4 Reasons Why GPS is Essential for Railcar Management

The rail industry is moving at a rapid pace causing significant impact on the supply chain.

Shippers grapple with the vast geographical reach of rail networks, often involving two or more rail carriers, which can make it challenging to keep a watchful eye on their railcars. Traditional tracking methods provide updates intermittently rather than delivering a more constant flow of data. The relatively spotty location information has a ripple effect. It limits how rail shippers manage resources, slows down operational response, and can impact the forecasted budget, or affect potential opportunity cost. 

This is where GPS (Global Positioning Systems) comes in. By using a network of satellites, GPS provides precise location updates, enabling carriers and shippers to track railcars with pinpoint accuracy regardless of their geographical position. This improves logistical coordination, minimizes transit delays, and augments overall supply chain efficiency. 

Here are four reasons why GPS has become indispensable in railcar management and a more efficient supply chain: 

Delivers Real-Time Visibility 

Above all, GPS tracking offers unprecedented visibility. 

The technology empowers teams (and end customers) to monitor the progress of railcars with precision, ensuring that any deviations or delays are promptly identified. Such immediate insights allow shippers to proactively address exceptions and take timely corrective actions. This level of oversight is not just about tracking; it's about ensuring the integrity and timely delivery of goods, enhancing supply chain reliability. 

Monitors Location & Speed 

GPS sensor data feeds provide information such as location, speed, acceleration, and impact. With this, you can track cycle time, unexpected dwell time, and more. While carriers may not control the operations, this information is invaluable in staying informed about the shipments. It equips users to collaborate seamlessly with freight providers, tackling concerns head-on and ensuring that the shipments progress smoothly. 

Provides Current & Historical Data Reports 

GPS functionality offers real-time insights into the duration the railcars spend within a geofenced area, providing near-instant updates on their current location and dwell times. By knowing where the railcars are and how long they’ve been stationary, including the dwell times, shippers can not only address operational issues as they arise but also manage costs more effectively by avoiding fees associated with delays or prolonged stops. 

Plus, with historical data at their disposal, shippers and carriers can evaluate improvements or declines over time, identifying trends to make informed decisions on where to invest in changes to enhance fleet performance. 

Improves Scheduling  

Locomotives come with a price tag ranging from $1-2 million, and the rapid escalation of costs due to freight delays can easily reach the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.  

Rail shippers often source multi-modal optionality for their network of complex supply chains. GPS gives logistics managers the confidence and freight progress transparency to keep more loads on rail and mitigate more costly alternatives.

GPS data can provide a more complete picture of a railcar’s journey, providing users an alternative to relying on manually-reported event data or waiting until a railcar has passed an AEI scanner.  

With metrics like duration at origin, outbound transit time, duration at destination, and inbound transit time, shippers can manage delivery expectations and scheduling, making certain that transit times are efficient and competitive. These data reports often support faster turnaround times and more efficient asset utilization.  

PROTECT YOUR FREIGHT WITH TRINSIGHT® 

Thanks to the increasing availability and sophistication of advanced analytics, rail users have a significant opportunity to create solutions for long-standing location, health and condition maintenance and tracking challenges. Leveraging this new data source and analytics will help create commercial advantages with each industrial and consumer product shipment.  

Trinsight’s secure, cloud-based GPS technology can analyze over hundreds of sensor observations per second, converting all this data into actionable insights delivered via a user-friendly, completely configurable rail management services dashboard. In addition to railcar tracking, the platform can document shipment status and simulate a shipper’s supply chain to model opportunities for optimization. 

To learn more about protecting your freight, optimizing your fleet with GPS sensors, and better maximizing your working capital, schedule a demo with our team.