Asset Tracker
A GPS or cellular device attached to non-powered equipment — trailers, containers, generators, tools — to monitor location, movement, and utilization without requiring a vehicle power connection.
Evaluating software in this category?
Compare telematics platforms with verified pricing, deployment details, and editorial verdicts.
Compare Telematics software →Why Asset Trackers Are Different from Vehicle Trackers
Vehicle GPS trackers are designed around a simple assumption: the device is always near a power source (the vehicle battery or OBD-II port). Asset trackers discard that assumption. A dry van trailer sitting in a distribution yard for 10 days has no engine, no running alternator, and no powered port. An asset tracker attached to that trailer must power itself entirely from an internal battery — and that battery must last weeks or months between charges. This constraint drives every design decision in asset tracking hardware: low-power cellular modems (LTE-M or NB-IoT), aggressive sleep scheduling, motion-triggered wake-up, and battery capacities ranging from 5,000 mAh to 40,000 mAh for the longest-life devices.
Asset Tracker Types by Power Source and Battery Life
| Type | Power Source | Typical Battery Life | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal battery only | Sealed rechargeable Li-ion | 6–24 months at 1x/day reporting | Trailers, containers, portable equipment |
| Solar + internal battery | Solar panel + Li-ion backup | Indefinite if sufficient sunlight | Outdoor equipment, trailers in open yards |
| Wired to trailer battery | 7-pin trailer connector | Continuous power | Trailers with integrated lights and battery |
| Passive RFID | Reader-powered (no battery) | Unlimited (no active transmit) | Yard inventory, not remote tracking |
| BLE tag + gateway | Coin cell battery | 1–3 years | Tools, small equipment within 100m of a gateway |
Trailer Tracking: The Dominant Asset Tracking Use Case
Dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed trailers are the most common asset tracking target in trucking. A regional LTL carrier with 200 power units might run 350–500 trailers — trailer-to-tractor ratios of 1.75–2.5 are common. Without tracking, operations teams cannot quickly answer whether a trailer is loaded, empty, at a customer facility, or abandoned on a side street. Asset trackers on trailers surface dwell time (how long the trailer has been at one location), whether the trailer has been coupled to a tractor, and door-open events if door sensors are installed. A single asset tracker recovering one lost or stolen trailer typically pays for 5–7 years of tracking service.
Update Frequency and Battery Life Trade-offs
Update frequency is the primary battery life lever for asset trackers. A device reporting every 5 minutes will drain a standard 10,000 mAh battery in roughly 3–4 weeks. The same device reporting every 4 hours will last 8–12 months. Most asset tracker platforms allow configurable reporting intervals — operators typically configure 15–60 minute intervals while moving and 4–24 hour intervals while stationary. Motion-triggered reporting is the most efficient approach: the device sleeps until an accelerometer detects movement, then reports frequently during the trip and returns to extended sleep when stationary. This pattern can extend battery life to 12–18 months while still capturing full trip detail.
Real-World Example: Construction Equipment Recovery
A mid-size excavation contractor based in Tennessee tracked 14 pieces of equipment — excavators, skid steers, and generators — across 9 active job sites. Before asset trackers, they spent an average of 4 hours per week locating equipment to schedule inter-site moves. After deploying battery-powered asset trackers configured to report every 2 hours, equipment location was visible in real time. Six months after deployment, a compact excavator was moved overnight from a remote rural job site without authorization. The geofence alert fired at 2:18 AM, and law enforcement located the equipment at a salvage yard 47 miles away the following morning. Equipment value: $68,000.
- Calculate required battery life based on expected reporting interval before purchasing
- Verify cellular network compatibility — LTE-M and NB-IoT have different coverage maps
- Check whether the device has an accelerometer for motion-triggered wake-up
- Confirm the mounting hardware is appropriate for your asset type (magnet, bolt, adhesive)
- Ask about operating temperature range — construction and agricultural equipment sees -20°C to +60°C extremes
- Verify whether the platform shows battery level in real time or only warns when critical
- For trailers, check whether the device supports the 7-pin trailer connector for wired power when coupled
Asset Tracker FAQ
Quick answers to the questions buyers usually ask once the category, software, or rollout details start getting more specific.
A
GPS signals cannot penetrate metal containers. Asset trackers inside sealed containers rely on cellular network triangulation (LTE-M cell towers) for approximate location — typically accurate to 200–500 meters. For precise location, the tracker must be mounted on the exterior. Some trackers use a GPS antenna cable to route the antenna outside while the unit stays inside.
A
Asset tracker subscriptions run $5–$15/month per device, significantly lower than vehicle tracker subscriptions ($20–$45/month) because data consumption is much lower. Hardware costs range from $40–$150 per device. Total cost of ownership over 3 years typically runs $220–$690 per asset, compared to $800–$1,600 for a vehicle tracker program.