Trailer ID (TID)
Know exactly what is connected to what
Trailers are continuously exchanged between trucks, drivers and locations.
For fleet operators, knowing where an individual truck or trailer is located is useful. Knowing which truck and trailers are currently operating together is even more valuable.
The Trailer ID Parameter Group automatically combines the identity of the truck with the Vehicle Identification Numbers of the connected trailers.
This creates a reliable digital picture of the complete vehicle combination without requiring the driver to manually enter trailer information.
Specifications
Name: Trailer ID
Header: $TRAILERID1
Subscription: Yes
Solution: Trailer Box
Trigger: Engine On, Engine Off and Event
Buffer: Yes, default
Bluetooth: Yes, default
Server header: Time and location
Key Parameters
Truck Identification
The Truck ID is received from a Bluetooth beacon installed in the truck.
This allows the Trailer Box to determine which truck is associated with the trailer combination.
The complete Parameter Group and parameter definitions are available to Squarell partners.
Trailer VIN
The Parameter Group supports the Vehicle Identification Number of up to five trailers:
Trailer 1 VIN
Trailer 2 VIN
Trailer 3 VIN
Trailer 4 VIN
Trailer 5 VIN
Each VIN contains the standard 17-character vehicle identity.
This makes Trailer ID particularly suitable for multi-trailer combinations and Road Trains.
Automatically build the vehicle combination
The real value of Trailer ID is not the individual identifiers, but their combination.
For example:
Truck A → Trailer 1 → Trailer 2
or for a Road Train:
Truck A → Trailer 1 → Trailer 2 → Trailer 3 → Trailer 4 → Trailer 5
The fleet application can therefore associate vehicle information with the actual combination operating at that moment.
When a truck or trailer changes, a new combination can be recognised and reported.
Why automatic identification matters
Trailer administration is often dependent on information entered by drivers, planners or yard personnel.
Manual registration introduces several risks:
- A driver can select the wrong trailer
- A trailer change may not be registered
- Fleet administration can become outdated
- Operational data may be assigned to the wrong asset
Automatic identification reduces this dependency on manual input.
It also creates a reliable relationship between truck data, trailer data, time and location.
ISO 11992 & Squarell Checker Box
ISO 11992 is a point-to-point communication network between truck and trailer. The Squarell Trailer Box therefore reads the active communication non-intrusively through CANcliQ, without interfering with the truck-to-trailer connection.
When the trailer is disconnected, the Squarell Checker Box can communicate actively with the trailer to retrieve additional information that may not be available during normal operation.
Together, these technologies allow Squarell to obtain both live and additional trailer information while respecting the special architecture of the ISO 11992 network.
From identification to operational intelligence
Trailer ID becomes especially valuable when combined with other Trailer Parameter Groups.
Once the combination is known, information can be associated with the correct assets:
Truck ID + Trailer VIN + Cargo + Brakes + Diagnostics + TPMS + Time + Location
This allows fleet applications to build a much more complete operational history.
Instead of simply knowing:
“Trailer X reported a brake warning.”
the application can potentially establish:
“Trailer X reported a brake warning while operating behind Truck Y at this time and location.”
That context can be extremely valuable for fleet management, maintenance and operational analysis.
Typical Applications
Trailer ID can support:
- Automatic truck-trailer identification
- Tractor-trailer combination management
- Trailer fleet administration
- Road Train identification
- Automatic trailer change detection
- Asset utilisation
- Trailer history
- Maintenance administration
- Rental and leasing applications
- Operational traceability
Business Value
The Trailer ID Parameter Group helps fleet operators to:
- Know which truck is associated with which trailer
- Reduce manual trailer registration
- Prevent identification errors
- Improve trailer administration
- Build automatic combination histories
- Improve asset utilisation information
- Link technical events to the correct trailer
- Support multi-trailer and Road Train operations
- Improve operational traceability
Why Squarell?
Knowing the location of an asset is only part of the story.
Squarell combines truck identification through Bluetooth with the VIN information available from connected trailers to provide a harmonised view of the vehicle combination.
Combined with the other Trailer Parameter Groups, this creates the foundation for linking operational and technical information to the correct truck and trailer.
Related Product
Trailer Box
The Squarell Trailer Box combines non-intrusive ISO 11992 access with Bluetooth, GNSS and mobile communication.
This enables the Trailer Box not only to collect information from the trailer, but also to provide the context needed to understand which assets are operating together.
Trailer ID — Know exactly what is connected to what.
