The Best GPS Trailer Trackers

There are many ways in which fleets can benefit from trailer and container tracking:

• Location – Using trailer tracking, haulage fleet managers can readily access semi-real-time information on where each of their trailers is, meaning they’re no longer at a loss for where their assets are once they’ve left the depot. Managers can monitor their trailers’ progress on jobs, and quickly be made aware if the driver encounters any problems, or is running behind schedule.
• Theft – Cargo theft is always a potential problem. The presence of GPS trackers can deter theft and, in the case of theft, they can even facilitate recovery by enabling the police to track the location of the stolen asset.
• Shipment tracking – a GPS tracker for trailers can be used to provide customers with semi-real-time shipment tracking. This means waiting times and delays can be minimised for all parties, with your business able to give out the most accurate ETAs possible.
• Temperature – When goods need to be carried in refrigerated trailers, carriers are obliged to retain temperature profiles throughout the journey. Some trackers can record and transmit temperature data, so that any potential problems can be identified.
• Positive ROI – The return on investment that comes with trailer tracking can be high, with boosted efficiency, increased productivity and higher revenues on the cards for businesses that use GPS trailer tracking.

Anti-theft GPS trailer trackers play an important role in the recovery of stolen assets, namely by giving police a means to monitor stolen trailers’ locations.

Of course, it’s worth being aware that, if a trailer is stolen, it’s far easier to locate it if its tracker provides a continual, rather than intermittent, report of its position. Different manufacturers have different solutions to this.

Some anti-theft GPS trailer tracking devices include geofencing features, which automatically switch the unit to continual reporting if the trailer or container is moved to an unauthorised location. Others can be remotely switched to continual reporting when theft is discovered or suspected.

But none of this will work if the tracker is removed or disabled. While trackers are usually fitted in a well-hidden spot, a determined thief may well be able to locate the device and remove it from the asset. However, some high-end trailer trackers are difficult to disable even when located. For instance, they may be tamper-proof – and even bullet proof.

As we mentioned earlier, GPS trailer tracking devices are usually powered through an integrated battery. This may be a rechargeable unit that charges when the trailer is hitched to a vehicle, or it may simply be a unit with an extended battery life. This latter option is the more common solution.

A tracker’s battery life can vary from model to model. While some have a battery life of up to three years, some high-end models claim a battery life of up to 10 years.

Like many things, battery life is dependent on several factors – including the strength of the GPS signal emitted by the tracker, and the number of messages it transmits.

In order to maximise battery life, these factors can be limited. Some devices can be configured to provide just one message per day when the trailer is stationary, and transmit data at a rate ranging from once every 15 minutes to once every two hours when the trailer is in motion.

Oh, and another thing – it goes without saying that non-rechargeable batteries need to be replaced well in advance of becoming discharged. To assist with this requirement, some battery-powered trackers can report on the current status of their battery.