In many UK fleet operations, trailers now outnumber trucks, and when their costs are combined, they often represent the greater share of total asset value. Despite this, trailers are often considered the overlooked ‘blind spot’ of fleet operations, with many failing to realise the significant cost implications that arise when they aren’t properly managed. In this piece, we explore the operational risks that fleets face when they lack the reassurance and visibility that trailer tracking provides.

Theft and loss

In 2025, 1884 UK freight crimes were recorded costing around £37.5 million, with the most common offences being ‘whole trailer load thefts’ or ‘curtain-slashing’, both often occurring at motorway service stations or in overnight parking bays. Reports from the Equipment Register (TER) also indicate that trailers are still frequently stolen even when locked in a secure yard, sometimes by criminals using tracking technology or surveillance to pick targets.

From these statistics, we can see that trailers are not always treated as a priority, with many fleet managers choosing to track their trucks whilst completely overlooking their trailers. As a result, trailers can be easily swapped, abandoned or stolen in public places, or even on site.

With an average of three stolen trailer reports recorded every day in the UK, it's becoming increasingly obvious that trailers are a critical but vulnerable asset that requires the same level of protection as the vehicles that tow them. Without telematics data to detect unauthorised movement or unexpected location changes, these incidents frequently go unnoticed, and when they are finally noticed, it's often too late.

Maintenance

The RHA’s Annual Cost Movement Survey found that repair and maintenance costs for HGV operators in the UK rose by 8.1% in 2025. With this in mind, it's never been more important to control your mileage and maintenance schedules.

Statistics show that untracked trailers are far more likely to run until failure due to a lack of accurate usage data. When mileage isn’t tracked, it’s possible to lose sight of how heavily each trailer is being used, which trailers are overworked or under-maintained, and when services are due. This can lead to increased downtime, safety issues and surprise costs.

Businesses that implement predictive telematics solutions see up to a 30% reduction in unplanned downtime and a 20% reduction in maintenance costs, enabling earlier detection of issues. Without this data, maintenance decisions are often based on guesswork, leading to errors in judgment that ultimately drive up operational costs.

The neon-t trailer tracking solution from Radius Telematics provides detailed business and personal mileage reports, enabling you to monitor how many miles each trailer has done. This data enables more accurate maintenance predictions, helping you schedule servicing at the right times and utilise underused trailers. As a result, downtime is reduced, and the overall utilisation of your fleet is improved.

Utilisation

Optimising utilisation can often prove challenging when managing a large fleet of trailers. The solution often lies in achieving the right balance of usage through clearer insights. Industry commentary (UK Logistics sector) suggests GPS trailer tracking users see a 15% improvement in trailer utilisation and 20-30% reduction in idle time. Without telematics insight, there is no clear visibility of trailer location or idling data, causing underutilised trailers to sit idle whilst others are overworked.

Industry figures show that a single day of unplanned trailer downtime costs operators approximately £2,500, including repair expenses and operational disruption. Gaining access to telematics data enables businesses like yours to accurately monitor trailer locations, understand availability, and plan which trailers should be on the move to achieve faster turnaround and improved operational efficiency.

How to reduce costs with trailer tracking

Industry statistics show that 66% of UK companies using asset tracking solutions report improved equipment and trailer utilisation. This highlights a common challenge: many fleets already have enough trailers to meet demand, but they’re just not being used to their full potential. By understanding how your assets are being used, you can keep costs down and stay ahead of the competition.

The neon‑t trailer tracker supports this goal by providing a reliable, highly effective solution that helps a wide range of industries like yours maximise utilisation, enhance visibility and protect valuable assets from theft or loss. Installed directly into the asset, the neon-t combines vehicle and asset tracking in a single hardwired unit. Trailer tracking is no longer just a 'nice to have'; by implementing a dependable trailer tracking system like this, you can take full control of your fleet, eliminate hidden costs, and achieve more efficient, cost‑effective fleet management.