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Category: Planning and Dispatch

Phillips Connect Launches ContainerVision, Built to Catch Cargo Thieves in the Act 

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A tamper-resistant, solar-powered cargo camera lets shippers and carriers see what is happening inside shipping containers  

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 14, 2026 – Phillips Connect has launched ContainerVision for the intermodal shipping market, giving shippers and carriers a near-real-time view inside shipping containers to catch cargo theft, confirm what is loaded and see what happens from the moment the doors open through delivery. The launch coincides with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) Expo taking place this week in Long Beach, Calif.  

ContainerVision is built on Phillips Connect’s CargoVision platform and engineered specifically for shipping containers. It captures a rapid burst of images whenever a container’s doors open, so if someone is moving cargo in or out, the camera catches the sequence as it unfolds rather than after the fact. It also identifies whether a person is present, what space remains inside the container, and whether there is equipment or dunnage inside.  

“Shipping containers move through places like ports, rail yards and distribution centers before they reach their destinations, and now customers can see what is happening inside them,” said Cliff Creech, senior vice president of operations at Phillips Connect. “ContainerVision gives customers eyes inside the container at the moments that matter, especially when the doors are opened unexpectedly.” 

ContainerVision is a solar-powered solution built to survive the container environment. It sits behind a reinforced metal shield, securely fastened to the container, and mounted out of reach. This helps protect the camera from rough handling and makes it difficult to remove or disable. Beyond cargo security, ContainerVision provides precise measurements of floor space and volumetric utilization, along with dunnage detection, eliminating the need to physically check each container before deciding where it can be used next.  

About Phillips Connect 

Phillips Connect is a leader in smart trailer technology, giving fleets greater visibility into the location, health, utilization and cargo conditions of their trailers. The company’s Connect1 platform brings together data from sensors, cameras and integrated technologies to help fleets protect freight, reduce downtime and make better operational decisions. Phillips Connect technology is used by some of the world’s largest fleets to understand what is happening across their trailer operations and act on issues sooner. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Phillips Connect develops intelligent trailer solutions for the transportation industry.

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Cold Chain Intelligence: How Phillips Connect Tracks Every Degree, from Pickup to Delivery 

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If you’re at #IFDA26 in San Antonio this week, there’s something you should know. 

Phillips Connect gives you a way to catch a temperature problem while a refrigerated load is still on the road, not after a driver opens the doors and finds out too late. Our Cold Chain Intelligence solutions provide a continuous record of conditions at every stage of the trip, with alerts that give fleets an opportunity to respond when something changes along the way. 

A Temperature Record from Pre-Cool Through Delivery 

Temperature monitoring begins during pre-cool and continues through delivery, creating a time-stamped history of conditions inside the trailer. That history stays with the trip in Connect1, giving operations and compliance teams a record of what the load experienced without relying on manual temperature logs. 

Independent Monitoring for Multiple Zones 

Mixed loads may require very different conditions within the same trailer. Phillips Connect monitors temperature zones independently, so frozen and chilled compartments each have their own temperature history rather than relying on one reading to represent the entire trailer. 

Alerts When Temperatures Move Out of Range 

When a temperature reading moves outside the expected range, Phillips Connect alerts the fleet while the load is still in transit, giving the driver or dispatcher time to investigate and respond. If an open door is causing the temperature change, the fleet can see that too and get the door closed before conditions deteriorate further. Door sensors also provide another layer of cargo security by alerting the fleet when a trailer is opened at an unexpected location. 

More Data Directly from the Reefer 

Phillips Connect temperature sensors provide an independent view of conditions inside the trailer. Through integrations with leading reefer manufacturers, fleets can also bring operating data from the refrigeration unit into Connect1, including supply, return and ambient temperature compared with set point, fuel level, battery voltage, engine hours and equipment alerts. 

That means fleets can see what is happening inside the trailer alongside data from the equipment responsible for maintaining those conditions, all within Connect1. 

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A Dot on a Map Isn’t Visibility

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For most of the trucking industry’s history, knowing where a trailer was parked was considered a meaningful win. Asset tracking provided a dot on a map, updated regularly, telling operations teams where their trailer was sitting. In an industry that ran on phone calls, clipboards, and educated guesses, that kind of location data represented real progress, and for a time it was enough.

