Protect Your Trailers & Cargo in 2019

During the holidays and other periods of major slowdown when offices close and people take time away from work, an unintended side-effect of this for the trucking industry is that equipment is left unattended for long periods of time, making them vulnerable to cargo theft. It’s as good a time as any to not only be mindful of the heightened threat of theft but take action to protect your assets, trailers and cargo.

The last thing you want after a few days out of the office is to come back to find that you are victim of cargo theft, especially if it could have been prevented through simple trailer tracking solutions. We’re offering some helpful suggestions on how you can prevent trailer theft and protect your assets in 2019.

Easily locate your trailers

Even if you have thousands of assets you need to track, you can monitor all of them on a single web-based dashboard that cleverly clusters like assets and offers fast searching or tag filtering. Tracking the location of your valuable assets helps you to reduce the risk of theft, increase the likelihood of recovery and prevent the additional cost of purchasing new equipment.

Through the simple and quick installation of small, mountable asset-tracking hardware on your assets, you can easily monitor the location of your equipment via your laptop or smart device.  Daily location updates on trailer activity also mean less time spent making phone calls and searching for your trailers and drivers. With the ability to also monitor temperature, changes in temperature, door closure and reefer status, you can confidently focus on other areas of your business.

Set geofence notification alerts

In addition to being able to track your trailers and arrival and departure times, a comprehensive asset management solution can also allow you to automate geofence alerts to send key staff notifications when a shipment is nearing your customer’s loading dock. When trailers are delivered and left, you can track this information without having to pick up the phone or follow a trail of paperwork.

On the flip side, create a virtual perimeter for equipment that should remain stationary for added security around your trailers or cargo triggering an alert when a piece of equipment is moved from the approved location or outside work hours.

Whether it helps to know when an asset is coming or going, alerts can ease your mind and free up your schedule.

Stay connected with your drivers

Communication is key to sustaining a profitable business when much of the staff might be unavailable but making dozens of phone calls to check in is a waste of time for everyone. GPS fleet tracking helps you to keep in touch with your drivers without playing phone tag, helping you to keep them on the best route, on time and to minimize unnecessary stops and any time a truck might be left unattended. Increased visibility means more accountability for your drivers, and a vigilant employee can sometimes be the best defense against trailer theft protection.

Telematics also makes it easier to communicate with your drivers as a group, allowing you to distribute materials covering winter safety tips, for example, to help your drivers ensure your cargo is being safely transported to minimize the risk of accidents on the road. Rather than relying on assumptions, remind even well-seasoned drivers that hazardous weather brings new drivers and new challenges year after year that require special attention to avoid any excuses for problems.

Additional benefits of GPS tracking

Telematics automates what is often a manual process of tracking maintenance and inspections, opening you up to the potential of human error and missing or illegible records, which could lead to losses for your business. GPS tracking solutions allow you to set automated alerts for individual assets, streamlining the maintenance process while also helping you preserve the value and extend the lifespan. If you know a trailer is going to be unattended for a period of time, scheduling regular alerts is an easy way to deliver peace of mind when you don’t have time to physically check in person. 

Learn more about how GPS tracking has helped other fleet businesses solve common problems.