Trailer Tracking Integrations: Why Your GPS Data Should Be Connected to Your TMS
4 minute read
Author: M.S.
You have GPS tracking on your trailers. Your dispatchers can see where the equipment is. So you're all set, right?
Not necessarily.
Having access to trailer locations is one thing. Having that information connected to the rest of your transportation operation is another.
For many trucking companies, trailer tracking data lives in a completely separate platform from their transportation management system (TMS). That means dispatchers are constantly jumping between screens, checking locations, and manually updating information.
And when you're managing dozens or hundreds of trailers, those extra steps add up.
Trailer tracking integrations help close that gap by bringing GPS data directly into the system your team already uses to manage freight.
Let's look at why that matters.
What Are Trailer Tracking Integrations?
Trailer tracking integrations connect GPS tracking providers with other transportation software, such as a TMS.
GPS tracking providers collect information from devices installed on trailers. Depending on the provider and equipment, that information may include location, movement, battery condition, temperature, and other trailer-related data.
An integration allows supported information to flow from the tracking provider into the TMS, typically through an API.
Instead of logging into a separate tracking platform every time you need a location update, dispatchers can access trailer information within their transportation management workflow.
For example, a carrier using SkyBitz for trailer tracking could connect supported tracking data to Amous TMS, allowing the team to see trailer locations and history without constantly switching platforms.
SkyBitz also highlights TMS and API integrations as a way to bring trailer location and status data into existing operational systems.
The Problem With Keeping GPS Tracking Separate From Your TMS
Let's say your dispatcher is assigning a trailer to a load.
They open the TMS to review the shipment, then switch to the GPS tracking platform to locate an available trailer.
Next, they check whether that trailer is still at the expected facility. If something doesn't match, they might need to contact the driver or yard.
Finally, they return to the TMS to continue dispatching.
Now multiply that process by dozens of loads.
The tracking technology might be working perfectly, but the disconnected workflow still creates unnecessary work.
Here are some of the biggest challenges that come with keeping trailer tracking separate.
1. Too Many Systems, Not Enough Visibility
Your dispatch team already has enough information to manage.
Between load boards, ELDs, accounting platforms, GPS systems, and customer communications, switching between applications can quickly become part of the daily routine.
When trailer tracking is integrated into the TMS, location data becomes accessible alongside other transportation information.
That makes it easier to manage equipment without constantly opening another platform.
2. Manual Updates Can Become Outdated
When trailer locations are entered manually, the information is only as current as the last update.
A trailer might have been moved to another yard, picked up by a different driver, or dropped at a customer facility.
If those changes aren't recorded, dispatch could be working with outdated information.
Integrating GPS data helps keep trailer locations updated automatically, based on the tracking provider's reporting and the integration's synchronization schedule.
3. Limited Visibility Into Trailer History
Knowing where a trailer is right now is helpful.
Knowing where it has been can be just as important.
Location history can help teams investigate equipment movement, review arrivals and departures, and understand how long trailers have been sitting at different facilities.
Without integration, that information may remain separate from the rest of the operational records.
5 Benefits of Connecting Trailer Tracking to Your TMS
1. Access Trailer Locations Without Switching Platforms
One of the most practical benefits of trailer tracking integration is simply making information easier to find.
With Amous TMS, supported tracking providers send location updates into the system, where the latest reported position is matched to the corresponding trailer.
Dispatchers can access that information through fleet maps, trailer records, and reporting views.
Need a more recent location? Amous also offers an on-demand refresh option that requests the latest available position from the provider.
The result is a more convenient way to check trailer locations without relying on repeated phone calls or manual searches.
2. Use Geofencing to Monitor Trailer Arrivals and Departures
Geofencing allows transportation teams to create virtual boundaries around locations such as warehouses, distribution centers, customer facilities, and yards.
When a tracked trailer enters or leaves a designated area, the tracking system can record that event.
This is particularly useful for understanding equipment movement and monitoring dwell time.
For example, if a trailer arrives at a customer facility on Monday but remains there through Wednesday, the location history can help the operations team investigate the delay.
Geofencing data can also support detention reviews, although actual detention charges depend on the shipment agreement, free-time allowances, and other requirements.
According to SkyBitz, GPS-based arrival and departure records can help fleets document dwell times and support detention billing workflows.
