If you’re going to put a GPS tracker on a trailer, Pedigree Technologies says you might as well hide it where no one would think to look — inside the taillight.

The company introduced a DOT-approved tracking device built directly into a standard 4-inch LED tail light housing. The Tail Light Tracker is designed to help prevent theft, increase recovery chances in case of trailer theft, and improve overall asset visibility through GPS, Wi-Fi triangulation, cellular connectivity and Bluetooth capability.

Rocco Marrari, vice president of sales, said the device is intended to address theft tactics where criminals disable tracking hardware.

“We had a customer with three tractors stolen. The bad guys now realize the ELD is the GPS, so they rip that ELD out, leave it behind, and keep going with the tractor,” he said. “When you think about something like a taillight, it’s simple and nobody knows it’s hidden. With the taillight tracker, we can ping it on demand, alert authorities, and actually find where that tractor is.”  

Power is managed automatically. The device recharges whenever running lights or brake lights are active. When a trailer is unhooked, the internal battery can continue operating for roughly 90 days.

Location updates are triggered at start and stop events and approximately every 15 minutes while the trailer is moving. Fleets can also initiate an on-demand, real-time ping through the mobile app.

The unit also acts as a Bluetooth Low Energy gateway, allowing fleets to monitor nearby BLE-enabled sensors, including cargo monitors, door sensors and tire pressure devices, which gives fleets insight not just into where a trailer is, but what’s happening with the assets that are connected to it.

Designed and manufactured in the United States, the Tail Light Tracker features a rugged IP67-rated housing, operates in extreme temperatures, and supports over-the-air configuration updates.