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Harnessing Trailer Tracking to Improve Fleet Efficiencies
By Roni Taylor

Historically, the trucking industry has regarded trailers as a �necessary evil.� Trailers are viewed merely as a means to an end. In fact, most companies have not traditionally examined the number of turns each trailer can produce in a given timeframe. As a result, trailers can sit idle for days or weeks or, even worse, be lost or stolen without anyone�s knowledge until much later � when the consequences can become more severe.

However, faced with rising capital costs and razor-thin operating margins, carriers have begun to look for ways to increase their asset utilization and gain a competitive edge. Enter trailer tracking. In the past few years, carriers have increasingly realized the tremendous benefits that can be afforded by having total and instant visibility to every trailer in their fleets. These systems are enabling carriers to take cost out of the operation not only by improving efficiencies and productivity but also by actually reducing the number of trailers in their fleets while taking on more business.

Gaining Visibility to All Assets
At the heart of trailer tracking systems is mobile technology that enables carriers to know the exact location and status of all trailers at any given time via a tracking terminal affixed to each asset. Some of these systems can even pinpoint trailers using aerial satellite maps down to street-level detail and the exact dock doors where they�re stationed. Fleet managers can page trailers when necessary, perform yard checks from their desks and put a trailer into �panic mode� if they suspect theft. They can also receive an automatic notification each time a trailer arrives or departs.

Unlike asset management solutions that can only track the tractors to which they are attached, untethered trailer tracking units put the focus directly on the freight that�s being transported. In many markets, such as high-value goods and hazardous materials where the cargo is key, this distinction is critical.

The real-time visibility capabilities of trailer tracking systems provide an extra layer of security for loads that are at risk of being tampered with. With tracking solutions, carriers have the ability to monitor their trailers in real time, detect and recover stolen loads and identify when and where a trailer was dropped and unloaded.

Measuring the ROI of Trailer Tracking
The Return on Investment for a trailer tracking system starts with the efficiencies to be gained from having visibility to all assets. Fleets can optimize trailer utilization, reduce their trailer-to-truck ratio and operate smarter with fewer trailers � thanks to better location information and more robust data on every trailer.

The ROI can also be calculated in terms of the ability to recover lost or stolen loads � considering the cost of replacing the cargo and trailers and increased insurance premiums.

Trailer tracking systems enable carriers to more effectively bill their customers for detention time. In fact, some fleets report that detention billing alone can more than pay for the cost of the tracking system itself. What�s more, customers often unload trailers with tracking units first to avoid detention billing � leading to even more efficiencies for the carrier.

With in-route visibility capabilities, trailer tracking systems can also increase customer satisfaction because shippers gain peace of mind knowing that their shipments will be monitored and tracked at all times so that freight arrives at its destination on time and in tact.

Trailer tracking is increasingly becoming an integral part of a fleet�s overall asset management strategy, and these tracking systems are viewed more and more as the gateway to other data sources such as tire pressure monitors and hubodometers. Carriers and private fleets can expect trailer tracking systems to become even more sophisticated as solutions providers continue to enhance their offerings by adding such capabilities as more robust reporting options and extended battery life on the mobile units.

(Roni Taylor is executive vice president of SkyBitz, whose patented Global Locating System (GLS) technology empowers fleets of all sizes to optimize trailer utilization, improve customer response and maximize security.

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