august2021 - 16

Providing power
to the system
Peterson's Geoffroy said the most
common power supply for a trailer
telematics system is a truck's electrical
system via the traditional J560 connector.
The one limitation is that there is no
power when the trailer is disconnected.
That is why Geoffroy believes battery
power is an excellent backup to work
in tandem with the electrical system.
Fleets should be cautious, though, about
overly relying on battery power.
" Charging times can be extended due
to low current available from the truck, "
Geoffroy pointed out. " Short battery life
can also be an issue when disconnected
if cellular service in the area is weak. If
the battery drains completely, you just
lost your trailer data. "
A trailer telematics solution that utilizes
multiple modes of power-electrical,
battery, and solar-is of benefit to a fleet.
» Pictured here is a dashboard to help a fleet manager
monitor trailer status and health across the fleet.
Image courtesy of Phillips Connect
" Each one of these power sources
serves as a redundancy to ensure the
system can function at all times, " Drōv
Technologies' Mullen said. " Whether it
is due to a worn-out socket, bad cable,
or blown fuse in the tractor, sometimes
trailer power is either intermittent or
not available. Solar is obviously not
available at night or has reduced power
output when it is cloudy, or a trailer is
in the shade. Between these two power
sources, we are able to either operate
our system from those sources or
charge the backup battery enough to
continue operations. "
Choosing a trailer
telematics solution
Even though trailer telematics is still relatively
new, there are quite a few providers
out there. Peterson's Geoffroy said fleets
should evaluate a telematics provider the
same as any critical provider.
" Telematics represents a quickly
evolving technology, " Geoffroy said.
" Flexibility and collaboration are critical
to arriving at a solution that is tailored
to each fleet's unique needs. "
With an eye on the future, longerterm
sensor functionality could be an
issue. As Geoffroy pointed out, fleets are
going through the expiration of 3G truck
telematics, which is spurring the need
for investment in 4G and 5G systems.
With the typical trailer staying in a fleet
for seven to 20 years, it's important for a
telematics system to be capable of keeping
up with fast-moving advancements
in technology.
Geoffroy said a fleet should also
inquire about the technology architecture
of a telematics system. A closed system
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16 Fleet Maintenance | August 2021
»With a GPS tracking solution, fleets
can check their trailer locations,
pickups and drop-offs, and more.
Photo courtesy of GPS Insight
is similar to Apple. Apple products work
well together, but you must continue
to buy Apple products to get seamless
integration. An open system, on the
other hand, is like Android, where the
consumer can still choose the hardware
and products.
Drōv Technologies' Mullen said field
testing is the best way for a fleet to evaluate
different telematics providers. It is
best to start by testing those systems and
features the fleet wants to begin leveraging
right away.
" Fleets need to consider whether
the system is providing the solutions
or adding third-party suppliers to the
solution which can increase costs, "
Mullen said. " Another major consideration
is to select a provider that has
options for expandability in the future.
After using our system on a more widespread
basis, we often have customers
that come up with new use cases for
sensors or features to enable a smarter
trailer. The driverless future is one that
will require a totally integrated smart
trailer. Having the ability to meet future
demands in the system a fleet chooses
today is important. "
For related content go to
FleetMaintenance.com/equipment
http://www.eberspaecher-na.com http://www.FleetMaintenance.com/equipment http://www.FleetMaintenance.com/Inquire
august2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of august2021