But the freight industry has changed, and while location is still part of what fleets need to know about their trailers, it has become the baseline, not the goal.

The False Confidence Problem

What asset tracking doesn’t tell you is considerably more consequential than what it does. It doesn’t tell you that trailers are leaving the dock well below fill targets, or which terminals are responsible for the shortfall, and it doesn’t give maintenance teams the predictive insight needed to address a tire condition before it becomes a roadside failure. It also doesn’t tell you that a trailer has been parked at a customer site past the point where detention applies, or whether the yard inventory your team is working from reflects what’s really out there.

Asset tracking answers one question and leaves the rest unanswered, and every one of those blind spots carries a price: capital deployed on equipment that didn’t need to roll, tire failures that TPMS could have caught before they reached the road, and detention revenue that disappears before anyone realizes it’s gone.

What Real-Time Trailer Visibility Requires

Real-time trailer visibility isn’t a better version of asset tracking, but rather a different category of capability, and the distinction matters more than the industry has traditionally acknowledged.

It means knowing the operational state of every trailer in the fleet, not just its coordinates. It can tell you whether trailers are departing at capacity or losing efficiency one underloaded trip at a time, whether a tire is trending toward failure or performing within spec, whether a trailer in a remote yard is available to dispatch, and whether detention claims are supported by timestamped documented evidence.

Getting there requires intelligence that travels with the trailer: sensors, cameras, and AI-powered platforms built specifically for the trailer environment. A system designed to understand cargo conditions inside a trailer is a fundamentally different tool than one designed for something else and adapted for the job, and the quality of the insight reflects that difference. A fleet running hundreds of trailers across dozens of terminals doesn’t have a location problem. It has a trailer intelligence problem, and a dot on a map was never going to solve it.

The Moment a Trailer Leaves the Dock

Consider what happens the moment a trailer exits a facility. Dock cameras can photograph loading activity and tell you something about what went into a trailer, but the moment it pulls away from the dock, that data stream ends, and whatever happens in transit or at the customer facility is invisible.

Smart trailer technology travels with the load, capturing the state of the trailer at the moment it becomes a moving asset, which is exactly when most traditional systems go dark. AI-powered trailer cargo intelligence can measure cube utilization at departure, identify what’s inside the trailer, including loaded pallets, pallet jacks, and personnel, and deliver real-time trailer visibility into conditions that require attention, while there’s still an opportunity to act on them.

That’s the kind of operational insight that changes how freight gets planned and loaded, reduces cargo claims, and gives carriers the accountability their customers are increasingly expecting.

Why This Matters Now

Location data still has a role in trailer operations, and asset tracking isn’t going away. Treating it as a visibility strategy, though, is a choice with real consequences, and as margins compress, customer expectations rise, and the industry moves steadily toward autonomous freight, those consequences are getting harder to absorb.

Autonomous trucks, when they arrive at scale, will require full accountability for everything they’re pulling, and a GPS ping won’t be sufficient. The fleets investing in trailer intelligence now are building capabilities that will define how they compete for the next decade.

The question fleets used to ask was: where is my trailer? The question that drives performance today is: what is my trailer telling me? For most of the industry, those are still two very different conversations, and the gap between them is where efficiency, revenue, and safety are being won or lost every day.

Frequently asked questions

What is trailer intelligence?

Trailer intelligence refers to the ability to continuously monitor and act on a trailer’s full operational condition, including tire health, cargo status, brake performance, door activity, liftgate usage, and real-time location, through a connected smart trailer platform. It goes beyond knowing where a trailer is to understanding what it’s doing, how its systems are performing, and what operational decisions that data should drive.

How is smart trailer technology different from basic asset tracking?

Asset tracking answers one question: where is the trailer? Smart trailer technology answers the questions that drive fleet performance, including whether trailers are departing at fill targets, which terminals are underperforming, whether a tire is trending toward failure, and whether detention claims are documented. It delivers real-time trailer visibility across the full operational state of every trailer in the fleet, not just its location.

What is real-time trailer visibility?

