NASSAU, BAHAMAS. Looking to streamline the rental and leased trailer turn-in process as well as eliminate small but unexpected bills for customers, GE’s Trailer Fleet Services unit announced that it is waiving damage re-bills under $50 on returned trailers. The new damage policy took effect Feb. 1.

Announced during the annual Truckload Carriers Assn. meeting here this week, the new waiver covers any minor damage or repairs totaling under  $50 on rental or lease trailers turned back to GE as long as they’ve been out for at least 90 days.

The new policy not only saves fleet customers money, but improves productivity by speeding up the turn-in process and returning drivers to revenue duties quickly, according to Bob Williams, sr. vp of North American sales for Trailer Fleet Services. GE gains as well, he said, since it can address minor damage repairs and get the equipment back into rental service more quickly.

The GE trailer unit also announced two upgrades to its VeriWise trailer tracking system at a press conference during the TCA meeting. An automated tractor ID application that lets customers know if a trailer is hooked to an unauthorized tractor will now be offered with the satellite-based version of VeriWise. A similar ID check as been offered with GE’s cellular-based tracking system for the last two years.

The other VeriWise upgrade is a “virtual hubometer” that uses GPS tracking to accumulate mileage. Accuracy for the new feature “rivals” that of hub odometers, according to GE.

The Trailer Fleet Services group also said that it is investing over $1 million this year to upgrade its Premium Services portal, a self-service web site that allows fleets to manage trailer rental and maintenance activities. The upgrade has already added full access to past, present and future invoice activity, and by the end of the year will offer detailed summary reports and maintenance reporting, according to the company.