself. One challenge that remains here, is gaining visibility on trailers when they are decoupled from a truck. This is crucial because preferably, you want to know at all times what happens to a trailer. Secondly, you also want to know if trailers are used in a rightful way when they are no longer attached to a truck.

Track subcontractor contract compliance

If a trailer leaves your site, it can probably be gone for several weeks in a row. During these weeks a lot can happen and your trailer might get damaged along the way. If you have no data about what happened to the trailer during this period, it is almost impossible to find out what caused the damage and who is responsible for it. With an asset tracking solution in place, you are able to track contract compliance and rightful use of your trailers.

Timely communication with customers

Without an accurate data set in place of where a trailer is, it can be challenging to give your customer an idea on when a trailer will arrive. With an asset tracking solution in place, you have insights into the movement of trailers, which allows you to communicate timely to customers when a trailer will arrive. This can definitely make a difference since the consumer buyer experience has shaped the expectations for B2B services. Customers expect to be informed at all times.

Optimize your trailer capacity

With a manual logging system, it is hard to make a waterproof system that tells you exactly how your trailer fleet is used. Errors easily slip in and you struggle to have a full overview of your trailers. A solution in place will help you understand the use-rate on your fleet. In other words, it will provide you with reports and alerts for the allocation, rotation, and retention of your trailers.

Knowing this, there cannot be much that holds you back from implementing a trailer tracking solution, am I right? With Sensolus you can focus on what really matters to move your business forward.

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