Real-time trailer visibility is continuous operational awareness of every trailer in a fleet, including its location, cargo conditions, tire health, brake performance, and utilization status. Unlike periodic location updates from basic tracking systems, real-time trailer visibility gives operations teams the information they need to make decisions while there’s still an opportunity to act on them.

What is AI-powered trailer cargo intelligence?

AI-powered trailer cargo intelligence uses cameras and machine learning trained specifically on trailer environments to measure volumetric load data, identify objects inside the trailer, including loaded pallets, pallet jacks, and personnel, and deliver operational insights that basic cargo sensors cannot provide. Phillips Connect’s CargoVision is purpose-built for the trailer environment, not adapted from technology designed for other applications.

How does predictive trailer maintenance work?

Predictive trailer maintenance uses real-time data from onboard sensors to identify developing issues before they become failures. Tire pressure, temperature, and load data are analyzed continuously, allowing maintenance teams to address conditions before they result in roadside events, unplanned service calls, or delivery disruptions. This shifts maintenance from a schedule-based model to one driven by what the trailer is actually reporting.

How does trailer cargo intelligence reduce freight claims?

Trailer cargo intelligence creates a documented record of cargo conditions throughout the delivery cycle, from departure through transit to delivery. When a door breach, temperature excursion, or cargo shift occurs, that record establishes when and where the condition happened, which simplifies claims resolution and often prevents disputes from escalating. More importantly, real-time alerts give carriers the opportunity to intervene before a condition becomes an irreversible loss. 

Built In, Not Bolted On with A.D. Transport Express

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How A.D. Transport Express put visibility inside 1,050 trailers before they left the factory and eliminated a daily maintenance burden in the process. 

Based in Canton, Michigan, A.D. Transport Express has been moving freight for 41 years. With more than 500 trucks and 1,700 trailers, the company has always treated asset visibility as an operational discipline.

When it came time to replace their previous telematics provider, they did not just switch platforms. They rethought the install entirely. With 1,050 new trailers already on order, A.D. Transport worked with Phillips Connect to have StealthNet units installed on the factory floor before a single trailer ever shipped. What followed was a system with no setup lag, no retrofit window, and a failure rate their previous provider never came close to matching.

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A.D. Transport Express Adds Phillips Connect to 1,050 OEM New Trailer Builds, Dispatching Straight from the Factory Floor 

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Maximum uptime, zero maintenance: StealthNet delivers from the factory floor forward 

IRVINE, California – July 9, 2026 – A.D. Transport Express, a 41-year-old full truckload carrier serving leading U.S. automotive manufacturers, has deployed Phillips Connect’s StealthNet trailer intelligence solution across its entire trailer fleet including 1,050 OEM new builds. By installing directly at the factory, A.D. Transport was able to dispatch each trailer the moment they left the factory, maximizing uptime and their return on investment. The company has experienced zero platform failures since deployment. 

“We were very excited with Phillips Connect’s Connect1 platform, because it’s had 100 percent uptime compared with our previous system,” said Ed, the company’s Director of Operations.  

A.D. Transport, based in Canton, Michigan, operates more than 500 trucks and 1,700 trailers across a nearly 100-acre facility, running freight around the clock for customers that include global freight carriers and retailers in addition to the automotive sector. Approximately 75% of its business runs on a drop-and-hook model, making trailer availability and dispatch speed critical to daily operations. 

Rather than schedule StealthNet installations after delivery, trailer by trailer, A.D. Transport worked with Phillips Connect to spec the StealthNet units into new builds at the factory. The result: every trailer left the factory already live, already visible, already earning. 

“It was just a great plan to have them put into the trailers as they were being manufactured,” said Matt, A.D. Transport Express’s co-founder and vice president. “We get to see the trailer coming from the factory to the point of our pickup, and then we can utilize the equipment right from there without having to bring it to the yard.” 

Ed put the operational impact plainly: “When we’re in the Midwest, we want to be able to dispatch the trailer to earn out of the gate.” 

In addition to its StealthNet units, A.D. Transport has deployed Connect1, Phillips Connect’s software platform, alongside the TechAssist app for its maintenance team. Chris, the shop manager and a 20-year veteran of the company, says the StealthNet units have required no maintenance since installation. 