In Amous, geofence events can be recorded in trailer history, with optional notifications based on the configured rules.
3. Keep Trailer Tracking History Organized
GPS devices may report location updates frequently, but not every small movement needs to create another record in your operational history.
Amous uses rules to keep trailer tracking history useful and manageable.
For example:
Regular history entries are limited to reduce unnecessary records.
Small movements within 100 meters can update an existing regular history entry rather than creating another.
Changes between geofences are recorded as separate events.
Meanwhile, the trailer's Last Known Location continues to update when new positions are processed.
This gives dispatchers access to useful movement history without an endless list of repetitive location entries.
4. Monitor Trailer Equipment and Battery Status
GPS tracking devices need to stay operational to provide reliable information.
Depending on the tracking provider, battery readings can help teams identify devices that may need attention.
Amous can translate supported battery readings into simple statuses:
GOOD
LOW
NO_CHARGE
Notification rules can also be configured for battery status changes.
For fleets with refrigerated trailers, compatible tracking integrations can provide temperature visibility alongside trailer locations.
These capabilities help teams monitor more than just a dot on a map.
5. Make Better Use of Your Existing Technology
One of the biggest misconceptions about improving transportation technology is that companies have to replace everything they already use.
That's not always the case.
If your business already has GPS tracking devices installed across its trailers, connecting the provider to your TMS may be a more practical option than starting over.
The important thing is finding a TMS that can work with your existing technology.
That's where integration flexibility becomes valuable.
How Trailer Tracking Integrations Work in Amous TMS
Amous TMS connects with supported trailer tracking providers to bring GPS information into everyday transportation workflows.
Once the integration is configured and active, the process works like this:
Step 1: Amous connects with your tracking provider.
The system retrieves available trailer position updates from the connected provider on a scheduled basis.
Step 2: Each update is matched to the correct trailer.
Using the tracking device identifier, Amous matches the incoming information with the corresponding trailer record.
Step 3: Trailer locations are updated.
The system updates the trailer's Last Known Location, including available location details and the source provider.
Step 4: Movement history and geofence events are recorded.
Relevant location changes, arrivals, and departures are saved according to the configured tracking rules.
Step 5: Your team can access the information inside Amous.
Updated information becomes available through fleet maps, trailer reports, mobile views, and configured alerts.
Instead of managing tracking information in isolation, your team can use it alongside the rest of your transportation operations.
Want to see the complete workflow?
Already Using a Trailer Tracking Provider? Amous Can Connect With Many of Them.
Amous supports integrations with a range of trailer tracking and fleet technology providers, including:
SkyBitz
ORBCOMM
Powerfleet
Spireon
Anytrek
GPS and Fleet
Motive
Samsara
Specific data availability and integration capabilities depend on the provider and configuration.
And trailer tracking is just one part of the picture.
200+ Integrations. One TMS.
Amous offers more than 200 integrations across the transportation industry, helping carriers, brokers, 3PLs, and shippers connect the technology they rely on.
From ELDs and GPS tracking to load boards, accounting software, fuel cards, and more, Amous is built to bring information together rather than keep it scattered across separate platforms.
Already using a system you don't see listed? Our team can discuss whether an integration is possible.
Do You Need to Replace Your GPS Provider to Integrate With a TMS?
Not necessarily.
If your current GPS provider is supported by your TMS, you may be able to keep your existing tracking devices and connect their data directly to your transportation software.
Before choosing a solution, it's worth asking a few questions:
Does the TMS support my existing tracking provider?
What trailer data can be shared through the integration?
How often does location information update?
Can I access trailer tracking history and geofence events?
Will the tracking information be available to my dispatch team?
Are there any additional setup requirements or integration costs?
These questions can help you understand whether the integration will actually simplify your operation.
The Bottom Line: Your GPS Data Should Work With the Rest of Your Operation
GPS trailer tracking is valuable on its own. But when that information is connected to your TMS, it becomes much easier to use throughout the day.
Your dispatchers can check trailer locations, review history, monitor geofences, and manage equipment without constantly switching between platforms.
And if you're already investing in GPS tracking technology, why not make better use of the information it's collecting?
See how Amous TMS can connect your trailer tracking technology with the rest of your transportation operation.
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