Great Dane announced Thursday its FleetPulse platform, the first OEM-developed smart trailer system, will now come as a standard feature on new Great Dane trailers with an integrated CAN harness to prepare equipment for future smart technology adoption.
Great Dane says this move reflect the company's commitment to a future focus on connectivity, ensuring all equipment built today is prepared to meet the market’s future demands. All dry and refrigerated Great Dane trailers will now come standard with FleetPulse, delivering real-time data and valuable insights for fleets to get the most out of every mile.
“At Great Dane, we continue to build on our legacy of innovation by keeping an eye on the future,” says Dean Engelage, president, Great Dane. “By making our FleetPulse telematics solution a standard feature, Great Dane remains future-focused on trailer connectivity. We are laying the foundation for fleets to have greater flexibility in terms of accessing smart sensors years down the road.”
The company says this new offering includes GPS location, mileage data, geofences, automated yard checks, tethered status, heading, speed, as well as proprietary trailer specifications and parts information. The standard also includes built-in CAN harnessing, so that smart sensors can be added in the aftermarket and when new technology is introduced.
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Additionally, the company says there is the ability to upgrade to the full FleetPulsePRO option, which provides access to a full suite of smart sensors available today, taking a fleet to the leading edge of smart trailer technology. These include the ability to monitor and decipher ABS fault code alerts, tire inflation systems, door open status, light out detection, mileage from tire rotations, cargo status, rear axle weight, and more, Great Dane says.
Great Dane adds it is committed to leading the forefront of transportation innovations, integrating state-of-the-art technology in its premium trailers and truck bodies to facilitate the expansion of electronics and data insights. With FleetPulse, fleets benefit from real-time trailer-level data that puts more predictability into maintenance schedules, with real-time alerts from trailer health sensors creating greater productivity and more ROI for every asset, the company says.
"We are proud to offer telematics as standard and to provide insights for our customers, elevating the way they do business to ultimately deliver more uptime," says Chris Hammond, executive vice president, sales, Great Dane.
“One of the major hurdles to a connected vehicle future is that long trailer life can hinder the speed of innovation,” adds Mike Molitor, executive director, business development, Great Dane. “By equipping each Great Dane trailer with a FleetPulse device and CAN harnessing, we believe fleets are better positioned to take advantage of future technologies.”
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Great Dane says Thursday's announcement comes as industry-leading suppliers, including Hendrickson, TSE Brakes, and many others are developing compelling sensors that will become commercially available over the coming years.
“By equipping Great Dane trailers with a CAN network, fleets can cost-effectively take advantage of these technologies, while laying the groundwork for communication on the edge between the truck and trailer,” Molitor says. “We remain committed to providing premium trailers that benefit our customers as the industry transitions towards a connected, autonomous, and zero-emission future.”
