Thermo King expands smart trailer telematics
Thermo King is expanding its telematics offerings with new TracKing Smart Trailer telematics designed to increase visibility into trailer health and cargo operations.
“In some ways, telematics is even more important for trailers, since they are often detached from tractors and left at sites not controlled or monitored by the fleet, leaving them blind and susceptible to unexpected risks,” said Dominic Hand, Thermo King VP of digital. “Refrigerated trailers are especially critical, because a simple mistake, loading issue or equipment issue could result in the loss of an expensive load of food or medicine if the issue is not identified and resolved quickly.”
The TracKing Smart Trailer telematics system meets this need by providing actionable insights for operational efficiency, helping fleets stay compliant with regulations, reduce their carbon footprint and fuel use, and cut back on emissions by minimizing idling time. It does this by monitoring various trailer components, such as tire pressure, brake health, door position, lights, and axle weight. Thermo King chose what features to offer based on interviews with refrigerated fleets from all walks of life, Hand said, including long-haul and distribution fleets, leased and owned, big and small, and private and for hire.
System features
After their investigation, TracKing Smart Trailer includes a dashboard for remote monitoring, diagnostics, and real-time alerts for trailer components. It also features GPS tracking to give managers access to a vehicle’s route history and provide live trip monitoring, as well as wireless sensors to monitor cargo temperatures with an accuracy of +/= 0.9 degrees F, plus a cargo camera for internal trailer visibility and open- and closed-door events.
Additionally, the system includes dynamic tire inflation as well as an anti-lock brake system, a health monitor, a trailer backing camera and door position sensors, plus video recording and playback from the rear and interior cargo cameras. The trailer fleet health dashboard keeps an eye on tire pressure, brake health, and temperature monitoring, while additional sensors offer lights-out detection, brake monitoring, and weight monitoring.
Hand emphasized how these features will allow fleets to leverage proactive maintenance. For example, if the ABS alarm goes off, managers know the brake pads are thin and ready to be replaced, and other alerts can warn when wheel bearings are going bad.
Read more at FleetMaintenance.com, a Refrigerated Transporter affiliate.