“Because of the stability of the StealthNets, there is no maintenance to them that we’ve seen,” Chris said. 

The company is now working with Phillips Connect to extend fleet visibility directly to drivers via the DriverAssist app, giving them real-time trailer data on tablets and phones. For a carrier managing large drop lots where trailers can be buried or located at off-site customer locations, the capability is expected to reduce search time and increase daily earnings per driver. 

“Their time is so valuable,” said operations supervisor, Tom. “We really want to do everything in our power to let them maximize their time and maximize their earnings.” 

Your TMS Knows Your Trucks. Now It Knows Your Trailers. 

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For years, the trailer has been the blind spot of fleet technology. Trucks have been connected, tracked, and optimized. Drivers have been monitored and dispatched with precision. But the trailer, the asset carrying the freight, the one that determines whether a load moves profitably, has largely been invisible to the systems that run fleet operations. 

That changes with Phillips Connect’s new integration with McLeod Software. 

The Gap That’s Been Costing Fleets 

Ask any fleet planner how they decide which trailer to assign to a load, and you’ll often hear the same answer: they check what they can find, make a few phone calls, and hope for the best. That’s not a technology problem. It’s a data problem. The information needed to make a smart decision — where is the trailer, how much space is left, is it mechanically ready to roll — has simply not been available inside the systems dispatchers and planners actually use. 

That gap shows up in empty miles, underutilized capacity, and loads that sit longer than they should. It shows up in the time planners spend chasing information instead of moving freight. And it shows up in the customer experience when a committed load can’t be confirmed because no one really knows what’s available. 

Trailer Intelligence Where It Belongs 

The Phillips Connect integration with McLeod Software puts smart trailer data directly inside the McLeod TMS – no separate app, no manual data pulls, no switching between platforms. Fleet planners and dispatchers gain real-time visibility into trailer location, tire health, brake and lights status, and, critically, what’s actually inside the trailer and how much capacity remains. 

That last capability, powered by Phillips Connect CargoVision, is where trailer intelligence takes a meaningful step forward. CargoVision uses an AI-powered camera to show exactly what’s loaded in a trailer and delivers volumetric measurements that support accurate load planning. For partial shipments, multi-stop routes, or any operation where load matching matters, this level of detail transforms the trailer from an unknown quantity into a capacity-aware asset. 

MNS1, the first fleet to complete the integration, saw the difference immediately. “Our planners and dispatchers can see inside every trailer, understand how much space is left and decide quickly which trailers are ready to deploy, and which need to be repositioned,” said Mike Narkys, President of MNS1. “The Phillips Connect integration with McLeod helps us turn loads faster, reduce empty moves and put our trailers to work where they make the most impact for our customers and our drivers.” 

More Than Location — A Full Trailer Picture 

What distinguishes this integration is the breadth of intelligence it delivers. Many connected vehicle solutions stop at location. Phillips Connect surfaces the full health and status picture of every trailer: tire condition, brake performance, lights — the mechanical readiness indicators that determine whether a trailer is actually ready to move. Combine that with cargo intelligence and volumetric load data, and fleets gain something they haven’t had before: a complete, real-time view of every trailer’s operational status, all inside the platform they already run their business on. 

“With the Phillips Connect integration, mutual customers gain cargo visibility and real-time trailer location inside McLeod,” said Ahmed Ebrahim, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Integrations at McLeod Software. “This provides our customers with stronger insight into their networks and helps them plan more effectively across their fleet.” 

The First of Many 

This integration is the opening move in a broader Phillips Connect platform strategy. The goal is to meet fleets where they already work — not ask them to adopt another standalone system, but to bring smart trailer intelligence into the TMS, fleet management, and operational platforms they depend on every day. 

“Trailers become active contributors to fleet strategy when data such as tire, lights and brake health, cargo intelligence, and location are accessible in the platforms they already rely on,” said Todd Hodges, Director of Product Management for Phillips Connect. “This integration is the first of many that will help fleets bring their trailer intelligence forward, no matter what software platforms they use to run their business.” 

