Dachser has installed advanced smart tracking sensors in 8,500 swap bodies since the new year began, allowing for more efficient long-distance shipment of commodities between European offices. Internet of Things tracking provides real-time monitoring of transport containers, allowing for accurate predictions of arrival times. Through a central platform, data from Dachser's transport management system can now be combined with data from trailers and tractor units about where they are.

Telematics boards provide Dachser workers with brand-new data viewing and analysis options. Customers benefit the most from improved visibility into the supply chain.

Dachser has made significant progress in creating cutting-edge Smart Tracking Devices (STD) for use on swap bodies in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom and other technological firms. The energy-efficient energy modules powered by solar cells, cutting-edge satellite-based navigation technology (GPS, Galileo), and radio modules based on the future 5G and LPWAN networks are all part of the STDs with high-end SIM cards from Deutsche Telekom (LTE-M). Existing radio standards offer an extra layer of protection. The comprehensive solution was designed to last for a swap body's entire twelve-year operational life with no additional maintenance required.

In total, five specialized telematics boards provide Dachser staff with real-time position data from long-distance general freight transit. The location of any trackable vehicles or equipment can be displayed on the boards in real-time. Having an accurate ETA for incoming traffic at a branch or the customer's location is helpful for organizing transshipment and local traffic. The ability to see co-loading and reverse chartering alternatives on the boards facilitates communication and cooperation among departments. Last but not least, the panels announce when the units will next be serviced. Data from charter services, which are rarely done using personal equipment, will be added to the app in the coming months.

Alexander Tonn, COO of Road Logistics at Dachser, shows how the company is making great strides in shipment tracking and control thanks to real-time localization and visualization integration. Staff members are assisted in capacity planning to improve traffic usage and operations. Even though our resources are getting smaller, Dachser can still make the high-quality products that people have come to expect from us.

A significant amount of R&D was required to design a system that could reliably and cost-effectively monitor the solid and long-lasting general cargo swap bodies, which do not require an electrical connection and can operate for long periods without power. According to Dachser's Chief Development Officer, Stefan Hohm, "when LPWAN technologies arose, we started exploring them in the Dachser Enterprise Lab with the Fraunhofer Institute IML." Together with Deutsche Telekom, we were able to make the idea a reality and create tangible value for our network.

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