Phillips Connect introduced a crop of enhancements across trailer system categories Sunday during a press conference at the ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville.
Phillips Connect describes its updates as resources that will strengthen how fleets capture operational intelligence from critical trailer systems and distribute those insights across maintenance, operations and safety teams.
“Every system on the trailer generates insights that can help fleets operate more safely and efficiently,” says Mark Wallin, general manager and senior vice president of product at Phillips Connect. “Our platform is designed to capture those signals and turn them into actionable insights. By working closely with leading equipment providers, we can also deliver deeper intelligence from systems fleets already rely on across their trailers.”
The company also expanded its connected trailer offering during the event, adding a new JumpStart offering, CargoVision People Detection and Driver Behavior Insights expand trailer intelligence for fleets.
“Track-and-trace GPS units have long been the baseline for trailer visibility, but fleets need more than location to make informed decisions that affect operations, safety, dispatch, compliance and maintenance,” adds Wallin. “The next generation of connected trailer technology is already here, enabling fleets to capture intelligence from across the trailer and supply those insights to every role in the fleet.”
Expansions to trailer intelligence product offering
The company's new trailer intelligence offerings start with its new Roadside safety solutions designed to improve visibility and awareness during roadside events.
Through a partnership with Emergency Safety Solutions (ESS), the Phillips Connect platform can now trigger ESS’s H.E.L.P. DeliverSAFE intelligent roadside hazard technology when a trailer is stopped on the shoulder. When a driver activates the trailer’s hazard lights, the system automatically initiates H.E.L.P. Lighting Alerts, flashing the trailer’s lights in a distinctive high-visibility pattern designed to attract more attention than standard hazard lights. Phillips Connect says the system also sends real-time shouldered vehicle alerts to approaching motorists through navigation apps and in-dash systems, helping drivers identify roadside hazards earlier and move over more safely.
Roadside safety intelligence builds on Phillips Connect’s existing light circuit monitoring technology, the company adds, extending its functionality to improve roadside awareness and help protect drivers, equipment and freight during roadside events.
Phillips Connect also added system enhancements to its existing brake solutions. When fleets operate trailers equipped with Bendix TABS Advanced brake system electronic control units (ECUs), Phillips Connect can access diagnostic trouble code (DTC) fault reporting and standard formatted data messages. The company states this information includes brake wear, trouble codes and other system data that may help maintenance teams detect developing issues and prioritize service before they escalate.
Phillips Connect also provides fleets access to insights from this data that strengthen cultures of safety by enabling fleets to respond more quickly to events such as roll stability activation or braking faults that may require attention.
Next, Phillips Connect enhanced its liftgate solutions to provide fleets with improved liftgate performance and usage data. When fleets operate Maxon liftgates equipped with MAX LINK technology, Phillips Connect states it can now provide fleets with deeper insight into liftgate activity, system health and performance through its partnership with Maxon.
This information helps fleets identify potential liftgate issues earlier and avoid delivery disruptions that can occur when liftgate batteries or hydraulic systems stop functioning properly.
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Connected trailer offering expands
Phillips Connect also debuted solutions that improve visibility into trailer activity, cargo operations and trailer performance, making it easier for fleets to benefit from smart trailer intelligence.
The company introduced JumpStart, a new offering designed to help fleets quickly begin capturing smart trailer insights beyond basic location tracking.
Even if fleets are capturing location data from another provider, Phillips Connect states JumpStart provides easy access to smart trailer insights through six entry points: automated TrailerID, cargo intelligence, brake systems, tire health, liftgate performance and temperature monitoring. Fleets can start with any of these systems and expand over time as they add more smart trailer insights.
Phillips Connect also introduced People Detection, a new enhancement to its CargoVision platform that identifies when individuals enter or exit the trailer cargo area. The enhancement gives fleets greater awareness of activity inside the trailer during loading, unloading and other operations. CargoVision with People Detection helps fleets detect unauthorized access, identify potential cargo theft and safety risks, and better understand how trailers are being used throughout the day.
Finally, the company added Driver Behavior Insights to its platform, helping fleets understand how their trailers are being operated on the road. Using smart sensor data from the trailer, the Phillips Connect platform detects events such as harsh braking, aggressive acceleration and sharp cornering. The company says these insights provide visibility into driver behavior even when trailers are being pulled by third-party tractors.
This visibility is particularly valuable for fleets that rely on leased equipment, independent carriers or drop-and-hook operations, where trailer owners may not have direct access to tractor telematics. By identifying unsafe operating patterns earlier, fleets can better protect cargo, equipment and their brand on the road, the company says.
Together, these many innovations reflect Phillips Connect’s broader strategy to capture operational insights from across the trailer and make them easier for fleets to use in their daily operations, the company says. By combining sensor data, visual intelligence and behavioral insights within a single platform, customers can move beyond simple location tracking to gain a deeper understanding of how trailers are being used, maintained and operated across their networks, the company says.