For fleets running McLeod across North America, the integration is available now. For the broader industry, it represents a clear direction: trailer data belongs in the operational core of fleet management, not siloed in a separate tool. 

The trailer has always been essential. Now it’s finally visible. 

Phillips Connect helps fleets maximize their ROI on every trailer, every load, and every mile. Learn more at phillipsconnect.com. 

Phillips Connect Expands Trailer Intelligence Across Roadside, Brake and Liftgate Systems 

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Enhanced solutions deliver deeper operational insight through collaborations with Emergency Safety Solutions (ESS), Bendix and Maxon 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 15, 2026 – Phillips Connect today announced new enhancements across three key trailer system categories that expand how fleets manage roadside safety, brake performance and liftgate operations. Introduced at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, the updates strengthen how fleets capture operational intelligence from critical trailer systems and distribute those insights across maintenance, operations and safety teams. 

“Every system on the trailer generates insights that can help fleets operate more safely and efficiently,” said Mark Wallin, general manager and senior vice president of product at Phillips Connect. “Our platform is designed to capture those signals and turn them into actionable insights. By working closely with leading equipment providers, we can also deliver deeper intelligence from systems fleets already rely on across their trailers.” 

Phillips Connect Roadside Safety Intelligence 

Phillips Connect introduced new Roadside safety solutions designed to improve visibility and awareness during roadside events. 

Through a partnership with Emergency Safety Solutions (ESS), the Phillips Connect platform can trigger ESS’s H.E.L.P. DeliverSAFE intelligent roadside hazard technology when a trailer is stopped on the shoulder. When a driver activates the trailer’s hazard lights, the system automatically initiates H.E.L.P. Lighting Alerts, flashing the trailer’s lights in a distinctive high-visibility pattern designed to attract more attention than standard hazard lights. The system also sends real-time shouldered vehicle alerts to approaching motorists through navigation apps and in-dash systems, helping drivers identify roadside hazards earlier and move over more safely. 

Roadside safety intelligence builds on Phillips Connect’s existing light circuit monitoring technology, extending its functionality to improve roadside awareness and help protect drivers, equipment and freight during roadside events. 

Phillips Connect Brake System Intelligence 

Phillips Connect also added system enhancements to its existing brake solutions that provide greater visibility into trailer brake performance and status. 

When fleets operate trailers equipped with Bendix TABS Advanced brake system electronic control units (ECUs), Phillips Connect can access diagnostic trouble code (DTC) fault reporting and standard formatted data messages. This information includes brake wear, trouble codes and other system data that may help maintenance teams detect developing issues and prioritize service before they escalate. 

Phillips Connect can provide fleets access to insights from this data that strengthen cultures of safety by enabling fleets to respond more quickly to events such as roll stability activation or braking faults that may require attention. 

Phillips Connect Liftgate Intelligence 

Phillips Connect also enhanced its liftgate solutions to provide fleets with improved liftgate performance and usage data. 

Liftgates are essential to many delivery operations, particularly on routes with frequent stops or locations without loading docks. When fleets operate Maxon liftgates equipped with MAX LINK technology, Phillips Connect can provide fleets with deeper insight into liftgate activity, system health and performance through its partnership with Maxon. 

This information helps fleets identify potential liftgate issues earlier and avoid delivery disruptions that can occur when liftgate batteries or hydraulic systems stop functioning properly. 

Expanding the Connected Trailer Ecosystem 

These enhancements reflect Phillips Connect’s broader strategy to capture operational intelligence from the systems already installed across the trailer. 

By supporting deeper data visibility from leading equipment and solutions providers, Phillips Connect enables fleets to monitor critical trailer systems while continuing to operate the equipment and technologies they already rely on. 

Phillips Connect will showcase these technologies at TMC in Nashville, March 16–18. Show attendees can learn more about the company’s smart trailer platform and see the latest innovations in connected trailer intelligence at the Phillips Connect booth 2029. 

About Phillips Connect 

Phillips Connect develops smart trailer technology that helps fleets capture and apply intelligence from across the trailer. Its platform brings together sensors, cameras and integrated systems to provide visibility into trailer operations, equipment health and cargo activity. By turning trailer intelligence into operational insight, Phillips Connect helps fleets improve safety, increase uptime and operate more efficiently. 

