Phillips Connect TrailerID automates tractor-trailer pairing

Phillips Connect has introduced TrailerID, a system designed to automatically identify which trailer is physically connected to a tractor at the time of hookup. This removes a manual step for drivers, potentially preventing an error that can affect hours-of-service records, inspections, dispatch accuracy, load tracking, and billing.

TrailerID detects the trailer connection automatically the moment it is hooked and distributes that information across fleet systems.

“Accurate trailer identification affects nearly every part of a fleet’s operation,” said Mark Wallin, general manger and senior vice president of product at Phillips Connect. “With TrailerID, logs stay cleaner, jobs line up with what actually happened, trailers are easier to account for, and billing is easier to start and reconcile. TrailerID removes guesswork and gives fleet teams a shared view of what’s really happening with their trailers.”

How it works

TrailerID detects tractor-trailer pairing through the physical T/T Pair connector at the time of hookup. The connection event is validated through Phillips Connect software and shared through the company’s Connect1 back-office platform. Drivers see the pairing automatically through the DriverAssist app, without additional input.

Because the identification is based on the physical connection rather than GPS proximity alone, the company says it provides a more dependable record of which trailer actually moved.

When the correct trailer is automatically reflected in fleet systems, compliance documentation and inspection records require less manual correction. Dispatch teams can confirm that the trailer assigned to a load is the one that left the yard. Billing teams can initiate invoicing based on verified movement data rather than manual confirmation.

TrailerID is available within the Phillips Connect DriverAssist application and through integrations with in-cab platforms like Platform Science and Geotab’s OrderNow Marketplace.