While traditional railroad data provides helpful snapshots as a railcar passes points along the network, telematics like GPS and sensor data can reveal where equipment is, how long it has been there, and what may be happening in transit.
When the enhanced visibility of telematics is paired with RSI Logistics’ ability to drive adoption and make insights actionable, the result is faster, more confident decision-making, and more efficient supply chains.
Turn railcar data into practical visibility.
Telematics adds layers of insight on top of standard railroad data through both GPS and sensor technology. GPS provides multiple location updates per hour, while sensors monitor conditions such as:
- Impact
- Loaded Status
- Temperature
- Door/Hatch Status
With this additional data, shippers can recognize exceptions sooner, protect cargo and equipment, and make better insight-driven decisions across the rail shipping lifecycle.
See location and dwell time.
Understand where railcars are located and how long they’ve remained within defined areas.
Monitor cargo and equipment.
Use sensors to track conditions that matter based on your commodity and railcar type.
Respond with better context.
Bring relevant telematics and railroad information together to support faster, more confident action.
The Rail Command Advantage: One System. Total Control.
Insight that works with the way you manage rail.
To unlock the full value of rail telematics, it has to connect with the systems and workflows your team already uses. For RailCommand® users, RSI Logistics can integrate GPS and sensor information with CLM and waybill data within the TMS environment.
Teams can move from seeing an exception to managing it with the valuable context needed to make a decision.
Our approach works across multiple technology providers and does not depend on a single vendor or industry data network. We help you build the solution around your fleet, cargo, priorities, and existing rail operations.
What can fully integrated railcar telematics help you do?
- Reduce visibility gaps via more frequent location information.
- Understand dwell time through geofencing and activity history.
- Protect equipment and commodities by monitoring several condition states.
- Focus on the exceptions that matter with data translated into actionable reports and alerts.
- Audit demurrage and detention fees with sensor-based timestamp evidence.
- Connect visibility with rail management by bringing telematics insights into RailCommand®.
Flexible railcar telematics: Designed to fit your needs
Every shipper has unique needs, so every telematics program we deliver is different. RSI can help combine capabilities that fit your equipment and operating needs, including:
Standard Railcar Telematics
- Impact Detection with Rail-Certified Sensors
- Ambient Temperature Tracking
- Multiple Hourly GPS & Sensor Location Updates
- Dwell Time and Geofence Activity Tracking
- Integrated CLM and Waybill Data
Boxcar Telematics
- Impact Detection with Event History
- Door Status Monitoring
- Commodity Interior Temperature Monitoring
- Ambient Temperature Monitoring
- Multiple Hourly GPS & Sensor Location Updates
- Dwell Time and Geofence Activity Tracking
- Integrated CLM and Waybill Data
Tank Car Telematics
- Impact Detection with Rail-Certified Sensors
- Manway Cover (Hatch) Status Monitoring
- Advanced Commodity Temperature Monitoring
- Ambient Temperature Tracking
- Multiple Hourly GPS & Sensor Location Updates
- Dwell Time and Geofence Activity Tracking
- Integrated CLM and Waybill Data
Available capabilities, reporting cadence and sensor compatibility vary by equipment type, hardware selection, installation, and operating environment. RSI will help define the right configuration for each use case.
Solutions tailored to your needs and use cases.
Choosing telematics doesn’t have to mean navigating hardware, data, and deployment decisions on your own. RSI provides rail-specific guidance from initial exploration through ongoing use, and every step in between.
Discovery
We clarify the business questions you need to answer, the assets and commodities involved, and the workflows that require support.
Design
We evaluate compatible GPS and sensor options across multiple providers and customize an approach suited to your fleet.
Deployment
We execute plan installation, documentation, training and implementation requirements for new or existing equipment.
Integration
We connect telematics with Rail Command®, if desired, bringing location, condition, CLM, and waybill information into a more complete view.
Support
On an ongoing basis, we monitor device health, strengthen user adoption and refine reporting as needs evolve.
Frequently asked questions about railcar telematics.
Railcar telematics uses connected GPS devices and sensors to collect and transmit information about a railcar’s location, movement, or condition. The available information depends on the equipment, hardware, and sensors selected.
Traditional tracking commonly relies on railroad event messages reported at points along the network. Telematics can add more frequent GPS location updates and condition data between those events, creating a more complete view of activity.
Telematics is best described as near-real-time. Update frequency and delivery time vary based on device settings, movement, connectivity, and the selected solution.
No. RSI works across multiple providers and helps customers evaluate the technology that fits their railcars, commodities, reporting needs, and deployment requirements.
No, telematics/GPS can be purchased as a standalone module.
RSI can help customers pursue a telematics solution without depending on a single industry data network. Rail Command users gain the added advantage of viewing GPS and sensor data alongside the operational information used to manage rail shipments and fleets.
Depending on the equipment and sensor configuration, monitoring may include impacts, temperature, dwell, geofence activity, loaded status and door, manway or hatch status. RSI will help determine which capabilities are appropriate for the use case.
No. RSI can provide Telematics and CLM solutions for TrinityRail and non-TILX cars.
Take the first step toward complete rail shipment visibility and make more informed supply chain decisions.
Whether you are exploring GPS for the first time or ready to connect telematics with your rail operations, RSI Logistics is here to help.