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Phillips Connect develops technology that helps fleets monitor trailer systems, identify issues earlier and make better decisions by making trailer intelligence accessible across the fleet. Learn more at www.phillips-connect.com. 

Phillips Connect Introduces Platform Enhancements for Connected Trailers 

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New JumpStart offering, CargoVision People Detection and Driver Behavior Insights expand trailer intelligence for fleets.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 15, 2026 – Phillips Connect today announced new platform enhancements designed to expand how fleets capture and use trailer intelligence across their operations. Introduced at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, the updates improve visibility into trailer activity, cargo operations and trailer performance while making it easy for fleets to benefit from smart trailer intelligence even if they rely on another provider for GPS location tracking. 

“Track-and-trace GPS units have long been the baseline for trailer visibility, but fleets need more than location to make informed decisions that affect operations, safety, dispatch, compliance and maintenance,” said Mark Wallin, general manager and senior vice president of product at Phillips Connect. “The next generation of connected trailer technology is already here, enabling fleets to capture intelligence from across the trailer and supply those insights to every role in the fleet.” 

JumpStart Expands Trailer Intelligence Beyond Location 

Phillips Connect announced JumpStart, a new offering designed to help fleets quickly begin capturing smart trailer insights beyond basic location tracking.  

Track-and-trace telematics providers deliver simple trailer GPS location but typically cannot capture operational intelligence from critical trailer systems. Without insight into how equipment is being used and performing, fleets have limited information to support operational, maintenance and safety decisions.  

Even if fleets are capturing location data from another provider, JumpStart provides easy access to smart trailer insights through six entry points: automated TrailerID, cargo intelligence, brake systems, tire health, liftgate performance and temperature monitoring. Fleets can start with any of these systems and expand over time as they add more smart trailer insights.  

Phillips Connect CargoVision Adds People Detection Inside the Trailer 

Phillips Connect introduced People Detection, a new enhancement to its CargoVision platform that identifies when individuals enter or exit the trailer cargo area. The enhancement gives fleets greater awareness of activity inside the trailer during loading, unloading and other operations. CargoVision with People Detection also helps fleets detect unauthorized access, identify potential cargo theft and safety risks, and better understand how trailers are being used throughout the day. 

Driver Behavior Insights Provide Visibility into How Trailers Are Operated 

Phillips Connect also added Driver Behavior Insights to its platform, helping fleets understand how their trailers are being operated on the road. Using smart sensor data from the trailer, the Phillips Connect platform detects events such as harsh braking, aggressive acceleration and sharp cornering. These insights provide visibility into driver behavior even when trailers are being pulled by third-party tractors.  

This visibility is particularly valuable for fleets that rely on leased equipment, independent carriers or drop-and-hook operations, where trailer owners may not have direct access to tractor telematics. By identifying unsafe operating patterns earlier, fleets can better protect cargo, equipment and their brand on the road. 

Building the Next Generation of Trailer Intelligence 

These innovations reflect Phillips Connect’s broader strategy to capture operational insights from across the trailer and make them easier for fleets to use in their daily operations. 

By combining sensor data, visual intelligence and behavioral insights within a single platform, fleets can move beyond simple location tracking to gain a deeper understanding of how trailers are being used, maintained and operated across their networks. 

Phillips Connect will showcase these technologies at TMC in Nashville, March 16–18. Show attendees can learn more about the company’s smart trailer platform and see the latest innovations in connected trailer intelligence at the Phillips Connect booth 2029. 

About Phillips Connect 

Phillips Connect develops smart trailer technology that helps fleets capture and apply intelligence from across the trailer. Its platform brings together sensors, cameras and integrated systems to provide visibility into trailer operations, equipment health and cargo activity. By turning trailer intelligence into operational insight, Phillips Connect helps fleets improve safety, increase uptime and operate more efficiently. 

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Phillips Connect develops technology that helps fleets monitor trailer systems, identify issues earlier and make better decisions by making trailer intelligence accessible across the fleet. Learn more at www.phillips-connect.com. 

