Identify Potential Issues
Proactively understanding what can go wrong during the shipment process is the first step toward effective security. By utilizing smart tracking, you can anticipate anomalies before they become expensive problems.
Stages and Challenges in Transit
Transporting a container—for example, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Abu Dhabi, UAE—is a complex, multi-modal process involving several critical legs:
- First-Mile Surface: Trailer-truck transport from the factory to the Port of Santos.
- Sea Transit: Shipping from the Port of Santos to the Port of Dubai.
- Last-Mile Surface: Truck or rail transport from the Port of Dubai to the final destination in Abu Dhabi.
Transit Challenges:
- Lack of Visibility on Rented Vehicles: Most shippers use third-party “market vehicles,” making it impossible to install permanent tracking hardware on the trucks.
- Rail Blind Spots: Containers transported by rail are often dis-shunted without the shipper’s knowledge, leaving you without visibility.
- Cargo Theft in Transit: Vehicle tracking alone cannot detect if a container door has been opened and goods stolen while in transit.
Surface Transport: First & Last Mile
To effectively protect containerized cargo, especially high-value items, you need a solution that travels with the goods, not just the truck.
- Portable Wireless Devices: These IoT trackers can be placed directly inside thick-walled or refrigerated containers to maintain connectivity throughout the journey.
- Integrated Sensors:
- Light Sensors: Immediately alert you if a container door has been unauthorizedly opened.
- Shock Sensors: Detect impacts or handling mishaps that could damage fragile goods.
- Robust Connectivity: The device must leverage multiple telecom towers to ensure continuous tracking, even in remote areas.
Item-Level Visibility and Advanced Security
True security means knowing the status of your goods within the container. Advanced tracking solutions provide cost-effective visibility, allowing you to react instantly to anomalies, prevent theft, and ensure on-time delivery.
