Escape the 3G Sunset and Embrace the Future of Trailer Tracking
By Carolina Ruiz • Published December 13, 2021 • 4 minute read
The days are getting shorter as the nights grow longer. The trend will continue through Dec. 21, the winter solstice, when the earth’s axis changes directions.
A similar trend is happening now in the world of fleet management technology. With each passing day the sunsetting of 3G cellular networks is getting closer to the end. There will not be a 3G solstice, however. Starting next year, any Internet of Things (IoT) devices that still use 3G chipsets will permanently be in the dark.
All major cellular networks are planning to shut down 3G service. T-Mobile will turn off Sprint’s 3G service in January. AT&T will flip its switch in February. T-Mobile will stop its 3G network in July, and Verizon will close its 3G curtain in December 2022.
The real motivation for deploying new technology is not to replace outdated devices with faster and more dependable hardware with 4G LTE-enabled chipsets. What fleets really want is for new technology investments to help them gain a competitive edge.
New developments in trailer tracking and cargo monitoring technology give motor carriers an opportunity to boost asset utilization and take driver productivity to the next level in 2022.
Getting the most from trailer tracking
The sunsetting of 3G networks has increased demand for 4G LTE-enabled trailer tracking systems, but the real story for why this market is growing so rapidly is from technology innovations.
A new report by Berg Insights, a dedicated IoT market research firm based in Sweden, predicts that growth in the market of remote tracking systems will compound annually at the rate of 27.6 percent through 2025.
Rising operational costs will be another main driver for fleets to invest in the new trailer tracking systems. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently completed an analysis on trucking expenses and found that carriers will be facing higher costs in 2022 for diesel, driver compensation and equipment purchase/leasing.
Investing in new trailer tracking systems can help fleets stay ahead of cost pressures to increase profitability. Here are a few areas to focus your efforts for next year:
- Provide drivers the exact locations of trailers to eliminate time spent searching for loaded or unloaded assets.
- Identify areas of waste and inefficiencies, such as customers who are detaining trailers and assets that are underutilized.
- Prevent drivers from hooking up trucks to the wrong trailers by getting immediate exception alerts.
- Use smart sensors to identify items needing maintenance such as tires with low pressure, worn brakes and electrical problems.
- Gain visibility of all equipment in your fleet through a single platform, from dry van to flatbed, refrigerated and tanker trailers as well as intermodal containers and chassis.
- Increase revenue by using accurate volumetric cargo sensors to identify and utilize more trailer capacity that is available.
Preparing for the road ahead
Now is the final opportunity to prevent disruptions from 3G shutdowns, but it is also the right time to create a plan for getting more from your trailer assets in 2022.
Upgrading to new 4G LTE-compatible devices will add new fleet management capabilities to better utilize trailer assets and to protect cargo.
SkyBitz has all the expertise, products, and support you need to successfully navigate the 3G sunset and chart a course to achieve maximum operational efficiency and profitability.
Contact us today to get your trailer fleet ready for success in the year ahead.
