Fontaine Fifth Wheel is changing the conversation around intelligent trailers with its SmartConnect fifth wheel system. It provided data and feedback to fleets and was previewed at last year’s Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting and the 2023 TMC expo. SmartConnect will launch in Q3 of this year.

The TMC display showed vehicle ID, fifth-wheel model, total cumulative hours, number of couples, last couple event, fifth-wheel lock position, and fifth-wheel alerts. Fontaine’s R&D and Engineering teams have been collecting and analyzing raw data from field test units to develop algorithms for predictive maintenance, helping customers make better decisions to maximize uptime and reduce the possibility of roadside events.

The initial launch of SmartConnect will:

• Luminate a light on the driver’s side of the fifth wheel to indicate the lock status
• Inform the driver of the fifth wheel’s current lock status in the cab
• Record a log of coupling events
• Collect and feedback data for predictive maintenance

Future versions will build on the current system with software upgrades to add functions such as:

• Grease detection between top plate & trailer plate surfaces
• Add-on sensors for kingpin monitoring & trailer positioning
• Autonomous truck operation system support.

The SmartConnect control module is the heart of the system and connects to existing tractor electronics via hard wire and the telematics system via CAN connection. It is available for both production orders and aftermarket retrofit.

 

https://www.truckinginfo.com/10195014/fontaine-brings-brains-to-the-fifth-wheel