Qualcomm Inc announces it will provide systems for trailer asset management

Qualcomm Inc will provide systems for managing tethered and untethered trailers through new trailer tracking development and licensing initiatives for the trucking industry.

The company will begin the next phase in development of an untethered trailer asset management system for high-value or high-security loads. This system will provide on-board hardware, power management, network services, and data integration capabilities. The product will operate on any of three bands based on least-cost routing: 800 MHz CDMA, 1900 MHz CDMA, and 800 MHz cellular (AMPS).

Since 1989, Qualcomm has provided a tethered-tracking system, TrailerTRACS, to more than 35,000 trailers within the North American Free Trade Agreement region. TrailerTRACS provides trailer identification, drop-and-hook notification, location, status, and refrigeration information when connected to an OmniTRACS-equipped tractor. The untethered trailer-tracking system being developed will offer these features plus other options, including door and cargo sensors, geofencing, over-the-air upgradeability, multiple delivery solutions to Web and AS400 platforms, and visibility of assets and loads regardless of trailers being connected or disconnected from tractors.

Qualcomm will also license to authorized third parties its trailer tracking intellectual property, including its patented cargo sensor and its method for transmitting trailer data over a tractor-trailer power line carrier. Data that can be transmitted includes notification of trailer drops and hooks, trailer identification, refrigeration alerts, and exception data. The data can be integrated with Qualcomm's in-cab systems.