ORLANDO, Florida—Great Dane’s FleetPulse smart trailer system now comes standard on the manufacturer’s trailers and includes new features, including ABS fault code alerts and hub rotation mileage across all dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed trailers.
The system also now integrates “seamlessly” with Thermo King’s TracKing system to deliver real-time data from the trailer’s transport refrigeration unit (TRU).
“When we embarked on this journey as the first OEM to develop a smart trailer solution, we kept an eye on ways to expand FleetPulse’s product offerings to grow with the needs of the industry and the rapid advances in technology,” Rick Mullininx, president and COO of Great Dane, said in a news release. “Today, we are proud to elevate the valuable insights FleetPulse delivers to fleets for promoting safety, maximizing uptime, and helping them get the most out of every mile.”
Great Dane highlighted the FleetPulse system and an Everest refrigerated trailer equipped with SAF-Holland’s TRAKr electric axle during American Trucking Association’s 2023 Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting. The new ABS alerts can send customized fault codes directly to users, giving fleets data for making informed operations and service decisions, for increased productivity and uptime, Great Dane said. And the Thermo King TRU integration helps fleets increase operational efficiency and elevate cargo integrity.
“We’re proud to share this partnership with Great Dane to integrate with their FleetPulse solution,” said Dominic Hand, vice president of IT and connected products for Thermo King Americas. “This is a major step forward in connectivity between the trailer and refrigeration unit, and one that will benefit fleets, their cargo, and ultimately the consumer who depends on thermal integrity to ensure the freshness of their products.”
Trailer electrification
The SAF-Holland TRAKr e-axle converts rotational energy from an internal driveshaft into energy that is stored in a lithium-ion battery system, providing an alternate source of power generation for increased sustainability and efficiency, Great Dane added.
“While electrification is not yet viable for every application, advancements like this continue to expand the possibilities,” said Colby White, electrical product manager for Great Dane. “We are fully committed to supporting our partners as they expand their capabilities on electrification and are happy to work alongside of them as a committed OEM to realizing an electric future.”
