Flatbed Visibility Matters: Why Location, Brakes and Tire Health Belong in the Same Conversation

By Frank Schneider 

Flatbed trailers play a critical role in freight movement. From construction materials and machinery to steel, lumber, and oversized loads, flatbeds support freight that dry vans simply cannot handle, yet flatbeds are often managed with far less visibility than dry vans, even though they operate in more demanding and less predictable environments. 

Knowing where your flatbed trailers are is essential, and knowing whether they are ready to be deployed is just as important. Location, brake health, and tire condition all determine whether a flatbed can be dispatched safely and efficiently. 

Why Flatbed Trailers are Harder to Manage 

Flatbed trailers are typically operated outside the structured trailer pool models common with dry vans. They are frequently staged at job sites, ports, rail yards, or customer locations as part of loading, unloading, or project-based workflows. These trailers may remain stationary for extended periods, be repositioned locally, or transition between assignments without returning to a centralized yard. 

During these idle or low-visibility periods, mechanical issues can develop without immediate awareness from operations or maintenance teams. 

Common challenges include: 

• Trailers that appear available but are not mechanically ready to move 

• Brake or tire issues discovered only at dispatch or during pre-trip inspection 

• Time lost locating specific trailers across large or nontraditional staging areas 

• Increased safety exposure when trailers sit unattended without visibility into their condition 

Without real-time insight into both location and health, fleets are forced to rely on assumptions that introduce delays, inefficiencies, and added cost. 

How Large Flatbed Fleets Reduce Search Time and Improve Readiness 

For fleets that manage large numbers of flatbed trailers, visibility across yards, customer sites, and staging areas is one of the biggest operational challenges. Flatbeds are often spread across expansive properties or remote locations, making manual searches inefficient and inconsistent.  

Ocean Trailer, which operates one of the largest full-service trailer fleets in Western Canada, faced this challenge as its rental fleet grew. With yards spanning dozens of acres and thousands of trailers cycling through rental, lease, and maintenance states, locating specific units became increasingly difficult using traditional processes alone. 

By implementing connected trailer visibility solutions from Phillips Connect, Ocean Trailer gained the ability to pinpoint trailer locations within large yards and across distributed sites, down to specific rows or sections. This reduced the time spent searching for equipment and improved turnaround speed when trailers were returned, reassigned, or prepared for the next customer.  

For flatbed operations, where trailers are frequently staged outside traditional dock environments, this level of location accuracy is especially valuable. 

That same visibility becomes even more valuable when paired with insight into brakes and tires, helping teams understand not just where a flatbed is, but whether it’s ready to move. 

Why Brake and Tire Data Matters More for Flatbeds 

Flatbed trailers often experience harsher duty cycles than dry vans. Heavier loads, uneven weight distribution, exposure to weather, and long periods of sitting can all accelerate wear on brakes and tires. 

Many brake issues and tire pressure develop while a trailer is parked. Without monitoring, those problems surface late, either during dispatch preparation or after a roadside event. 

Brake and TPMS data help fleets: 

• Identify ABS faults before a trailer is assigned 

• Detect slow tire leaks that develop while trailers sit idle 

• Avoid dispatching drivers to retrieve trailers that are not roadworthy 

• Reduce roadside repairs and unplanned downtime 

For flatbeds that may sit for days or weeks between moves, this data closes a critical readiness gap. 

Turning Flatbeds into Ready Assets Instead of Question Marks 

When location data is combined with brake and tire health, flatbeds stop being unknown quantities. Operations teams can see which trailers are available, where they are, and whether they are mechanically fit for service. 

This supports: 

• Faster dispatch decisions 

• Fewer last-minute maintenance surprises 

• Reduced empty miles and unnecessary repositioning 

• Safer equipment entering active service 

Supporting Utilization Across Mixed Fleets 

Many fleets operate both dry vans and flatbeds. Without consistent visibility into both location and health, flatbeds often lag in utilization simply because their readiness is harder to assess.  

Brake and TPMS data provide an objective way to evaluate readiness across all trailer types. Over time, this insight helps fleets plan maintenance more effectively, balance equipment usage, and make better capital decisions. 

The Bottom Line: Flatbed Visibility Must Go Beyond Location 

Knowing where flatbed trailers are is foundational. Knowing whether they can safely move freight is what makes that visibility operationally useful.  

Location, brake health and tire condition together give fleets a clearer picture of readiness, risk, and utilization. For flatbeds that operate in open environments and demanding conditions, this combined visibility is no longer optional. 

Flatbeds deserve the same level of insight fleets already expect from dry vans, if not more.  

How is your fleet assessing flatbed readiness today, and where could better visibility into brakes and tires reduce delays or downtime? 

Why is flatbed trailer visibility more complex than dry vans? 
Flatbed trailers often operate outside structured trailer pool environments. They are staged at job sites, ports, rail yards, and customer locations and may sit idle between assignments. This makes it harder to know both where a flatbed is and whether it is mechanically ready without real time visibility. 

Why is knowing flatbed trailer location not enough? 
Location alone does not indicate readiness. Brake and tire conditions can change while a flatbed is stationary. Without insight into brake health and tire pressure, fleets may assume a trailer is available only to discover issues during dispatch preparation or pre trip inspection. 

How do brake alerts help flatbed operations? 
Brake alerts identify ABS faults and other brake issues while a trailer is idle or between assignments. This allows maintenance teams to address problems during planned downtime rather than reacting to issues at dispatch or after a roadside event. 

Why is TPMS especially important for flatbed trailers? 
Flatbeds often carry heavier or uneven loads and may sit for extended periods. Slow tire leaks can develop without detection. TPMS data helps fleets identify pressure loss early and prevent tire damage, delayed dispatches, or unplanned downtime. 

What changes when flatbed location and health data are combined? 
When fleets can see where flatbeds are staged and whether brakes and tires are in acceptable condition, they can assess readiness before assigning a driver. This leads to faster dispatch decisions, fewer aborted pickups, improved maintenance planning, and safer equipment entering service.