TL; DR
Fluke Transport, a 500+ trailer fleet in Southern Ontario, replaced manual yard checks with TGI Connect’s automated reporting across its highest-volume drop yards.
The result: company drivers were freed from yard-walking duty, dispatch gets scheduled reports automatically, and accurate dwell data now supports monthly billing recovery that, in the customer’s words, pays for the service itself.
The Challenge
Before automating with TGI Connect, Fluke Transport ran yard checks the same way most fleets do: manually. A company driver was dispatched to a yard ahead of a pickup or delivery, walked through the lot, recorded trailer numbers by hand, and phoned the results back to dispatch.
With drop yards scattered across Southern Ontario, including numerous customer-owned empty yards, the process compounded fast.
A single yard check could take anywhere from five minutes to over an hour, depending on trailer volume. Multiplied across every drop yard serviced, the time cost became significant, and it was time pulled directly from paid company drivers who could otherwise be moving freight.
The Solution
Fluke implemented TGI Connect across its fleet, with installation completed fleet-wide in approximately two months using mobile mechanics. This process was sped up due to the quick installation of the TGI Connect satellite tracking units.
Rather than automating every location, they prioritized the highest-volume drop yards, approximately 20 locations where trailers are dropped consistently. Each of those yards now runs on a scheduled, automated yard check report delivered directly to dispatch by email each morning. Smaller yards with only one or two trailers continue to be checked manually, giving the team a hybrid model matched to actual yard volume.
What Changed for the Team
- Company drivers were freed from yard-walking duties and redirected to revenue-generating freight movement
- Dispatch receives scheduled yard reports automatically, rather than waiting on a phone call from the yard
- Mechanics and dispatchers use the TGI Connect mobile app daily to locate trailers for service and dispatch planning
- Trailer movement is tracked against landmark zones, closing the gap where a trailer could move without anyone noticing
The Financial Impact
The most significant return identified came from dwell time billing. Many of Fluke’s trailers arrive loaded and sit at a customer site until the customer is ready to unload, sometimes for four or five days. With a 24-hour minimum threshold built into their customer contracts, they now bill back that dwell time monthly, backed by yard data the customer cannot dispute.
That billing recovery was significant enough on its own terms that, in Rod’s words, it effectively paid for the TGI Connect service. Combined with the productivity gain from redeploying driver time to active freight, the return was evident within the first month of billing.
Using the yard check functionality of the TGI service, Rod and his team were able to keep drivers moving freight instead of walking yards, which led to an immediate impact on the business.
Beyond the Yard Check
Once the yard check process was automated, they began looking for other manual processes worth automating. The team integrated TGI Connect with their TruckMate TMS through the TGI Integrator, allowing trailer location data to flow automatically between systems and flagging discrepancies when locations do not match.
Today, mechanics use the TGI Connect mobile app to locate trailers needing service. Dispatchers use it to track trailers in transit and plan ahead for arrivals.
Why Fluke Chose TGI Connect
When Rod and the team first evaluated trailer tracking providers, two factors stood out: installation simplicity and price point relative to fleet volume. Other providers under consideration required lengthier installation processes that did not fit Fluke’s scale or drop-yard model.
Roughly a decade into the relationship, Rod also points to the responsiveness of TGI Connect’s support team as an ongoing differentiator, along with the practical benefit of working with a partner based in Hamilton, Ontario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How does automated yard data support billing customers for dwell time?
TGI Connect tracks trailer arrival and departure against landmark zones, giving fleets a timestamped, undisputable record of how long a trailer sat at a location. Customers can use this data to bill customers back once trailers exceed a contracted dwell threshold.
Q. Does TGI Connect integrate with existing dispatch or TMS software?
Yes. Customers can use the TGI Integrator to sync trailer location data directly into TruckMate TMS and other software, with automatic flags raised when a trailer’s reported location does not match across systems.
Q. Is the platform difficult for dispatch and operations teams to learn?
No. Teams, including dispatchers and mechanics, can adopt the platform quickly, using the mobile app daily to locate trailers for service and dispatch planning without a lengthy learning curve.
About TGI Connect
Welcome to TGI Connect, the trusted leader in trailer tracking and asset management solutions for the transportation and logistics industry, in business since 1992. We specialize in trailer tracking, helping fleets maximize efficiency, visibility, and cost savings with our cutting-edge satellite tracking technology.
Our extended coverage footprint and state-of-the-art satellite connectivity ensure real-time trailer tracking, automated reporting, and seamless data integration, reducing downtime and boosting revenue opportunities. Backed by a dedicated customer service team, we provide proactive account management and a proven track record of reliability, trust, and customer satisfaction.
Partner with TGI Connect to optimize your trailer fleet operations, enhance trailer utilization, and stay ahead in today’s competitive transportation industry. For more information visit www.tgi-connect.com.
See What Automated Yard Checks Could Recover for Your Fleet
Book a demo today