One Less Thing for Drivers to Worry About 

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Spend time around professional drivers, and you quickly realize how much they manage in a single shift. Traffic, tight delivery windows, inspections, yard congestion, and changing instructions. The job requires constant attention. Yet in the middle of all that, drivers are often asked to complete one more small but important task: select and confirm the trailer they’re pulling before they leave. 

On paper, that step sounds simple. In real life, it happens in busy yards, under time pressure, sometimes at the end of a long day. It’s one more screen, one more confirmation, one more opportunity for something to be entered incorrectly. And when it is, the consequences rarely stay in the cab. 

If the wrong trailer is associated with a trip, that mismatch can affect Hours-of-Service logs, trailer inspection records, dispatch visibility, load security, and even the timing of billing. A small moment at hookup can ripple across compliance, planning, operations, and finance. 

Phillips Connect TrailerID was designed to remove that friction. Instead of relying on manual selection, TrailerID automatically identifies the connected trailer at the moment it is physically hooked. Drivers do not have to choose it. They do not have to confirm it. The system reflects what actually happened. 

That change may feel minor in the cab, but it has a meaningful impact across the fleet. When trailer identification happens automatically, compliance records stay aligned with the equipment being pulled. Dispatch and planning teams can see which trailer actually left the yard. Security teams have clearer insight into when and where trailers were connected and dropped. Billing can begin based on verified events rather than waiting for follow-up. 

Under the hood, TrailerID relies on a tightly integrated hardware and software platform that detects the physical tractor-trailer connection, rather than estimating movement based on proximity alone. Drivers experience the benefit automatically through DriverAssist or integrated in-cab platforms like Geotab and Platform Science, while operations teams see the same confirmed events in Connect1. Everyone works from the same record of what actually happened. 

For drivers, the benefit is straightforward: one less manual step in a job that already demands focus. For fleets, it means fewer corrections, fewer assumptions, and a clearer picture of how trailers are moving through the network. 

Sometimes the most meaningful improvements are not flashy features. They are the quiet changes that remove friction, simplify the day, and make the rest of the operation run a little more smoothly. 

Phillips Connect TrailerID Turns Trailer Pairing into an Operational Advantage

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TrailerID removes manual steps for truck drivers while extending automated trailer identification across dispatch, planning, compliance, security and billing 

What you need to know 

  • Phillips Connect TrailerID automatically confirms which trailer is connected, removing manual trailer selection from daily driver tasks 
  • Accurate trailer identification supports compliance, job execution, load security, and billing without adding steps for drivers
  • TrailerID combines tightly integrated hardware and software to deliver dependable trailer identification fleets can rely on 

IRVINE, Calif. and LAS VEGAS – Feb. 10, 2026 – Every day, trucks pick up and drop off trailers as freight moves through yards, terminals, and customer locations. Truck drivers are often asked to confirm which trailer they are pulling, usually by selecting it on a screen before moving on. When that step is rushed, skipped, or entered incorrectly, the consequences extend far beyond the cab. The wrong information can affect safety records, inspections, dispatch decisions, load security, and even when a company can bill for the work. That seems like a small moment at hookup can quickly create costly problems across an entire fleet. 

Phillips Connect TrailerID addresses that problem by identifying the connected trailer at the moment it is hooked. Instead of relying on manual input, Trailer ID confirms the trailer connection automatically and shares that information across the systems fleets already use. The result is a simpler experience for drivers and more reliable information for the teams responsible for keeping freight moving. 

“Accurate trailer identification affects nearly every part of a fleet’s operation,” said Mark Wallin, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Product at Phillips Connect. “With TrailerID, logs stay cleaner, jobs line up with what actually happened, trailers are easier to account for, and billing is easier to start and reconcile. TrailerID removes guesswork and gives fleet teams a shared view of what’s really happening with their trailers.” 

For fleets, that same automatic trailer identification carries through to compliance activities like Hours-of-Service logging and trailer inspections. When the correct trailer is already reflected in the system, logs and inspection records stay accurate without relying on manual entry, reducing errors, rework, and the risk of compliance issues while keeping the driver experience simple. 

