A method at an asset tracking device (310, 312, 314, 510, 1010), the method comprising: activating a receiver at the asset tracking device; obtaining a plurality of intelligent transportation system messages using the receiver; in response to determining that an identifier within the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages matches a stored identifier on the asset tracking device, wherein the stored identifier is part of a list of identifiers stored at the asset tracking device and the list of stored identifiers is created by storing identifiers of the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages over time: determining a position from the intelligent transportation system message; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode; in response to determining that the identifier within the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages does not match a stored identifier on the asset tracking device: obtaining an intelligent transportation system message from a strongest source, wherein the obtaining the intelligent transportation system message from the strongest source comprises finding a message with a strongest signal strength; determining a position from the message with the strongest signal strength; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); and storing, at the asset tracking device, an identifier extracted from the intelligent transportation system message obtained from the strongest source; entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode. activating a receiver at the asset tracking device; obtaining a plurality of intelligent transportation system messages using the receiver; in response to determining that an identifier within the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages matches a stored identifier on the asset tracking device, wherein the stored identifier is part of a list of identifiers stored at the asset tracking device and the list of stored identifiers is created by storing identifiers of the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages over time: determining a position from the intelligent transportation system message; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode; determining a position from the intelligent transportation system message; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode; in response to determining that the identifier within the plurality of intelligent transportation system messages does not match a stored identifier on the asset tracking device: obtaining an intelligent transportation system message from a strongest source, wherein the obtaining the intelligent transportation system message from the strongest source comprises finding a message with a strongest signal strength; determining a position from the message with the strongest signal strength; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); and storing, at the asset tracking device, an identifier extracted from the intelligent transportation system message obtained from the strongest source; entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode. obtaining an intelligent transportation system message from a strongest source, wherein the obtaining the intelligent transportation system message from the strongest source comprises finding a message with a strongest signal strength; determining a position from the message with the strongest signal strength; reporting the determined position to a remote server (340, 342); and storing, at the asset tracking device, an identifier extracted from the intelligent transportation system message obtained from the strongest source; entering the asset tracking device into a sleep mode.