Spireon Displays Solar-Powered Fleet Location Device for Trailers
Trailer-management technology provider Spireon Inc. has a new device out that uses solar power captured by a small panel to transmit data.
Spireon Vice President Roni Taylor said at a recent industry trade show that the FL Solar is the company’s first solar-powered model. FL stands for fleet locate, and the 24-ounce device uses a 3-inch by 3.5-inch panel to charge a lithium-ion battery.
“It’s more than just trailer tracking. It’s trailer management with lots of data, all reported on an exception basis,” Taylor said. The device tracks mileage traveled, location and arrival-departure times and can work with geo-fencing.
Taylor said FL Solar is for dry vans, but Irvine, California-based Spireon also makes devices for refrigerated vans, flatbed trailers and container chassis. The solar model was launched during the fourth quarter of 2016.
The device is particularly useful, Taylor said, for trailers remaining stationary in a yard over an extended time, or for use in Mexico where power connections are not always reliable. The device can be programmed to provide a “bread crumb trail” for location, transmitting GPS location every 10 minutes.
“This will improve the management and utilization of trailers,” Taylor said.
Spireon was founded in 2002 and has 3.75 million devices operating in North America. In addition to its truck trailer division, the company also works in medium-duty commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
