ACL Airshop LLC and CORE Transport Technologies, Inc. have launched automated tracking of unit load devices through the use of Bluetooth technology.

According to the two companies, the new technology replaces manual tracking of the air cargo containers and gives carriers and their shipping customers real-time visibility and new efficiencies.

“We listened to our customers, and these technical enhancements are the result,” said Wes Tucker, executive VP of ACL Airshop. “Now we are rolling it out. Airlines will be able to track the actual cargo loads by the container and pallet, with real-time ‘dot on the map’ monitoring and status reports.”

ACL and CORE carried out extensive field tests with international air carriers and an array of multiple ULDs, with 100% tracking reliability. Regulatory aspects such as compliance with FCC and FAA rules have already been addressed. The system is also compliant with the Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

The big data and predictive analytics of the system are cloud-based and are combined with ACL Airshop’s international operations centre.

“This is the ultimate solution for ULD equipment tracking available today,” said Ian Craig, managing director of CORE. “This is a big step forward for numerous airlines and cargo carriers. Our COREInsight Tracking service tracks cargo assets in real time. We know this is a low-cost logistics enhancement that remarkably improves how carriers manage their ULD fleet, saving money long-term, and yielding better service to the ultimate end-customers. ACL Airshop and CORE customers will always know where their ULDs are located and when they are being utilized.”

The cost of Bluetooth real-time tracking is modest compared to costlier competing technologies and relative to the benefits it brings. ACL and CORE plan to continue rolling it out quickly in the months ahead.

“2018 will be the breakout year for Bluetooth, the year that this disruptive technology changes air cargo—again,” Craig said. “We are enabling an aviation logistics revolution, just as the air waybill revolutionized air cargo almost 60 years ago.”

ACL hopes to create a “giant Internet of Thing” across the air cargo industry as more airlines adopt the new Bluetooth-tracking technology, as thousands of Bluetooth tags are attached to ULDs, and as more and more readers are installed at airport cargo centres around the world.

ACL Airshop’s main offices are in South Carolina and Amsterdam, and provides custom ULD solutions to over 200 air carriers and cargo clients. CORE Transport Technologies is based in New Zealand and has focused on software improvements for the transportation industry for over 10 years.