Container tracking uses GPS devices attached to a container to report its location over a cellular network. A logistics operator tracking containers from a UK port to a warehouse can see exactly where each one is, how long it has been stationary, and whether the doors have been opened.
Containers move through multiple custody points – ports, inland terminals, depots, and road legs – and are often parked unsecured for extended periods. Connected tracking hardware adds live visibility at every stage:
- GPS asset trackers – report location at configurable intervals, can run for years on battery or solar power
- GPS bolt seals – replace passive mechanical seals; alert the moment a door is opened, logging time and location
- Tamper detection – alerts if the tracking device itself is removed or handled
- Geofencing – flags when a container moves outside an authorised zone or time window
- Temperature monitoring – paired BLE sensors record cold chain conditions inside the container