Patent ID: 7519463

Claim:
A method for automating inbound and outbound tractor/trailer exchange procedures at a staging area having at least one wireless access point, in which drivers, having driver's terminals, drive tractors pulling detachable trailers in and out of said staging area, said trailers having at least one wirelessly operated locking device for locking a rear door of the trailer, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an outermost geofence, an intermediate geofence, and an innermost geofence, said geofences readable by a driver's terminal; upon the crossing of said outermost geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a first signal from said driver's terminal to said staging area wireless access point; pursuant to the receipt of said first signal, creating a driver's dispatch including instructions for the driver upon arrival at said staging area; upon the crossing of said intermediate geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a second signal from said driver's terminal to said staging area wireless access point; pursuant to the receipt of said second signal, sending said driver's dispatch to said driver's terminal; and upon the crossing of said innermost geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a third signal from said driver's terminal to said locking device such that said locking device is unlocked.