After initially using Powerfleet to react to questions about how their trailers were being used, the company’s application of the system evolved with more active use, removing the need for manual yard checks. As a result, identification of misused assets became more efficient, and the manpower dedicated to daily monitoring of each site’s inventory was reduced.
Operations managers at each of Forward Air’s 85 local stations use Powerfleet to perform yard checks at their locations, as well as at customer yards that belong to their pool. The Powerfleet FleetView platform website dormancy reporting capabilities are then used to help identify excess trailers that can be eliminated from their pool.
In 2010, Forward Air began replacing their existing Powerfleet tracking devices with Powerfleet’s new Track-and-Trace product. Benefits of the low-cost device include the ability to ping for trailer location on demand, which is critical to locating stolen assets or other moving targets. With an up-to-date trailer position, drivers on trailer search missions can be routed directly for pick up, saving valuable hours of service and fuel costs dedicated to hunting for misplaced units. Maintenance budgets have also benefited from the addition of the new devices due to ease of installation and battery replacement, plus the assistance it provides maintenance managers in scheduling service.