The market analysis found that the industry has developed to the stage where telematics systems suppliers are now providing industry specific hardware for particular types of trailers besides the common dry van, including refrigerated and flatbed trailers, and even intermodal cargo containers.
“We are seeing this newfound interest in trailer tracking and monitoring coming from several areas,” states Frank Viquez, ABI Research Director of Automotive Research. He went on to say that “Homeland Security has been a big motivator among fleet owners and will remain so, but other factors include the replacement of analogue-based telematics hardware with digital, a readily-realised return-on-investment for hardware, and the use of telematics as a differentiator for major truckload carriers to improve their efficiency and customer service efforts.”
‘Trailer Tracking Markets’ is the name of the new study and it’s one of several telematics research titles obtainable from ABI Research. It documents the various efforts of vehicle tracker suppliers around the world in an effort to present trailer tracking and monitoring solutions to a widely varied customer base. It went on to examine pertinent technologies such as RFID, terrestrial and satellite communications infrastructures, as well as new GPS suppliers to rate their significance and influence. One of the most impressive commercial telematic undertakings so far this year has been in North America. In this instance multi-national trucking company, Schneider National is outfitting its full fleet of 48,000 trailers with new T2 trailer tracking hardware.
ABI Research cautioned telematics suppliers that markets are in differing stages of growth around the world. An example of this put forward is that in Europe, the EU’s growing pains are temporarily inhibiting hardware supplier efforts until standards for a coordinated road tolling infrastructure and equipment can be implemented. It stated that although Middle East and Africa show an increasing adoption of fleet management technology, it may be pale in comparison to some up-and-coming Asian regions, including India and China.
