Irvine, CA (March 3, 2024) Phillips Industries is pleased to announce the T/T Pair, a groundbreaking advancement in tractor/trailer connectivity technology. The industry’s much anticipated T/T Pair acts as a “smart 7-way socket” that provides 100% reliable, instantaneous tractor and trailer pairing, ensuring seamless communication and efficient fleet management.
Phillips’ T/T Pair 7-way socket is designed to simply replace the existing Phillips QCS2 Socket. In just 1 minute, swap the 7-way socket for a patented T/T Pair socket, and avoid any additional wiring or installation. Using the existing (blue) power wire in the J560 plug, the T/T Pair establishes a powerful communication link, using a PLC transceiver housed within the socket itself, which immediately identifies and communicates the tractor/trailer pairing to any BLE integrated ELD or trailer telematics device, ensuring that the right tractor is pulling the right trailer.
Phillips’ T/T Pair has a non-corrosive, unbreakable molded design that keeps corrosion out of the electrical systems, providing longevity and reliable performance that Phillips connections are known for. The Phillips T/T pair is compatible with Phillips’ QCS2 7-way socket which is standard equipment on virtually all trucks and the majority of trailers in North America, T/T Pair is compatible with OEM-installed S7™ Break-Away Box, i-BOX™, QBOX™, VOLT-BOX™ and QCS2 Harnesses.
A Significant Industry Advancement
The introduction of the T/T Pair marks a significant milestone. For decades, the commercial trucking industry has tirelessly sought a solution to knowing which tractor is pulling which trailer by utilizing wireless methodology, with little success. T/T Pair works flawlessly and instantly via a hardwire interface with singles, doubles, triples and even larger road trains, allowing the ELD device in the truck and/or the telematics platforms in the trailers to capture the pairing information through a BLE interface – a simple solution that works in real-time.
Dan Forthoffer, Vice President of Corporate R&D at Phillips says, “By developing our T/T Pair, we are redefining what full fleet visibility and security means to our customers. By ensuring 100% reliable and instantaneous tractor/trailer connectivity, we’re not only introducing a product; we’re delivering a promise of enhanced operational efficiency, security, and proactive maintenance that directly translates to significant cost savings and, most importantly, safer roads.”
T/T Pair increases security by allowing immediate alerting of unauthorized trailer use and identifying unauthorized users, thereby mitigating risks. In addition to security, it significantly enhances driver experience when coupled with Phillips Connect’s Smart Trailer systems, which monitor essential trailer health metrics, including door status, tire pressure, temperature, and the status of ATIS, regulator, and air tanks. In critical situations, drivers receive high-severity health warnings, allowing for proactive maintenance and increased safety on the roads. It enhances customer service by utilizing accurate trailer data to optimally plan and ensure on-time deliveries. T/T Pair also offers significant time and cost savings by preventing unnecessary trailer pulls that consume driver hours, fuel, and mileage.
Broad Compatibility but Available to Phillips Connect Customers First
The T/T Pair is designed to work with any BLE-equipped trailer telematics or ELD device, but it will be available to Phillips Connect customers first. Phillips Connect is a leading telematics provider that is already taking fleet management to new heights. The Connect1 platform delivers real-time status updates, historical trends, on-demand notifications, alerts, and reporting, geofencing capabilities, and more.
By introducing T/T Pair, Phillips is bringing even greater value to its customers. The commercial trucking industry is constantly uncovering new insights, demonstrating their readiness to adopt innovative practices and evolve with the changing landscape, and Phillips is leading the charge.