System hardware includes a 1.5 by 3-ft. solar panel that mounts on a trailer roof and a small transceiver that can be housed in an unmarked waterproof housing on the upper leading edge of the trailer. A fifth-wheel sensor is also included to monitor trailer status. Cost is approximately $500 per unit for fleets.
Service costs for the Chaperone system are based on query activity, ranging from $.08 for an automatically generated sensor report to $.30 for a fleet location request. Flat-rate plans are also available starting at $2.50/month for five location queries, according to the company.
Other location-based services, including fleet-activated geofencing that will send an automatic alert if a trailer is moved, are also available. The system requires a $30 per unit activation fee, but there no charge for fleet access to AVL's Internet-based tracking application, which can be integrated with fleet dispatch and routing systems.