Michelin solutions has announced a suite of upgrades to its Effitrailer telematics programme, adding three additional system abilities: asset ID, cold‐chain management and a remote door opening sensor.

With asset ID, operators can quickly identify which Effitrailer‐equipped asset is linked to which tractor unit, meaning fleet managers can quickly contact that driver if the system flags an action point via its live alerts, without needing to dig through the day’s dispatch reports. The function also allows better monitoring of subcontracted business.

The system’s cold‐chain management upgrade allows Effitrailer to monitor the temperature of the optimised trailer’s cargo, and flag up any abnormal operations. A live feed transmitted by the system’s datalink also allows fleet managers to see the system status of any attached refrigeration units, the unit’s set point, and the current temperature inside the trailer. The system’s data logging function can also provide operators with proof of the cold chain’s integrity throughout delivery.

Finally, the Effitrailer system’s door opening sensor capability provides operators with another level of confidence and security throughout the delivery run, as any abnormal door openings – outside of scheduled stops, in an unusual place off the logged route, or at unusual hours of the day – are immediately flagged up, and a warning sent to the operator.

Paul Davey, Michelin solutions commercial director, said: “We designed Effitrailer to evolve with the needs of our customers, which is how these additional abilities came to be developed. With this expanded ‘toolbox’, the programme now offers operators even more data for analysis and a tighter degree of control over trailer fleet activities, streamlining day‐to‐day business and easing the administrative burden of managing diverse and busy fleets.”

Michelin solutions’ Effitrailer system centres around the installation of dedicated trailer telematics equipment, including an on‐board datalink, tyre pressure monitoring system and electronic braking system data analysis. Once installed, the equipment also enables constant geolocation of every Effitrailer‐optimised asset in a company’s fleet.