Suppliers Say Trailer Tracking Improving

May 11, 2000 9:10 AM, EDT

Electronic communication from trailers in the field has advanced to the point where skepticism of tracking technology is starting to show signs of cracking, according to some fleet executives who are poised to buy the equipment.

	Michael James - Transport Topics
	Vantage Tracking Solutions of Herndon, Va., makes small devices that use a 17-volt battery and GPS satellites to locate a truck trailer anywhere in North America.

Sales-hungry vendors say they are optimistic that trucking has finished what has been intense scrutiny of their systems and will begin buying a lot more trailer-tracking capability.

The industry’s scrutiny over the past several years uncovered questions about equipment durability and problems related to imprecise data on load-status sensors that sent suppliers of trailer-tracking devices scurrying back to the drawing board. The suppliers say they have re-emerged with a product ready to be placed on trailers that will save carriers time and money.

Some fleets are responding.

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