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Industry

Telematics

The collection and transmission of vehicle or asset location and operating data over a wireless link, used mostly for fleet management, insurance and compliance.

Telematics predates the IoT label but is one of its largest applications. A telematics unit combines GPS, a cellular modem and an interface to the vehicle’s diagnostic bus. It reports position, speed, fuel use, engine faults, harsh braking and driver hours to a fleet platform. Operators use it to plan routes, schedule maintenance, verify deliveries and meet regulatory logging requirements.

Beyond trucks, the same architecture tracks construction machinery, trailers and rental equipment, where the question is often simply where the asset is and whether it is being used. The constraints are coverage in remote areas, where satellite IoT fills gaps, and the cost of cellular subscriptions across thousands of units. See IoT in logistics and supply chain and the related asset tracking entry.

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