User Tools


Trailers

Trailers refer to any kind of mecanisms attached to or driven by the main vehicle ('unit') and not having their own trackers or controllers. They are very similar to drivers in functionality and implementation.

To open the 'Trailers' panel, choose a corresponding name in the top panel or click on the necessary item in the main menu customizer.

Creating a Trailer

Go to the Trailers panel and press the 'New' button. In the dialog, enter a name, identification code (for automatic binding), description and custom fields. This information is shown in trailer's tooltip, and used in reports. You can upload an image for the trailer which will be used to show the trailer in the list and on the map. It is recommended to upload square images in order their proportions not to be altered. Properties of trailers are the same as those of drivers.

:!: Hint. Like any other resource contents, trailers can be imported and exported through files or directly from one resource to another. However, it is not applicable to trailer groups.

Managing Trailer List

Trailers are listed in the alphabetical order. To quickly find a certain trailer, use the filter (choose filtration by property or by resource from dropdown list to the right of the 'New' button). Besides, the usage of a dynamic search is supported as well.

To display a trailer on the map, tick the checkbox on its left. As trailers do not have their own coordinates, they borrow their location from units to which they are bound. Click on trailer's name in the list to center the map on its position. A bound trailer is represented by a small icon at the bottom right corner of unit's icon. If a trailer is not attached to any unit at the moment, its last known position is shown (with a bigger icon). If there is no data about trailer's location (for example, if it has never been bound to any unit), such a trailer is not shown on the map.

:!: Note that in order trailers to be displayed on the map you should check if the corresponding layer icon in the main menu is active.

If a trailer is bound to a unit, unit icon is displayed on the right of trailer's name. If you place the cursor over this icon, the unit's tooltip is displayed (the same as in the Monitoring panel).

Several actions can be performed over trailers:

or — bind/unbind trailer to/from a unit as well as delete incorrect bindings (disabled if not enough access);

— register working interval, or delete bindings;

or — edit or view trailer's properties;

— create a new trailer using this one as a basis;

— delete trailer (the button is dimmed if you have not enough rights).

Binding and Unbinding Trailers

Like with drivers, trailers can be bound to units either manually or automatically. To assign trailers to units, you need to have access flag 'Create, edit, and delete trailers' on the resource where those trailers belong. The conception of simultaneous bindings of trailers to units is the same as for drivers.

Manual Binding

Manual binding/unbinding can be performed in the 'Trailers' panel. A special switch button is located against each trailer — or correspondingly. If you do not have enough access rights, then the button is disabled .

Click 'Bind to unit' button ( ), choose a unit the trailer to be bound to, and click OK.

:!: Availability of units in this list depends on the work list in the Monitoring panel. If there are no units in the list, click 'Add all available' button . If the list is still empty, then you have no access rights to these units.

To unbind a trailer from a unit, click an icon of a unit opposite to trailer's name, and then use the corresponding button (). Besides, you can unbind a trailer by registering a new working shift, or by deleting bindings from history.

Automatic Binding

Automatic method of binding trailers to units requires both special equipment (such as iButton system), and special adjustments in the system.

1. Create a special sensor of 'Trailer binding' type in the properties of each unit intended for auto-binding. A parameter for this sensor can be avl_driver or some other depending on your equipment and its configuration.

2. Create a list of units for any resource the trailers of which are intended to be bound automatically. In order to do so, click 'Auto-binding' icon (), and follow the steps listed below.

Upon clicking the 'Automatic binding' icon a list of available resources is opened. :!: Here you choose a resource the trailers of which will be used in automatic binding (with the units chosen in the next dialog). In order to understand which trailers belong to a particular resource, go back to the 'Trailers' panel, and apply a filter by resource (dropdown menu to the right of 'Create' button).

After choosing a resource, click Next. If only one resource is available, then it will be chosen automatically.

The next dialog contains a list of units to which the trailers from a chosen resource can be bound automatically. Depending on the access rights possessed, the list can be viewed or edited.

Thus, a trailer will be automatically bound to a unit with the help of iButton in case that this unit has a special sensor configured in its properties and that this unit is indicated in the list of auto-attachable units applied to the resource where the trailer belongs.

Automatic binding of trailers is removed in the same way: summon 'Automatic binding' dialog, choose a resource, and uncheck flags of units for which the automatic binding will not be used.

Register Working Shift

This option can be used, for example, if you would like to register working shift post factum. Use the corresponding button () opposite to a driver's name, choose the 'Register working shift' option, and click Next. In the appeared dialog window choose a unit to which the driver will be assigned in the indicated shift, click Next. Now indicate time of shift beginning and end. Moreover, you can indicate either only beginning or only end time. For example, you have indicated shift beginning, and you would like its end to be registered automatically when a unit arrives to garage (as a geofence). To do so, create a notification of 'Geofence' type with method of action 'Reset driver'. Anyway, registering a working shift you can use only past dates or current time (no future allowed).

Delete Bindings

Incorrect registrations of trailers can affect reports and their informational efficiency. That is why sometimes you may need to delete such (un)bindings from the database. In the interval registering dialog choose the last option — 'Delete bindings' — and press Next. Specify time interval, and press 'Show' to display all bindings and unbindings of the trailer on the interval. Check invalid messages and press OK to delete them.

:!: Note. Like with units, the last message from the trailer (whether it is a binding or unbinding) cannot be deleted.

Groups of Trailers

Created trailers can be formed into groups. Trailer groups can unite drivers by any criteria, and they can be used to query reports for groups. :!: Only a trailer belonging to the same resource as the group itself can be added to the group.

To start working with groups, choose the corresponding mode in the 'Trailers' panel.

To create a new group of trailers, press the New button. Enter name and description, and choose trailers to compose the group.

A list of created trailer groups is displayed in the work area. Groups are arranged alphabetically. The same as for trailers, a filter or a dynamic search can be used for groups. Moreover, groups can be edited, copied, or deleted. Note that upon deleting a group you can not delete its contents.

Trailers not included in any group can be found in the 'Trailers outside groups'.

Series of standard actions are available for trailers in a group (unfold a group in order the corresponding buttons to appear).

Usage of Trailers

Online tracking:

  • Trailers can be displayed on the map if they are checked in the panel in the first column.
  • Trailers can be displayed in unit's tooltip and in extended unit information if this option is selected in the User Settings dialog.
  • Trailers can be displayed in the Monitoring panel as a column if this option is selected in the User Settings dialog.

In notifications:

  • You can configure a notification to get informed when a trailer is bound to a unit or unbound from it.
  • Using notifications, you can also unbind trailer automatically, for example, when entering the destination point.

In reports:

  • Many tables (such as 'Trips', 'Geofences', 'Parkings' etc.) can have a column that displays a trailer if any was bound to the unit on certain interval.
  • As a part of Advanced Reports module, you can generate tables for individual trailers and trailer groups. Two tables are currently available – 'Bindings' and 'Custom fields'.

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