Tracking test gets $2 million

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has earmarked $2 million for an operational field test of untethered trailer tracking that will quantify the cost and benefits of such systems for hazardous materials and high-value cargo. Scheduled to get underway next summer, the test will look at untethered tracking hardware, advanced power management, network services and data integration capabilities.

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) is the prime contractor for the project and Qualcomm Corp. will be the technology integrator, providing a new untethered version of its TrailerTRACS. Fleets planning to participate include Super Service Inc., R&R Trucking and Paschall Truck Lines Inc.

Currently under development, the untethered tracking system will provide information on trailer location and status as well as geofencing, over-the-air updates for software and integration options for Web and AS400 platforms. Wireless communications will take advantage of new third-generation cellular networks backed up by digital and analog cellular capabilities.