Schmitz Cargobull and TIP Collaborate on Digitization

TIP Group, one of the leading providers of trailer rental, leasing, and service in Europe, and Schmitz Cargobull, Europe’s largest manufacturer of semi-trailers, have signed a contract to retrofit 2,500 trailers with telematics systems. The retrofitting with TrailerConnect® hardware includes vehicles of all trailer types and manufacturers and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

(Horstmar) “The telematics retrofitting of trailers is a sensible investment for all transport companies to enhance fleet performance. Transparency and measurement are the first steps towards increasing efficiency,” says Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull AG. “New trailers should always be equipped with an open, compatible telematics system upon acquisition. With TrailerConnect®, TIP has chosen a telematics system that ensures high quality and reliability even in retrofitting. Customers can access all the data they need. By improving transparency, they increase efficiency and reduce costs.”

TIP aims to create more transparency in the global trailer fleet of around 130,000 vehicles through telematics retrofitting to reduce operating costs and avoid unpredictable failures in vehicle rental. The installation and activation of telematics on a S.CS curtain-sided trailer or an S.BO EXPRESS box trailer takes only about 30 minutes per vehicle, ensuring minimal downtime. The retrofitting can easily be done for trailers of all brands during regular maintenance intervals.

Big Step Towards a Fully Connected Fleet

“With the retrofitting of 2,500 trailers, we are taking a significant step towards a fully connected fleet, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and safety,” says Theo de Vries, Vice President Services and Insight at TIP Group. “Telematics provides customers with real-time data on the condition and performance of the trailers, and we use historical trailer data to determine and plan maintenance stops, further optimizing vehicle availability and scheduling.”

The telematics data from the retrofitted trailers will be automatically transmitted thanks to the standardized interface between Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect® system and the TIP Insight System. The TIP Insight System is a cloud-based platform that provides real-time data on the location, condition, and usage of the trailers. This allows transport companies to manage their fleets more efficiently, increase utilization, improve safety, and reduce environmental impact.

Every Vehicle with Standardized Telematics

The framework agreement between Cargobull Telematics and TIP stipulates that every vehicle, whether equipped with standardized telematics from the factory or retrofitted telematics, will be automatically transmitted to the TIP Insight System. This is a clear advantage for TIP, as all trailers are displayed on a single platform. The TIP customer thus receives a reliable data set for each vehicle, whether retrofitted or factory-equipped, and can then use the data to optimize their own processes.

Photo: © Schmitz Cargobull / Image Caption (l. to r.): Theo de Vries, Vice President Services and Insight, TIP Group, Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull AG, Simon Mols, Head of Service Sales, Product Line Digital Services, Schmitz Cargobull are pleased about the continued cooperation