HOW TRAILER DATA HELPS BUSINESSES GROW?

In the European Union, more than 4 million heavy goods vehicles are currently in operation. With nearly twice as many trailers on the roads, coordinating vehicle coupling and ensuring reliable GPS tracking has long been a complex task. This challenge is now growing, as leading countries introduce new regulations requiring documented proof of trailer roadworthiness.

While this adds further demands to logistics operations, it also presents a big opportunity to improve operational efficiency with telematics. Teltonika experts explain how smarter trailer data collection can support business growth and help companies remain compliant with changing standards.

FIRST COUNTRIES TO REGULATE TRAILERS

"One of the first countries to introduce trailer roadworthiness standards is United Kingdom," says Simonas Kraujalis, SCOPE product development coordinator. “From April 2025, local law requires all trailers to undergo four laden roller brake tests (RBTs) per year or use an Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) to demonstrate a satisfactory brake condition during safety checks."

"Because roller tests are performed manually, businesses waste money on workarounds to account for a vehicle's non-operating time," Simonas explains. "Smaller companies rent trailers on the spot to avoid downtime, while larger ones rely on in-house mechanics to keep regular checks. Same goes for leasing companies, which must ensure trailer roadworthiness to avoid liability.

"This is where telematics becomes essential," Simonas adds, "because we can help swap the manual test with trailer EBS reports. Fleet managers will look for the experts who can automate compliance reporting and integrate it into their service offerings, probably on a burning schedule.”

Looking ahead, Simonas believes that this regulatory trend will expand throughout the European Union. "We anticipate a trailer boom in the EU, as roadworthiness standards spread across the member countries. That is why we have developed a trailer management solution that is significantly more advanced than traditional usage of beacons."

TRAILERCAN – A SOLUTION THAT BENEFITS EVERYONE

"Less than a year ago, we noticed our clients were using creative workarounds to manage their trailers," shares Vladislavas Dombrovskis, product owner of PROFESSIONAL category devices.

"The need to track trailer VINs is not new. Logistics companies have always had to pair the right trailers with the right trucks and know where trailers were last parked. Traditionally, the simplest solution has been Bluetooth® beacons. By attaching such a device to the trailer, it communicates with the truck's tracker. When the tracker sees the beacon ID in motion, we know they are connected."

Vladislavas continues: "But what if one needs a bigger picture? That is exactly what led us to explore tapping into the CAN bus for trailer information. We realised all the data was already there, as the truck's ECU constantly monitors the trailer's EBS modulator to coordinate braking systems. That is how TrailerCAN was created, an FMC650 feature that captures comprehensive trailer parameters through a single truck-mounted installation. Now fleet operators can achieve complete visibility with just one tracking device."

FMC650 tracker can read the required data via these three data sources: the truck's CAN bus, the trailer EBS modulator, and the trailer 7-pin socket. "The real power lies in the range of parameters we can capture: trailer VIN, tire pressure, axle load, brake status, and more. Telematics integrators can then build custom formulas using specific AVL data points, ensuring their EBS reports meet exact government compliance standards," Vladislavas explains.

TrailerCAN creates value across the board: logistics companies achieve precise trailer-truck pairing, regulatory bodies can verify vehicle roadworthiness, and telematics integrators can boost revenue by delivering more comprehensive fleet intelligence.

Vladislavas adds: "We created this functionality thanks to a productive cooperation with telematics integrators. From the initial concept to field testing, the feedback from our partners was invaluable."

ANTICIPATE DEMAND BEFORE IT BECOMES A TREND

Teltonika's long-term partner Compass Asset Protection was among the first to generate EBS reports using FMC650 trackers. Jake Owens, Compass Asset Protection representative, shared their journey.

"We anticipated the new EBPMS regulation before it became mandatory in the UK," says Jake. "Eager to get ahead of it, we contacted our Teltonika sales representative to explore trailer data solutions. Soon, I was speaking directly with Teltonika R&D to make it happen. We started with 10 test trackers, worked out the exact formula for accurate reporting, and secured our first major order."

One of the original projects involved a logistics company transporting helium tankers. They aimed to find a way to store loaded trailers outside the warehouse, as helium can displace oxygen in confined spaces, creating a serious asphyxiation risk.

To solve this, they needed a reliable method to verify whether a trailer was securely loaded. "We integrated live trailer weight monitoring for them. It confirmed not only that the trailer was full, but also safely coupled – making it ready for operation," Jake explains.

Once clients recognised the value of trailer braking data, demand for EBS trailer trackers surged. "Lately, it feels like all we do is installations, which I am happy about. As I always say, it is better to be tripping over work than looking for it," Jake added cheerfully.