When you manage a large, distributed fleet, visibility matters. Knowing where every trailer or piece of equipment is — and how it’s being used — can make the difference between meeting project deadlines or missing them.
Asset tracking hardware gives you real-time visibility into the location and utilization of equipment.
What is asset tracking hardware?
Asset tracking hardware refers to the devices used to monitor the real-time location, utilization, and health of fleet assets — both powered and unpowered. These devices collect and transmit data such as GPS coordinates, equipment runtime, and movement patterns to an automated operations platform.
With the right hardware, fleet managers can gain a complete picture of where assets are deployed, how they’re being used, and when they should be maintained across the field.
Types of asset tracking hardware
Different asset types require different tracking technologies. Here are the primary hardware options used to track vehicles and equipment — and how they impact visibility and performance.
GPS asset trackers
GPS asset trackers are the key to visibility in the field. These devices use satellite signals to deliver precise, real-time location data for vehicles, trailers, or equipment.
GPS asset trackers can help organizations reduce theft, improve dispatching, and recover misplaced assets faster.
Cellular-connected asset gateways
Motive’s Asset Gateway Mini uses built-in GPS and cellular connectivity to transmit real-time asset data to the Motive Fleet Dashboard. Acting as the communication link between the fleet operations team in the home office and equipment in the field, the Asset Gateway Mini provides visibility wherever assets travel.
Multi-sensor integration
Multi-sensor integration allows asset tracking hardware to combine data from multiple sensors, like GPS, temperature, and motion, into one unified system for deeper visibility and smarter decision-making.
Beyond GPS location data, Motive’s Asset Gateways can connect to additional wireless sensors to capture environmental conditions and operational data. For example, the Motive Environmental Sensor measures temperature and humidity, while Motive’s Door and Environmental Sensor adds door status tracking. When paired with an Asset Gateway, these sensors create a multi-point monitoring network — a connected system that gathers data across locations and cargo environments. This kind of coverage strengthens compliance and helps prevent cargo loss or spoilage.
How to identify reliable asset tracking hardware
When evaluating asset tracking hardware, look for technology that’s durable, flexible, and purpose-built for your operational environment. Leading products share several characteristics:
- Long battery life for less maintenance and extended use.
- Rugged, weather-resistant design to withstand vibration, dust, and heavy use.
- Real-time cellular connectivity for instant location updates and alerts.
- Dual-power capability (battery and cable) for both powered and unpowered assets.
- Seamless integration into your fleet management system.
- Compatibility with a wide range of assets — from trailers to tools and heavy equipment.
The Motive Asset Gateway Mini, along with Motive’s door and environmental sensors, delivers all these capabilities — providing end-to-end visibility across vehicles, trailers, and field equipment, whether assets are on the road or in the field.
The business impact of connected assets
Data from tracked assets helps fleet leaders uncover inefficiencies, recover lost equipment, and optimize utilization. Here are a few ways that data delivers impact:
- Reduced downtime: Real-time alerts identify inactive or misplaced assets, allowing managers to quickly reallocate them.
- Improved utilization: Usage insights help identify underutilized equipment and help managers right-size inventory quickly.
- Lower costs and faster recovery: Real-time GPS visibility into high-value assets helps reduce theft and misuse — and enables quick recovery within hours, minimizing replacement costs.
Customers using Motive’s asset tracking technology have cut equipment losses, improved productivity, and realized measurable ROI.
Motive has helped us a lot with our different departments being able to work together better. The leasing department uses Fleet View to track coaches and no longer needs to call the safety team, saving hours of time spent chasing answers to questions that can easily be answered right from the Motive platform.
In some cases, businesses have saved more than $220,000 by reclaiming stolen or misplaced assets with Motive’s equipment monitoring product.
Building the foundation for future fleet visibility
Asset tracking hardware is more than a tool — it’s a foundation for connected, data-driven operations. As fleets grow, integrating telematics, AI, and other technologies will create even deeper insights into how assets move, perform, and contribute to business outcomes.
Explore how Motive helps you connect every asset
Discover how Motive’s asset tracking solutions give fleets the visibility they need to optimize performance, cut costs, and drive operational growth.
