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Trailer Tracking Systems Proving Valuable for Chemical Transporters
By Roni Taylor

You notice it at the pumps. It hits you when you look at your monthly expenses. You feel the scare when a tanker goes missing. From higher gas prices to security, the chemical distribution industry faces many new challenges. To help meet these new demands, chemical transport companies have turned to information management solutions for trailer tracking.

Tracking technology solutions can monitor trailers for security purposes, detect and recover stolen loads, and identify when and where a trailer was dropped and unloaded. This lets you track asset locations via customized web-based reports. It is a solution to the new challenges chemical transporters face today. Secure Hazardous Materials through Trailer Tracking

As part of heightened homeland security initiatives, the United States Government Accountability Office recently called for enhanced security in both chemical facilities and chemical distribution. For chemical transporters, knowing where tankers are at any given time is crucial to meeting this requirement. If there is a problem, automated tracking allows chemical distributors to focus quickly on the problem so they can track down a critical resource.

Getting accurate and timely position data is essential. Many of today's systems rely on fragile cellular networks with limited coverage and capacity, or dedicated radio links that require line-of-sight to the base station. For example, one American chemical transport fleet that hauls in excess of 400,000 loads a year uses SkyBitz�s patented satellite-based trailer tracking to provide an extra security layer, as well as to lower operating costs. In addition, this fleet�s new-found ability to tell potential new customers the exact location of where hazardous materials are, at any given time, has been an attractive selling point. Generate Additional Revenue through Delinquency Billing

As gas prices continue to rise, trailer tracking also can be used to offset these costs by boosting revenue through improved delinquency billing. While a fleet may aim to balance costs by billing companies for overdue rented trailers, the renter usually disputes such claims, making arguments that they have returned the trailers. By installing satellite-based technology, there is accurate proof of where these overdue, rented trailers are located, thus ensuring that a distributor will be compensated properly. Strengthen Intermodal Connections

As the nation�s transportation system faces growing demands, many companies need to improve the efficiency, safety and security of intermodal freight movement. With trailer tracking technology, the logistics management challenges of chemical distributors are simplified and utilization rates are increased since trailer-to-truck ratios can be greatly reduced when fewer trailers are needed. Trailer tracking also can ensure the safe and secure intermodal shipment of chemical goods across the entire delivery network.

As chemical transporters determine ways to meet these growing challenges, more and more are turning to trailer tracking as a way to turn that asset information into a competitive advantage.

(Roni Taylor is executive vice president of SkyBitz. . Skybitz is a privately held company backed by Inverness Capital Partners, Motorola Ventures, AIG Highstar Capital, and Cordova Ventures.)

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