TrailerID also helps fleets make sure that the trailer that was planned for a job is the one that actually left the yard. When the system confirms which trailer moved, teams can quickly spot mismatches, prevent mispulls, and understand which trailers are available or sitting idle. Dispatch and planning no longer have to guess or chase down updates to know what happened. 

The same clarity carries through to security and billing. Knowing exactly when and where a trailer was dropped helps protect the load and reduce the risk of theft or fraud. It also allows billing to start based on a verified event, instead of waiting on manual confirmation or follow-up. 

TrailerID is built on a vertically integrated hardware and software platform that delivers more dependable results than methods based solely on GPS or proximity. Trailer connections are detected through the physical tractor-trailer connection using the T/T Pair connector and then validated through Phillips Connect software. Drivers experience this automatically in the cab through DriverAssist, while operations teams see the same events through Connect1 in the back office. The result is a clear record of what actually happened rather than an estimate or assumption. 

For drivers, TrailerID removes one more manual step from an already complex in-cab experience. Trailer identification happens automatically, reducing screens, selections, and the chance for error. That same pairing information is immediately available to dispatch, safety, operations, and billing teams. 

TrailerID is available through multiple in-cab environments. Fleets can access TrailerID on the DriverAssist app directly through Phillips Connect or via integrations with leading in-cab platforms, including Platform Science and Geotab’s OrderNow Marketplace.  

About Phillips Connect 

Phillips Connect smart trailer technologies help the world’s largest fleets improve operations, safety and efficiency. The Phillips Connect platform of software sensors, cameras and telematics gateway innovations provide fleet managers and operational leads with real-time visibility into their trailers’ location, tire, brakes, cargo and door statuses, and more, saving customers time and money. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Phillips Connect is part of the Phillips family of companies, celebrating nearly a century of delivering innovative, reliable solutions that keep the transportation industry moving. For more information, visit www.phillips-connect.com. 

What is Phillips Connect TrailerID?

Phillips Connect TrailerID is a solution that automatically identifies which trailer is connected to a truck at the moment of hookup, removing the need for drivers to manually select or confirm a trailer.

How does TrailerID work?

TrailerID detects the physical connection between the tractor and trailer and confirms that event through tightly integrated hardware and software, creating a verified record of trailer movement that fleets can trust.

What problem does TrailerID solve for fleets?

TrailerID eliminates errors caused by manual trailer selection, helping fleets avoid incorrect records that can affect compliance, dispatch decisions, load security, and billing.

How does TrailerID benefit drivers?

TrailerID removes one more manual task from the driver’s day by automatically identifying the trailer, reducing screens, selections, and opportunities for error in the cab.

How does TrailerID support fleet operations beyond the cab?

Verified trailer identification data from TrailerID is shared across dispatch, planning, compliance, security, and billing systems, helping teams understand what actually happened and act on accurate information.

How does TrailerID help with compliance?

By ensuring the correct trailer is automatically associated with Hours-of-Service logs and trailer inspection records, TrailerID helps keep compliance records accurate without adding extra steps for drivers.

How does TrailerID support job confirmation and planning?

TrailerID confirms which trailer actually moved, helping fleets align planned activity with real-world outcomes and maintain a clearer view of trailer availability.

How does TrailerID improve security and reduce risk?

Knowing exactly when and where a trailer was connected or dropped helps fleets protect loads, reduce theft or fraud, and investigate unexpected trailer movement.

How does TrailerID support billing?

TrailerID allows billing to begin based on verified trailer drop events rather than manual confirmation, reducing delays and reconciliation issues.

How is TrailerID different from GPS- or proximity-based trailer identification?

TrailerID relies on detecting the physical tractor-trailer connection rather than estimating proximity, making it more dependable than methods based solely on location or Bluetooth signals.

What is the relationship between TrailerID and T/T Pair?

TrailerID is the evolution of the T/T Pair capability, expanding automated trailer pairing into a software-led solution that supports multiple operational use cases across the fleet.

Where can fleets use TrailerID?

TrailerID works across multiple in-cab environments, including Phillips Connect DriverAssist and integrations with leading platforms such as Geotab and Platform Science.