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Being able to selectively monitor one cargo shipment over another based on your criteria (customer demands, history of theft, high risk origin) allows your organization to utilize the CTU efficiently and derive the greatest value from it.
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Our Frequently Asked Question section provides answers about who, what and how the NaviTag Platform works. Click the links below to view the FAQs by category, or choose a specific question from the list below.
How was NaviTag Formed?
In March 2002 the concept of a cargo centric tracking tool was developed and the business plan was written. In June 2002 NaviTag Technologies was awarded a Port Security Grant to build prototypes of the satellite based remote reporting electronic seal. In the next 8 months we produced the Cargo Tracking Units (CTU) and in April-June 2003 we field tested them in the world’s major trade lanes.
How is the NaviTag solution different than other satellite tracking systems?
Most other satellite tracking systems are asset/fleet management systems that are designed to provide the asset owner with a tool to maximize the utilization of their equipment. In many cases the service provider will allow you access to this information but the data provided is not designed for cargo management. If you change service providers, the new vendor may not have an asset management system and you lose visibility completely. The NaviTag CTU is designed to address the needs of the cargo owner and provide them with cargo centric information that will help them better manage their supply chain. The cargo owner owns the CTU and controls the information supplied. The CTU will fit on containers, trailers, and rail cars and will allow the cargo owner to receive customized information about their cargo no matter what service provider and what mode of transportation is being used.
What equipment / handling modifications are necessary to utilize the NaviTag solution?
None - the NaviTag CTU attaches to the container door and will reliably provide location / status information from anywhere on earth. The CTU is designed to successfully operate without modification to the container or the handling of the container.
How is the NaviTag CTU different from RFID?
RFID (radio frequency identification) requires a network of terrestrial based readers to report location and security information. The RFID tag is placed on the container and when it is driven past a reader it records the event, the time and the security status. Typically it has to be within 100 yards and traveling at a slow rate of speed to record the tag information. The difficulty is that you only receive information when a tag passes a reader and between readers there is no information available. Building a network of readers throughout your supply chain is expensive and you may have difficulty receiving authorization to place a reader at all the locations you wish to receive status information. The NaviTag CTU does not require any readers because it communicated through satellite transmissions. You receive more information, more often without the cost of a reader network.
Does the NaviTag CTU provide global coverage?
Yes, the satellite system chosen has the ability to provide visibility and security integrity information from anywhere on earth.
Can the CTU transmit when the container is below deck of a ship?
When the CTU is below deck of a vessel, the hatch cover blocks most transmissions and the satellite cannot reliably report status information. The CTU will record any events that took place when it was below deck and report them when it is discharged from the vessel hold. Because of the very limited access to a container when it is below deck and the fact that the cell guides restrict the opening of the doors, security below deck is typically not a concern. When it is loaded on deck of the vessel there is typically enough space between rows to allow "line of sight" of a satellite and it can provide status reports while underway.
Can the CTU transmit when the container is in a stack at the terminal?
Typically there is enough space between stacks of containers to allow the CTU to communicate to the satellite overhead.
How often does the CTU transmit?
The CTU transmits every 75 seconds but the information is only received at the ground station when there is a satellite positioned overhead. Because the satellites are a polar orbiting LEO constellation, the coverage ranges from constant at the poles to about every 1.5 hours at the equator. How often you receive an update depends on the location of your cargo but you should expect reports on average every 1-1.5 hours.
Since the CTU is reusable, how do I get the CTU back to the origin to reuse it?
You have the option to manage the reverse logistics yourself or we are engaged in discussions with several small package companies to design a reverse logistics program for our customers. This program will be available for any of our customers to simplify the returns of the CTUs and take advantage of the volume discounts we have negotiated. Once a routine of mounting a CTU at the origin and remove/return from the destination has been established, we expect it to be a very simple process. For more information, contact us at info@navitag.com.
What type of batteries does the CTU require? How long does the batteries last?
Three Standard Alkaline D cell batteries will power the CTU for about 75 days. This time frame was considered to be adequate for any normal intermodal even when taking some delays into consideration.
What happens if the batteries run out of power?
Information about the energy level in the batteries is reported on the web site to allow you to monitor the power remaining. Should there be extenuating circumstances that delays your cargo beyond the 75 day power allocation, the CTU will go into sleep mode but still keep a record of any events that take place. Additionally, there is reserve power built into the CTU that allows the unit to be deactivated when it finally arrives at the destination.
How do I access my cargo shipment information?
After defining an organizational profile to meet your in-transit visibility needs, you can access your information several ways. With a standard Internet browser, authorized users can view the cargo shipments progress. Alerts will be generated to designated recipients via fax, pager & email based on customer supplied definitions. Finally, data can be integrated into existing systems via secure XML feeds.
How does an alert work? Can different recipients be defined?
Alerts are a powerful feature of the NaviTag solution. In addition to viewing shipment activity online, specific rules / conditions that warrant further investigation can be defined. These rules can be applied at the organizational, location and shipment level, and are designed to detect sensor, spatial (location) and temporal (time) anomalies. Examples of such rules would be:
What type of training is required and provided?
The NaviTag CTU is very simple to mount/activate at the origin and deactivate/remove at the destination. We will provide an operating manual with step-by-step instructions on how to perform these functions. Our experience has been that the manual is clear, concise and complete, providing the origin/destinations with everything they need to operate the CTU. We will also provide a manual to guide you in the designing of your custom profile for the exception management events that you wish to be notified of. If you need assistance, send an email to support@navitag.com.
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