Photo: Sean Kilcarr/Fleet Owner
RRsbi

Truck-Lite unveils updates to Road Ready trailer system

March 8, 2018
The company’s new “Smart Bridge” integrator device can be installed on new trailers and retrofitted to older models.

ATLANTA. In an effort to make its Road Ready “smart trailer” system more “agnostic,” so it can connect with sensors and telematics services offered by different suppliers, Truck-Lite Co. LLC is introducing what it calls a Smart Bridge Integrator (SBI) and installation application, along with a new mobile application.

During a press conference here at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) 2018 annual meeting, Rob Richard, vice president and general manager of Road Ready for Truck-Lite, explained that the system uses a battery- and solar-powered master control unit (MCU )to continually monitor and transmit data from a customizable sensor array without requiring power from a tractor.

The adding of the SBI adds a “bridge” between different trailer OEM and supplier systems with Road Ready by broadcasting data to the cloud for review on Road Ready's website or via a fleet's own dispatching software system.

“The SBI functionality is the second generation of our system,” Richard said. He added that the Road Ready system currently features seven sensor connections, with the SBI opening avenues for more of them. Richard also noted that Truck-Lite’s Road Ready system can be installed on new trailers or retrofitted to older models and can configured for use on all trailer types: dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, etc.

He said several trailer systems suppliers have signed on as “technical partners” to the Road Ready system, including: Continental (tire pressure monitoring;, Purkeys (lift gate charging); plus P.S.I., Hendrickson, and STEMCO (tire inflation systems). Any fleet currently using these systems can seamlessly incorporate and benefit from Road Ready, Richard stressed.

Truck-Lite also unveiled a new mobile application for Road Ready, which provides step-by-step instructions for hardware installation and setup. The installation app also allows users to pair their trailers with the Road Ready user interface, which previously could only be done at a computer. The new app is free and currently compatible with iOS 9.0 or later and is available in the iTunes App Store.

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean previously reported and commented on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry. Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Future of Mirrors is Closer Than it Appears

Why Mirror Camera Systems are the next step for fleet safety and exoneration While many commercial trucking cameras are similarly marketed, they are not all created equally. The...

The 20:1 Solution: Unlocking the ROI of a Modern Asset Maintenance Solution

Discover how modern fleet maintenance software can drive step-change improvements in shop efficiency, cost control and vehicle productivity, along with how to calculate the ROI...

Digital and AI Solutions for Rideshare Safety

Anyline’s study, “How Digital AI Solutions Can Enhance Rideshare Safety,” reveals rideshare drivers are overly confident in their tire knowledge, risking passenger safety. Download...

Introducing the World’s First Mobile Tire Tread Scanner

Anyline’s innovation allows accurate tire tread measurement via any mobile device, ensuring legal compliance for fleets. Read more and find out how you can cut operating costs...