You Can’t Manage What You Can’t See: Why Smart Trailer Visibility Is a Risk Management Imperative

By Dana Dorey, Director of Customer Success

In fleet operations, risk is always present, but how you manage it makes all the difference. Whether it’s a tire blowout on the highway, undetected brake wear, cargo shifting in transit, or undetected break-ins in the yard, these aren’t minor setbacks. They’re serious operational risks that can result in crashes, insurance claims, regulatory violations, lost loads, and lost business.

Too often, the trailer is the most under-monitored, under-managed, and overlooked part of the vehicle, even though it’s where a significant amount risk originates – just ask anyone who’s ever backed a tractor trailer into a loading dock. For fleets still relying solely on in-cab telematics, the reality is stark: without insight into your trailers, you’re managing risk with incomplete information.

It’s time to close that gap. Smart trailer technology is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a have-to-have.

Whether your trailers are moving or waiting to move, you need to know what’s happening, preferably in real time. Phillips Connect delivers a comprehensive set of smart trailer solutions that give fleets real-time visibility into critical performance and safety data. With sensors, cameras, and system-wide integration, Phillips Connect helps fleets monitor brakes, tires, lights, doors, cargo, and more – often before issues turn into breakdowns or claims.

And unlike other solutions, Phillips Connect is designed to integrate seamlessly with the in-cab systems you might already be using. That means no rip-and-replace. Just smarter, safer trailers right out of the gate.

Two key ways to reduce risk before it starts:

1. Tire Pressure and Brake Monitoring

According to industry data, more than 50% of roadside breakdowns are tire related. Combine that with the risk of brake fade or failure, and it’s clear that under-monitoring these systems can be both dangerous and costly.

Phillips Connect’s TPMS and brake monitoring solutions keep you ahead of these risks. By continuously tracking tire inflation from the regulator to each tire, fleets can reduce premature wear, extend tire life, lower the risk of blowouts, and maintain braking efficiency. The result is fewer CSA violations, improved fuel efficiency, shorter stopping distances, and safer roads for everyone.

2. Cargo Awareness and Security

Whether your trailer is in motion, parked at a dock, or sitting in a lot overnight, what’s happening inside shouldn’t be a mystery.

In 2024 alone, North America saw a record 3,625 cargo thefts, representing a 27% spike year-over-year, resulting in nearly $455 million in losses. With an average stolen shipment valued at over $200,000 and thefts happening six times daily, the vulnerability is undeniable.

With Phillips Connect’s CargoVision and door monitoring technologies, our customers gain visibility into every inch of trailer space. Motion-triggered imaging captures near‑real‑time visuals when doors open or cargo shifts, which is critical intelligence that helps detect theft attempts, verify loading and detention practices, and ensure safe, efficient use of space.

These technologies aren’t just about oversight. They serve as a deterring layer of protection. Given that identity‑based thefts alone now represent nearly one‑third of all incidents, real-time monitoring is essential for accountability, liability defense, and operational integrity.

The Bottom Line: Risk Doesn’t Wait

If you think you’re managing trailer risk without visibility, it’s time to think again. Fleet management software and telematics are table stakes for every fleet-based business these days, and now trailer intelligence is the next frontier. The cost of being reactive and continuing to ignore the risks is simply too high.

Phillips Connect helps fleets shift from reactive to proactive. From guessing to knowing. From exposing your business to risk to building a safer, smarter operation that protects your people, your loads, the community around you, and your bottom line.

It’s time to turn on the lights.