Swift Deploying Spireon’s FleetLocate Tracking Units on New Trailers

Swift Transportation Co. is adopting Spireon Inc.’s FleetLocate trailer tracking technology, beginning with the new dry van trailers it adds to its fleet this year, the companies said in a joint announcement.

The truckload carrier selected Spireon’s FL22 devices with cargo sensors and the company’s “rich data” plan to enhance its trailer utilization, said Roni Taylor, Spireon’s vice president of industry relations.

The system provides location and status reports every 10 minutes, and the cargo sensors track whether a trailer is loaded or unloaded, she said.

The frequent reporting allows fleets to accurately track trailer mileage, enabling them to better plan maintenance cycles, she added.

Spireon will provide tracking coverage for Swift’s operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Taylor said.

Swift made the decision after a one-year pilot.

“We felt Spireon understood not only our business needs but our corporate culture and found innovative ways to help us succeed,” Richard Stocking, Swift’s president and chief operating officer, said in the Jan. 12 announcement.

Swift, based in Phoenix, operates a fleet of about 18,000 tractors and 60,000 trailers. The carrier ranks No. 6 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S and Canadian for-hire carriers.