Glossary

Alert message

A message sent to alert a user or group of users about a trailer's condition.

BOT

Beginning of trip status. BOT status is determined when the trailer has moved beyond a specified radius.

Connect event

An event created in Trailer Tracks software when a trailer connects to a mobile unit-equipped tractor.

Disconnect event

An event created in Trailer Tracks when a trailer disconnects from a mobile unit-equipped tractor.

Dormancy

How long a trailer remains in one location. Trailers can move short distances and still be considered dormant. This allowable distance is a system-wide setting. For example, trailers move around on a shippers yard for loading purposes.

Emergency Tracking

Emergency Tracking lets you receive status reports more frequently over a specified period of time in emergency situations such as stolen trailers. Increased messaging costs are incurred with Emergency Tracking. Increased messaging may also drain the terminal's battery. You need special permission to use this feature. If you are not sure whether to use emergency tracking or pinging, see Ping or Emergency Tracking?

EOT and EEOT

End-of-trip and extended end-of-trip status. End-of-trip status occurs when the trailer has not moved for a specified period of time. Extended end-of-trip occurs when the trailer has not moved for a longer specified period of time.

Event

An activity that can affect a trailer's status and is used during Trailer Tracks processing. See events list .

Geofence

A rectangular virtual border around a geographic area. Create a geofence for a trailer to receive an alert when it exits or enters a certain geographic area. When trailers with active geofences are displayed in a list, you see:

—trailer is inside of the geofence
—trailer is outside of the geofence

GPS

Global Positioning System. GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites that orbit the Earth and allow people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location to an accuracy of 100 to 10 meters. Terminals acquire a GPS position every few seconds while the trailer is connected to a tractor and less frequently when disconnected.

Landmark

A user-defined location where trailer events take place. Typically, they are places where trailers are connected and disconnected, such as shipper's yard, consignee's yard, or intermodal yard.

Last seen

The time a trailer was last seen is the time of the last event or position, or status report.

MCP (Mobile Computing Platform)

A mobile information platform where vehicle text information and position reports are sent through a satellite or terrestrial network.

Monitoring plan

A set of rules that defines how you want to monitor a trailer and who you want notified with alert messages under a variety of conditions.

MSN

Manufacturer's serial number

Notifier window

A small browser window that opens when you log in. It indicates the number of unacknowledged alerts you have and, depending on preferences, flashes and plays a tone when you receive new alert.. See Notifier Window.

NOC

Network Operations Center. The data center that processes and manages the messaging traffic between the dispatch center and the fleet. Also referred to as the Network Management Center (NMC).

OmniTRACS

A data exchange platform where vehicle messages and position reports are sent through a satellite network.

Overdue trailer

A trailer that has not been seen for longer than the number of days specified in the monitoring plan. The system performs a check for overdue trailers every six hours. If the day elapses just after the system has performed a check, the trailer won't be identified as overdue until the next system check, which can be up to six hours.

Ping

User-initiated request for the terminal to retrieve the current status of the trailer's sensor, the trailer's current location, and retrieve any messages queued at the terminal. This action also sends any parameter changes to the terminal immediately. There may be an additional charge for this position request.

RMA

Return material authorization. You must contact Omnitracs to get an RMA before you return hardware.

SCAC

The Standard Carrier Alpha Code. These codes are assigned by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) and uniquely identify every freight carrier in North America.

SID

System Identification. The number that identifies the cellular network that provides your service.

Terminal

The hardware installed on your trailer that is used to track the trailer location and any events. During the installation and configuration of the terminal, it can be in one of several terminal registration states based on how much information you have passed to the terminal and the status of its communication with the NOC.

Terminal ID

System-defined identification for the terminal.

Trailer type

A user-defined code that identifies a group of trailers that have the same physical characteristics, such as type, length, width, and weight.

Utilization

The length of time the trailer was connected via the 7-way connector to a tractor with the ignition on. This also requires a hot center pin on the tractor's 7-way connector.