Flatbeds don’t always get credit for being tech-forward. But take a deeper look, and you’ll find technology in these trailers that’s making a real difference out on the road. From smart tire monitoring to remote diagnostics, today’s open-deck trailers can get as much value out of telematics as a reefer or dry van. It just takes the right spec and the right data.
So, how are modern flatbed fleets integrating smart systems? And what kind of gains can they expect in uptime, compliance, and cost savings? Brad Windy, Great Dane’s Director of Freedom Product Engineering, walked through the misconceptions and benefits that fleet managers should know about flatbeds and smart trailer tech.
Smart Specs, Real ROI
Telematics for Flatbeds? Absolutely.
There’s a common belief that open-deck trailers don’t need much tech. No temperature to track, fewer moving parts, so why bother? According to Windy, that logic misses the mark.
“Telematics systems are helpful for flatbeds just like they’re helpful with vans and reefers. They just have fewer variables to monitor,” he said. “You still want to track lighting outages, ABS fault codes, and tire pressure events. And you definitely want to know where your trailers are.”
Integrating telematics into your flatbeds can help you get ahead of problems that cost time and money.
Built-In Benefits with FleetPulse
Every new Great Dane flatbed comes standard with FleetPulseGO Track, an ultra-compact asset tracker for fleet visibility and asset recovery insights. Data-driven fleets can upgrade to FleetPulse PRO — a factory-installed, hard‑wired trailer telematics platform that delivers real‑time asset, safety, and cargo insights through open APIs and easy-to-use mobile and web dashboards. FleetPulse collects rich data and transforms it into actionable intelligence, helping fleets boost uptime, control costs, enhance safety, and protect cargo from day one. With a customizable dashboard, fleets can easily prioritize the alerts that matter most to their operation.
Some insights include:
- Tire pressure monitoring catches low inflation before it becomes a blowout
- ABS alerts help technicians resolve issues before inspections
- Location tracking keeps dispatch efficient and trailers secure
- Load monitoring improves safety, weight compliance, and utilization.
All of this leads to less downtime, fewer fines, and smarter decisions.
“The ROI comes from eliminating surprises,” Windy said. “That’s what telematics delivers. Flatbeds don’t have a refrigeration unit to monitor, but they still have plenty going on,” he added. “And with smart specs, they can deliver the same ROI that customers expect from a reefer or van.”
Location data alone is valuable for security, dispatch, and utilization tracking. And when you add in odometer data from telematics systems, fleets can stay ahead of preventative maintenance intervals.
“The maintenance side is often overlooked,” Windy added. “With odometer tracking and load monitoring, you know when to inspect and when to intervene. That can help prevent breakdowns and extend trailer life.”
Learn more about FleetPulse telematics.
Tire Pressure Monitoring: Simple Fix, Big Savings
Few components affect safety, uptime, and fuel costs like trailer tires. And flatbeds, with their exposed setups and varied loads, are particularly vulnerable to tire issues.
“TPMS is just as helpful on flatbeds as anywhere else,” Windy said. “In fact, with certain GAWR limits, having underinflated tires can put you out of compliance.”
Underinflated tires generate more heat and more rolling resistance, which increases the risk of blowouts and fuel consumption. Even a few PSI below spec can shorten tire life and boost fuel usage.
Load Awareness Through Air Bag Monitoring
Here’s where flatbed telematics gets more advanced: load awareness. For trailers with air ride suspension, pressure sensors can estimate axle weight in real time.
“Knowing the load on the suspension is incredibly useful, especially on open-deck hauls where the freight is irregular,” Windy said. “It helps with compliance, but it also helps avoid damage to the trailer.”
This kind of visibility lets fleets distribute weight more intelligently and avoid overweight fines, suspension damage, and uneven tire wear.
It also helps dispatchers confirm whether a trailer is loaded or empty in real time. That reduces guesswork in routing and speeds up response times when customers need available capacity.
Don’t Let Simplicity Fool You
Open deck trailers may look simple, but the demands placed on them are anything but. They run heavy, odd-shaped loads in unpredictable conditions. And when something goes wrong, the costs add up fast.
But with today’s telematics, flatbed fleets can be tech-savvy, efficient, and safe, increasing dependability and your peace of mind.
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