Based just outside of Vancouver in Delta, British Columbia, Ocean Trailer boasts one of the largest full-service semi-trailer fleets in Western Canada, including a rental and lease fleet of roughly 9000 units serving trucking, construction, agriculture, and port operations across North America. As a third-generation family business built on service and direct relationships, the company has expanded its footprint across a wide range of regions. That growth created a greater need for visibility, accuracy, and consistent fleet management across thousands of units.
As the fleet scaled, traditional tools introduced operational friction. Trailers were sometimes misplaced in customer yards or picked up by the wrong operator, and large storage yards made it difficult for the Ocean Trailer team to locate specific units. Hub odometers often produced unreliable mileage readings, which led to customer disputes or time-consuming corrections when trailers were returned. Customers also began requesting more visibility into the trailers they rented, which required a comprehensive software platform login Ocean Trailer could share with them for planning and utilization.
Ocean Trailer set out to find a smart trailer solution that could support reliable location tracking, accurate mileage, and a simple experience for both internal teams and customers.
After evaluating available options, the company selected Phillips Connect’s Connect1 platform and StealthNet devices. Ocean Trailer’s Chief Operating Officer, Mack Keay explained the decision this way: “We wanted something that would be easy for our people to use, reliable over the long term, and discreet on every trailer type. Phillips Connect stood out because it checked all of those boxes.” The discreet hardware design, long battery life, and ability to charge from the tractor made the solution a strong fit across the entire fleet. Today, nearly all daily rental units are visible on the Phillips Connect Connect1 platform.
The change was immediate and meaningful. Ocean Trailer’s team locate trailers quickly across yards that span dozens of acres, reducing manual searches and improving turnaround time, and customers benefit as well. Trailer Tracking and Compliance Coordinator Kyla Tappert sees this every day. “When customers can see where their trailers are at any moment, they plan their pickups and deliveries much more efficiently,” she says.
Billing accuracy also improved dramatically. Instead of relying on hub odometers, Ocean Trailer now uses precise mileage readings from Phillips Connect. Keay notes, “Mileage used to be a challenge because hub odometers fail or get damaged. Now we bill the exact miles a trailer travels, which makes the process far more accurate for us and for our customers.” Automated data flows into Ocean Trailer’s ERP system, eliminating manual entry and reducing the risk of errors which greatly simplifies month-end billing.
Trailer recovery has become easier as well. Lost or misplaced units that once went unlocated for long periods are now quickly found. As Kyla puts it, “We recover trailers now that we might never have been able to track down in the past. Being able to pinpoint a unit on the map is a real advantage.”
As Phillips Connect was integrated into daily operations, Ocean Trailer created a dedicated role to support customer adoption and data accuracy. Kyla now oversees installations, removals, customer onboarding, and account management across Western Canada. “My job has evolved into making sure every customer has what they need and every trailer is tracked properly. It has become a full-time focus, and the response from customers has been very positive,” she says.
Phillips Connect is now a foundational tool in Ocean Trailer’s rental and lease business, supporting proactive planning, better maintenance scheduling, and stronger asset utilization across the regions they serve. Mack is already thinking about the next phase of capability. “Integrating tire and suspension data through Phillips Connect and Hendrickson would be incredibly valuable for us,” he says, noting the importance of tire health and uptime for dry van and reefer equipment.
By modernizing its operations with Phillips Connect, Ocean Trailer has strengthened its customer experience, streamlined internal workflows, and positioned its fleet for continued growth. What began as a search for clearer visibility has evolved into a competitive advantage that supports the next chapter of the company’s service and innovation.
What challenges did Ocean Trailer face before adopting Phillips Connect smart trailer technology?
Ocean Trailer had issues with misplaced trailers, unreliable hub odometer readings, manual searches across large yards, and billing disputes caused by inaccurate mileage. Customers were also requesting real time visibility into the rental units they were using.
How did Phillips Connect improve visibility across Ocean Trailer’s fleet?
Phillips Connect gave Ocean Trailer real time location data on nearly all rental units, allowing staff to quickly find trailers in large yards and helping customers track the equipment they were using. The platform created a single source of truth for internal teams and rental customers.
Why did Ocean Trailer choose the Phillips Connect platform?
Ocean Trailer selected the platform because it offered discreet hardware, long battery life, reliable performance, and an intuitive user interface. The system worked consistently across all trailer types in the rental and lease fleet.
How does trailer tracking help Ocean Trailer’s customers plan their operations?
Customers can log in to see the exact location of the trailers they are using, which helps them plan pickups, deliveries, and route timing. This visibility reduces wasted time and improves overall equipment utilization.
How did Phillips Connect improve billing accuracy for Ocean Trailer?
Mileage now comes directly from the Phillips Connect platform instead of hub odometers, which were often unreliable. Automated data flows into Ocean Trailer’s ERP system ensure exact mileage is billed each month, reducing disputes and manual corrections.
What impact has Phillips Connect had on trailer recovery?
Ocean Trailer can now pinpoint the exact location of missing or misplaced trailers. Units that previously might have remained unlocated are now found quickly and returned to service.
How does dwell time tracking support better utilization for customers?
Dwell time data helps customers see whether a trailer is being used or sitting idle. This information allows them to redeploy equipment sooner or return units they no longer need.
How does Ocean Trailer use Phillips Connect to manage large yards more efficiently?
The platform allows staff to identify the precise row or section where a trailer is parked. This reduces time spent searching for equipment across yards that may span dozens of acres.
What value do customers gain from having access to trailer data?
Customers benefit from seeing where their trailers are, how they are being used, and when they need to be redeployed. This helps them plan more effectively, reduce idle time, and keep equipment productive.
How does Phillips Connect support Ocean Trailer’s maintenance and compliance needs?
The platform provides visibility into usage patterns and mileage, which helps schedule preventative maintenance more accurately. This reduces maintenance-related road calls and supports better compliance reporting.
What long-term improvements has Ocean Trailer seen from smart trailer adoption?
The company has reduced internal workload, improved billing accuracy, strengthened customer relationships, and recovered more assets. Visibility and data consistency have become foundational to daily operations.
Why is smart trailer technology important for rental and lease companies?
Rental and lease fleets depend on knowing where assets are, how they are used, and how to keep them moving. Smart trailer technology provides clarity, reduces disputes, strengthens customer trust, and supports more efficient operations at scale.
