Axscend tracking technology will be fitted as standard on 1,000 new trailers in Dawson Rentals' fleet - at no extra charge. Dawson Rentals managing director Stephen Miller tells MT: "We've been talking to Axscend for two years. The tracker costs £299 per trailer, but we're not charging for it. This will turn the market on its head. It should improve the value we offer customers and improve customer loyalty."
The tracker, with a five-year sealed battery, is bolted to the roof of the
trailer. The GPS unit transmits its location three times a day via a satellite network, which means there are no reception blackspots associated with GSM networks, the company claims. End-users can track the trailers via a secure login to a data portal. As well as tracking the location, the portal allows MoTs and services to be scheduled and recorded.
Miller also reveals that Dawson is looking at number- plate recognition for depots. Despite the 800-truck order Dawson placed with Mercedes-Benz last year, Miller says: "We're not topped out on fleet size, but there's no need to go much further." Meanwhile, Dawson has secured the rights to be the exclusive rental outlet in the UK for the Segway, the innovative two-wheeled transport. "We've tried all sorts of things. We like to challenge the norm," Miller explains. He sees an opportunity for its use in warehousing.
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