Use case · Logistics and freight forwarding
Cargo area door monitoring with EYE sensors
Preventing the theft of valuable goods in transit calls for the utmost attention and suitable security measures from fleet managers. Bluetooth® technology is proving to be a cost-effective and easy-to-implement solution for improving cargo security. Combined with wireless devices, Teltonika vehicle GPS trackers can help monitor deliveries and open up new business opportunities.
Image: Teltonika Telematics
The challenge
It goes without saying that the safe transport of customers' goods is important. Nevertheless, theft of goods in transit still accounts for the largest share of all thefts – 71%. Although tools are among the most popular targets for theft, only 1% of stolen tools are recovered in the UK. This problem is particularly serious with expensive goods. Fleet managers and business owners therefore need to consider various security options, including multi-layered cargo protection.
Securing the cargo is particularly difficult when a vehicle cannot detect the door status via its CAN bus or on-board electronics. Wired solutions are neither convenient nor practical in this case. The market needs an affordable, easy-to-install and reliable solution for monitoring vehicle door status.
Efficient fleet management also requires accurate information about loading and unloading. Dispatchers and fleet managers need to know exactly when the vehicle door is opened and closed in order to understand when the cargo is loaded and unloaded, how long it takes and where it happens. This also helps prevent unauthorised door openings, so they can be confident that the cargo is protected.
The cargo security of international logistics and delivery companies needs to be maximised wirelessly and efficiently. Today, companies need a cost-effective and easy-to-implement solution – and exactly this practical and affordable solution exists.
The solution
To meet these challenges, the FMC130 vehicle GPS tracker from the Teltonika ADVANCED category, the LV-CAN200 CAN adapter for capturing the vehicle's key CAN bus data and the wireless EYE Sensor accessory with integrated magnetometer are used – the sensor detects door openings, supplemented by a magnet as an accessory. The GPS tracker and sensor are connected to each other via Bluetooth® LE.
How it works: The magnet is mounted at the top of the vehicle's rear door, and the EYE Sensor inside the vehicle close to the point where the door closes. When the vehicle door is opened, the sensor detects that the magnet has “disappeared”; when the door is closed, it detects the magnet again. In both cases, it sends a status message to the FMC130 tracker. The tracker transmits all recorded data via the mobile network to the way4net Portal, where it is monitored and analysed. This makes it easy to detect door events – completely wirelessly.
With this solution, international logistics and delivery companies can easily ensure the security of their cargo by monitoring door events even in vehicles that do not have or support this function as standard. EYE sensors are affordable and easy to install, helping to improve fleet productivity and security cost-effectively.
In addition, monitoring the vehicle doors provides an extra layer of security. If a door is opened without authorisation or in a non-permitted area, drivers and fleet managers are alerted immediately and can take appropriate action. Delivery companies can rely on receiving dependable data on door events on their vans and other fleet vehicles.
Door monitoring also helps manage the fleet itself effectively. Dispatchers can see the date and time of every door opening and therefore when the cargo is loaded and unloaded, how long this takes and other parameters that support informed business decisions and efficient operations. With fuel prices rising, the CAN bus data can also be used to record fuel consumption and fuel level, engine speed and mileage. This encourages the desired driving behaviour and helps prevent fuel theft – resulting in greater cost-effectiveness.
The solution can also be combined with wireless driver identification, so that in the event of unauthorised unloading of the cargo, fleet managers can determine which driver was responsible. Likewise, regular loading and unloading times can be recorded and compared for each driver deployed, and conclusions drawn from them.
Finally, door monitoring is also easy to implement for companies that already use Teltonika GPS devices. EYE sensors work with any Bluetooth®-enabled Teltonika vehicle tracker, so existing trackers do not need to be replaced. Simply adding EYE sensors extends the range of functions.
System overview
Graphic: Teltonika Telematics
Your benefits
Prevent cargo theft
Dispatchers, fleet managers and drivers are informed immediately when the doors are opened. This helps monitor the transport and detect suspicious activity when cargo is not loaded or unloaded where it should be.
Detect unauthorised access to the cargo immediately
If a door is opened without authorisation, dispatchers and fleet managers are made aware of it and can take suitable measures to prevent theft.
Track loading operations
Use the door opening and closing events to record exactly when a load was loaded and unloaded and how long it took.
Wireless and easy to install
EYE sensors are affordable and require neither wiring nor time-consuming mechanical mounting or additional costly maintenance.
Adaptable to any project
The signal strength and data transmission intervals of the Teltonika Bluetooth® LE sensor can be adapted precisely to the requirements of the respective IoT application.
Devices used
Devices from Teltonika – available from way4net to buy or rent, bundled with the way4net Portal.
FMC130
Receives the EYE Sensor's door status messages via Bluetooth® LE and transmits them, together with the CAN bus data, to the portal via the mobile network.
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LV-CAN200
Captures the vehicle's key CAN bus data such as fuel consumption, fuel level, engine speed and mileage.
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EYE Sensor
Uses its integrated magnetometer and the magnet on the rear door to detect when the cargo area door is opened and closed.
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Note
Content and graphics based on the use case by Teltonika Telematics (original on teltonika-gps.com), translated and adapted for way4net. Device data according to manufacturer specifications. Together, we will work out which devices and functions suit your application – and you can test the solution with a 14-day trial.
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